Rookies are by far the riskiest investment in the known fantasy football world, as they are the epitome of the “boom or bust” idiom. Oftentimes, first-round rookies are over-drafted, while later-round skill position players are often overlooked. The goal here is to give a fair assessment on every rookie likely to appear on a gridiron this fall with a small scouting report and depth chart standing included for most.  

Quarterbacks

Carson Wentz (1^st Round, 2^nd overall): Smack dab in the middle of the most interesting quarterback dynamic in the league, Wentz is expected to have a unique rookie season to say the least. As it stands now, the Fargo, N.D. native is third on the depth chart behind an uninspiring duo of quarterbacks in Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel. Having said his third string status, word is that the Eagles' plan on giving him more reps than backup Chase Daniel, which may lead some to the conclusion that Daniel is second string in name and Wentz is the true backup in practice. Once Bradford is inevitably benched by midseason, who new head coach Doug Pederson turns to will be an interesting storyline to follow. In any event, this clouds Wentz’s fantasy picture at the very least, leaving him as an undraftable entity in all formats outside of dynasty leagues. 

Jared Goff (1^st Round, 1^st overall): Currently listed as the No. 2 quarterback on the Rams' depth chart, fantasy owners – first and foremost – have to be realistic about the amount of reps Goff is going to get this season. Having said this, slated behind the unproven Case Keenum entering the season, there is a good chance that Goff will get his shot earlier than most rookie quarterbacks. In terms of talent, Goff has got the rubber arm needed for today’s NFL, can make all of the throws, and has an excellent mind for the game. Most importantly, of all he’s incredibly accurate and has some of the best footwork ever seen out of an incoming rookie quarterback. Unfortunately, however, in all likelihood, Goff will struggle throughout his rookie season and it will be attributed to the incredibly tough learning curve that he will need to hurdle coming out of Cal’s “Bear Raid” offense. Albeit with incredible upside down the line in his career, Goff should still be an “undrafted” player in most fantasy drafts, save for dynasty formats.

Paxton Lynch (1^st Round, 26^th overall): In what was an anticipated set of circumstances leading up to the draft, Lynch is projected to serve a redshirt rookie season due to the gimmicky college offense he operated out of and his overall unorthodox style of play. He is reportedly firmly seated behind Mark Sanchez and Trevor Siemian and will subsequently hold little fantasy value for the 2016 season.

Cody Kessler (3^rd Round, 93^rd overall): Kessler – a quarterback whom many didn’t even consider draftable – intrigued the Browns so much that they felt it necessary to use a third round pick on him. Sure, he was a three-year starter, and a multi-time captain of his college team, but most draft pundits had several quarterbacks ahead of him on their boards. When looking further into the selection, a couple of things jump out. First and foremost is his near-pinpoint accuracy. Many argue that he was actually the most accurate quarterback in the class. Secondly, Kessler is a known leader both on the field and in the locker room. Notice anything about his most identifiable traits? Those are the two areas that Robert Griffin III most sorely lacks in as an NFL quarterback. Now, this isn’t a ringing endorsement of Kessler as a quarterback prospect or even a fantasy waiver pickup, but if RGIII crashes and burns once again, the Bengals clearly wouldn’t hesitate to move to the rookie quickly. 

Christian Hackenberg (2^nd Round, 51^st overall): His history is well known… started out as a top quarterback prospect entering Penn State, showed well in his freshman year and was subsequently anointed the first overall pick in waiting once he became draft eligible. Unfortunately for him, his following collegiate years didn’t go along his expected path and his draft stock plummeted because of it. With now significant mechanical and anticipation flaws, it is unlikely that Hack sees the field at any point in his rookie season. He should be redshirted for 2016.

Running Backs

Ezekiel Elliott (1^st Round, 4^th overall): Everybody not named Darren McFadden or Alfred Morris loves Elliot landing in Dallas. Zeke is a three-down back who can get to the edge, pick up yards after contact and protect the passer. The only concern for me whatsoever is whether they allow him to handle a full time role right out of the gate in 2016 since they do have other proven veteran backs.

