Once this year’s rookie class lands with teams, thoughts about fantasy football value and impact will follow. After my previous list of 10 2016 rookies who will be fantasy studs, here are 10 2016 rookies who will be fantasy busts.
10. South Carolina WR Pharoh Cooper
Getty ImagesCooper has drawn an aggressive comparison to Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb, and he's widely considered a third-round prospect. His landing spot should be noted, but I don't see Cooper gaining the overall polish to become a great fantasy wide receiver.
9. Navy QB/RB Keenan Reynolds
Getty ImagesReynolds seems to be in line for a multi-purpose role at the next level. While he's a player to root for, that doesn't make him someone fantasy owners should rely on.
8. Rutgers WR Leonte Carroo
Getty ImagesCarroo has NFL talent, with 20 touchdowns in 21 games over his last two seasons at Rutgers, but he enters the next level with off-field and injury concerns. He's a risk-reward prospect for teams, with serious downside potential for fantasy football owners, until proven otherwise.
7. Michigan State WR Aaron Burbridge
Getty ImagesBurbridge had a nice senior season at Michigan State, with 85 catches for over 1,200 yards and seven touchdowns. But he does not stand out in any one area physically, which could make an NFL transition particularly difficult.
6. Penn State QB Christian Hackenberg
Getty ImagesIt's safe to say Hackenberg's last two seasons at Penn State were not a good sampling of his talent. Some of the flaws he displayed over that time are serious concerns. The team he lands on will dictate a lot, but Hackenberg has the look of an inconsistent fantasy quarterback (at best).
5. Memphis QB Paxton Lynch
Jamie Squire - Getty ImagesLynch will likely be the third quarterback drafted in the first round, and his success level will depend on what team takes him.
4. Alabama RB Kenyan Drake
Getty ImagesSome evaluators see Drake as a first-round talent, with a skill set comparable to Reggie Bush. But injuries in a backup role at Alabama, and a high fumble rate (once every 40 touches), creates risk, and Drake has an uphill climb to be fantasy relevant wherever he lands.
3. Ohio State WR Braxton Miller
Getty ImagesMiller's physical skills are evident, but he is incredibly raw as a wide receiver, and will now have to learn the nuances of the position at the NFL level. A multi-faceted role is surely possible, but that does not make Miller a sure-fire impact player for fantasy owners as a pro.
2. Notre Dame WR Will Fuller
Jon Durr - Getty ImagesFuller is fast, but he's also small and drop-prone. Even if he's a first-round pick, the Notre Dame product reeks of fantasy bust until further notice.
1. North Dakota State QB Carson Wentz
Getty ImagesWentz is expected to land with the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 2 overall, so he would not be expected to start immediately. Regardless, I don't see Wentz becoming a fantasy asset as a rookie, or at any point in his career.
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