Fantasy Football Dynasty Rookie 2017: Top 20

In our final edition of the Fantasy Football Dynasty Rookie review, we’re pulling together our running back, wide receiver, and tight end top five positional rankings, along with a few more additions for a complete total player list.  This list will arm you with the knowledge you need heading into your Fantasy Football Dynasty drafts this summer.

With the 2017 NFL draft over one month old, and teams now in the middle of OTA’s, it’s time to start thinking about which rookies you’re going to target for your dynasty league fantasy football drafts.  Grabbing a rookie in your drafts to keep for years to come can be one of the most valuable moves you make in a dynasty draft.

Last year, we saw guys like Ezekiel Elliott, Michael Thomas, and Hunter Henry quickly explode into fantastic fantasy football options.  Each of those former rookies are likely to lead fantasy football teams into the playoffs and championships for years to come.  So who are the top fantasy football dynasty rookie options for 2017?  We’ll start with the 19th and 20th best options, and work our way to number one…

20. Joe Williams, RB, SF

One of the quickest risers on the draft board in mid-April, is now quickly rising in ADP’s for Fantasy Football Dynasty leagues.  The San Francisco 49ers grabbed Joe Williams with the 15th pick of the first round.  At first though, Williams seemed like a compliment back, not seeing the field much this season.  But as the Spring progressed, rumors emerged that Carlos Hyde was struggling in Sean McVay’s new offensive system, and could be on his way out of the program.  That’s shocking, considering Hyde emerged as a RB1, or top line RB2, last season.

But the young 31-year-old coach likes backs who can squeeze through holes and cut up-field causing fits with safeties.  Joe Williams fits that role perfectly.  The 49ers appeared to look at Joe’s upside and realize he was the perfect fit for the new system.  It’s hard to believe Hyde isn’t starting, unless he’s traded, but it’s likely Williams is the back of the future for the 9ers.

Last season, in only nine games, Williams averaged 23 carries a game, over 1,400 rushing yards, and ten touchdowns for the Utah Utes.  I can’t imagine Joe is drafted in most leagues, maybe at the tail-end of deeper leagues.  But Williams could be an absolute steal as a free agent next season.  Keep an eye on Joe’s progress with the 9ers this summer, he could continue to climb the ADP board.

19. Carlos Henderson, WR, DEN

In thirteen games last season, Carlos Henderson had 83 receptions, over 1,500 yards, and 19 touchdowns.  Henderson emerged as a rock star for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs after two solid seasons before his Junior year.

I enjoyed watching Henderson in the 2016 Armed Forces Bowl against Navy, where he racked up ten receptions for 129 yards and two touchdowns.  Apparently the Broncos were watching too.  In the middle of the 3rd round of the 2017 NFL draft, Denver snagged Henderson, who has a bright future in the NFL.  I would be higher on Carlos entering the 2017 season if the Broncos had the quarterback situation in better shape, but he’s a great pick for major upside in the future.

18. D’Onta Foreman, RB, HOU

In his first season after signing as a free agent for the Houston Texans, Lamar Miller had as solid year rushing 268 times in 14 games for 1,073 yards (4.0/attempt), and five touchdowns.  Miller’s receiving game was mostly quiet.  But Lamar struggled to develop into the every-down back the Texans need, and now miss after losing Arian Foster.

With the 25th pick in the 3rd Round of the 2017 NFL draft, the Texans addressed the need for an every day back, and grabbed in-state UT Longhorn, D’Onta Foreman.  Foreman was an absolute beast in his junior year.  D’Onta ran the ball 29.4 times in eleven games, totaling 2,028 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns.  D’Onta isn’t much of a receiving back (like Miller), but he will barrel down the field, and break tackles, with force.

Millers starting tailback role is at risk with Foreman in the depth chart.  D’Onta will likely see the ball early in the season, and has the potential to take over the lead role toward the end of the season.  Look for Miller’s production to decline, and Foreman to become a RB3 option by the end of this season.

17. Curtis Samuel, WR, CAR

A small wide-out, only 5’11” and 196 pounds, Curtis Samuel is a speedy and allusive wide receiver coming out of the Ohio State program.  The awesome thing about Samuel, is that he was used as both a running back and wide receiver for the Buckeyes.  Samuel had 771 yards and eight touchdowns in 97 rushing attempts.  He also has 74 receptions for 865 receiving yards, so 1,636 total from scrimmage, and seven receiving touchdowns, or 15 total touchdowns.

The Carolina Panthers grabbed Curtis early, the 8th pick of the second round.  Clearly the Panthers are ready to put Samuel on the field, drafting him so early.  Samuel will likely take punts, could take snaps (a change of pace for Newton), play tail-back, and play receiver.  He has the look of a better Percy Harvin.  Curtis has a high ceiling, and if Panthers use him often right out of the gate, he could immediately become one of the better overall fantasy football options in the league.