Derrick Henry (2^nd Round, 45^th overall): One of the most physically imposing backs to enter the league since Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Henry brings along not only a Heisman Trophy and National Championship, but also a 6-foot-3, 245-pound frame at the tailback position. Watching him on tape, it is actually kind of tough to project him into the NFL game outside of a few schemes, but luckily he was drafted to one that fits his overall skillset. Entering the season, he will sit behind DeMarco Murray – another proven workhorse back – but it should be noted  there is a high percentage chance that he gets significant run early on due to Murray’s well-documented injury history and overall wear and tear. Although I’m not the biggest fan of his game, Henry definitely enters the season as a rookie back with potential and at worst will be one of the top handcuff options early on.

Jordan Howard (5^th Round, 150^th overall): After the loss of Matt Forte, it became clear that the Bears would have to take a back in the draft, even with Jeremy Langford still in the fold. In Jordan Howard they certainly got a talented one. However, he couldn’t be any more different from the style of Forte. Built in the mold of LeGarrette Blount, Howard is a bruising force; a load for opposing defenses to take down on first contact. Also unlike Forte, he shows no interest or skill in the receiving game, likely serving as an initial down and goal line back for most of his career. Most draft pundits had him slated as a day-two talent, but when it came down to it, Howard slid to the fifth round because of his legitimate injury concerns. In 2015, Howard missed four games entirely and was banged up and knocked out of several others throughout the rest of the season. All things considered, though, he still rushed for over 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns, making him one of the most dangerous backs in the Big 10. With the Bears, Howard has a real chance to push incumbent Jeremy Langford for touches, but with his aforementioned injury concerns, is unlikely to ever take over every down/series duties. Make no mistake, though, in terms of talent alone, Howard will be the most talented back on the roster from day one. He’s my pick to be the league’s top touchdown vulture and will at worst serve as an excellent handcuff option in his rookie season.

Kenneth Dixon (4^th Round, 134^th overall): Dixon finished his career at Louisiana Tech as one of the most decorated collegiate backs of all time. Compiling over 5,400 rushing yards and 87 touchdowns, and including a streak of 38 consecutive games with a touchdown to finish out his career, Dixon couldn’t have been much more productive. The obvious downside here is that he took on a heavy workload as a young player and will certainly enter the NFL with tons of mileage. However, there is an argument to be made that right off the bat he will be the most talented back on the Ravens' roster. In any event, Dixon enters the season at the third string running back behind proven veteran Justin Forsett and unproven second-year runner Javorius Allen. The assumption is that Dixon will eventually work his way into the No. 2 role and will end up being the best handcuff to Forsett once all is said and done.

Devontae Booker (4^th Round, 136^th overall): Booker had himself an accomplished collegiate career, but in the process logged a ton of touches and significant wear and tear. Still, he was talented enough to get drafted by the Broncos in the fourth round. Expect him to be healthy for training camp and summer workouts, while he has a legitimate chance to push C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman for reps in the 2016 season.

Paul Perkins (5^th Round, 149^th overall): My belief entering the draft was that Perkins was the second-most talented runner in the class behind Ezekiel Elliott. Yes, I didn’t forget about the Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry, I just believe that much in the kid. He’s the most elusive running back we’ve seen since LeSean McCoy, as he possesses a Barry Sanders-esque stutter step and a hop cut reminiscent of Reggie Bush. Despite his limited size, he appears to be serviceable in short-yardage situations with adequate pad level and leg drive. His vision is on par with just about anyone in the league, leaving his scouting report with very few concerns. Ultimately, his slide in the draft came directly due to his inability to stay healthy throughout his college career, while he also appeared to wear out as games wore on (think Duke Johnson in college). Regardless, with a fifth round value, the Giants may have gotten the steal of the draft here, as he will prove to be an excellent change-of-pace back at worst early on in his career. In terms of depth chart standing, there is no reason to count him out from winning the job outright during camp this August. Even if he doesn’t, the Giants' veteran backs are so uninspiring that Perkins should get a legitimate to carry the load at some point during the season.

