Fantasy football already? Okay, I know, it might be a little early to be thinking about fantasy football, but with the 2016 NFL Draft fresh on my mind, I thought I’d do some instant reaction to the draft and how it might affect the fantasy season. The 2016 NFL Draft featured a lot of defensive players, but there were a few gems that should make a nice addition to a fantasy roster, including probably the brightest gem of all…
RB Ezekiel Elliot, Cowboys
I’ll start this list with the easiest choice of them all. Elliot is the most exciting running back to come out of the draft since, well, last year when the Rams selected Todd Gurley. Gurley came with more risk because he was coming off an injury and we knew he wouldn’t be playing early in the season. Elliot has no such obstacle. In fact, the only obstacles he needs to overcome is one injured prone running back by the name of Darren McFadden, and another potentially washed up one by the name of Alfred Morris who the Redskins let walk.
Playing behind the Cowboys dominant offensive line, with Tony Romo at quarterback, and one of the game’s best wide receivers Dez Bryant, Elliot has a clear path to fantasy football stardom. Elliot will not be on the board in Round 2 of any fantasy draft and could be a top-five overall pick — and should be.
WR Sterling Shepard, Giants
Rueben Randle is in Philly and Victor Cruz may not be healthy by the start of the season — if ever. Eli Manning has created superstars of wide receivers that, going into a season, were considered “the other guy”. Victor Cruz was that “other guy” when he exploded on the scene a few years ago. Then Odell Beckham Jr. became that “other guy” when going into the season Victor Cruz was considered the Giants No. 1 option. Now Odell Beckham Jr. is the man in New York, and while fully expect him to continue being the man, there will be plenty of balls to go around for Shepard to make his mark in his rookie season.
WR Corey Coleman, Browns
Coleman may have the easiest path to a starting position of any of my five selections. Yes, even easier than Elliot’s path. Elliot actually has someone to beat out, whereas Coleman does not.
Travis Benjamin, the Browns No. 1 wide receiver from a year ago is in San Diego and the Brown’s other wide receiver… what other wide receiver? Josh Gordon is not walking through the door anytime soon. Coleman is more than penciled in as the starter, he is written in with a permanent marker — the kind that can get you sick from inhaling (there was something humorous about using the word inhale and Josh Gordon in the same sentence, sick humor, I know)
RB Kenneth Dixon, Ravens
Dixon is a stash and hold player. I don’t expect him to vault to the top of the depth chart right away, but the competition in front of him has done little to stake their claim as “the man” in the Ravens offense. Lorenzo Taliaferro has proved he can’t be a No. 1 back, Justin Forsett went back to being, well, Justin Forsett after a huge 2014 season, and Buck Allen averaged a measly 3.8 yards per carry in 2015. The Ravens signed a running back in free agency too, what was his name, oh yeah… Trent Richardson. Yikes. I expect Dixon to, at the very least, get his shot by Week 6 to be the starter in Baltimore and that is worth a roster spot in fantasy.
WR Will Fuller, Texans
Fuller’s potential impact as a rookie is summed up nicely by a tweet from DeAndre Hopkins with whom Fuller will be lining up beside come gamedays…Needless to say, Hopkins is excited. You should be too.
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