NFL rookies have made an impact across the league already, including two starting QBs and a handful of rookie running backs and wide receivers. There remains big potential of a handful of first-year tight ends, too.
| RANK | PLAYER, POS | TEAM |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kareem Hunt, RB | Kansas City |
| 2 | Leonard Fournette, RB | Jacksonville |
| 3 | Dalvin Cook, RB | Minnesota |
| 4 | Christian McCaffrey, RB | Carolina |
| 5 | Kenny Golladay, WR | Detroit |
| 6 | Joe Mixon, RB | Cincinnati |
| 7 | Tarik Cohen, RB | Chicago |
| 8 | Corey Davis, WR | Tennessee |
| 9 | Cooper Kupp, WR | L.A. Rams |
| 10 | DeShone Kizer, QB | Cleveland |
| 11 | D'Onta Foreman, RB | Houston |
| 12 | Jamaal Williams, RB | Green Bay |
| 13 | Chris Carson, RB | Seattle |
| 14 | Alvin Kamara, RB | New Orleans |
| 15 | Deshaun Watson, QB | Houston |
| 16 | Zay Jones, WR | Buffalo |
| 17 | O.J. Howard, TE | Tampa |
| 18 | John Ross, WR | Cincinnati |
| 19 | Adam Shaheen, TE | Chicago |
| 20 | Evan Engram, TE | NY Giants |
Hunt was a star in Week 1, both as a runner and receiver. There's RB1 potential there, particularly behind that offensive line in that hybrid of the West Coast offense.
It appears Fournette is going to be used as the best way to make Blake Bortles better, and why not? He's a 245-pound beats withg breakaway speed. Feed him. He may not be targeted much in the passing game, so in PPR leagues Dalvin Cook may be better option. But Fournette is reliable and the Jaguars' O-line looked solid versus the Texans front.
Cooper Kupp isn't the deep threat Sammy Watkins is but he's a great route runner with great hands and already looks like Jared Goff's favorite target underneath.
Kenny Golladay is a great athlete who showed big-time ability Week 1 versus a solid Arizona secondary.. Golden Tate is WR1 in Detroit but Golladay may be the the No. 2 target soon, if he isn't already.
Zay Jones' value depends very much on whether or not Tyrdo Taylor can be relatively consistent throwing the football. But he's a major deep threat, too, and perhaps the best option for Taylor down the field.
Kizer is the best bet of the rookie QBs at this point, though Watson has shown he can pile up rushing yards to offset the lack of passing volume and scoring. None of the rookie QBs are good plays in standard leagues, but DFS plays there may be some weeks where such a choice may make sense.
Others that could break into the Top 20 as they ease into the rotation each week or gain opportunities via injury:
Mitch Trubisky, QB –Chicago
David Njoku, TE — Cleveland
Nathan Peterman, QB — Buffalo
ArDarius Stewart, WR — NY Jets
Chad Hansen, WR — NY Jets
Chris Godwin, WR — Tampa Bay
Patrick Mahomes, QB — Kansas City
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