C.J. Prosise (3^rd Round, 90^th overall): A slot receiver for the first three years of his collegiate career, after a position switch to running back, Prosise finished his senior year with 1,032 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on only 156 attempts – good enough for a 6.6 yards per carry average. He also caught 26 passes for 308 yards and a touchdown, proving to still possess the skills needed to be a serviceable receiving option. What surprised many is that even so inexperienced at the running back position, Prosise appeared to pick up the nuances of the craft almost instantly. His game-breaking athleticism will be his calling card in the NFL, while his main purpose will likely begin on third downs due to his history as an effective receiver in college.

Alex Collins (5^th Round, 171^st overall): ESPN’s John Clayton just recently reported that out of camp word is that Alex Collins looks to be on track to pushing Thomas Rawls for early down carries. Clayton believes that Collins could realistically see 8-to-10 carries per game early on in the season, making him a better handcuff option than fellow rookie back C.J. Prosise who was drafted two rounds prior to him.

Kenyan Drake (3^rd Round, 73^rd overall): Drake was a big-time recruit coming out of high school and would have been Alabama’s workhorse RB if not for two broken bones during his stay in Tuscaloosa. Drake has great feet that remind be a lot of Darren Sproles. Yet, he is a bigger kid (6-foot, 210-lbs) and ran a 4.45 40-yard dash. He’s going to be Dolphins best running back in 2016.

DeAndre Washington (5^th Round, 143^rd overall): Largely off the radar entering the draft this spring, Washington is surprisingly an accomplished collegiate back. During his final season with the Texas Tech Red Raiders, he amassed a Christopher Columbus-like 1,492 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground, while arguably more importantly for his purposes with the Oakland Raiders, he caught 124 passes for 1,091 yards and four touchdowns during his four years of college ball. At 5-foot-8, 205 lbs., Washington has the build of San Diego’s Branden Oliver and possesses a similar skillset to boot. Both surprisingly athletic per their bowling ball stature, Washington – like Oliver – has incredibly nimble footwork through the hole, and is incapable of going down via arm tackles. He similarly employs professional vision and is a terror in the open field with a surprisingly devastating stutter step. While current Raiders starting running back – Latavius Murray – struggled mightily in the passing game this past season, Washington brings soft hands and can identify a soft spot in the opponent’s defense expertly. He’ll oftentimes find himself open on banana routes and has the will to barrel through defenses on the edge to pick up critical first downs. As a blocker, while short in stature, Washington will serve his quarterback well, as his low center of gravity gives him a firm base to pick up would-be pass rushers. Ultimately, the best advice is not to underestimate the rookie Washington, as all game tape points to the fact that he is a better overall running back than Latavius Murray. Sure, he will have to prove his worth early on in his rookie season, but at worst, Washington will not be far behind Murray in terms of overall touches.

Wide Receivers

Will Fuller (1^st Round, 2^1st overall):

In his junior season at Notre Dame, Fuller dealt with a carousel of injured quarterbacks throwing him the ball, but despite the adversity, still ended up with 1,258 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. On 27 percent of his catches, he managed to explode for 25 yards or more, registering him for an astounding 20.3 yards per catch. As for his tape, he’s a burner – plain and simple. His game right now reminds me of a poor man’s DeSean Jackson or maybe just a rich man’s Ted Ginn Jr. Obviously, on film he has no problem getting separation, and because of this, it is tough to get a sense of what he can do against professional corners. On simple slant and in routes, Fuller uses his elite speed and proper footwork to torch opposing DB’s, making a long catch and score look easier than getting into the University of Phoenix. Where scouts worry about Fuller is in a couple of areas: The tape shows that he possesses some pretty inconsistent hands, while there is little evidence of him having to adjust to balls in the air. His size is slight so his work as an outside receiver will be limited at the next level. There is also a fear that Fuller is a one trick pony, as he seems to just use straight-line speed to get himself open. Despite the concerns, speed is king in today’s NFL so he should eventually develop into a playmaking deep-threat. As for his projection as a rookie fantasy threat, Fuller should be the second option to DeAndre Hopkins and while he will have inconsistent stat lines, he will surely explode for some massive numbers in isolated games as a rookie.