16. Alvin Kamara, RB, NO

The New Orleans Saints have looked for a versatile running back since they lost Sproles to the Eagles in Free Agency.  The Saints thought they had several replacement options, but so far they haven’t worked.  And Sproles is thriving in Philadelphia, signaling they made a mistake by not trying to keep Darren in Big Easy.

Alvin Kamara doesn’t quite fit Sproles mold, but he could be even more dynamic.  At 5’10” and 214 pounds, Kamara is a big and solid back, but has versatile skills and is shifty.  The Saints grabbed Alvin early in the third round, getting a Tennessee Volunteer tailback who had around six yards per carry rushing, averaged eight rushing touchdowns a season, around 40 receptions per season, roughly 400 receiving yards, and another three to four receptions for touchdowns.  

So while Mark Ingram can run well, but sometimes struggles with the passing game, Kamara fits the Saints program perfectly.

15. Chris Godwin, WR, TB

Chris Godwin didn’t quite make the Top 5 rookie WR list in our rookie dynasty rankings, but as I stated in the article, he’s nearly tied for fifth at this point in the summer.  Last season, Godwin averaged over 16 yards per reception and piled up eleven touchdowns for the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Chris is a sneaky pick.  With the DeSean Jackson signing, the Bucs have a very crowded set of wide outs, and Godwin likely won’t see much time on the field to start the season.  But DJax career is winding down, and if Chris finds his way on the field, he could become a great alternative to Mike Evans.

14. Zay Jones, WR, BUF

Zay Jones was quietly one of the most exciting wide receivers to watch in college football last year. The 6′ 2” wide out from Austin, Texas had an eye-popping 158 receptions in just twelve games. That’s an average of over thirteen receptions per game.  Defenders knew he was getting the ball, but clearly couldn’t stop him.  Against one of the better defense backs system in college football, the Virginia Tech Hokies, Zay was able to snag ten receptions and pile up 115 receiving yards.

With the 5th pick of the second round, the Buffalo Bills snagged Jones.  The Bills have some good young receiver talent on their team, but expect Zay to be productive in his rookie season, and he should rapidly increase his production over the next two seasons.  If the Bills can settle their quarterback situation (and team coaching and management), Jones could be this year’s Thomas.

Before the draft, though, keep an eye on Jones’ health.  Zay already suffered a knee injury.  But so far it doesn’t sound serious.

13. Samaje Perine, RB, WAS

Sean McVay is now in L.A. (wow that rhymes), and the Redskins are rebooting their program and offense around Cousins, right?  Who knows.  The Skins have been hard to predict or understand over the last decade.  But one thing has been common over the last several years, the Redskins like to use big young rushing talent to barrel through offensive lines, hit holes, and cut up field on their offense.

After the offense hype approaching the 2016 season, Jones has plummeted down the depth chart for the Redskins, and no lead back has emerged.  Samaje Perine didn’t quite make our Top 5 RB list for dynasty rookies, but he would’ve been our number six option if we went further down the list.  Perine fits the Skins offensive system perfectly, and will challenge Kelley for the top spot this season.  We could see Samaje early, but even if we don’t, he’s a great long-term option at running back.

12. Evan Engram, TE, NYG

In the first round, and 23rd overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft, the New York Giants grabbed tight end Evan Engram from Ole Miss. With 65 receptions, 926 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns, Engram had the ability to play tight end or wide receiver during his collegiate career at Mississippi. Evan played four seasons at Ole Miss, but his athletic talent exploded on the field in 2016.

Engram landed third among all rookie dynasty tight ends, in our Top 5 TE list The Giants likely will mix Evan at wide receiver giving Marshal, OBJ, or Shepard a break.  The long list of options could hurt some of the fantasy football productivity from each player, but it could also improve production if executed properly.  Engram has the ability to be a top three tight end, not only among rookies, but in the NFL for years to come.  Grab Evan in late rounds and keep him on your team if the next two aren’t available.

11. David Njoku, TE, CIN

The immediate impact David Njoku will have for fantasy football owners will be determined by how quickly, and how well, Hue Jackson is able to develop Cody Kessler at quarterback.  There were moments in 2016 where Kessler looked like the real deal at the position for the Browns.  But the Browns have many holes to fill around Kessler, and Njoku should help.

Grabbing Njoku for the 2017 season is a bit of a gamble with so many unanswered questions on the Browns offense.  But Njoku will be the Browns top receiving tight end this season.  And if you’re in a Dynasty league and you’re looking for one of the top tight ends for your team’s future, and our top guy is gone, grab Njoku before you snag anyone else. With the next two years, Njoku will be one of the top tight end options each draft, and could be a near future early round ADP.

10. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, PIT

In the 2015-2016 college football season, JuJu Smith-Schuster snagged 89 receptions for 1,454 yards and ten touchdowns, in only his true sophomore season.  Once a junior, the NFL was taking notice of the 6’1” wideout from Long Beach.  But JuJu appeared to sputter out of the gate, with only one reception for nine yards and no touchdowns against Alabama’s stellar defense.  It took JuJu five games to finally climb over the 100-yard mark last season, not what many were expecting.

However, JuJue continued to regain his prowess as a top collegiate wide receiver throughout the rest of the season, capping the year off with seven receptions, 133 yards, and a touchdown against Godwin’s Nittany Lions in the Rose Bowl.

Maybe because of the slow incline last season, the once likely first round pick fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 30th pick of the second round.  But this is a steal.

Smith-Schuster has a few stellar receivers to climb over on the depth chart, but it shouldn’t take long for JuJu to beat out Bryant and claim the number two spot opposite Antonio Brown.  Even with an aging Big Ben and young receiving talent in Pittsburgh, Smith-Schuster is a great long-term wide receiver pick in Fantasy Dynasty leagues.

9. John Ross, WR, CIN

During the 2017 NFL Combine, John Ross set a record 4.22 40-yard dash record.  NFL media picked up on the stat and the Ross story exploded.  Comparisons to DeSean Jackson were immediately being made.  Whether the comparisons are right or wrong, they’re irrelevant.

After suffering a torn ACL and missing his 2015 college season, Ross exploded in 2016 with 81 receptions, 1,150 yards, and 17 touchdowns in only 14 games.  The production caught the attention of NFL scouts.  Most notably, Ross’ torn ACL clearly didn’t impact his results the following year.

We’ll see how John progresses during camp this summer, but I expect we’ll see Ross line up opposite Bengals’ star wide receiver A.J. Green to start the season.  Green’s results last year were disappointing, but with all of the offensive weapons now swirling around Bengals QB Andy Dalton in Cinncinati, Green will get more looks, and Ross to have a decent first season, followed by an eventual emergence into the Bengals top role a few years from now.  If Ross is available in the 8th round of your drop, grab him and keep him for a few years.

8. O.J. Howard, TE, TB

O.J. Howard is not only a great route-runner and pass catcher, but he’s one of the best blocking tight ends in the 2017 class.  So why is that important for fantasy football?  He’s going to be on the field more!  The 6’6” 250 pound tight end from Alabama was drafted 19th overall in the 2017 NFL draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Admittedly there is a lot of hype surrounding O.J. and he has very high expectations to overcome. But after the surprisingly fall down the draft board,  Howard may actually be in the best position to succeed immediately, and well into the next several years for your fantasy football dynasty team.

7. Kareem Hunt, RB, KC

The Kansas City Chiefs used their late 3rd round pick in the 2017 NFL draft to grab another great offensive product from the Toledo Rockets, Kareem Hunt.  This pick feels like a potential steal, even as high as the 3rd round.  Hunt landed only 5th among our top rookie running backs, in crowd of talent this year.

Kareem is developing into a duel-threat running back for a team who specializes in developing backs in all phases of the game.  Andy Reid’s program is a great place for Hunt to continue to develop beyond his emerging duel-threat 2016 collegiate season.

Kareem’s long-term value is relevant for a high Fantasy Football Rookie Dynasty pick.  But Hunt could even challenge Spencer Ware for the top running back spot on the Chiefs depth chart for the 2017 season.  At worst, Hunt is the best handcuff for Ware, and grab him in your Fantasy Football Rookie Dynasty regardless of his depth chart placement at the end of camp.

6. Dalvin Cook, RB, MIN

Dalvin Cook had over 1,000 yards in the three seasons he played for the Seminoles.  Over the last two seasons, Cook averaged over 1,700 yards per season, or 138 yards per game rushing. Also over the last two years, Cook had 19 touchdowns per season, or almost two TD’s per game. That’s consistently incredible production back-to-back over two seasons.

Cook is very clearly already a well-developed duel threat running back, and will fit into the Vikings system well.  But the Vikings have historically leaned on a bruising running game, so it’s unclear how well they’ll use Cook’s passing game.  But we know Dalvin has tremendous game-breaking ability on the ground.

Cook will have to compete with Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon.  But Dalvin is a clear three-down back, and the Vikings don’t seem convinced Murray or McKinnon is the right long-term answer in the backfield.

5. Mike Williams, WR, LAC

At the beginning of the 2015 season,Mike Williams sustained a neck fracture and was carted off the field, in a game against Wofford.  Mike wouldn’t return for the rest of the season.  Clemson coach Dabo Swinney indicated the team would be fine without Williams at the time.

