Puka Nacua, Cam Skattebo, Bucky Irving, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jacory Croskey-Merritt: all were later-round rookie picks that hit for fantasy football purposes in recent years. Not all in this year’s class will reach the heights those players did, but there are plenty of rookies worth taking a shot on in the later rounds or keeping an eye on as they potentially bloom into waiver wire targets.
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14-team and dynasty leagues | Superflex leagues
10-team league options
Jonah Coleman, RB, Denver Broncos: Coleman played behind RJ Harvey in the preseason opener but looked good when he got opportunities. Coleman brings a lot of college experience and was a team captain with the Washington Huskies, which certainly is a big reason the Broncos drafted him. He is a three-down back that is effective in pass protection. He lacks the home run-hitting speed Harvey possesses, but he brings more power.
J.K. Dobbins is projected to be the lead runner in the Broncos’ backfield, with Harvey playing that change-of-pace role. If anything were to happen to Dobbins, it would be Coleman who takes over his role. Coleman could also steal valuable passing-down work from Harvey as the season progresses. He is a back worth taking a shot on in the later rounds of your draft.
Mike Washington Jr., RB, Las Vegas Raiders: Washington was a personal favorite of mine heading into the NFL draft, when he ended up falling to the Raiders in the fourth round. Washington combines power with speed and has the capability to be a three-down back while also being an effective runner near the goal line. Typically, Ashton Jeanty will see so much volume that it will be hard for Washington to have standalone value. However, Jeanty is dealing with an ankle injury and while it is not considered long term, Washington could see some added volume if Jeanty were to miss Week 1 or beyond. Washington is one of the top insurance backs in the game who would fall in the RB2 range with more weekly upside if Jeanty does miss time.
Emmett Johnson, RB, Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs’ fifth-round pick is the likely RB2 entering the season. He is a physical north-south runner but does not possess the game-breaking speed of Kenneth Walker III. It is possible we see Johnson used in short-yardage situations, similar to how the Chiefs used Kareem Hunt in past years. In his first preseason action, Johnson looked like an explosive runner who also could be used as a receiving back. He is a strong insurance pick for Walker managers.
Caleb Douglas, WR, Miami Dolphins: Douglas was overlooked for much of the summer but has had a lot of buzz as of late. He made a spectacular one-handed grab in the Dolphins’ preseason opener, but what really impressed me was that he played every snap starting QB Malik Willis played. It seems like Douglas and Malik Washington will be running in two-WR sets. Douglas currently looks like the top option on a Dolphins team that could be trailing and having to throw a lot. Even with his rising stock, he can be had in the later rounds of most drafts.
Chris Bell, WR, Dolphins: The Dolphins also selected Bell in this year’s draft in the third round. The Louisville standout is returning from a torn ACL, which could limit his usage early on. Still, the big-bodied receiver could become a reliable chain mover for Willis and the Dolphins. He might be more of a name to keep on your watch list but still one to know entering the season.
Why fantasy managers should be intrigued by De’Zhaun Stribling
De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, San Francisco 49ers: This pick might be cheating since he was the first pick of the second round. Stribling has size and speed that make him difficult to bring down if he gets going after the catch. While he is not the shiftiest, it is easy to envision a world where Shanahan designs many touches for him. Learning behind Deebo Samuel Sr. is great for his long-term future. Given the age and injury concerns of the 49ers’ top pass catchers, Stribling could be in a prominent fantasy role sooner rather than later.
Ja’Kobi Lane,WR, Baltimore Ravens: The third-round pick out of USC has made a name for himself in camp. Reports indicate Lane has been tough to guard, using his size to win both downfield and in the red zone. Lane followed up a strong camp with a great preseason debut, catching all three of his targets for 38 yards and a touchdown. His red zone ability could help him become immediately relevant in fantasy, as he plays for a high-powered offense that should have lots of scoring chances. But will the Ravens throw much in those situations or continue to rely on RB Derrick Henry?
Still, Lane has a chance to become the WR3 — and maybe even push Rashod Bateman at times for the WR2 job catching passes from Lamar Jackson. That alone makes him a dart throw in the later rounds of fantasy drafts.
Elijah Sarratt, WR, Ravens: The Ravens also drafted Sarratt out of Indiana in the fourth round. Sarratt is a strong route runner with good hands, although he has limitations as a separator. He is more of a name to keep on your watch list as the season progresses.