Laquon Treadwell (1^st Round, 23^rd overall): After smartly moving on from one of the most overrated receivers of modern times – Mike Wallace – after just one season, the Vikings knew they needed to address the X-receiver position in either the draft or free agency. After free agency came and went without picking up a worthy flanker, it became pretty evident the Vikings were going to pull the trigger on one in the first round of the NFL Draft. Luckily for them, surprisingly at 23^rd overall, Ole Miss WR Laquon Treadwell – the draft’s best receiver – was still sitting on the board. Without hesitation, the Vikings' brain trust pulled the trigger on Treadwell, giving them one of the best value selections of the first round. Despite being the most talented wideout in the draft, teams undoubtedly passed on Treadwell because of his – expectedly might I add – slow 40-time at his pro day. Now while I’m not here to tell you that he’s a burner by any means, Treadwell has more than adequate game speed. Combine that with his unparalleled physicality, underrated route running, strong hands, and excellent natural body positioning, he has the tools to develop into a Dez Bryant type of player – something that every NFL team would take 10 times out of 10. From day one, Treadwell should serve as quarterback Teddy Bridgewater’s No. 1 receiver and top red zone target, while Stefon Diggs will slide into his more fittingly No. 2 role opposite the rookie wideout.

Josh Doctson (1^st Round, 22^nd overall): Participating in really only 10 games this past season, the All-American and Fred Biletnikoff Award finalist still managed to haul in 79 catches for 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns. As for his tape, in a few words, Doctson has the look of a tall, lanky X receiver, who has a real nose for the end zone. His frame may be slight, but at 6-foot-3 he rarely loses on 50-50 balls. His hands are sticky and strong, overcompensating for what he might lack physically. Doctson is a silky smooth route runner and surprisingly does some of his best work across the middle of the field despite his frail figure. With the ball in the air, very few receivers in this class can adjust their routes or body position in order to make a proper play on the ball the way that he does. Ultimately, Doctson is a must-draft rookie in almost all formats, as he has Offensive Rookie of the Year potential in this suddenly emerging Redskins offense.

Corey Coleman (1^st Round, 15^th overall): Coleman is a tough projection because he is incredibly raw, which typically hinders rookie fantasy value. However, considering the circumstances surrounding the Browns' wide receiver depth, Coleman may end up as their top option entering the season. Fantasy owners are advised to draft Coleman due to the circumstances and his undeniable talent, but don’t be surprised if he experiences some considerable growing pains early on in his career. Once he masters the nuances of NFL route running, then his investment will have paid off.

Sterling Shepard (2^nd Round, 40^th overall): Shepard may very well end up being the best player in this Giants draft class when all is said and done, as he enters the NFL with an already polished route tree and some serious talent after the catch. A true jack-of-all-trades at Oklahoma, Shepard established himself a very distinguished collegiate career. His work out of the slot as a receiver, out of the backfield as a runner, and on special teams both as a gunner and return man, give him instant value to the Giants this season.

When watching him on tape, it’s clear right off the bat why Shepard was Oklahoma quarterback Baker Fayfield's best friend both on and off the field, as he uses lightning, yet polished footwork to leave man-up defenders in the dust. His hands are football magnets -- just eight drops in his four years at Oklahoma, while he also saves a lot of incompletions with circus catches as well. Overall with Shepard, he is going to face the usual doubters that undersized receivers typically take on during the draft process, but to put bluntly, there aren't really any holes in his game. Sure, he might struggle initially in the NFL as an outside receiver against more physical corners, but it is going to be tough to stick with him in the slot no matter who is guarding him. He will eat zone defense alive and has the footwork and short line quickness to go toe-to-toe with anyone man up. He is unlikely to win 50-50 balls due to his lack of height, but concentration drops will never be an issue with him either. Most importantly of all, his presence is going to open things up much more consistently for Odell Beckham Jr. If he picks up the offense quickly enough, 75 catches aren’t at all out of the question for him.

