TOP 5 Rookies

Kevin White (WR), Chicago Bears

Kevin White is in an excellent position from a fantasy football perspective. He is a talented rookie who will get a chance early with the departure of WR Brandon Marshall. However, defenses will mainly be worried about his teammate, WR Alshon Jeffery. This could mean big numbers if QB Jay Cutler, who still has a big arm, can get the offense back on track.

T.J. Yeldon (RB), Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars made Yeldon their second-round pick and hope to pair him with QB Blake Bortles to help turn the franchise around. While the Jaguars do have a solid stable of backs, Yeldon has the talent to get the bulk of the carries during his rookie season. In a point-per-reception (PPR) league, Yeldon should be even more valuable, as he should be an every-down back who can catch some passes out of the backfield.

Jameis Winston (QB), Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Winston was the number one overall selection in the draft and is the top QB on our list. His big arm fits perfectly with his big targets on the outside, including WR Mike Evans. During his rookie season, Evans was a TD scoring machine in the red zone and should give Winston a big target that he can trust. The Bucs may not make a playoff run, but they should certainly be more competitive this season, and Winston will be a big part of it.

Melvin Gordon (RB), San Diego Chargers

Gordon was the top back in college football last season and even finished second for the Heisman trophy. The Chargers moved up two spots in the draft to select him, and they will need him to deliver after losing RB Ryan Mathews in free agency. San Diego has an excellent leader at QB in Philip Rivers, who always has the Chargers near the top of the rankings. Look for Gordon to get off to a good start, because he is going to a team that consistently wins more than half its games.

Amari Cooper (WR), Oakland Raiders

Last season, rookie WR Odell Beckham Jr. exploded on the field and even onto the cover of Madden NFL 16. While it is hard to imagine another rookie WR making those incredible plays, the statistical production is possible. Amari Cooper joins the Raiders, and although they don’t have an explosive offense, they do have a young QB who needs to find a go-to option at receiver. Oakland struggled to run the ball last season, so they will need the passing game to help take the pressure off. Keep an eye on this combo early in camp to see if they can develop some chemistry that could lead to numbers like Bills’ WR Sammy Watkins posted last season.