Every year there are a slew questions that we ask ourselves when the Fantasy Football season comes to a close. Who was the biggest bust? Who was the best draft bargain? Who was the best rookie? Who was the best waiver wire pickup? Who was the comeback player of the year? Who will be next year’s number one pick? And finally, who was the MVP? So, we here at Last Word on Sports have created an award ceremony to declare the winner of each category. And without further ado, let’s GET IT ON!
Every year we welcome a rookie class into the fraternity known as the NFL. Normally you might find one or two players from the rookie class that will impact the game of fantasy in a given year. This year is far from normal!
A rookie resembles the new kid in school, you never know what to expect. Will they bring it every day or be that player that has two big games and disappears right after you claim them through the free agent wire. The best way to describe rookies is they are like me with a grocery list, unreliable.
You can make the case for so many rookies to win this award but without further rambling by me let’s get to it.
Fantasy Football’s Best Rookie of the Year (ROY)
Honorable Mention Goes To…..
Tre Mason, running back for the Saint Louis Rams. He is a guy who had a legit shot of getting in the count down if he had more opportunities earlier in the year. I do not think it’s a coincidence that when he started the Rams started winning. He has totaled over 700 yards in his eight starts to combine with his five touchdowns. He deserves to be here.
5) Sammy Watkins, BUF WR: He was drafted to be the man and he made great strides to be exactly that. One game remains and he already has 925 yards receiving from 62 receptions. He has crossed the goal line six times this year. A normal year for rookies and this player would be the winner but this is far from a normal year. This is the greatest rookie class of receivers EVER! That is right I said it. It doesn’t matter who this guy’s quarterback is he will perform at a high level regularly in his career. This will mark the first time since the mid 1990’s for Bills fans to be excited.
4) Jeremy Hill, CIN RB: Through 15 weeks of action this player has went from back up to starter. He showed he is capable of running in-between the tackles as well as bouncing it outside. He also proved us all wrong when we said he didn’t have the hands to catch passes out of the backfield. All this guy did was tally 877 yards rushing on 177 attempts through 14 games. He is a tough north south rusher that runs with a bruiser mentality. He took the job from a fan favorite second year rusher, Giovani Bernard, who most had as an early round pick this past fantasy draft. Hill fits Offensive Coordinator Hue Jackson’s running scheme perfectly and this is a match that will get better in time like a fine wine.
3) Mike Evans, TB WR: Many might be surprised that he isn’t even higher for this award but let me explain. This is the only receiver in this conversation that plays opposite of another stud receiver in Vincent Jackson. That means he will not experience the double teams or over top coverage that some of these other receivers will have to experience and beat to get in this list. His 997 yards on 63 receptions is flat out beast like. Add that with 11 touchdowns and this receiver is must play status in his first year. He deserves to be here but no higher. It isn’t his fault he plays with more talented receivers but it sure does help not to face the best other teams have to offer.
2) Kelvin Benjamin, CAR WR: This guy is my man! Benjamin is simply amazing but only scratches the surface of his ability. He plays with an erratic quarterback that wrecks games like he does his truck. Not to mention that he has no time to run his routes because the offensive line cannot hold a block even when they hold. Somehow this guy still finds a way to bring in 72 receptions and gained 999 yards to this point of the season. He also scored nine times already and is primed to do more than that with a game left. His first day he came right in to the main wide out spot and faced the best the other teams had to offer. Still, he has a lot of growing and learning to do, but that’s the scary part; he should get better!
1) Odell Beckham JR., NYG WR: The winner has to be clear and for me it definitely is a clear winner. Forget he made possibly the greatest catch ever made in the NFL. He has been on fire since getting his chance to shine and brings hope to Giant fans across the globe. After missing the beginning of the year, he still managed to get over 1,120 yards receiving on 79 receptions and has also scored 11 touchdowns in the 10 games he started. The sky is the limit when you combine him with Victor Cruz next year and all Giants fans feel it. There is no doubt that this guy deserves this spot and the title of best fantasy rookie player of the year.
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