Top 5 rookies most likely to make the biggest fantasy impact in '16
1. Ezekiel Elliott, Dal - This is as good a landing spot as it gets - this puts Elliott in Round 1 territory on my board	1. Ezekiel Elliott, Dal - Well, this one is obvious. Elliott will be a top-15 overall option right away now that Dallas took him with the No. 4 pick	1. Ezekiel Elliott, Dal - Steps into a perfect RB environment; far and away the fantasy gem from this class
2. Sterling Shepard, NYG - Great spot for early, ample playing time in NY - great route runner with explosive after-the-catch ability	2. Derrick Henry, Ten - He really threw a wrench in DeMarco Murray's fantasy value. But obviously Henry becomes immediately fantasy relevant	2. Derrick Henry, Ten - It's a difficult team to trust, but I don't trust DeMarco Murray, either
3. Kenneth Dixon, Bal - Nobody currently owns the backfield in BAL, and I like Dixon's odds of usurping Forsett and Buck Allen sooner than later	3. Laquan Treadwell, Min - He seems like the wide receiver who's readiest to contribute right away	3. Kenneth Dixon, Bal - A thin depth chart awaits him, and he has versatility to succeed in a Trestman offense
4. Laquan Treadwell, Min - I like Treadwell a lot, but being paired with Bridgewater is a bit of a buzz kill - still, he should start opposite WR Diggs	4. Will Fuller, Hou - Will take the top off the defense and have opposing coverages focusing on DeAndre Hopkins	4. Sterling Shepard, NYG - Finally, the Rueben Randle nightmare in New Jersey is over; McAdoo's scheme is also a nice fit
5. Michael Thomas, NO - Lands in an extreme passing offense that has pedestrian target options for Brees outside of WR Cooks	5. Josh Doctson, Was - I'm a believer in Kirk Cousins	5. Josh Doctson, Was - I'm a believer in Jay Gruden

Top 5 rookies most likely to be underrated in '16 fantasy drafts
1. Paul Perkins, NYG - Intriguing three-down back that lands in a strong offense that boasts a 31-year-old incumbent at RB - I like Perkins' chances to make an impact early	1. Hunter Henry, SD - Antonio Gates will be 36 years old, and Ladarius Green is gone to Pittsburgh	1. Jordan Howard, Chi - Outside of one long TD at St. Louis, Jeremy Langford did not impress me last year
2. Jordan Howard, Chi - A much better pure runner than Langford, so it wouldn't be surprising if Langford reverts to a backup role once again	2. Jordan Howard, Chi - Jeremy Langford will get drafted highly, but his underlying stats are beyond underwhelming. Howard is a sleeper	2. Hunter Henry, SD - With Antonio Gates nearing the Fred G. Sanford years, Henry might be exception to rookie tight-end rules
3. C.J. Prosise, Sea - Should have a passing down role early, at minimum, but Rawls' questionable health means he could end up handling a lot more	3. Kenneth Dixon, Bal - He's an immediate threat to take over the starting role in Baltimore as a rookie	3. Austin Hooper, Atl - If he shows anything in the summer, he likely starts right away
4. Leonte Caroo, Mia - Was one of my favorite WRs in the draft, but I don't love the MIA landing spot. That said, if he finds his way into playing time, he has the all-around skill set to deliver right away	4. Tyler Boyd, Cin - The Bengals have a big need for a WR2 with Marvin Jones gone	4. C.J. Prosise, Sea - As flashy as Thomas Rawls was, he can't be seen as a sure thing yet
5. Jordan Payton, Cle - Not a deep threat, but has size and intelligence to become chain-moving factor eventually	5. Austin Hooper, Atl - Could immediately become the No. 1 tight end in an Atlanta offense that should throw the ball plenty	5. Leonte Caroo, Mia - Team is hard to trust, but Caroo was a splashy playmaker at Rutgers