Tyler Boyd (2^nd Round, 55^th overall):

The Bengals featured a highly explosive offense last season, but entered the NFL Draft this weekend with plenty of question marks after they lost two of their top three receivers via free agency. The selection of Tyler Boyd out of Pittsburgh in the second round helped answer some of their offensive question marks, as his do-it-all skillset will compensate for much of what they lost in Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones. He is a good route runner, has great hands, and makes plenty happen with the ball in his hands. In college, Pittsburgh oftentimes used him on reverses and out of the backfield, just like the Bengals love to do with their secondary receivers, creating mismatches on the outside with real estate to roam. Expect him and A.J. Green to do plenty of damage in 2016 as an excellent wide receiver tandem. Keep Boyd in mind on draft day this summer.

Michael Thomas (2^nd Round, 47^th overall): Thomas enters just in the nick of time for Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints, as their days as one of the game’s most prolific offenses appear to be numbered. They have been lacking a true No. 1 receiver since Marques Colston’s talent began a downward spiral after the 2012 season, and while they made it by with incredible production from tight end Jimmy Graham, he departed via trade prior to last season, leaving the Saints without a go-to receiving option. Now Thomas will not enter day one and go on to grab 100 balls in his rookie year, but his build, skillset, and potential will finally give Drew Brees a legitimate X-receiver option to throw to. This will give him and Brandin Cooks plenty of one-on-one looks, making Cooks a top fantasy receiver option and Thomas a nice sleeper pick towards the end of drafts in 2016.

Braxton Miller (3^rd Round, 85^th overall): Miller comes in as a bit of a project player, but not without incredible talent. A former dual-threat quarterback at Ohio State, Miller twice finished as the Big 10’s conference player of the year. He also finished in the top 10 for Heisman voting in 2013 in just his sophomore season. With a logjam at the position last season, Miller swallowed his pride and switched positions in hopes of improving his draft stock and most importantly helping his team. He did not disappoint, as he proved to be Ohio State’s most dynamic offensive weapon not named Ezekiel Elliott – a role that he would similarly like to fill for the Texans in 2016 and beyond. In the slot alongside DeAndre Hopkins and across from fellow rookie Will Fuller, Miller will be able to provide newly signed quarterback Brock Osweiler with an excellent short-ranged option to gain easy yards. He’s a dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands, and will likely get served designed gadget runs and swing screen outlets early on in his career. Ideally he will serve a similar purpose to a young Percy Harvin.

Pharoh Cooper (4^th Round, 117^th overall): Cooper is a first round talent trapped in a fourth rounder’s body, as his slight frame detracts from what he can do with the ball in his hands. He’s experienced obviously as a receiver, a running back, a returner, and also as a wildcat quarterback. His versatile stat line across his three-year career at South Carolina speaks for itself, making him an intriguing option headed into his rookie year. Unfortunately, however, Cooper was drafted into a system in Los Angeles that already employs several players with his similar skillset. At best he will be buried on the depth chart early on, while it will be a tough uphill battle to see the field outside of special teams for most of his rookie season.

Daniel Braverman (7^th Round, 230^th overall): It appears that the mold of the modern white slot receiver lineage will continue. From Wes Welker, to Julian Edelman, to Danny Amendola, to Cole Beasley; Daniel Braverman out of Western Michigan has a legitimate shot to make some noise in PPR formats early on in his career. The Bears have little depth after their top two wideouts, so with a good camp, Braverman could end up being the go-to slot option in his rookie season and beyond. For an idea of what he can really do, check out his tape against Ohio State last season… You won’t be disappointed.

