Fantasy Football: Ranking the Top Rookie/Sophomore Wide Receivers
By Dan Salem
The NFL is stacked with young wide receivers, so who’ll be the best for Fantasy Football? We rank the top sophomore and rookie receivers so you don’t have to. Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in today’s NFL Sports Debate. Check out more of the brothers in Seesaw Sports Debate on BuzzChomp. Two brothers from New York yell, scream, and debate sports.
TODD:
The NFL seems like it is bursting with young talent right now. I don’t know if it’s just a case of recency bias and there are always this many young contributors. Or maybe it is a cyclical coincidence that will revert back within a few years’ time. Maybe this batch of first and second-year wonders just happened to all join the league at the same time. Who knows.
What I do know is that ranking the rookie and sophomore wide receivers for the 2015 fantasy season is a tough task. I’m going to give you a list of some of the best guys with little to no experience, and I want you to order them for fantasy purposes.
This is a tough group. Someone like DeAndre Hopkins or Keenan Allen is too old. The likes of Allen Robinson or Martavis Bryant aren’t quite good enough to reach this tier. And don’t even think of throwing young running backs like Jeremy Hill or Melvin Gordon in here as well. We are already bursting at the seams as it is.
Here we go, alphabetically:
– Odell Beckham
– Kelvin Benjamin
– Brandin Cooks
– Amari Cooper
– Mike Evans
– Jarvis Landry
– Sammy Watkins
– Kevin White
By first glance, Evans and Beckham likely have a leg up on the competition, but Benjamin wasn’t too far behind last season. And I have a soft spot for Sammy Watkins, who now oddly seems underrated. Here is my quick list.
1) Beckham
2) Watkins
3) Evans
4) Cooper
5) Benjamin
6) Landry
7) Cooks
8) White
Agree with anything? I’m sure you have a few guys slotted elsewhere.
Dec 28, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) hurdles over New Orleans Saints cornerback
Keenan Lewis(28) as he runs with the ball during the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
DAN:
I have no issue stating that the wide receiver position is going through a renaissance, and the fantasy football options are insane in 2015. Every one of these sophomore and rookie receivers has the potential for a big year.
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1) Beckham – Giants
2) Evans – Tampa Bay
3) Cooper – Raiders
4) Benjamin – Panthers
5) White – Bears
6) Watkins – Buffalo
7) Landry – Dolphins
8) Cooks – Saints
Odell Beckham scored double-digit touchdowns last season for a lackluster Giants team. He’s the real deal and clear-cut number one on this list of receivers. Mike Evans is a close second. He put up nearly identical numbers to Beckham last year, but I slot him slightly behind because he’ll be playing with a rookie quarterback.
It may take Jameis Winston a week or two to find his arm in the big leagues, and that will hold Evans back slightly. But once the growing pains happen, its rock and roll. Evans will be in for big numbers once again.
I have Amari Cooper at three. He’ll be receiving passes from a quarterback I think will break out in 2015. Derek Carr is trending up and Cooper is in for a huge rookie season because of it. Then there’s Benjamin, who will continue to put up solid fantasy numbers on the Panthers. Carolina is going to be even better this season, and Benjamin will be a big part of it.
So far we’ve been in agreement, but starting with Kevin White is where our rankings break apart. The Bears need another offensive playmaker to be a winning team in 2015. Jay Cutler needs a new weapon to retain his starting job. Both equal White breaking out big time, as Cutler keeps finding him on the field. I like him and his team a lot.
The same can’t be said for Watkins in Buffalo. He’s a good player, but I have no confidence in the quarterback situation in Buffalo, or their overall offense. I need to see it to believe it in Buffalo. Same goes for Landry in Miami. I don’t see him factoring as heavily into the offense to raise his fantasy value above the other receivers here.
Pulling up the rear is Cooks in New Orleans. The Saints and Drew Brees will need a new target this season, with the departure of Jimmy Graham. Cooks can become that guy, but there’s a big risk taking him ahead of any of these other receivers.
All great players, but will they all be great fantasy performers? Half of this list will.
Next: Fantasy Football - Ranking the 2nd tier Wide Receivers
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