Rankings about each position are great, but in the real world there aren’t drafts that are only quarterbacks, running backs, or linebackers, etc. I will do sort the top 44 fantasy relevant players within a two to four-year window. I will base my
rankings on a points per reception format, four points per passing touchdown, 6 points for all other touchdowns, sacks worth two and a half times what a tackle is worth, and turnovers on offense minus two with plus two for the defense.
1.WR Mike Evans, Bucs– He has the size, speed, hands, and surrounding weapons to be the best fantasy season this year and can only grow in the offense. I think he will have a better pro career than his teammate Vincent Jackson.
2. WR Sammy Watkins, Bills- Watkins is the most elusive, quick-twitched receiver in this rookie class. Sure he is shorter than Evans, but he gets EJ Manuel throwing him the ball. Evans gets Josh McCown or Mike Glennon, hence the one spot differential in your rookie dynasty drafts.
3. WR Odell Beckham Jr., Giants– This receiver adjusts well to the ball, has great hands, and will succeed where Hakeem Nicks could not long-term. Chances are you can get him a little later in tight end premium leagues or where people are too destitute for running backs in fantasy leagues.
4. WR Brandin Cooks, Saints– Sure he is small, but he is blazing fast with great body control. Cooks gets to catch passes from Drew Brees day one and the Saints need someone to infuse into their speed demon role now that Darren Sproles went to the Eagles.
5. TE Eric Ebron, Lions- The Lions are built to throw the ball. This big, athletic tight end can work the middle of the field while being a major mismatch for not only the putrid NFC North pass defenses, but the entire leagues. Ebron is a no brainer in tight end premium leagues.
6. RB Bishop Sankey, Titans- There is nothing exciting about his game other than his consistency. Sankey has no one in his way to have the best fantasy season for a rookie runner this season.
7.RB Devanta Freeman, Falcons- This is probably a bit too high for most other than Rumford Johnny and me. Freeman runs big for his size, has good wiggle, can catch the ball, and pass block. Steven Jackson will get in his way during the month of September, after that smooth sailing in your fantasy leagues.
8. RB Carlos Hyde, 49ers- No one has done better using his more athletic quarterback as a shield than Hyde. This running only needs to worry about an aging Frank Gore, which is why he is down a spot or two more than you would think. In two years, I can see Hyde as a consistent top seven fantasy running back.
9. WR Marqise Lee, Jaguars- Some injury concerns flared up during the draft, but this talent receiver gets the chance to become the WR1 fantasy receiver in Jacksonville with a strong-armed rookie heaving the ball. Lee needs to prove his final season at USC was a product of injury and poor quarterback play.
10. QB Johnny Manziel, Browns- Manziel could not have landed in a better spot. He has a talented defense behind him, so he won’t have to put the entire Brown’s fan base on his shoulders. Gordon’s potential suspension will hurt his short-term value, but the infusion of a running game will make him more dangerous in the NFL and for your dynasty team.
11. WR Kelvin Benjamin, Panthers- The mountain of a man with concentration issues and rawness may be too big to play the wide receiver position. Benjamin could flourish with Cam Newton tossing him the pigskin or flame out. I’m hopeful that the rookie figures it out, otherwise Greg Olsen is going to be very tired.
12. RB Isaiah Crowell, Browns- This ranking is about his football skill and the hope Crowell matured. Crowell has great vision, explosive moves, and great balance. He is the most talented runner on the Browns, but he could flame out quickly.
13. QB Teddy Bridgewater, Vikings- The soft-spoken quarterback may not have Manziel ’s rocket arm. Bridgewater has poise under pressure, moves well around the pocket, is very accurate within 25 yards of the line of scrimmage, and can scramble out of trouble if necessary. He has a great supporting cast and should have a successful career with all the Minnesota offensive weapons.
14. TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Bucs- ASF is a versatile weapon in Tampa. He is a decent blocker and even better receiver. Defenses will not be able to concentrate on him with Jackson, Evans, and Doug Martin on the field.
15. RB Jeremy Hill, Bengals- The bigger back is a good one-two punch with Gio Bernard. Hill has the size and strength to be used in all short yardage and goal line situations. This wasn’t the situation that most fantasy owners wanted him to land.
16. WR Jordan Matthews, Eagles- Matthews has a great blood line (distant cousin to Jerry Rice) and has a tremendous work ethic. The young receiver has already requested tape on the defensive backs in his division. He has the size, speed, and hands to become a huge weapon for the Eagles. In the first two rookie drafts I have done, Matthews has gone top five and I’m not sure why.
17. QB Blake Bortles, Jaguars- This young athletic quarterback got drafted into a great situation, but patience is important with him and his young weapons.
18. WR Devante Adams, Packers- The receiver did everything in his power to make Derek Carr look like a viable first round NFL Draft pick for months. He will get to catch passes from one of the best signal callers in the game and they might be reloading for next season with Cobb and Nelson’s contracts both up after 2014.
19. WR Paul Richardson, Seahawks- He is a taller DeSean Jackson, speedy and wiry. Richardson can stretch the field for the Seahawks, but might not get that many targets.
20. RB Tre Mason, Rams- Mason is a more polished, shiftier runner than Zach Stacy, but lacks the power and pass blocking skills. This might be more of a RBBC situation, so Stacy owners buy now before the price gets too high.
21. WR Jarvis Landry, Dolphins- He was the more consistent receiver than fellow Tiger Odell Beckham Jr. Landry runs precise routes, has big mitts, and isn’t afraid to make contested catches. I think he becomes Ryan Tannehill’s new best friend, after Ryan’s wife of course.
22. WR Donte Moncrief, Colts- Talk about a great situation, you get Andrew Luck throwing you the ball and only the inconsistent Hakeem Nicks in your way for playing time. Reggie Wayne is a year older and their running game is still a mess.
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