Top 5 Rookie Receiver Landing Spots in Dynasty AND Redraft Formats

 

These aren’t necessarily the most talented rookies to enter the NFL this season, but they do offer the best combination of short and long term fantasy potential in my eyes. They each stand to make an impact from day one of the 2018 NFL season.

 

Christian Kirk to the Cardinals: This one was pretty easy. Kirk was one of my favorite receivers going into the draft with his on-field fervor and tenacious ball skills, and though I would have liked to see him go to Dallas, he’ll have free reign in a wide open Cardinals receiving corps where an aging Larry Fitzgerald is his only major competition for targets. Yes, J.J. Nelson, Ricky Seals-Jones, and Chad Williams may vie for looks throughout the season, but Kirk Has the route running acumen and straight line speed to stay on the field throughout the game as a possession guy and a deep threat. Kirk is one of the few rookie receivers that will make a significant impact in redraft leagues this season.

 

Michael Gallup to the Cowboys: Not the sexiest of receiver picks in the draft, Gallup is valuable largely due to the dearth of receiving talent in Dallas right now. He’s an after the catch specialist, 4th in the nation last year, who can move well in space. He should have a starting spot from day one, opposite an underwhelming Terrance Williams with either Allen Hurns or Cole Beasley in between. I do like fellow rookie Cedric Wilson to make a splash, but Gallup is going to be pushed to take Dez Bryant’s former role as the primary chain mover in the passing game.

 

Anthony Miller to the Bears: A lot of people slept on Miller going into the draft, but he’s going to become a household name pretty quickly in Chicago, if Mitch Trubisky can get him the ball with any regularity. Able to separate and make contested catches despite his average size, Miller can play inside or outside in a Bears offense that sorely lacks playmakers in the receiving game. The addition of Allen Robinson in free agency takes away some of Miller’s potential shine as the go to in the passing game, and you can never totally sleep on Taylor Gabriel in any offense, but the cream rises to the top and there should be plenty of targets to go around in an offense that is going to have to contend in what may very well be the NFC’s strongest division. His dynasty potential is obviously higher than his redraft value, but you’re still going to be able to use Miller this season.

 

Deon Cain / Daurice Fountain to the Colts: Neither Cain nor Fountain project as true No.2 receivers in Indy, but with Chester Rogers and Ryan Grant as the guys next in line after T.Y. Hilton, they both have a serious shot at fantasy viability this year, especially if Andrew Luck actually plays. Cain has 4.43 speed and Fountain boasted the longest arms at the Combine (34”), so they each have their tools to get open. Cain is the better athlete of the two, but Fountain could see more fantasy action as a potential red zone threat. Their outlooks get quite a bit dimmer if Jacoby Brissett is under center all year or if the Colts can’t improve their running game considerably.

 

Keke Coutee to the Texans: The diminutive Coutee is a more situational deep threat in the mold of a Taylor Gabriel, but there are going to be plenty of deep threat situations for Houston with DeShaun Watson under center. DeAndre Hopkins is obviously still tops in Texas, but Will Fuller is a known injury risk and Bruce Ellington underperformed handily while Fuller was sidelined last season. Coutee is a superior talent to Ellington and should find opportunity to thrive sooner as well as later in one the NFL’s more dynamic offenses.