Rookie Review| Fantasy Football Dynasty Scout

Rookie Review | Fantasy Football Dynasty Scout

The Fantasy Football Season rolls on for those in the playoffs, but for many it has come to an end. Some owners in Fantasy Football Dynasty Leagues are already looking forward to the NFL Draft as they know their draft position and are looking at their needs.

There certainly seemed to be more rookies this season that had an unlikely fantasy impact than usual. Let’s have a look at the 2008 Fantasy Football Rookie standouts...

The scoring used for reflection in how these fantasy players performed is as follows...

Passing TD’s=4 pts
All other TD’s=6 pts
Passing Yards= 1 pt point per 20 yards
Rushing/Receiving Yards= 1 pt per 10 yards
Receptions: .5 pt
2 Point Conversions= 2 pts

Scoring is used up to Week 13 as many leagues end their regular season at that point.

Quarterback

You hear it all the time about NFL QB’s in their rookie season. You don’t really want them to have to start. Goes the same in fantasy football. In 2008, with the injuries and benching, some people were forced to pick some rookies up off the waiver wire. There were a couple fellas that did not turn out all too terrible to have in a backup position.

Joe Flacco, Ravens
Position Rank: 14th, 186 pts

Fantasy Football relevance for a Ravens QB was pretty unlikely going into the season.  This caused many Dynasty owners to pass on Flacco unless they were desperate. Taken by the Ravens at No. 18 in the draft, we knew he was going to be their guy, didn’t know for sure when.

Unless you have a developmental taxi squad where you can sit guys Flacco was likely not jumping out as a guy you HAD to have in your draft.

After suffering two below average games early in the season Flacco became a consistent backup/bye week QB for owners. His high point came in Week Eight against the Raiders when he posted TDs in the air and on the ground; he even had a reception for 43 yards.

Outlook: If the Ravens ever develop an offense for him to work with, Flacco can become a viable QB option in fantasy football. For Dynasty owners who have him, he is at least going to be a viable backup.

Matt Ryan, Falcons:
Position Rank: 15th, 184 pts

Matt Ryan was picked up by the Falcons with the No. 3 pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. In most fantasy football Dynasty League drafts, he was the first QB taken, as well given his chance to start early. 

There is an old saying though. Don’t own players from bad fantasy teams. The Falcons were supposed to be a mess again this season. Apparently someone did not tell Ryan that when he was given the starting job.

He was called the most “NFL Ready QB” in the draft. We hear this every season, right?  Ryan scored his best game of the season in Week 10 against the Saints, posting two TD’s and 248 yards. The return against the Saints in Week 14 was even better and could have made a decent playoff start.

Outlook: The Falcons are not nearly as bad as we suspected in the beginning of the season. The Matt Ryan to Roddy White hookup looks to be  a scary pair for years to come.

Worth a mention

Brian Brohm, Packers: There were question marks as to how Aaron Rodgers would pan out in Green Bay.  Enough that they took Brohm in the second round. Turns out that Rodgers is doing okay for himself and not as injury prone as suspected. Brohm is a stash away, unless you can actually move him to the Aaron Rodgers owner.

Chad Henne, Dolphins: It appeared at one time that Henne may be the Rookie QB that had the best chance to start the season. Then Chad Pennington came to town. He totaled 67 yards on the season. There is no telling the future of Chad Henne in fantasy football. Chad Pennington had his most productive year in some time and appears a good fit with the offense.

Running Back

The Running Back position. The grand Poo-Bah of fantasy football positions. The most sought after players in the Dynasty draft. There always seems to be a Running Back or two that have a significant fantasy impact in their rookie season. In 2008, this was certainly the case with three finishing in the Top 10!

Matt Forte, Bears
Position Rank: 1st, 220 pts

That’s right, kids. A Chicago Bears Running back is the top fantasy football Running Back for 2008. To top it off, he is a rookie! Forte had some fans coming into the season but nobody seriously expected Forte to lead the rookie runners, let alone the running back position. Once Cedric Benson was booted out of Chicago, the job became Forte’s, hands down. He did not disappoint.

In many fantasy football dynasty drafts, Forte was at the highest the fifth running back taken. One thing he had going for him that some of the bigger names didn’t was the outright starting job. 

This important piece often gets lost behind the flashy name. Top game of the season came in Week 12 against the Rams. Two rushing TD’s on 132 yards. He added on a coupe of receptions as well.

Outlook: The Bears still want to improve their Offensive Line. Every step they take in that direction will help Forte. Let’s hope he does not go the way of Anthony Thomas…

Steve Slaton, Texans
Position Rank: 8th, 186 pts

They said he was too small.  The Houston backfield had become as crowded as one you may find in Denver, with nobody jumping out.  As the season went on the ball found it’s way more and more into the hands of Steve Slaton. 

In Weeks Three, Four, and Five, owners who were not afraid of Slaton’s size or the fact he was a Texan were rewarded with drafting him. Those three solid weeks erased many doubts.

Slaton was one of those names we heard in the fantasy preseason but many just dismissed.  A late-round pick in many Dynasty drafts, Slaton is a gem.  His season was peppered with a few inconsistent games but considering there was not much expected of him, we can let this slide. 

His best game of the season came in Week 13 against the Jaguars.  Two rushing TD’s on 130 yards with two receptions and 52 yards thrown in.

Outlook: We have heard how Houston is going to become kind of a Denver South with Coach Kubiak. Will Slaton get lost in the whoever has the hot hand strategy?

Chris Johnson, Titans
Position Rank, 10th, 182 pts

When Chris Johnson’s name was going around NFL Draft circles last season, there were people thinking, “Yeah, he is fast, but…”  The Titans thought more of him taking him in the first round. His fantasy football stock was still uncertain. LenDale White appeared to be set to carry the load for the throwing impaired Titans.

