Football season is back! The time of year has finally returned where we pray for Sunday to roll around so we can sit back and lounge on the couch all-day eating wings and pizza with our noses glued to our phones checking our fantasy scores with every play.
With each new season comes new players who analysts and experts believe to be sleepers, players to avoid, potential fantasy title-winning players, and everything in between. Many times, these players just happen to be rookies, so predicting their fantasy potential is a shot in the dark. It’s about finding this year’s Michael Thomas or Christian McCaffrey to help propel your team to the top of your league.
With every team having released their depth charts, it gives the fantasy community a better insight into what the coaching staff sees and what we should expect going forward. The following rankings reflect that and the potential that rookies carry for fantasy owners going forward.
     Thursday Night Football between Green Bay and Chicago will be reflected in next week’s rankings.Â
10. Tony Pollard, RB, Dallas Cowboys
While Ezekiel Elliott was held out, Pollard received rave reviews in training camp and showed out in the preseason. It’s obvious that the Cowboys believe in Pollard’s abilities, so he should still have some impact going forward in the offense. In Week 1, expect Pollard to receive 8-12 touches. Dallas wants to keep Zeke around 20-25 touches because of the time he missed working out in Cabo, so Pollard can still play a vital role against the Giants.
9. Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Outside of Marquise Goodwin, the 49ers wide receivers are completely up in the air. Dante Pettis is a player that San Francisco hopes will be their top receiver but hasn’t been able to prove that on a consistent basis yet. Samuel showed flashes of his breakaway speed and capability this preseason and could find himself sliding into the WR3 role soon. That could lead to FLEX consideration in some leagues.
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8. JJ Arcega-Whiteside, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Arcega-Whiteside recorded 12 receptions, 148 yards, and one TD this preseason and showed that he can be a legitimate threat for Philadelphia in 2019. With Alshon Jeffery battling an injury and DeSean Jackson playing with a broken finger, Whiteside could find himself in more situations than a WR4 usually would. Look for him to do most of his work in the red-zone and along the sidelines. For a deeper insight, check out his Rookie Profile on GoingFor2.com.
7. Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington
After the release of Josh Doctson, McLaurin is listed as Washington’s No. 1 WR. The Redskins figure to find themselves in negative game scripts more often than not, so McLaurin should get some opportunities. Having an experienced quarterback in Case Keenum also helps his growth, but if there is a change in signal-caller, McLaurin has an established rapport with former Ohio State teammate, Dwayne Haskins Jr.
6. T.J. Hockenson, TE, Detroit Lions
A top-10 pick in this year’s draft, Hockenson’s incredible offensive ability makes him an immediate threat and favorite target for Stafford going forward. Averaging 18.5 YPC on four receptions in the preseason, his ability to stretch the field will turn him into a vital piece of the Lions’ offense. Hockenson should play heavy snaps for most of the game, as his pass blocking is above-average for a rookie tight end. His heightened snap count should reflect in his fantasy scoring this season.
5. Devin Singletary, RB, Buffalo Bills
The release of LeSean McCoy creates a big opportunity in this backfield, one that should be Singletary’s soon. Singletary sits behind ageless wonder Frank Gore, but at this stage in Gore’s career, he won’t be good for more than 160 carries over the course of a season. Although small in stature, Singletary is able to carry the load, and should be doing so by the halfway point of the season.
4. Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals
The top overall pick in this year’s draft, Kyler Murray faces a lot of pressure in his rookie campaign. Expectations are high for the Heisman Trophy winner after he single-handedly ran last year’s top draft pick, Josh Rosen, all the way to Miami. Murray comes to Arizona with a history with head coach Kliff Kingsbury, which he will look to translate to the NFL to fix one of the league’s worst offenses from a season ago. Having one of the best running backs next to him in David Johnson and a couple of reliable targets on the outside, Christian Kirk and Larry Fitzgerald, Murray has the weapons to be a viable weekly fantasy starter when paired with his ability to run.
3. Miles Sanders, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
The successor of Saquon Barkley at Penn State, Sanders figures to start the season splitting carries with Jordan Howard. Having spent a 2nd-round pick on Sanders, the Eagles hope that he will soon enough become the team’s the bell cow. Having only played in the first two preseason games, Sanders still managed to impress Philadelphia on his eight carries. With Howard having been brought up in trade talks recently, it seems like the Eagles are confident in what Sanders can do.
2. David Montgomery, RB, Chicago Bears
Arguably one of the most anticipated rookies of this draft class, David Montgomery’s hype train is ready to take off, especially after a subpar week one. Montgomery showed what he is capable of doing on a couple of his runs by making a defender miss and diving forward for three more yards. Ranking as the most elusive running backs in college football the last two seasons by PFF, Monty has the skillset needed to be a top-tier back. The touches will continue to rise and he will eventually pass Mike Davis as the team’s lead option, it’s just a matter of time. With how Matt Nagy has been talking him up all offseason, it looks to be sooner rather than later.
- Â Josh Jacobs, RB, Oakland Raiders
The first-round talent out of Alabama is in a prime position to be the top fantasy rookie this season. Jacobs will be unchallenged for touches in an offense that is rebuilding. The addition of Tyrell Williams will force defenses not to stack the box and key in on the run, which will give Jacobs plenty of opportunities to bust big plays. Jacobs has low RB1 upside if all goes well in Oakland, and he’ll look to showcase that Monday night against Denver.
Other Notables: DK Metcalf, WR, Seattle Seahawks; Miles Boykin, WR, Baltimore Ravens; Damien Harris, RB, New England Patriots; Noah Fant, TE, Denver Broncos; Darrell Henderson, RB, Los Angeles Rams; Justice Hill, RB, Baltimore Ravens.
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