Rookies can often be wild cards in fantasy leagues, and while many will steer clear, not knowing exactly what they’ll get, those who gamble can come away with league-winning picks. This season, the draft class is notably short on wide receivers, with a fair few seemingly NFL-ready running backs in the mix.
As such, fantasy drafters should be a bit more willing to roll the dice on the rookie class earlier in drafts. Running backs are notoriously breakable, and rookies tend to have the least wear and tear to worry about. New wide receivers tend to take a bit more time to learn the schemes, often slotting more into the sleeper category.
Given the ability of the players, you should seriously consider snapping up these rookies if they fall your way in your 2023 fantasy draft.
Bijan Robinson (Late 1st, Early 2nd)
Bijan Robinson is being hailed as a generational talent at running back, even to the extent that fantasy experts were putting him in as the RB6 even before the draft. He’s so talented that, regardless of what team he joins, the Texas back is expected to be the feature back and make a significant impact immediately.
The destination that many were rubbing their hands together over was Detroit. Given that your go-to site for all odds was recommending platforms that put the Detroit Lions as the NFC North favorites at 2.40, ahead of the 3.60 Minnesota Vikings, before the draft, it’s thrilling to imagine how much time Robinson would get on the ball.
A jackhammer of a running back, in this instance, there’s the obvious question of D’Andre Swift. Yet, the offensive line is so strong in Detroit that Robinson would be given too much room not to succeed. That said, he could punch his way through any top-15 O-line and is expected to fall into the second half of the first round.
Jahmyr Gibbs (Late 3rd)
Jahmyr Gibbs is the consensus next most talented running back of this rookie class behind Robinson. Where he truly excels is in the passing game, which will help him to be worked into schemes early and often in the NFL. More importantly, and what separates him from contemporary Kenny McIntosh, is his excellent rushing.
At one point prior to the draft, you could see reports of insiders talking Gibbs up as a first-round pick. The Alabama back is superbly talented and has the potential to become a feature back. However, it’d seem as though he’d be best deployed with the heavier share of a tandem early, then elevated to the top man.
Quentin Johnston (Early 6th)
Quentin Johnston is the exact kind of volatile, perhaps even boom-or-bust rookie that can just as easily win big fantasy matchups as go absent for three-game stretches. Still, it’s hard to look at his athleticism and not see a wide receiver who’ll be targeted early and often.
Coming out of TCU at 6’3’’ and 208lbs, he posted a 99th percentile broad jump and 95th percentile vertical jump, backed by a 4.49 40-yard dash. If you’re getting excited about the potential of this player, you’re certainly not the only one. Some even had him earmarked as getting taken in the first 15 picks. That being said, for fantasy bosses, he could end up being a steal in the sixth round.
If you’re one to pick up a high-ceiling rookie in each fantasy draft, consider keeping an eye on Robinson, Gibbs, and Johnston this year.
For the latest free agent news, check out the Fantasy Football News Tracker.
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