Ezekiel Elliott landed in the perfect spot for a rookie RB, but is the hype legit?

Training camps are nearing and there is plenty of hype being tossed around fantasy circles. Whether it’s a rookie, veteran, running back, wide receiver, etc., there is no shortage of lofty claims about who is going to do what in 2016.

Now there’s no fault in people expecting Eddie Lacy to bounce back in a big way. After all, he’s not quite as “big” these days and that’s a legitimate reason to have hope after his sluggish 2015. Hype can be overblown though with so much noise. So how do we know what to listen to? Our featured pundits are helping with just that question as we ask them what players they’re buying and selling based on the hype. If you see a player listed in both buy/sell, just consider yourself more educated on why people are taking both sides (hint… this happens below).

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Pick Recap:

Q1. Who is a player deservedly receiving hype that fantasy owners should buy into?

Keenan Allen (WR – SD)
“Keep on hyping up Keenan Allen. This guy was an absolute monster during his shortened season in 2015. He’s a target machine and will pay huge dividends especially in points per reception leagues. He’s currently going as the WR9 in those formats, but I could very well see him finishing top-5; a spot where the incumbent WR5 (A.J. Green) is going in the middle of the first round.”
– Richard Janvrin (Bleacher Report)

Sammy Watkins (WR – BUF)
“While injury questions persist, Sammy Watkins has been skyrocketing up draft boards this season and is widely ranked among the top-10 fantasy wideouts in the game — for good reason. Over his last nine games in 2015, Watkins reeled in seven TDs, busting the 100-yard mark five times, and topping 80 yards in two other contests. A more experienced Tyrod Taylor will continue to lean on the most dangerous offensive weapon. Sammy is primed to take the next step into the fantasy elite.”
– Wayne Bretsky (BretskyBall)

Ezekiel Elliott (RB – DAL)
“Buy into the Ezekiel Elliott hype. He is the real deal and will be given every opportunity to succeed this year. He is obviously not going to be available for too long in drafts – just don’t let question marks shy you away from taking him in the tail end of Round 1. Truth is, all but maybe 2 players have question marks heading into this season. Being a “rookie” shouldn’t be a reason to pass him up considering most rookies aren’t as polished as him or wind up in the ideal situation he is in to start his career.”
– Sean Koerner (STATS)

Allen Hurns (WR – JAC)
“How in the world can people be sleeping so hard on Allen Hurns? Is he likely to regress some? Sure, but his current ADP would mark a regression a near 25% when comparing it to the WR31 from last season, a drop that would be incredible. That WR31 ADP would also make him a low-end WR3 in a 12 team league, sandwiched right between John Brown and Devante Parker. I’d be frankly amazed if he didn’t significantly outperform his ADP.”
– The FFGhost (Dynasty League Football)

Tyrod Taylor (QB – BUF)
“Tyrod Taylor’s performance for the Buffalo Bills was quietly exceptional last season. Adding in his 528 rushing yards, the surprise starter tallied an average of 257.4 yards per game while putting up more touchdowns per touch than Big Ben. He’s currently the 19th quarterback off the board in terms of ADP and barely a draftable commodity in 12-team leagues. That’s absolutely absurd. Adding to this is the fact that Taylor ranked in the top 10 in consistency among quarterbacks in our data over at eDraft and put up 15-plus fantasy points in 11 of his 14 starts as a first-year starter in 2015.”
– Vincent Frank (eDraft)

Q2. What one player is currently over-hyped and tell us why he’ll disappoint fantasy owners this season.

Kelvin Benjamin (WR – CAR)
“I love Kelvin Benjamin as a player but I feel he is over-hyped heading into this season. He had a fantastic rookie campaign in ’14 but it is a bit much to assume he will pick up where he left off. After missing the entire ’15 season due to a torn ACL he is now coming back to an offense with several offensive weapons now. The Panthers passing attack can’t make 3-4 receiving options happy every week and I see him closer to a top-30 WR as opposed to a Top-20 or even a Top-15 WR some sites have him.”
– Sean Koerner (STATS)

Ezekiel Elliott (RB – DAL)
“The easy answer here is likely an unpopular one—Ezekiel Elliot. He’s currently being drafted in the first round, and there are plenty of good reasons as to why (great offensive line, great supporting cast). However, to invest a first round draft pick in him over guys such as Dez Bryant may leave fantasy owners a little bummed out after it is all said and done. His ADP is not his fault, but I’d feel more comfortable taking him in the second round. Manage the hype!”
– Richard Janvrin (Bleacher Report)

“The situation couldn’t be sweeter for rookie Ezekiel Elliott as he walks into a starting job behind one of the top offensive lineup in the leagues. He’s also got the benefit of a veteran quarterback and elite wide receiver to help keep moving the sticks. But there remains one thing Elliott just does not have — a single professional carry to his name. The future should be bright in Big D for the talented runner, but the transition to the big stage is often more difficult than many think. Spend a top-10 pick on a rookie? No thanks.”
– Wayne Bretsky (BretskyBall)

Mark Ingram (RB – NO)
“I think people need to pump the brakes on the Mark Ingram hype train just a bit. That’s not to say he’s not going to have a good season but right now he’s ranked higher than Devonta Freeman, Eddie Lacy and Matt Forte, all players who have had 1,000 yard rushing seasons while Ingram has yet to reach that achievement in his five-year career. He must also, at least partially, split carries with Tim Hightower in all likelihood. There is no way I’m drafting him as my RB1, much less ahead of the safer options I’ve listed.”
– The FFGhost (Dynasty League Football)

Ben Roethlisberger (QB – PIT)
“Ben Roethlisberger is one of those fantasy enigmas we come across quite often. Some stats suggest he’s more than capable of being an elite-level performer. Others don’t. With an ADP that currently has him as the fifth quarterback off the board (mid-fifth round), there’s not a lot to like here. Big Ben may have averaged a league-best 328.2 yards last season, but he tallied just 21 touchdowns in 469 attempts (one per 20.9 passes). He also ranked 19th among quarterbacks in consistency according to our data and put up 38 percent of his fantasy points in three games. Go with the value Blake Bortles, Tony Romo, and Derek Carr bring later in the draft.”
– Vincent Frank (eDraft)

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Thank you to the experts for telling us who they’re buying/selling. Be sure to give them a follow on Twitter and leave your comments below.

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