On last week’s RB1 Podcast, Pete, Clark, Jordan and special guest Dan Kadar shared their favorite landing spots for incoming rookies.
Listen to the full podcast here. This transcript has been edited and condensed.
D.J. Moore to the Panthers
Clark: I think this is the first time we see fit matching talent and we see a guy we might actually want to start a few games.
Pete: Love the fit in Carolina and I’ve talked myself into never touching a rookie wide receiver in fantasy but D.J. Moore might be some one I could... talk myself into.
Jordan: I just love getting Cam Newton more players who can actually catch an NFL football. That’s a real winner in this scenario.
Dan: The thing about the Panthers is that they need a vertical guy and they just haven’t had that. Devin Funchess, I don’t know, to me he’s still kind of a hybrid tight end/receiver. I think it’s good to give Cam a legit receiver.
Nyheim Hines to the Colts
Dan: The Colts right now, their lead runner is Marlon Mack who had labrum surgery this offseason. That just came out this week. If you said Marlon Mack was the only guy in his way from getting large share of carries, I’d say Hines is going to be a good fantasy player but throw in the torn labrum, throw in Hines’ ability as a pass catcher, throw in the fact that Chris Ballard said he wants to use him as a wide receiver and running back, I think he’s a real intriguing player.
Clark: The opportunity that is there and the running back position in fantasy football has a lot to do with how many touches this person is going to get. Hines has a chance to get a whole lot of touches in an offense that I think Andrew Luck is going to come back to a be explosive again.
Quenton Nelson to the Colts
Jordan: This guy is not going to directly help you on your fantasy team, you can not draft him. But he is the best offensive lineman in the draft. [The Colts] are going to try to actually, functionally keep Andrew Luck standing up right, trying to keep him healthy, this will in turn help players like Hines, like Marlon Mack, like T.Y. Hilton, and the Colts offense needs all the help it can get and it starts right down there in the trenches. So if you’re looking towards Luck or Hilton at some point in your fantasy draft, I know I’m not going to be as scared to pick some of these players because I know they will likely have some better production around their star quarterback.
Royce Freeman to the Broncos
Pete: I wanted to steer away from some of the bigger names because I want to help you find a sleeper, I want to help you the people. My favorite thing about him is that he’s coming into Denver. He’s a big runner with great vision who can take away the starting gig from...
Clark: Devonte Booker?
Pete: There’s no one there! They got rid of C.J. Anderson. It’s basically a free shot. The Broncos have needed a running back and running game for some time and I see it in Elway’s eyes that Denver’s going to go to that ground and pound and play defense and there aren’t any running backs in the way to challenge Freeman so I think he’s going to quickly take that starting gig and run with it.
Michael Gallup to the Cowboys
Dan: Dallas obviously dumped Dez Bryant and Gallup is maybe not as talented as Dez purely, but he does a lot of things similar. He could get a lot of targets there in Dallas assuming they don’t go super run heavy with Ezekiel Elliot. I would be shocked if by the end of the year, Gallup’s the number one receiver for the Cowboys.
Mike Gesicki to the Dolphins
Jordan: Just by virtue of the number of talented tight ends in the league, you more or less have to start looking at rookie tight ends if you decided to wait to get a player at that position. He’s a 6-foot-6, just athletic monster. He was a volleyball player and basketball player. He won’t be competing with anyone for the tight end spot in Miami. We just lost Antonio Gates, Jason Witten. We are at a tight end shortage. I’m keeping an eye out on some of these rookie tight ends and Gesicki is at the top of that list.
Pete: Is volleyball going to become the new basketball in terms of taking tight ends from that?
Sony Michel to the Patriots
Pete: Let me share some facts with you:
- FACT: Dion Lewis was RB12 last year despite playing in the fantasy hell hole that is New England.
- FACT: Michel is the most talented running back the Patriots have had since Kevin Faulk.
- FACT: The Patriots saw what the Saints did last year and decided, “Yea, let’s do that and add a couple years to Brady.” Michel and Burkhead give the Patriots the same duo that the Saints have with Kamar and Ingram.
- FACT: James White is a wide receiver who comes out of the backfield. Deal with it.
- FACT: One of Jeremy Hill and Mike Gillislee will be cut by Week 1.
- FACT: I will overdraft Sony Michel.
Clark: Yea Sony Michel is really good. Just good luck trying to figure out that plays out because you’re going to have to invest a high pick in him.
Dan: I’m blown away by these facts.
Poll
Which rookie’s landing spot are you most excited about?
This poll is closed
-
15%
D.J. Moore to Panthers
-
8%
Nyheim Hines to Colts
-
5%
Quenton Nelson to Colts
-
33%
Royce Freeman to Broncos
-
9%
Michael Gallup to Cowboys
-
5%
Mike Gesicki to Dolphins
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21%
Sony Michel to Patriots