Tight Ends

Hunter Henry (2^nd Round, 35^th overall): Despite being drafted highly in the second round and as the first tight end taken, this is a move for the future. Regardless of how old and decrepit Antonio Gates may ever appear to be, he continues to produce and the Chargers continue to feed him the ball. Backup TE’s never have a chance so long as Gates is still in town, although the Chargers have gone on the record claiming that they plan on incorporating Henry into the offensive game plan each week. I’ll believe it when I see it. Stay away from Henry on draft day outside of deep dynasty formats.

Austin Hooper (3^rd Round, 81^st overall): At 6-foot-4, 254 lbs., Hooper is built in the mold of the modern tight end. Fittingly, he can do the things that the modern TE can do as well, including lining up outside as an X or split end, in the slot, as a wing/H-back, and as a standard in-line tight end. He joins the Falcons as the most talented tight end on the roster, and while he may not start off the bat, he only has the underwhelming Jacob Tamme and Levine Toilolo to beat out, so I like his chances sooner rather than later.

Nick Vannett (3^rd Round, 94^th overall): Vannett is a player shrouded in mystery to some extent, as he was a lost weapon in an Ohio State offense loaded with playmakers. He recorded very little production as a pass catcher during his four years as a Buckeye, but that doesn’t mean that teams weren’t interested in what he could do at the NFL level. From the game film that was available on Vannett, his positional versatility was evident. He was seen lining up as a standard tight end, H-Back, slot receiver, flanker, and split end for the Buckeyes over his four-year collegiate career. As stated above, there is limited tape on what Vannett can do in the passing game, as Ohio State seemingly neglected him in their run-first offensive scheme. However, when doing some work on the Senior Bowl practices, I found that Vannett has some serious potential in this area. The coaches and scouts in Mobile, Ala., that were present for Senior Bowl week, noted that Vannett was one of the standouts of the event. He commanded respect from the line of scrimmage all the way down the field, and was reportedly a terror in the red zone. At one point during 7-on-7 drills, Vannett scored red zone touchdowns on four consecutive plays, forcing the defense to double-team him in practice.

To go along with his potential as a walking red zone mismatch, Vannett’s blocking skills are second to none in this class. He is a bully in the run game and was often considered Ohio State’s “third tackle” on max protection passing plays. He will enter the NFL as already one of the game’s best blockers at the tight end position. The downside to Vannett’s game is really the unknown. He wasn’t asked to do much at Ohio State in terms of pass catching responsibility, and blocking is usually something that TE prospects develop as they get more acclimated to the pro game. His positives aren’t particularly jaw dropping, and his lack of production certainly scared talent evaluators throughout the draft process. If his red zone dominance that he showed during the Senior Bowl is something that he can build off of, Vannett may actually end up with a special career. However, with such a small and isolated sample size of success, it is fair to consider this fool’s gold. Ultimately, Vannett will have a nice mentor to learn behind in Jimmy Graham, but certainly early on in his rookie season, he will be a non-entity unless of course for unforeseen injuries at the position.

Tyler Higbee (4^th Round, 110^th overall): Higbee – certainly a talented player in his own right – may be a risky investment in all formats this season due to the potential suspension looming over his head after he was arrested for second-degree assault earlier this past spring. Outside of the potential suspension, he still would be an unwise draft selection in fantasy leagues because he will not be the Rams' primary tight end option and because rookie tight ends typically fail to produce at a high level. If I haven’t been clear enough: Do not draft Higbee this season.

Jerell Adams (6^th Round, 184^th overall): Built in the mold of today’s tight end, Adams offers a body much more similar to Kelvin Benjamin than that of Jason Witten. He’s lanky for the position and incredibly athletic, but has questionable hands at best. In terms of pure talent, Adams may be at the top of the Giants' depth chart this season, but both Larry Donnell and Will Tye are much more polished than the rookie, so it is expected that Adams will play special teams and mostly redshirt offensively in 2016.