The years of rookies taking time to marinate on NFL depth charts before exploding with high-level production are in the past. Rookies are now some of the best values in best ball drafts with season-defining upside if everything falls in line.
Opinions vary on the strength of this year’s draft class, but I’m here to tell you that I’ll have heavy exposure to this year’s crop of rookies.
Here are the rookies I’m targeting in best ball drafts.
- Best Ball Draft Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE
- Dynasty Trade Value Chart
- Dynasty Rookie Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE
- Latest Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft
Rookies to Target in Best Ball (2023 Fantasy Football)
Here are the rookies I’m targeting in best ball leagues.
Running Backs
Kendre Miller (RB – NO)
Kendre Miller will be a league winner.
Find out why. https://t.co/fvmhL9HB6s
— Andrew Erickson™ (@AndrewErickson_) May 15, 2023
While I might not be the biggest Kendre Miller fan, I’ll still regularly target him in best ball this year. The Alvin Kamara suspension situation is the elephant in the room that will eventually get clarified. Once the length of the suspension is announced, Miller’s ADP will surely rise. Even with Kamara missing time, Miller will still share the workload with Jamaal Williams. I love Williams and will continue to root for him, but let’s be real here. He’s nothing special as a talent. Last year he finished outside the top 50 running backs in juke rate, breakaway run rate, and yards created per touch. Miller will lead the backfield without Kamara and could retain a role as Kamara’s backfield running mate after his return over the lovable Wiliams. Miler’s north/south no-nonsense running style carried him to 23rd in PFF’s elusive rating last year. If something wild happens, like Kamara getting released, Miller will skyrocket to the moon. Draft him now.
DeWayne McBride (RB – MIN)
Remember in Terminator when it wasn’t dead til the red went out from its eyes?
That’s every DeWayne McBride run lol
— Thor Nystrom (@thorku) April 29, 2023
McBride is another talented back that could contend for a starting job should the dominoes fall his way. This is assuming that Dalvin Cook gets traded or released, which has been rumored all off-season. Assuming Cook is jettisoned, Alexander Mattison is the biggest hurdle McBride would have to jump to grab the role. Mattison isn’t unsurmountable, though. His per-carry efficiency has been dropping since he hit the league. His yards after contact per attempt and breakaway percentage have dropped in each of his four seasons in the NFL. In 2022, among 61 rushers with at least 70 rushing attempts (per PFF), Mattison ranked 41st in yards after contact per attempt and 60th in breakaway percentage. McBride has no issue with breaking tackles which could allow him to jump the veteran Mattison on the depth chart. Over the last two years in college, McBride has ranked top-12 in yards after contact per attempt, breakaway rate, and PFF’s elusive rating (minimum 100 carries). I won’t go overboard with McBride exposure, but he could be a plug-and-play top 20 running back if everything goes his way.
Evan Hull (RB – IND)
If you’ve been walking around the Dynasty streets or perusing Twitter, you already know my love for Evan Hull. If you’re just now tuning back into fantasy for best ball season and redraft, Welcome. My name is Derek Brown, and I’m the Evan Hull fan club president. We meet every other Tuesday at noon at the VA bingo hall. I usually bring pizza and drinks. Stop by and punch your Hull club card.
Seriously though, Hull should be the RB2 on the Colts’ depth chart almost immediately. This new coaching staff has no allegiances to mediocre talents Deon Jackson and Zack Moss. Hull has a true three-down skillset that he flaunted at Northwestern. Last year he led all FBS running backs in receiving yards while also ranking 16th in PFF receiving grade and seventh in yards per route run (minimum 20 targets per PFF). Hull is the perfect final pick for zero RB builds and Anthony Richardson stacks.
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