The NFL Draft is behind us, training camps are around the corner, and now we can step back and look at rankings for the top NFL Fantasy Football Rookies for 2013. Last year’s set of rookies was one of the best in NFL history, so it’s going to be interesting to see what this group will do in direct comparison.
So this piece is going to take shape all offseason as news hits, rosters develop and injuries occur.
Dynasty owners are hungry for this information now, since the rookie draft is pretty much their big day every season. But yearly owners are checking these rankings out also, especially after a record-breaking Fantasy Football Rookie season that saw the most rookie quarterbacks land in the top 12 at season’s end, as well as three rookie running backs end up scoring enough points to land them among the top 10 rookies over the past decade.
2013 Rankings: Top 60 Overall
QB | RB | WR | TE | K | DST
Rookie Rankings: Top 30 Overall | QB | RB | WR | TE
Top 30 Fantasy Football Rookies For 2013
1. Le’Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh
With Steelers offensive coordinator calling the Michigan State product a three-down back, Bell has to get the nod for the top spot among rookie running backs (as well as the top spot among Fantasy Football rookies for 2013).
Steelers OC Todd Haley calls Le’Veon Bell a three-down back, and he could be a Fantasy Football beast in Pittsburgh. Photo Credit: Daaka2
2. Montee Ball, RB, Denver
If Ball wins the starting job (he’ll need to pass protect MUCH better than Hillman did), he’ll face defenses structured to stop the pass pretty much the entire game. Fantasy owners should pick up the Ball and run with it. (patent pending)
3. Eddie Lacy, RB, Green Bay
I initially had Lacy as the leader of the RBs among the top Fantasy Football rookies for 2013. But as reports come out that his toe surgery from a few months ago, and his general attitude, scared some owners off, I’m dialing down my expectations, too. Plus, the Packers selected Johnathan Franklin a little later.
4. Giovani Bernard, RB, Cincinnati
This was a pick many had expected to see, as the Bengals found a fast complement to BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Bernard has drawn comparisons to DeAngelo Williams and Brian Westbrook, so it’s not much of a stretch to think of him taking over the full-time gig from The Law Firm at some point.
5. Tavon Austin, WR, St. Louis
While he’s obviously dynamic, with the ability to score from wherever, it’s tough to envision him becoming the next great receiver in the mold of Wes Welker, Danny Amendola and Percy Harvin right out of the gate.
Rams rookie WR Tavon Austin was the earliest skill position player taken in the 2013 NFL Draft (eighth). Photo Credit: Diamondback Photo
6. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston
It’s interesting that head coach Gary Kubiak compared Hopkins to former Broncos WR Rod Smith. He’ll line up almost immediately across the field from Johnson, and serve as his protégé, as he tries to take some defensive attention away from WR Andre Johnson.
7. Cordarelle Patterson, WR, Minnesota
Patterson has prototypical size, and he only has to beat out Jerome Simpson for a starting job, but the Vikings don’t have an above average quarterback in Christian Ponder.
8. Zac Stacy, RB, St. Louis
Sure, the Rams only spent a fifth-round pick on Stacy in the 2013 NFL Draft, but that still says something about their feelings about Isaiah Pead and Daryl Richardson.
9. E.J. Manuel, QB, Buffalo
He’ll have to battle with Kevin Kolb, but Manuel’s athleticism and size makes him an exciting option for a fanbase that would love to see C.J. Spiller and Manuel in the backfield at the same time.
10. Robert Woods, WR, Buffalo
Woods steps into a poor man’s comparison of what Hopkins will be going through. Stevie Johnson is no Andre Johnson, and Woods’ success is directly tied to Manuel’s most likely.
USC WR Robert Woods was compared to Packers WR James Jones by NFL.com. Photo Credit: Prospect-Central
11. Keenan Allen, WR, San Diego
Allen is coming back from a knee injury in October, has good size, and a very good quarterback throwing to him.
12. Markus Wheaton, WR, Pittsburgh
Gone is Mike Wallace to Miami, so the Steelers needed to backfill a wide receiver spot. Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders will line up as the starters, but Pittsburgh is already indicating that they will use Wheaton in several spots on the field, including the slot and in the backfield.