Cyrus Allen, WR, Chiefs: Allen has had a ton of buzz out of Chiefs camp this summer. He can get open at all three levels (including downfield) to go with after-the-catch abilities. He projects better in the slot but can also win outside, although he might struggle in the red zone initially. The Chiefs have been searching for consistent WR production for years now. Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy have struggled to stay on the field, and both have already been banged up this summer. Allen is worth a dart throw in the latter stages.
12-team league options
Kaelon Black, RB, 49ers: Black went to the 49ers in the third round, which many draft pundits thought was a reach. None of that matters if Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers coaching staff believe in the rookie. Black is a physical runner who relies on tackle-breaking and fighting for extra yards more than making a defender miss. His fantasy value is tied to the health of Christian McCaffrey, who is coming off of a 450-touch season (including playoffs) and has missed practice time this preseason.
The entire 49ers backfield is banged up, with Jordan James, Isaac Guerendo and Black all dealing with injuries. Whoever is able to win the RB2 job — or is healthy enough to handle that work — could see a huge spike in fantasy value should CMC miss any time.
Nicholas Singleton, RB, Tennessee Titans: Singleton is a four-year back who went for nearly 4,500 scrimmage yards, 102 catches and 54 TDs in four years at Penn State. He is still third on the RB depth chart (as we saw in preseason) and has to improve on his pass blocking. What’s working in his favor is that both backs ahead of him (Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears) are old-regime players. Both are talented backs, but they have left fantasy managers wanting more the past couple of seasons. While it is unlikely that Singleton is startable in fantasy right away, there is a chance for him to carve out a large enough role in this backfield to have standalone value as the season progresses.
Malachi Fields, WR, New York Giants: Fields has the traits to be an immediate red zone weapon for the Giants. He has obvious size and is a contested-catch winner. He can play out wide, has a big catch radius and is in the Michael Pittman Jr mold. The Giants are searching for a WR2 and while the most likely scenario is we see a rotation early on, Fields can certainly win the lead gig. That, along with his red zone capabilities, would have him in play as a flex option in fantasy.
14-team or dynasty league options
Zachariah Branch, WR, Atlanta Falcons: Branch is a speedy slot receiver who can create quick separation and win after the catch. He is more of a receiver who would rely on racking up catches and picking up yards after the catch than a big-play type of option. He reminded me of Elijah Moore during the draft process. Branch fell to the receiver-needy Falcons, giving him a chance to be the third target as the season progresses.
Antonio Williams, WR, Washington Commanders: Williams is a shifty, quick receiver with very reliable hands and the ability to win after the catch. Much of his usage in college came behind the line of scrimmage or on short passes, but he did show he can win in the intermediate game. I would not expect a lot of downfield usage. The Commanders signing Stefon Diggs put a bit of a wet blanket on Williams, but he is a name to know and could blossom into a waiver wire target down the road.
Ted Hurst III, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Hurst was the third-round pick in this year’s draft. He is a tall receiver with long strides that help him create separation downfield, and he had a ton of success against press coverage in college. Hurst will likely open the season outside of the Bucs’ top three receivers, but injuries can certainly change that. With the Bucs wanting to use Emeka Egbuka more as the Z and Chris Godwin Jr. in the slot, Hurst would have to beat out Jalen McMillan for the X role. Hurst is a name to monitor early in the season.
Eli Raridon, TE, New England Patriots: Raridon is an athletic tight end with reliable hands. He can be featured as a traditional tight end or used in the slot, and he has received high praise out of Patriots camp this summer. He likely will play in two-TE sets behind Hunter Henry to open the season. He certainly can carve out a larger role as the season progresses, and if Henry misses time, Raridon would be in play as a streaming option.
Superflex late-round picks
Typically with QBs, if you are going to contribute at a high level in Year 1, you get drafted long before the range to be featured in this article. Still, for those in superflex leagues, three later-round rookie QBs could see playing time down the stretch: Carson Beck with the Arizona Cardinals, Cade Klubnikwith the New York Jets and Drew Allar with the Pittsburgh Steelers. I expect the first two to start at some point, while Allar would start in case of an injury.
Source: www.espn.com
