These rankings are based upon what I think these players can do in Year 1.
1.) Brandin Cooks - WR - Saints
It wasn't very hard for me to choose my #1 player, in fact it was quite obvious to me. You've got a guy with blazing speed and great hands that goes to a team with a HOF Quarterback who makes throwing for 5,000 yards look easy. Darren Sproles and Lance Moore are both gone.
2.) Sammy Watkins - WR - Bills
More talented that Brandin Cooks in my opinion but on a much weaker Offense. I have a hard time believing that Buffalo isn't planning on throwing the ball to Sammy Watkins 6+ times a game. He may suffer in the Touchdown department especially if he's double covered (bump Mike Williams) but he will be featured excessively.
3.) Mike Evans - WR - Buccaneers
When you watch Mike Evans play, he makes everything look EASY. I don't know enough about the scheme that Tampa is running this year but I do know that he will be playing second fiddle to Vincent Jackson which limits his upside a bit. I don't believe that Lovie Smith is suddenly the Head Coach of a high scoring Offense. I am a huge believer in this kids ability, especially if he's facing a team's #2 Defensive Back.
4.) Kelvin Benjamin - WR - Panthers
The Panthers parted ways with Steve Smith and gave Cam Newton a weapon almost tailor made for him. You've got a big strong receiver with a Quarterback who is a threat to run the ball. Benjamin will be given every chance to succeed and finds himself on a team with a great defense. He has the highest TD upside of all the players on this list. If he was a TE pretending to play WR, everyone would be gushing about him.
5.) Jeremy Hill - RB - Bengals
For Fantasy purposes, this wasn't a great draft for Running Backs but Jeremy Hill found himself in a great situation. He should immediately supplant Benjarvis Green-Ellis for carries and be the Bengals primary goalline back. He'll be a great complement to Giovanni Bernard and should see 200+ carries under a Hue Jackson lead Offense. A traditional 3-down back.
6) Bishop Sankey - RB - Titans
I will probably receive the biggest criticism for ranking Sankey this low but he's a guy that likely will not be on any of my teams this year. As a general rule of thumb, I do not expect success out of Rookie Runningbacks who do not have established Quarterbacks. I think he's talented in a vacuum but this is a Tennessee team that lacks identity. If I'm an opposing defensive coordinator, I love the prospect of stacking the box and forcing Jake Locker to beat me. Nonetheless, you cannot ignore the fact that Sankey will see carries early and often which allows him to sneak onto the list.
7.) Eric Ebron - TE - Lions
I don't think the Lions have any expectations of this guy putting his hands in the dirt and perfecting his blocking. He's built in the same mold as Jimmy Graham and will be used similarly. Golden Tate is his biggest competition for targets behind Calvin Johnson. Depending where he falls in redraft, he's a must draft.
8.) Davante Adams - WR - Packers
The biggest obstacle for Davante Adams is playing time. While the Packers run plenty of 3WR sets, their current core of Cobb, Nelson, and Boykin is nothing to scoff at. I fully expect Adams to spring up the depth chart and become a playmaker but as of right now I can't slot someone who is currently a team's fourth-string wide receiver much higher. If he was penciled in as starter, I would probably place him where I currently have Kelvin Benjamin placed. Playing with Aaron Rodgers gives you mucho upside.
9.) Marqise Lee - WR - Jaguars
Justin Blackmon being suspended opens immense opportunity and plenty of targets for Marqise Lee. The Jaguars defense is as atrocious as ever and there will be many quality targets to go around. He's not a world beater but I can definitely see him giving some defenses fits and racking up gobs of yards.
10.) Andre Williams - RB - Giants
Here's another guy who can leapfrog to the #4 / 5 spot if he is guaranteed the starting job / carries. We saw Brandon Jacobs walk off the street and put up a 100 yard game up against Chicago. Andre Williams is built in that same 'hammer' form that will fit in well with Coach Coughlin. We obviously know he has limitations catching the ball but so did Michael Turner and that did nothing to stop him from being a Top 5 scoring Fantasy Running Back. David Wilson hasn't been cleared for contact and Rashad Jennings is a journeyman talent. Watch this situation closely! Williams is very talented and in a decent situation.
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Please note that these are my opinions of these players as of June 4th, 2014. All of these opinions are subject to change based on injuries, depth chart, pre-season, etc.
