The 2019 NFL Draft is in the rearview mirror, which means it’s time to start looking at the fantasy football draft. The 2019 NFL Draft brought in several new faces who should make a fantasy impact, regardless of format. Whether you’re looking for the best players to add in a dynasty league or looking for late-round steals, make sure to keep an eye on these fantasy football rookie rankings for all the best adds.
Fantasy Football Draft Headquarters
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings
Tier One: Best of the Best
Josh Jacobs, RB, OAK
David Montgomery, RB, CHI
Running backs Josh Jacobs and David Montgomery are easily the top two rookies in fantasy football. Jacobs was widely considered the best running back in the 2019 draft class and landed in the perfect situation. The Oakland Raiders have a glaring hole in the backfield after Isaiah Crowell suffered a season-ending Achilles injury during a workout. Head coach Jon Gruden wants to run the ball early and often, and Jacobs should see the majority of the carries. He doesn’t offer much in the passing game, but Jacobs is still good enough to stay on the field for all three downs.
David Montgomery is a close second behind Jacobs. The Chicago Bears entered the NFL Draft with basically no draft capital yet still decided to trade up and grab Montgomery. The Bears offense was one of the better units in the league last year, and Montgomery’s presence should only add to the success. Jordan Howard finished 2018 with a team-high 250 carries, and someone’s going to have to take that workload. Montgomery is the best bet for the job, and he offers significantly more as a pass-catcher than Howard ever did.
Tier Two: Possible Starters
Miles Sanders, RB, PHI
Mecole Hardman, WR, KC
Deebo Samuel, WR, SF
N’Keal Harry, WR, NE
D.K. Metcalf, WR, SEA
Parris Campbell, WR, IND
T.J. Hockenson, TE, DET
Andy Isabella, WR, ARI
Marquise Brown, WR, BAL
A.J. Brown, WR, TEN
Noah Fant, TE, DEN
Kyler Murray, QB, ARI
Miles Sanders is similar to David Montgomery in that he’s joining a wide-open running back depth chart. Sanders can contribute in the passing game or the running game and is the best dual-threat runner on the team. However, Doug Pederson’s habit of rotating running backs keeps Sanders out of the top tier.
Mecole Hardman is the top rookie wide receiver assuming Tyreek Hill isn’t around in 2019. Hardman obviously won’t be as good as Hill, but anyone receiving a high percentage of targets in Kansas City’s offense will have fantasy value. Deebo Samuel is the ideal slot receiver for Jimmy Garoppolo and Kyle Shanahan’s offense. N’Keal Harry is the first wide receiver that Bill Belichick has ever drafted in the first round. That alone speaks to his ability, although his production could be slowed if he struggles to pick up New England’s complex playbook.
D.K. Metcalf won’t see many targets in Seattle’s run-heavy attack, but he has the freakish athleticism to make a huge play at any given moment. Parris Campbell should start his career as a Cordarrelle Patterson jack-of-all-trades. A creative mind like Frank Reich shouldn’t struggle to get the most out of somebody this explosive. The tight end landscape is desolate and T.J. Hockenson should be one of the top tight ends in fantasy football. However, Detroit wants to run the ball and could utilize Hockenson more as a blocker than a receiver.
Andy Isabella should be Arizona’s WR2 at the start of the season, and his breakneck speed is a perfect fit for Kliff Kingsbury’s offense. The Cardinals will throw early and often, so Isabella should see plenty of targets. Marquise Brown would be a lot higher on this list if he went to any team other than the Baltimore Ravens. Ditto for A.J. Brown, as his receiving prowess is somewhat wasted in Tennessee’s run-heavy offense.
Noah Fant doesn’t have the best set of hands, but he’s dangerous in the open field and unremarkable as a blocker. He should see a decent amount of targets from Joe Flacco or Drew Lock. Kyler Murray is the only rookie quarterback guaranteed to start in Week One, and his rushing prowess gives him a high floor. However, the quarterback market is so saturated that you don’t need to reach for his services.
Tier Three: Benchwarmers for Now
Darrell Henderson, RB, LAR
Devin Singletary, RB, BUF
Damien Harris, RB, NE
Hakeem Butler, WR, ARI
Jace Sternberger, TE, GB
Alexander Mattison, RB, MIN
Justice Hill, RB, BAL
Irv Smith, TE, MIN
J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, WR, PHI
Miles Boykin, WR, BAL
Darrell Henderson could be a steal if Todd Gurley’s explosiveness never comes back. At the very least, he should be a key part of a committee approach. Devin Singletary should earn playing time sooner rather than later, as all of Buffalo’s other running backs are either over 30 or career journeymen. Damien Harris could take goal-line work in New England and could see a lot of time on the field, as Rex Burkhead and Sony Michel both have injury concerns.
Hakeem Butler is a raw prospect who should thrive as Arizona’s primary red zone target. He’ll have plenty of bust performances but offers double-digit touchdown upside down the road. Jace Sternberger is a subpar blocker whose only value comes in the passing game. This is good news for fantasy. Dalvin Cook cannot stay healthy, so grabbing Alexander Mattison as a handcuff would be a great long-term move.
The Baltimore Ravens love to use a wide variety of running backs, but their run-heavy offense should be able to sustain Justice Hill’s fantasy value. Irv Smith is a well-rounded tight end who might be asked to spend too much time as an in-line blocker. J.J. Arcega-Whiteside is a good perimeter receiver on a stacked depth chart. He’s a lot like Butler, except Philadelphia has more red zone options than just Arcega-Whiteside. Miles Boykin is a physical freak who lacks polish and is joining the most run-heavy offense in football. He could be great, but he’s in an unfavorable situation.
Tier Four: Gotta Pick Somebody
Diontae Johnson, WR, PIT
Benny Snell, RB, PIT
Terry McLaurin, WR, WAS
Dwayne Haskins, QB, WAS
Tony Pollard, RB, DAL
Gary Jennings, WR, SEA
Kelvin Harmon, WR, WAS
Ryquell Armstead, RB, JAC
Bryce Love, RB, WAS
Bruce Anderson, RB, TB
Darwin Thompson, RB, KC
Daniel Jones, QB, NYG
Diontae Johnson is the most interesting name on the list, as somebody needs to fill Antonio Brown’s spot on the field. However, James Washington and Donte Moncrief are both ahead of Johnson for the WR2 spot. Benny Snell is a James Conner injury away from being a must-own in fantasy football. Terry McLaurin and Dwayne Haskins are both Ohio State products and should have advanced chemistry. If Haskins isn’t the Week One starter, it shouldn’t take him long before he usurps Case Keenum for the starting job.
You don’t invest a top-100 pick in a player if you don’t plan on using them, so Tony Pollard should see the field in some capacity. Gary Jennings should battle David Moore for the third spot on Seattle’s depth chart. Kelvin Harmon was one of the biggest steals of the NFL Draft and should immediately outplay his sixth-round billing. Ryquell Armstead has a great chance to take the starting job away from Leonard Fournette at some point during the season.
Bryce Love is a talented running back who would be a lot higher on this list if he wasn’t coming off a major injury of his own. Bruce Anderson only needs to beat out Peyton Barber and Ronald Jones in order to see playing time. Darwin Thompson could have a Gus Edwards type of season if Damien Williams reverts to his career norm. Daniel Jones should see the field at some point this season, as Eli Manning is clearly at the end of his career.
Fantasy Football Draft Headquarters
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