It didn’t take long for Johnson to show his fantasy value. Week One against the Jags he almost got to 100 yards and had a receiving TD. There were inconsistent games sprinkled in over the season but something that you knew starting Johnson, just as his real team knew, was that at any time you could have a bust out score.

Whoever took this guy in Dynasty drafts got a treat!

Outlook: Johnson is currently riding a two game 100+ yards game streak with three TD’s in those games.  Sharing the load and getting the carries that count have Johnson missing that “wall” that rookie runners often hit late in the season.  Johnson should be even more valuable next season.

Should Mention

Kevin Smith, Lions: Around the time of fantasy football Dynasty drafts Kevin Smith was one of the running backs that was being said to be a certain starter. This elevated his draft stock…too much. 

Nothing against the runner himself bu he is on the Detroit Lions, something that many owners glossed over when they were thinking of certain playing time.

Only one 100-yard game. He only got 20+ carries twice up until Week 13.  Any NFL team can make a turn around. Will the Lions ever do that?  It appears right now that we can expect pretty much what we got from Kevin Jones in Detroit.

Tim Hightower, Cardinals: Hightower is one of those late round backs that likely went undrafted outside of deep Dynasty/Keeper leagues. He lands as a top 25 fantasy back but his production was not as big as the hype.

Maybe more of the hype came because most people had not heard of him. Regardless, the interest here is whether or not the Cardinals think he can be the successor to Edge James or if he will backup next years pick.

Jonathan Stewart, Panthers: Stewart was taken over Darren McFadden in some Dynasty drafts before the season. He was touted as the savior of the Panthers run offense. 

Really he only saved the legs of DeAngelo Williams when he needed rest. Stewart had about as many poor games as good games, the model of inconsistency. He should get his day but it may not be until Williams is injured.

Peyton Hillis, Broncos: HIllis has to be mentioned here for his strong finish. He is blessed and cursed at the same time for being a Denver Bronco. Blessed because Bronco runners seem to get a chance they normally wouldn’t...cursed because Bronco runners have to give way to the next guy.

Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers: He never really got the wheels spinning. When he was finally going to get his chance with Willie Parker out, he himself was injured and lost for the season. This is a guy that should bounce back for you.

Darren McFadden, Raiders: We have to mention McFadden because of his high fantasy draft stock last season.  The next Adrian Peterson he wasn’t. He had a nagging toe all season but had something worse…a Raiders uniform.

Felix Jones, Cowboys: Jones was looking like the real deal at the start of the season until he was injured. Although not consistent, he had a knack for big plays. You would not have seen enough out of him to start him, except maybe when Barber was out against the Steelers in Week 14, but we have seen enough that he is worth a Dynasty roster spot.

Wide Receiver

Like in the NFL you can never really expect too much out of the Wide Receiver position in their rookie season. Sometimes there are one or two that make an exception. This season there were a couple fast starts but then slid back into the norm.  Devin Thomas, James Hardy, Limas Sweed…look for some of those missing names and some others from the 2008 NFL Draft to pop up next season.

Eddie Royal, Broncos
Position Rank #17, 140 pts

Royal busted out of the gates on the 2008 season against the Raiders with 146 yards and a TD on nine receptions, and another nine yards rushing.  He instantly became the rookie wonder at Wide Receiver. 

Although he did have some good games over the course of the season he was inconsistent.  Even inconsistency is more than we can ask for a rookie WR sometimes.

Outlook: Eddie Royal fit right in from the start while Brandon Marshal was out to start the season. You can expect him to be even better next year, of course. If you were lucky enough to grab Royal in your Dynasty draft last year while all the pretty names went off the board before him, good for you.

DeSean Jackson, Eagles
Position Rank #20, 124 pts

Jackson started his rookie campaign with two straight 100+ yard games, instantly taking him off rookie status in the eyes of many fantasy owners who drafted him.  While not starter material, Jackson put up serviceable numbers that, while lacking the huge games, were more consistent than Eddie Royal. Only two times up to Week 13 did he drop below eight points.

Outlook: There is a QB situation to watch for here but Jackson should only improve. If your league rewards Special Teams points to the player you are well aware of what you have in this WR. Keep an eye on what happens with Donovan McNabb in the offseason.

Should Mention

Donny Avery, Rams: Avery was the guy in the draft that sent people looking at each other confused when he was drafted so high.  Being drafted by the Rams some fantasy owners felt compelled to take him a little earlier, too.  We all know how the Rams offense worked this season. 

He had one breakout game against the Patriots where he caught six balls for 163 yards and a TD.  Avery’s progress will move along with the Rams offense.  If you have him, watch and see what the Rams do in the offseason, starting at Head Coach.

Tight End

Dustin Keller, Jets
Position Rank #8, 104 pts

It was not too long ago when the Jets gave up a first rounder for a TE.  That made some people scratch their heads when Keller was taken late in the first round.  Turns out he was a decent grab. 

He was also a decent grab for Dynasty owners that snagged him up. The playoff run from week 10-13 he was solid, even entering a game with 100+ and a TD.

Outlook: As the TE position gets older and there is some real separation between the big time TE’s and the rest, Keller should be solid and improve, giving owners who drafted him a built in TE stud going into next season.

John Carlson, Seahawks
Position Rank #10, 102 pts

Wow, two rookie TE’s making the Top 10 in TE scoring. Since week six Carlson has been putting up numbers for those who drafted him, despite troubles at QB. His numbers are growing now in the fantasy playoffs, leaving us to wonder what it will be like if it carries into next season.

Outlook: You can certainly look for Carlson to improve as soon as the QB position in Seattle is back on track.  He should be a solid target for years to come.

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