1.) Brandin Cooks - WR - Saints
It wasn't very hard for me to choose my #1 player, in fact it was quite obvious to me. You've got a guy with blazing speed and great hands that goes to a team with a HOF Quarterback who makes throwing for 5,000 yards look easy. Darren Sproles and Lance Moore are both gone.
2.) Sammy Watkins - WR - Bills
More talented that Brandin Cooks in my opinion but on a much weaker Offense. I have a hard time believing that Buffalo isn't planning on throwing the ball to Sammy Watkins 6+ times a game. He may suffer in the Touchdown department especially if he's double covered (bump Mike Williams) but he will be featured excessively.
3.) Mike Evans - WR - Buccaneers
When you watch Mike Evans play, he makes everything look EASY. I don't know enough about the scheme that Tampa is running this year but I do know that he will be playing second fiddle to Vincent Jackson which limits his upside a bit. I don't believe that Lovie Smith is suddenly the Head Coach of a high scoring Offense. I am a huge believer in this kids ability, especially if he's facing a team's #2 Defensive Back.
4.) Kelvin Benjamin - WR - Panthers
The Panthers parted ways with Steve Smith and gave Cam Newton a weapon almost tailor made for him. You've got a big strong receiver with a Quarterback who is a threat to run the ball. Benjamin will be given every chance to succeed and finds himself on a team with a great defense. He has the highest TD upside of all the players on this list. If he was a TE pretending to play WR, everyone would be gushing about him.
5.) Jeremy Hill - RB - Bengals
For Fantasy purposes, this wasn't a great draft for Running Backs but Jeremy Hill found himself in a great situation. He should immediately supplant Benjarvis Green-Ellis for carries and be the Bengals primary goalline back. He'll be a great complement to Giovanni Bernard and should see 200+ carries under a Hue Jackson lead Offense. A traditional 3-down back.
6) Bishop Sankey - RB - Titans
I will probably receive the biggest criticism for ranking Sankey this low but he's a guy that likely will not be on any of my teams this year. As a general rule of thumb, I do not expect success out of Rookie Runningbacks who do not have established Quarterbacks. I think he's talented in a vacuum but this is a Tennessee team that lacks identity. If I'm an opposing defensive coordinator, I love the prospect of stacking the box and forcing Jake Locker to beat me. Nonetheless, you cannot ignore the fact that Sankey will see carries early and often which allows him to sneak onto the list.
7.) Eric Ebron - TE - Lions
I don't think the Lions have any expectations of this guy putting his hands in the dirt and perfecting his blocking. He's built in the same mold as Jimmy Graham and will be used similarly. Golden Tate is his biggest competition for targets behind Calvin Johnson. Depending where he falls in redraft, he's a must draft.
8.) Davante Adams - WR - Packers
The biggest obstacle for Davante Adams is playing time. While the Packers run plenty of 3WR sets, their current core of Cobb, Nelson, and Boykin is nothing to scoff at. I fully expect Adams to spring up the depth chart and become a playmaker but as of right now I can't slot someone who is currently a team's fourth-string wide receiver much higher. If he was penciled in as starter, I would probably place him where I currently have Kelvin Benjamin placed. Playing with Aaron Rodgers gives you mucho upside.
9.) Marqise Lee - WR - Jaguars
Justin Blackmon being suspended opens immense opportunity and plenty of targets for Marqise Lee. The Jaguars defense is as atrocious as ever and there will be many quality targets to go around. He's not a world beater but I can definitely see him giving some defenses fits and racking up gobs of yards.
10.) Andre Williams - RB - Giants
Here's another guy who can leapfrog to the #4 / 5 spot if he is guaranteed the starting job / carries. We saw Brandon Jacobs walk off the street and put up a 100 yard game up against Chicago. Andre Williams is built in that same 'hammer' form that will fit in well with Coach Coughlin. We obviously know he has limitations catching the ball but so did Michael Turner and that did nothing to stop him from being a Top 5 scoring Fantasy Running Back. David Wilson hasn't been cleared for contact and Rashad Jennings is a journeyman talent. Watch this situation closely! Williams is very talented and in a decent situation.
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Please note that these are my opinions of these players as of June 4th, 2014. All of these opinions are subject to change based on injuries, depth chart, pre-season, etc.
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