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2018 NFL Draft Fantasy Impact

2018 NFL Draft Fantasy Impact

The three days of excitement are over after our favorite teams revamped their rosters through the NFL Draft. Now it’s time to shift gears and the fun is just beginning as we start focusing on what to do this upcoming fantasy season.

Whether you’re in a dynasty league, participate in rookie drafts, are entering best ball contests right now, or are looking ahead to getting a leg up in your redraft league, we’ve got fantasy insight from a few of the top experts in the industry below. See which rookies (and vets) have had their stock impacted the most after the weekend’s festivities.

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1. Give us the rookie whose stock is on the rise the most by virtue of the situation he walks into (team/depth/etc). How early should he go in a rookie draft?

Michael Gallup (WR – DAL)
“After watching him fall down draft boards, Michael Gallup landed in the perfect situation to be a contributor immediately in fantasy football. Replacing Dez Bryant wasn’t as high on the Cowboys priority list as it should’ve been, but Gallup can play the traditional “X receiver” in the offense. Playing alongside Allen Hurns and Cole Beasley shouldn’t concern you, and not to mention the fact that Jason Witten casually retired on Friday. Dak Prescott is going to need a go-to receiver and I’m betting Gallup is the guy.”
– Mike Tagliere (FantasyPros)

“This is a pretty mundane rookie WR class, but Michael Gallup gets a nice value bump by landing in Dallas, where his target competition is a pu pu platter of mediocre veterans. Not that Gallup is necessarily a future star — on a different team he might have been doomed to a year or two of invisibility — but he should be fantasy-relevant right away. Highly productive at Colorado State, Gallup is a springy athlete who might be able to do a passable impersonation of Dez Bryant (recent-vintage Dez, at least). It’s worth considering Gallup near the end of the first round in rookie dynasty drafts.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (The Football Girl)

D.J. Moore (WR – CAR) | Royce Freeman (RB – DEN)
“Two names jump out: D.J. Moore and Royce Freeman. Both players were going in the 13th round or later in early best ball drafts, and they both landed with teams that desperately need playmakers at their respective positions. Moore will challenge Devin Funchess to be the No. 1 option in Carolina, while Freeman will have a shot to be the featured back in Denver, provided he can beat out Devontae Booker and De’Angelo Henderson. Given the draft capital spent, both Moore and Freeman should get every opportunity for big roles in 2018.”
– John Paulsen (4for4.com)

Rashaad Penny (RB – SEA)
“The obvious answer is Saquon Barkley. So let’s move on to Rashaad Penny. Derrius Guice (that backfield is his) and Royce Freeman (same) are close behind, but Penny is the next up behind Barkley. People are going to complain about the offensive line, but they also forget the Seahawks traded for Duane Brown last seasons and signed D.J. Fluker, who proved to be quite good in run blocking for the Giants. The line isn’t as bad as you think, and Penny can take any play to the house. He’s my RB19 in 1/2 PPR and 33rd player overall.”
– Jake Ciely (RotoExperts)

2. Last season, Alvin Kamara offered great value despite flying under the radar as a mid-round pick. Name 1 rookie that has the best shot to be a surprise stud this season.

Nick Chubb (RB – CLE)
“Alvin Kamara joined a crowded backfield that already featured Mark Ingram and Adrian Peterson, which is why his ADP remained depressed last summer. Nick Chubb enters a similar situation. He joins the recently-signed Carlos Hyde and passing game specialist Duke Johnson in the Cleveland backfield. Johnson likely retains his receiving role, but if Chubb can beat out Hyde this summer, he could turn in a starter-caliber fantasy season, especially in standard formats where receptions aren’t as important.”
– John Paulsen (4for4.com)

Chase Edmonds (RB – ARI)
“Digging deeper, if David Johnson suffers another injury, you’re going to want Chase Edmonds on every.single.team. He actually profiled similarly to some of the top rookie running backs but is from a small school with workload and injury concerns. Someone with more opportunity is Nick Chubb, as he was in the conversation for the draft’s top running back before his injuries years ago.”
– Jake Ciely (RotoExperts)

Justin Jackson (RB – LAC)
“Knowing what we do about Melvin Gordon and the fact that he’s had a hard time holding up to his massive workload, a name to keep an eye on is Justin Jackson. He was a workhorse for Northwestern and that was the knock on him – that he’s got a lot of miles on his tires. The good thing is that he’s been able to remain healthy through those miles and play on all three downs. Should something happen where Gordon misses time, Jackson could be a fantasy league-winner on a potent Chargers offense. ”
– Mike Tagliere (FantasyPros)

Jordan Wilkins (RB – IND)
“Fifth-rounder Jordan Wilkins could eventually start for the Colts, who dramatically upgraded their offensive line over the weekend and should become much more efficient in the running game. Indy drafted Nyheim Hines a round before taking Wilkins, but Hines is a passing-down back, not an early-down guy. Marlon Mack will enter training camp atop the depth chart. I’m not a Mack enthusiast, and I think the quick-footed Wilkins has at least a puncher’s chance to be the Colts’ lead back by late September.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (The Football Girl)

3. What veteran player walks away as the biggest winner based on the new addition(s) to his team and how does it affect how you value him this season?

Alex Collins (RB – BAL)
“Cam Newton gets D.J. Moore and the Dolphins didn’t draft any major competition for Kenyan Drake, but I think Alex Collins got a sizable bump post-draft since the Ravens gave him a vote of confidence by not selecting any running backs and instead focusing on opening up the passing game (which in turn should help Collins find more running lanes). Also, in my rankings, Collins was behind a couple of running backs who had bad drafts — Rex Burkhead and Chris Thompson — since their teams used sizable draft capital at the running back position. As the dust settles, Collins should be firmly ranked as a RB2.”
– John Paulsen (4for4.com)

Eli Manning (QB – NYG) 
“Can we say Eli Manning at this point of his career? Not only did the Giants add an amazing running back, but they grabbed one of the top guards in the draft. With the Barkley, Nate Solder and Will Hernandez additions, plus the return of a healthy Odell Beckham (and don’t dismiss the potential of Dez Bryant on a one-year deal), Manning could rebound into the top-end QB2 group.”
– Jake Ciely (RotoExperts)

Jordan Howard (RB – CHI)
“After hearing all about how the Bears were going to trade Jordan Howard and that he didn’t fit Matt Nagy’s scheme, it all turned out to be nothing. There isn’t a single running back on the roster outside of Howard who can handle starter carries, meaning he’s going to get all he can handle, similar to Kareem Hunt under Nagy last season. Howard still concerns me catching passes out of the backfield, but he’s going to get enough touches to justify a second-round pick in fantasy drafts.”
– Mike Tagliere (FantasyPros)

Jerick McKinnon (RB – SF)
“It has to be Jerick McKinnon. Not only did the 49ers decline to spend any of their nine draft picks on a running back, but they spent a top-10 pick on an offensive tackle (Mike McGlinchey). I have McKinnon ranked RB17 for redraft leagues and even that might be too conservative.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (The Football Girl)


Thank you to the experts for giving us their thoughts on the NFL Draft’s fantasy impact. Be sure to give them a follow on Twitter and subscribe to our podcast below for advice all year round.


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