But when Mike returned for the 2016 season, Clemson’s receiving game took a clear leap.  Williams had 98 receptions with over 1,300 yards and eleven touchdowns in 15 games.  During the National Championship, Mike had eight receptions, 94 yards, and a touchdown against a stellar Crimson Tide defense.

Now likely starting opposite Keenan Allen for the Chargers, Phillip Rivers has an awesome duo to sling the rock to each week.  Rivers, now 35, continues to have 4,000 yard/30+ TD seasons, and shouldn’t stop this year.

Over time, the Chargers will need to find Rivers replacement, and Allen needs to find a way to stay healthy, leaving each season early over the last two years.  But that also means Williams will quickly emerge as a top receiving option in L.A., and for many years to come.  Mike is a clear WR3 in all Fantasy Football leagues, and his value increases for dynasty leagues.

4. Joe Mixon, RB, CIN

Off-field issues aside, Joe Mixon has tremendous potential in the NFL.  The Cincinnati Bengals surprised no one, adding another off-field issue to their roster in the middle of the 2nd round.  But the Bengals may have grabbed one of the best running back options later than he should have landed, behind Cook.

At the start of the 2017 season, it’ll be interesting to see where Mixon lands in the very crowded running back depth chart for the Bengals.  Joe may not start out the gate, but it’s the long-term value that Mixon presents for Fantasy Football Rookie Dynasty drafts.  The Bengals have a gaggle of players with pieces of Mixon’s talent, but when the dust settles, Joe has the complete package and will ultimately become the lead back.

3. Christian McCaffrey, RB, CAR

Christian McCaffrey, the son of former Denver Broncos great Ed McCaffrey, had a break-out season in 2015.  McCaffrey had over 2,000 rushing yards and almost 650 receiving yards in 2015. Christian had over 100 rushing yards in eleven of his 14 games that season.  McCaffrey also had eight rushing touchdowns and three receiving touchdowns in 2015.  Christian’s 2016 campaign wasn’t as eye-popping, but he was still one of the highest caliber running backs in college football. The Carolina Panthers used the 8th overall pick in the draft to grab McCaffrey in the first round.

McCaffrey is a clear all-purpose beast on the football field and it’s not surprising anyone tried to grab him within the top ten NFL draft picks.  It’s also clear why the Panthers were eager to get a back like McCaffrey.  While Jonathan Stewart may still have some shelf-life left, he’s now over 30 years old and McCaffrey is a clear replacement.  Also, even if they Panthers let Stewart take the first two snaps, Christian will likely be involved in the passing game as a second back, and will at least take punt returns.  Get McCaffrey early in the draft and cling to him for several years.

2. Leonard Fournette

Leonard Fournette looks like a man among boys when breaking tackles or running downfield.  He has been a large imposing back since he was in high school.

The 6′ 240 pound LSU Tiger had a tremendous collegiate career.  Fournette averaged 120 yards per game, averaged well over six yards per carry and 1.25 touchdowns per game throughout his collegiate career.  Leonard’s productivity is predominately on the ground, but he still had almost 15 receptions per year, averaging close to 200 receiving yards per season.  Like McCaffrey, it’s the 2015 when we saw how powerful Fournette’s offensive talents could be.  Leonard had 22 rushing touchdowns in just 12 games, and one receiving touchdown.  Even in the NFL, he may seem like trying to stop a stop a runaway freight train.

At least initially, the biggest concern about Fournette will be the terrible offensive line of the Jaguars.  But if they can put together even a slightly better front wall, Fournette’s value in the 2017 will become impressive immediately.  If the Jaguars build an offensive line around Leonard in future drafts, he has the potential to produce Zeke-like numbers.

1. Corey Davis

During the 2016 season, Davis had 97 receptions for 1,500 yards, and 19 touchdowns in fourteen games.  Corey had 52 touchdowns in his college football career, averaging 13 touchdowns per season, over four seasons, and over one touchdown per game.  The 6’3” Wheaton, IL native became the 5th overall pick of the 2017 draft, where the Tennessee Titans grab him.

The Titans now have an incredible opportunity to groom a 23-year-old Marcus Mariota at quarterback throwing to the tremendously talented 22-year-old Davis.  Mariota had a better 2nd season last year, only throwing nine interceptions, hitting 26 targets for touchdowns, and completing almost 3,500 passing yards.

Davis already has an 87% ownership in most ESPN fantasy football leagues, and I expect the 40% ownership to climb rapidly over the summer in Yahoo leagues, as the media continues to talk about his upside.  If you’re lucky enough to snag Davis in the 6th or 7th round, you could have a dynasty gem for many years to come.

Next: Rookie Dynasty Top Five TE's

Now that we’ve completed our review of the top 20 Fantasy Football Dynasty Rookie picks, we’ll break down the top sophomore options, look for the article soon.  In the meantime, follow us on twitter, @fantasycpr, for updates.