Rookie Wide Receivers To Draft In Fantasy Football

Every fantasy footballer wants to draft the player who ends up breaking out in the upcoming fantasy football year. With wide receivers such as Victor Cruz, AJ Green, and Julio Jones being picked up in the late rounds in most fantasy drafts last year, who will be the steals of this draft? Below are some rookies that were drafted in this year’s NFL Draft who I believe are capable of producing fantasy numbers in the top 10 or 15 at the wide receiver position.

Stephen Hill (New York Jets) – Hill played two years at Georgia Tech where he became known as a game changing deep threat. With nearly 30 receiving yards per catch, Hill can open up the defense with his outstanding speed. Not only that but, he is also quite tall at 6’4” so, he has the capabilities to jump above the opposing defenders when the ball is in the air at the point of catch, something he did quite well at Georgia Tech. Hill (who had a 40-yard dash time of 4.36 seconds at the NFL Combine) is comparable to a bigger and stronger version of DeSean Jackson (who had a 40-yard dash time of 4.35 seconds at the NFL combine) due to his explosiveness off the line and his big play abilities.

The New York Jets picked Hill in the second round (45^th overall) in the 2012 NFL Draft. With Plaxico Burress no longer on the team, Hill can fill in opposite to Santonio Holmes in the Jets starting lineup. I would consider Hill to be a No. 3 fantasy wideout, with less emphasis in PPR leagues but, who has the potential to be a high end No. 2 or low end No. 1 fantasy wideout.

Mohamed Sanu (Cincinnati Bengals) – Sanu played three season at Rutgers piling up 210 receptions and was picked in the third round (83 overall) in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. Sanu even broke the Big-East single season reception record with 115 receptions. The record was previously held by Arizona Cardinals’ receiver, Lary Fitzgerald. Sanu does not have overwhelming speed but, what he does posses is the ability to find the open areas in the middle of the field. He is not afraid to put his body in the way of an opposing defender so he can make the catch. With his great body positioning, as well as excellent hands, Sanu will be thrown to often in the young Cincinnati Bengals’ passing game.

With Jerome Simpson gone, AJ Green is now seen as the sole deep threat, so there will be more of an opportunity for Sanu to run routes down the middle of the field, and provide a set of reliable hands on 3^rd down. I would consider Sanu to be a No. 2 fantasy wide receiver in standard leagues, and a No. 1/No. 2 fantasy wide receiver in PPR leagues.

Alshon Jeffery (Chicago Bears) – Jeffery, two time All-American, played three years with South Carolina where he averaged over a touchdown a game in his final two seasons. He is a powerful receiver with great jumping ability and precise body positioning, which will make him a threat in the red-zone for the Chicago Bears, who drafted Jeffery in the second round (45^th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft. Although the Chicago offense already has names like Brandon Marshall and Johnny Knox in the lineup, the overwhelming potential Jeffery brings to the passing game is undeniable. It is hard for opposing defense’s to contain a receiver of his size (6’4” and 230 lbs) in the end-zone so expect him to see a large amount of red-zone passing thrown his way.

With an experienced quarterback such as Jay Cutler behind center, I believe Jeffery has the potential to produce for the Bears’ offense, especially in the red-zone. I would consider Jeffery to be a No. 3 fantasy wide receiver with the potential of being a high end No. 2 fantasy wide receiver.

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