Fantasy Football 2019: One rookie to target at each position
By Ben Vinck
You might not be drafting your fantasy football team for a few months, but here are a few rookies to be targeting when you are on the clock.
The NFL Draft concluded a few weeks ago today. Some rookies, drafted or undrafted, will make a significant impact on your favorite NFL teams, but only a few will make a significant impact for your fantasy football team. Here are one player at each position that can make a difference for you this year:
Quarterback
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Murray’s rise to national prominence was well documented and his decision between the NFL and MLB was highly discussed. He could be a major difference for your fantasy team. Typically rookie quarterbacks struggle to make a major fantasy impact in year one, but Murray is possibly the most dynamic dual threat quarterback to come into the league since Michael Vick.
Rookie passers are inconsistent but with the added value of his rushing ability, he will be a competent quarterback for your team. He rushed for over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns this last year at Oklahoma while throwing 42 touchdowns. Most people would sign up for half of that at the next level. Pass on a quarterback early and draft him in the lower rounds.
Running Back
Josh Jacobs, Oakland Raiders
In a true running back committee, Josh Jacobs shared had a 50-50 split with Damien Harris this past season at Alabama. Their statistics ended up very similar, but Jacobs has a lot less miles and appears to be more of a threat catching the ball.
Few NFL rookies find themselves in a better situation and the Raiders, having spent a first-round selection on him, are clearly convinced that he can come in and be an immediate producer. Go all in on this rookie running back.
Wide Receiver
D.K. Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks
Metcalf is 6-foot-3, 228 pounds, has 1.6 percent body fat and he ran a 4.33 40 yard dash. You couldn’t have created a more god-like human on Madden. Beyond his rare physical traits, he landed himself in the perfect situation to find success as a rookie.
While it’s often difficult for rookie wide receivers to find success in their first year, Metcalf was drafted by a team with an elite quarterback in Russell Wilson and a team in desperate need of receiver help after Doug Baldwin retired. He may not have had the most impressive numbers in college, but he caught on in the perfect situation in Seattle and is worth a late-round flyer.
Tight End
T.J. Hockenson, Detroit Lions
As a sophomore at Iowa, Hockenson recorded 49 catches for 760 yards and six receiving touchdowns. His measurables compare closely to a thinner Travis Kelce and he also boasts some serious chops as a blocker as well.After being selected eighth-overall by the Detroit Lions, expect Hockenson to be on the field early and often.
Similar to the last couple of seasons, the tight end position for fantasy has been extremely thin so Hockenson will finish the season in the top 10 for fantasy tight ends if he’s able to build a nice rapport with quarterback Matthew Stafford. So if you don’t land an elite tight end in the early rounds wait and get a steal late with the newest member of the Lions.
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Kicker
Austin Seibert, Cleveland Browns
While some fantasy football fans would argue that kickers shouldn’t even be part of the game, that is a discussion we can have another time. For now, kickers are part of the standard rosters for mostly all fantasy football platforms and thus here’s the recommendation.
Seibert was selected in the fifth round to a team that has had its share of kicking frustrations. It’s typically smart to shy away from kickers in an outdoor stadium, especially cold-weather kickers, but Seibert happens to be kicking for one of the most dynamic offenses in the league. Seibert would be an excellent selection for those who enjoy leaving the fate of a fantasy matchup or season to a kicker.