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Projecting Draft Destinations For Six Fantasy-Relevant Rookies

Projecting Draft Destinations For Six Fantasy-Relevant Rookies
Todd_Gurley_Rams

Todd Gurley made a significant fantasy impact as a rookie. Which 2016 rookie will make similar waves?

Chances are that if you’re not playing on the daily fantasy sites this postseason, the fantasy season of 2015 is over for you. But it’s never too early to get a jump start on next year. There’s the excitement of free agency, the unknowns surrounding the draft, and then an entire off-season of questions.

When it comes to free agents, most of the time we already have a good understanding of what each respective player brings to the table. Additionally, many high profile players will never see the light of day in free agency. If you’re realistically expecting Alshon Jeffery to leave the Chicago Bears, I have beachfront property in Tempe, Arizona that’s for sale at a low cost. However there are players such as Marvin Jones, Rueben Randle, and Travis Benjamin that could eliminate the need for a team to have to draft one of the potential rookie contributors to your fantasy team.

So without further ado, let’s predict where the following rookies would immediately contribute to your fantasy football teams in 2016.

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Laremy Tunsil (OT – University of Mississippi) – Tennessee Titans
I know what you’re thinking. What does an offensive lineman have to do with fantasy football? Will as it relates to the Titans: Everything. With 2015 first round pick Jeremiah Poutasi possibly transitioning to left guard, the Tennessee Titans need to continue to address their offensive line. Tunsil immediately brings stability to Marcus Mariota‘s blind side. The Titans allowed the most sacks in the NFL. The move wouldn’t also just affect the Titans’ quarterback. Last season the Titans had the second lowest average in second level rushing yards (0.95) in the NFL. These are yards where the running back goes 5 to 10 yards past the line of scrimmage. If the Titans can successfully address their offensive line in the draft they could present a great deal of value in next year (Think Jaguars and Raiders this year).

Will Fuller (WR – Notre Dame) – Philadelphia Eagles
Fire up the game against USC. You will see Adoree’ Jackson absolutely dominated. Fuller had 708 receiving yards on passes that traveled over 20 yards in the air for the season. The DeSean Jackson references are not off base when it comes to Fuller’s speed. What he does have that Jackson doesn’t, is the ability (and more importantly, the willingness) to go downfield and engage defenders in the run game. After Week 9, Sam Bradford was the third most accurate quarterback in the NFL on passes traveling 20 or more yards in the air. The ability to stretch a defense would make life incredibly easy on Jordan Matthews, Nelson Agholor, and Zach Ertz. As Matt Waldman notes, however, it will help at the next level if Fuller gets more aggressive catching the football.

Ezekiel Elliott (RB – Ohio State) – Houston Texans
It has been reported that the Texans are going to be releasing running back Arian Foster. Well, it just so happens that one of the best running backs in the draft could be available at the 22nd pick. Elliott was a former high school sprinter and hurdler in the state of Missouri. He has top-end speed (see his 80 yard touchdown run against Virginia Tech this past year) but also demonstrates great patience allowing his lanes to form. Urban Meyer’s Buckeye offense ran many inside zone runs along with counters. While the Texans aren’t using zone blocking as much as they used to in the run game, Elliott would allow a seamless transition from Foster.

Laquon Treadwell (WR – University of Mississippi) – Dallas Cowboys
You know you want to see it. As Tony Romo ends up closer to a lifetime guest appearance on M.A.S.H., his dwindling days should be spent with an amazing set of wide receivers. Sure, if Jared Goff is available the Cowboys might take him. Jerry Jones loves making a splash, and Treadwell is the splash of the draft. After all, the duct tape and mirrors that were Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley didn’t produce in Dez Bryant‘s absence. His value in dynasty leagues likely would be higher than in 2016 redraft leagues.

Jared Goff (QB – University of California, Berkeley) – San Francisco 49ers
Maybe I’ll be the one person that vocally and adamantly does not want Colin Kaepernick to be the 49ers quarterback next season. Why? Because I want Chip Kelly and Trent Baalke to agree on one simple thing: The 49ers need a franchise quarterback. The Eagles were eager to try to move up to get Mariota. The 49ers have nine draft picks and could even get up to three additional compensatory draft picks as well. They have a lot of ammunition to make a deal with the Cleveland Browns. Yes, the 49ers need help at a lot of positions, but quarterback is first and foremost, and it’s not Kaepernick. To be frank however, if they can’t get Goff, Carson Wentz is a very good consolation prize.

C.J. Prosise (RB – Notre Dame) – Arizona Cardinals
I want the rich to get richer. With Chris Johnson a free agent this offseason and Andre Ellington likely on the way out in Arizona after next year, the Cardinals can get great value in the third round by taking Prosise. I’m sure the majority of David Johnson backers are not happy with this, but running back committees are the rage in the NFL. Prosise can run between the tackles or be on the field on passing downs. The ultimate question will be whether he has a very successful lead-up to the draft. If so, he could be a sneaky pick in the second round. Only seven running backs that surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in the FBS (I-A) had a higher YPC than Prosise last season.

Matt Giraldi is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Matt, check out his archive or follow him on Twitter @Mgiraldi.

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