Top 5 rookies most likely to be overrated in '16 fantasy drafts
1. Corey Coleman, Cle - He draws Percy Harvin comps, but that'll likely be much ado about nothing in a major work-in-progress offense like CLE	1. Jared Goff, Stl - I have zero interest with a rookie quarterback	1. Will Fuller, Hou - This team already has target monsters; Fuller's going to run a lot of clear-out routes
2. Will Fuller, Hou - He's got speed, but the rest of his game leaves a lot to be desired - he's going to do very little in '16 with Hopkins and Miller dominating the pigskin in HOU	2. Carson Wentz, Phi - Seriously, quarterback is ridiculously deep. I wouldn't bother ranking any of the rookies as a top-25 option	2. Corey Coleman, Cle - Anytime I see the Percy Harvin comparison, I get nervous; the Browns rarely inspire confidence, too
3. Derrick Henry, Ten - Even if he had the job all to himself in TEN, I wouldn't want him - Tall, upright runner with little lateral agility that needs a lot of time to get to full speed	3. Corey Coleman, Cle - Was the first wide receiver off the board but joins a Browns team that has plenty of question marks	3. Jared Goff, LA - Usual rookie-QB rules apply
4. Hunter Henry, SD - Top TE selected, but until Antonio Gates walks off into the sunset, I'm not expecting much from Henry	4. Braxton Miller, Hou - I like the story of moving from QB to WR, but he now joins a team with not only DeAndre Hopkins but rookie Will Fuller	4. Braxton Miller, Hou - Limited experience at position, has to be viewed as a project
5. Jared Goff, LA - Rookie QBs are hands off as it is, let alone ones that inherit the bare passing cupboard of the Rams	5. C.J. Prosise, Sea - Coming off a big season, and Notre Dame is so popular, but Prosise should be just a third-down back at best in 2016	5. Laquon Treadwell, Min - I'm a huge believer in the player, but Minnesota is a low-volume, low-upside landing spot

Top 5 veterans most negatively impacted by the NFL Draft
1. Darren McFadden, Dal - Throw Alfred Morris in this spot too - once Elliott was selected, all other DAL RBs became an afterthought	1. Darren McFadden, Dal - He went from being a top-15 fantasy back to now an afterthought after the drafting of Elliott	1. Darren McFadden and Alfred Morris, Dal - It was fun while it landed; when you take a back fourth overall, he's going to play immediately
2. DeMarco Murray, Ten - He keeps taking a step down in terms of location (from DAL to PHI to TEN), and now he'll have the Heisman hype to deal with	2. DeMarco Murray, Ten - The selection of Derrick Henry pretty much ruined Murray's fantasy value	2. DeMarco Murray, Ten - He won't get anything handed to him with Henry on hand to press
3. Thomas Rawls, Sea - Seahawks drafted three RBs, which is more noise than any current/potential Rawls owner wanted to see	3. Antonio Gates, SD - He might be done now	3. Thomas Rawls, Sea - With Seattle attacking the position during draft week, Rawls has less leash than initially anticipated
4. C.J. Anderson, Den - Devontae Booker becomes just the latest obstacle in Anderson's quest to secure featured role	4. Pierre Garcon, Was - He's a threat to be released now that Josh Doctson was drafted so high	4. Sam Bradford, Phi - Would you prefer clipboard or headset?
5. Rashad Jennings, NYG - The backfield committee just got even bigger with the addition of rookie Perkins	5. Sam Bradford, Phi - He's lost his starting job	5. Pierre Garcon, Was - Things getting awfully crowded in this passing tree; Garcon has no special qualities

Top 5 veterans that dodged a bullet in the NFL Draft
1. Latavius Murray, Oak - After Murray's lackluster '15, surprised OAK didn't draft someone with more potential to push him than 4th rounder D. Washington	1. Robert Griffin, Cle - The Browns didn't select a QB until pick No. 93 and spent their first one on a WR	1. Jay Ajayi, Mia - Although Miami did add a back in the third round, it was more of the satellite-back variety
2. Frank Gore, Ind - Crazy that Indy didn't draft a single RB to join the fossilized Gore	2. Frank Gore, Ind - The veteran running back still has the Indy backfield all to himself	2. Frank Gore, Ind - I was shocked the Colts didn't take at least one lottery ticket at running back
3. Eddie Lacy, GB - He heads into final year of his contract, and GB didn't feel compelled to draft a potential heir apparent	3. Jay Ajayi, Mia - They took an RB in the third round, but rumors suggested it could've been much sooner	3. LeGarrette Blount, NE - Pats collected nine picks in all, but didn't select running backs
4. Ameer Abdullah, Det - With only a late-round RB added in the draft, looks like Abdullah will get a do-over opportunity after a cruddy rookie year	4. LeGarrette Blount, NE - He re-signed with the Patriots, and New England didn't draft a single running back	4. Carlos Hyde, SF - Niners didn't chase backfield, but they did fortify the offensive line
5. Travis Benjamin, SD - With no speedy rookie wideouts added in SD, Benjamin remains the only real deep-ball threat for QB Rivers	5. Ryan Mathews, Phi - DeMarco Murray left town, and the team didn't spend a pick on a running back until round five	5. Andrew Luck, Ind - He has a better chance of dodging pass-rushing bullets this fall, given how Indy beefed up the offensive line

New on Yahoo

Recommended Stories