2015 Fantasy Football: Rookie Wide Receivers

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With the 2015 NFL season less than two months away, it’s time to start doing prep work for your fantasy football draft. Over the next few weeks I will be breaking down every position with a primer, rankings, sleepers, busts, and rookies.

Rookie wide receivers in fantasy were generally considered to be long-term assets who would struggle for a season or two before blowing up in year three or four. Last year changed the game with Odell Beckham, Mike Evans, Kelvin Benjamin, Sammy Watkins, Jordan Matthews, Jarvis Landry, and Brandin Cooks (before he got hurt) all having impact fantasy seasons in 2014.

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It could have been a fluke since last year’s draft was one of the most talent rich ever, but it could also have something to do with the recent sophistication of high school and college passing games. Or the fact that NFL teams threw the ball on a record 56.6% of offensive plays last season and WRs broke the record for most yards in a season by over a thousand yards (1,082). With the proliferation of passing games, WR are taking over the game and rookies are coming into the league more ready to play than ever.

Below I listed the rookie wide receivers in order of projected fantasy impact and not order drafted. I only listed rookies that I think will have the potential to make your starting fantasy lineup at some point this season and left off receivers who probably need an injury to provide fantasy value.

Rookie Wide Receivers

Amari Cooper, Raiders – David Carr, the Raiders rookie QB, had a much better season than most people are giving him credit for (21 TD / 12 INT) despite being surrounded by the least amount of offensive talent in the NFL last year. Now Carr has a legit weapon in Cooper, who was the most polished receiver coming out the draft. Cooper has the potential to be a legit #1 in real life and a WR2 in fantasy right away. He’s a slick route runner as I already mentioned but also has great hands and enough size to dominate in the red zone.

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Nelson Agholor, Eagles – One of the sharpest route runners in the draft and a perfect fit for the Eagles offense. Agholor just has to beat out Riley Cooper for the Eagles #2 target behind Jordan Matthews. He’s dangerous with the ball, has sticky hands and is tougher than expected for his average size (6’0 | 185). With the Eagles running more plays than any other team in the league, just being the #2 WR should be enough to make Agholor a valuable fantasy player. For those leagues that reward kick/punt return stats, bump Agholor up a round or two.

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