Ultimate Fantasy Rookie Performances to Follow: Preseason 2023

Shhhhh. Don’t tell Geoff Lambert I’m still here. Maybe he won’t notice me writing about the top 5 weekly performances for the rookies for another season. Let’s preview the rookies by position group to see what we have in store for this year. Maybe it’ll help you in your fantasy drafts.

ADP is from fantasypros.com as of 8/23/2023

Quarterbacks

Anthony Richardson (117.5)

Bryce Young (177.3)

CJ Stroud (202)

Stetson Bennett (Nope)

Dorian Thompson-Robinson (Nuh uh)

Unlike last year, we actually have some quarterbacks who are starters on day one! HOORAY! Are they viable options for fantasy purposes? Short answer: Probably not. However, that doesn’t mean you should totally discount them for your roster. Anthony Richardson is probably the most likely to make a difference this season. After dominating the combine, Richardson was drafted 4th overall to the Indianapolis Colts. Accuracy is a concern, but he is built like Cam Newton, only bigger and faster. Rushing quarterbacks are infinitely more valuable than a quarterback who stays in the pocket. Both Bryce Young and CJ Stroud COULD be usable, but both of their teams are in complete states of flux. They’re both more of a wait and see how they do before you start them. They are decent late round flyers. I added Stetson Bennett and Dorian Thompson-Robinson to this list, not because they’re viable for fantasy, but because I think they could be very good if the starter for their team goes down.

Wide Receiver

Jaxon Smith-Njigba (94.5)

Jordan Addison (96.3)

Zay Flowers (119.8)

Quentin Johnson (121.3)

Jalin Hyatt (168.8)

Jonathan Mingo (192.7)

Rashee Rice (198.3)

Nathaniel “Tank” Dell (213.8)

Jayden Reed (230.7)

Josh Downs (247.5)

Michael Wilson (266.5)

Puka Nacua (295.3)

There are a lot of players to like coming out of this group, and in the last couple of years, being a rookie has not been detrimental to fantasy production. JSN is a good slot receiver in Seattle, who already has DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, making it a pick your poison situation on every play. A wrist injury may make you pause, but he should be back for week one. Jordan Addison is allegedly the wide receiver two in an offense that already has Justin Jefferson (I am skeptical with KJ Osbourn doing so well last year, but we’ll see). Zay Flowers was the engine that made Boston College move last season. With 30% of the catches and 30% of all yards for the team, he literally was the whole offense. He has continued to show out in the Ravens preseason games. Quentin Johnston is another first round pick, but with a new offensive coordinator, it’s hard to know how he will fit into the Chargers offense. Jonathan Mingo is gelling well with Bryce Young. Rumors have been that Tank Dell is doing great in camp. The rest of this group are all decent dart throws, if you want to take the risk.

(Also, if you want to seem like the smartest person in your draft, Michael Wilson has allegedly taken the 2 spot in the Cardinals. I know, I know, the Cards are bad, but somebody has to catch passes on a team that will be playing from behind in every game this season.)

Running Back

Bijan Robinson (8.3)

Jahmyr Gibbs (35)

Zach Charbonnet (116.3)

Kendre Miller (167.3)

Tank Bigsby (177.3)

Deuce Vaughn (182.8)

Roschon Johnson (199.3)

Tyjae Spears (213)

Chase Brown (234.7)

Israel Abanikanda (302.7)

This position group has two of my favorite players for fantasy this year. Bijan Robinson is obviously a stud that will go in the first round of all fantasy drafts. He is incredible with the ball in his hands and he’s going to an Atlanta Falcons team that ran the ball more than anyone in the National Football League last year. There’s a lot of mouths to feed in Atlanta, but they didn’t take Bijan 8th overall in the draft to sit on the bench. It’s funny that he went 8th in the real draft and his average ADP this year is also 8. Personally, I’m just as excited about Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit as much as Bijan in Atlanta. First of all, he’s much cheaper to get in a redraft than Bijan with almost as much upside. Remember how Detroit utilized D’Andre Swift? Imagine a younger, faster Swift who could stay on the field for the whole season. Zach Charbonnet has some minor injuries that he’s currently dealing with, but Pete Carroll in Seattle loves using multiple backs. His stock skyrockets if Kenneth Walker III gets hurt again, too. Tank Bigsby sounds like a Madden create-a-character, but has looked good in both the preseason and camp, and he should get a decent amount of carries and potentially goal line work in Jacksonville. ESPN has compared Deuce Vaughn to Darren Sproles. He’s quick and tiny (only 5’6”) and looks great with the ball in his hands. Roschon Johnson is a decent dart throw, but the Chicago backfield is a mess. Tyjae Spears has done well this preseason and is worth a stash in case Derrick Henry gets hurt or starts slowing down. Personally, as a Pitt Alum, I’m sad to see Dalvin Cook go to the Jets and push Israel Abanikanda into obscurity. He was impressive in the preseason games I got a chance to see, but is now totally undraftable for our purposes here.

Tight End

Dalton Kincaid (127.8)

Sam LaPorta (172.3)

Michael Mayer (206)

Luke Musgrave (208.5)

Luke Schoonmaker (243)

Darnell Washington (248)

Zack Kuntz (413)

This is a tricky group this year. Typically, rookie tight ends do not do a whole lot for fantasy purposes. It’s a hard position that does a lot of different things that don’t necessarily get us fantasy points. However, this class is allegedly one of the best tight end classes in years. Dalton Kincaid is going to a Buffalo Bills team that is always looking for receiving weapons not named Stefonn Diggs. Sam LaPorta will take the starter job in Detroit, as the Lions traded their stud, TJ Hockenson, away last year. Las Vegas also traded a stud and then drafted Michael Mayer. Luke Musgrave has allegedly had a decent camp in a Green Bay team that is hard to predict this year. Luke Schoonmaker goes to a Dallas team who refused to pay Dalton Schultz, but utilizes the tight end position quite a bit. Zack Kuntz needed to be included in my list for personal reasons that I find hilarious. Don’t draft him unless you think it’s funny too. What I’m trying to say here is, the tight end position has been awkward in fantasy for a while. A lot of these guys may be put into a full time role right off the bat. A lot of their team rumors have said that they’re acclimating to the league very well. If you like to gamble and miss drafting one of the big four, take one of these guys and cross your fingers that they develop quickly. Personally, I really like LaPorta but the choice is ultimately up to you.

Kicker

Jake Moody (237)

The 49ers kicker will get points. It felt like I had to throw him in the mix after Cade York did so well last year.

My Rankings

Really, this is all a lot of you came here for, so of course I had to put it at the bottom. This is my prediction for who will have the most fantasy points by the end of the season this year.

Bijan Robinson

Jahmyr Gibbs

Zay Flowers

Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Anthony Richardson

Michael Wilson

Jonathan Mingo

Quentin Johnston

Jordan Addison

Tank Bigsby

Zach Charbonnet

Deuce Vaughn

Sam LaPorta

Jake Moody

Jalin Hyatt

Tyjae Spears

Rashee Rice

Luke Musgrave

Bryce Young

Jayden Reed

Just because a player didn’t make the list doesn’t mean they’re not intriguing. It’s just my prediction of the top 20 performing rookies for fantasy.

Hopefully you found some of this helpful. I’m not as good at prognosticating as I am at reporting what happened the week before. With my new lifestyle (my wife and I welcomed our first child three weeks ago), I got this out a little later than I would have liked. Don’t worry! I already have a plan I probably won’t follow to put it out in a timely manner during the season!

Good luck out there!

@MeLlamoMoron

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