13. Tyler Eifert, TE, Cincinnati
The Bengals have already said they plan on lining Eifert up all over the place, which means he’ll get similar treatment as Gronk and Hernandez.
Bengals TE Tyler Eifert won the 2012 Mackey Award as the best collegiate tight end. Other winners include Aaron Hernandez, Fred Davis and Dwayne Allen. Photo Credit: NinjaSports.net
14. Andre Ellington, RB, Arizona
Ellington drew comparisons to C.J. Spiller, and not just because of his Clemson colors. He has great speed and cutting ability, but the Cardinals already have Rashard Mendenhall and Ryan Williams.
15. Johnathan Franklin, RB, Green Bay
Had Lacy not been selected ahead of him at Green Bay, Franklin could have been considered a top-three Fantasy Football rookie running back.
16. Geno Smith, QB, N.Y. Jets
A surprising drop from the first round puts him in New York, with one of the worst franchises in the league. He’ll have a chip on his shoulder, however, and he should have an open path to starting sooner than later.
17. Aaron Dobson, WR, New England
The Patriots moved on without both Welker and Brandon Lloyd, giving Dobson the opportunity to win a starting job across from Amendola.
18. Stedman Bailey, WR, St. Louis
Bailey, like Austin, is a playmaker after the catch. The Rams have plenty of openings for playmakers, so Bailey could see more chances than usual.
19. Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee
With Kenny Britt injured or in trouble every other week, the lanky rookie out of Tennessee could develop into an exciting, speedy pass receiver for Jake Locker.
20. Joseph Randle, RB, Dallas
Fantasy owners should consider Randle the player to grab as a handcuff as a late-round pick. Considering how much time DeMarco Murray spends in the trainer’s room, Randle should see plenty of touches.
21. Christine Michael, RB, Seattle
The Seahawks might still lose Marshawn Lynch to a short suspension, which is good news for second-year man Robert Turbin and Michael.
22. Zach Ertz, TE, Philadelphia
This is actually the lesser known tight-end twin from Stanford that helped Andrew Luck to several great seasons. He just might be one of those Jimmy Graham-types, that flourishes in Year 2 and beyond.
23. Matt Barkley, QB, Philadelphia
The Eagles already have Michael Vick and Nick Foles in their locker room, and now, new head coach Chip Kelly brings in his QB in Barkley.
New Eagles QB Matt Barkley threw for 3,273 yards and 36 touchdowns in his final season at USC. Photo Credit: CultureShlock
24. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City
The Chiefs also plan to move Kelce out and line him up in several spots, but he’ll also be dealing with free-agent signee Anthony Fasano and Moeaki.
25. Quinton Patton, WR, San Francisco
The Niners will reluctantly have to lean on Patton a little earlier than normal, since Michael Crabtree is out with an Achilles’ injury.
26. Tyler Wilson, QB, Oakland
The Raiders brought in Matt Flynn in an offseason trade with Seattle, and they still have Terrelle Pryor, who will get some opportunities.
27. Terrance Williams, WR, Dallas
The Cowboys used their third receiver a lot last season, and if Williams can win that spot behind Miles Austin and Dez Bryant, he’ll have some value.
28. Mike Gillislee, RB, Miami
The Gators product joins a team without a sure-fire starter at tailback just yet. Lamar Miller is expected to be the man, with Daniel Thomas behiind him. Gillislee does a little of everything well.
29. Knile Davis, RB, Kansas City
Jamaal Charles’ Fantasy owners will want to draft Davis or Shaun Draughn as Charles’ handcuff. Davis a bulldozing running back without a lot of slashing ability.
30. Marcus Lattimore, RB, San Francisco
This could end up being the best rookie of this class once all is said and done. Unfortunately, he’s coming off a total reconstruction of his knee after a horrific injury last season. He could start on the PUP list, before finding some carries later in the year.
2013 Rankings: Top 60 Overall
QB | RB | WR | TE | K | DST
Offensive Lines | IDP: DL | LB | DB
Rookie Rankings: Top 30 Overall | QB | RB | WR | TE
Top 30 Fantasy Football Rookies For 2013
As the summer progresses, these 2013 Fantasy Football rookie rankings will change and develop. There’s no doubt that having a good set of rankings for NFL Fantasy Football Rookies for 2013 could be the difference between being a champ or a chump this season!
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