10 NFL Rookies Who Won't Be Fantasy Football Relevant in 2014
The gambler inside fantasy football GMs often attracts them to rookies. We all want to snag the RG IIIs and Doug Martins who explode in their first pro seasons, but for every draft-worthy rookie who actually attains fantasy relevance, there are about 10-15 who are wasted picks. Here are 10 tempting options to grab in 2014 drafts who will do nothing but disappoint.
10. QB Blake Bortles
10. QB Blake Bortles
Has there ever been a fantasy relevant quarterback from the Jacksonville Jaguars? The No. 3 overall pick may develop into a decent fantasy option in the future, but with a defensive-minded head coach and a weak supporting cast, it likely isn't happening in his first season.
9. WR Marqise Lee
9. WR Marqise Lee
While Lee was a steal for the Jaguars as the No. 39 overall pick, everything said about Bortles applies to him as well. Lee has plenty of potential, but he is not in a good situation to produce big immediately.
8. WR Jarvis Landry
8. WR Jarvis Landry
With Mike Wallace and Brian Hartline in town, Landry will likely top out as the No. 3 receiver in a Ryan Tannehill-led offense. Even if he worked his way up to No. 2, he wouldn't be worth a pick.
7. RB Jeremy Hill
7. RB Jeremy Hill
Though he was the second running back taken in the NFL Draft at No. 55 overall, Hill has character issues and will be Giovani Bernard's backup. He's not going to get enough touches behind a talent like Bernard to be fantasy relevant in his first season. If the best a back can hope to be is a touchdown vulture, then he is not worth anything more than a handcuff pick.
6. WR Jordan Matthews
6. WR Jordan Matthews
With financial commitments given to both Riley Cooper and Jeremy Maclin in the offseason, it's tough to see Matthews being higher than the No. 3 receiver in his rookie year. That could still be a productive spot in the Philadelphia Eagles' offense, but with LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles heavily involved in the passing game, Matthews probably won't get a lot of looks.
5. WR Kelvin Benjamin
5. WR Kelvin Benjamin
Benjamin is in one of the best positions to succeed among rookie wide receivers, but his skills aren't polished enough to produce big right away. His speed and athleticism aren't great, nor are his hands or abilities after the catch.
4. WR Odell Beckham
4. WR Odell Beckham
Beckham probably has the best chance to make me eat my words on this list, but I'm still betting against him. It's tough to see him getting significant looks with Victor Cruz and Rueben Randle on staff, and Eli Manning isn't productive enough to make three wideouts fantasy relevant.
3. WR Paul Richardson
3. WR Paul Richardson
Richardson was a strange pick for the Seattle Seahawks at No. 45 overall, especially with Davante Adams and Cody Latimer still on the board. He's is a slot receiver-type on a team that already has one of the best slot receivers in the league in Percy Harvin. On top of that, Russell Wilson doesn't exactly rack up the passing yards with a single-season career-high of 3,357 .
2. QB Teddy Bridgewater
2. QB Teddy Bridgewater
This one is pretty obvious considering he isn't even the starting quarterback yet, but even if he wins the starting job sooner than expected, he isn't worth a roster spot. Just because Mike Zimmer decides he is better than Matt Cassel, doesn't necessarily mean he will be good. Better than Cassel is hardly the standard for fantasy relevance, and there are just too many good fantasy quarterback options to waste a spot on a rookie.
1. RB Tre Mason
1. RB Tre Mason
After seeing what Mason did at Auburn, he could be tempting to pick up as an upside play -- but he probably won't be worth it. Zac Stacy is the man in St. Louis, and Mason isn't even a sure thing as the No. 2 back with Benny Cunningham right in the mix. There are just too many unknowns and obstacles in Mason's way to hope for fantasy relevance in 2014.