It’s that time of the year, where fantasy football is ready to shift into high gear in a few weeks and dynasty rookie drafts are right around the corner. ECR Rookie Rankings are ready for you to view, but as always there are a few people who are being undervalued and several on the opposite end of the spectrum. Today, I’ll tell you about those players and why they should be more highly regarded.
Undervalued
Chris Godwin (WR – TB)
“Man, Godwin is amazing. He’s an amazing young talent.” — Jameis Winston.
Godwin may not have put up top-tier stats in college, but he showcased plenty of speed at the combine at possesses enough potential that the Bucs scooped him up with the 84th pick. He isn’t listed here because he himself is underrated, but because his situation is phenomenal. The Bucs have Mike Evans, a volatile DeSean Jackson and……no one else. Godwin could see 60% of passing snaps from the get-go and is a deep-threat for the ultimate deep-passing quarterback.
It’s that time of the year, where fantasy football is ready to shift into high gear in a few weeks and dynasty rookie drafts are right around the corner. ECR Rookie Rankings are ready for you to view, but as always there are a few people who are being undervalued and several on the opposite end of the spectrum. Today, I’ll tell you about those players and why they should be more highly regarded.
Undervalued
Chris Godwin (WR – TB)
“Man, Godwin is amazing. He’s an amazing young talent.” — Jameis Winston.
Godwin may not have put up top-tier stats in college, but he showcased plenty of speed at the combine at possesses enough potential that the Bucs scooped him up with the 84th pick. He isn’t listed here because he himself is underrated, but because his situation is phenomenal. The Bucs have Mike Evans, a volatile DeSean Jackson and……no one else. Godwin could see 60% of passing snaps from the get-go and is a deep-threat for the ultimate deep-passing quarterback.
ECR: Rookie #17
My Ranks: Rookie #13
Jamaal Williams (RB – GB)
I can’t figure out for the life of me how Williams is currently ranked so low among rookies. I imagine within the next two months, his stock will soar because we are talking about someone who could be an RB1 this time next year. While Ty Montgomery has a shot to excel in Green Bay’s scheme, it must be said that a pure running back with Williams’ pedigree should get the bulk of the work once they establish themselves. Not only did he smash the BYU record book, but this big, quick back runs through tackles with the best of them. He just may take over the starting gig early in the season even without an injury.
ECR: Rookie #25
My Ranks: Rookie #11
Marlon Mack (RB – IND)
Speaking of good situations, Marlon Mack landed in a beauty. The Colts score a load of touchdowns and only have the mediocre 34-year-old Frank Gore higher on the depth chart. It is possible that Christine Michael will make the roster and compete for carries as well, but Mack looks to be the heir to a job that could be passed down within weeks of the season’s start. Mack is a breakaway running back who eludes plenty of tackles and can catch the ball well enough to become a legitimate three-down back in this league.
ECR: Rookie #31
My Ranks: Rookie #17
Kenny Golladay (WR – DET)
Many were shocked when the Lions traded up to the 96th pick to select Golladay, who most considered a 5th or 6th rounder. Others meanwhile, saw the body, knew his athletic profile and projected him to be the steal of the draft. Since OTAs started, perhaps no rookie has turned heads as much as the 6’4″ Golladay who could fight for playing time right away. Even if he doesn’t, this is a future red-zone stud with a huge catch-radius.
ECR: Rookie #41
My Ranks: Rookie #25
Joshua Dobbs (QB – PIT)
Like some of the skill players listed above, this one doesn’t have as much to do with Dobbs as much as his situation. Apparently, Big Ben seriously contemplated retirement this off-season, which means Dobbs could be in line to start as early as 2018. That wouldn’t be so exciting were it not for Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell, Martavis Bryant and a gob of other talented pass catchers available to throw to. Dobbs is the quintessential game manager with the work ethic to succeed in this league the way Andy Dalton has been able to with A.J. Green by his side.
ECR: Rookie #58
My Ranks: Rookie #42
Jehu Chesson (WR – KC)
The Michigan Wolverines had a number of pass catchers selected during the draft, but only Chesson shows up near the top of their all-time receiving list in virtually every category. Had he been healthy his entire senior season, there is reason to believe he would have been selected in the first two rounds. Chesson has used his 6’3″ body and unrivaled instincts to compete against some of the toughest secondary prospects over his college years. That could translate well to the NFL if he is able to break through the Chiefs’ lackluster receiving core.
ECR: Unranked
My Ranks: Rookie #40
Overvalued
Alvin Kamara (RB – NO)
This doesn’t have as much to do with Kamara as it does Mark Ingram, Adrian Peterson and Drew Brees. Sure, Kamara has been called Jamaal Charles lite, and could see some passing-down snaps, but unless the Saints suffer multiple major injuries to their running back core and change their general offensive philosophy, Kamara’s ceiling this year and in the future is limited to a borderline top 100 player.
ECR: Rookie #8
My Ranks: Rookie #16
JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR – PIT)
Like Kamara, JuJu is plenty talented, but his landing spot is less than ideal. With Brown, Bryant, Bell, Rogers and maybe Coates on the receiver depth chart ahead of him, he will have a long way to climb to even see the field enough to be fantasy relevant. What’s more, is that he is a little slow and might struggle to get separation in the NFL.
ECR: Rookie #13
My Ranks: Rookie #19
Carlos Henderson (WR – DEN)
Some are enamored by Henderson and his sensational ability to force missed tackles. As you can guess, I am not one of those guys. We have seen Tavon Austin essentially turn into a bust, and this is a less talented version of the Rams’ receiver. Henderson is small, raw in his route tree and has been known to disappear from games. There is nice upside to this prospect, but I’m not paying the exuberant price he is going for now.
ECR: Rookie #15
My Ranks: Rookie #24
D’Onta Foreman (RB – HOU)
It has become clear that Lamar Miller can’t handle a full workhorse running back load, so you’d think Foreman would excite me as a rookie. He has what it takes to be a reliable goal-line back in this league but won’t break a bunch of tackles even though he is quite athletic. Perhaps most importantly, he has fumbles issues and doesn’t even try in pass protection, so it seems unlikely he will actually be considered the immediate backup to Miller until he sorts that out. As if that weren’t enough, Foreman has considerable usage on his tires which is a big red flag for a running back coming out of college.
ECR: Rookie #16
My Ranks: Rookie #29
Jeremy McNichols (RB – TB)
It is easy to look at his phenomenal stats and fall in love. He has terrific vision and can even catch the ball out of the backfield. That is where the praise ends from me, however. When I watch the tape, he looks slow for a small guy, and isn’t sturdy enough to run through much of anything in the NFL. McNichols has a place in the NFL as a third-down back, but doesn’t what it takes to be fantasy relevant from week to week.
ECR: Rookie #24
My Ranks: Rookie #36
I’ve bolded a few more names I’ve been targeting in deep dynasty drafts and italicized several more that I’m avoiding at their price point.
Expert Consensus Rankings
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