Fantasy Football is fun because you act as an owner, general manager and coach. Why not take it to the next level and play in a keeper/dynasty league where you don’t have to disassemble your entire roster ever season. The following rookies are ranked by position for your keeper or dynasty league.

Quarterbacks

1. E.J. Manuel, Buf

Buffalo picking a quarterback wasn’t a shocker, the shocker was who they drafted. With Geno Smith still on the board most assumed he was going to be pegged as the next quarterback of the franchise, nope. With E.J. Manuel, Buffalo gets a player who can run and throw the ball. He has your prototypical size (6’5” 237 lbs.) for an NFL quarterback; he has good arm strength with a quick delivery, and is mobile. What I like about Manuel is that, although he was only a starter for two years, he improved dramatically from his junior to senior year, boosting his numbers in virtually all stats: passing yards, completion percentage, YPA (yards per attempt), passing touchdowns, and quarterback rating.

One of his weaknesses is his tendency to fumble; last year at Florida State he fumbled nine times. His footwork needs work; there were too many times last year that he underthrew a receiver or didn’t put the ball in the correct location, something that can be addressed with some NFL coaching. I think you should be targeting Manuel in the late first/early second round of your rookie/dynasty draft.

2. Geno Smith, NYJ

Headed into the 2013 NFL draft I was really high on him. He was a three-year starter at West Virginia with a career completion percentage of over 67%, threw for over 11,600 yards, passed for 98 touchdowns and only had 21 interceptions. He has a strong arm and he backs that with overall good mechanics. Smith has the ability to avoid the rush and can throw on the run.

What I don’t like is the style of offense he ran in college which was a spread offense; we haven’t seen too many quarterbacks make a successful transition from that style to the pros. The Jets would be wise to let him sit and develop, while getting him some weapons so that next year he will be ready to take the reigns as their starting quarterback. I advise rookie/dynasty league players to target Geno in the second round.

QB Honorable Mention

Matt Barkley, Phi
Mike Glennon, TB

Running Backs

1. Le’Veon Bell, Pit

I like this kid out of Michigan State, he was a real work-horse last year carrying the ball 382 times, rushing for 1,793 yards and scoring 12 rushing touchdowns; and now is in an ideal situation with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was drafted by a team looking for some help in the running game as last year was one of the worst rushing performances we have seen by a Steelers’ team in a long time. Out of all the rookie running backs drafted he has the best situation to produce right away, he reminds me of a former Steelers running back by the name of Jerome Bettis, a punishing runner, most effective running between the tackles and a decent pass blocker. The only knock I have against him is that he doesn’t have that breakaway speed that we see from today’s top backs but then again Bettis wasn’t a speedster and still had a solid career. If he can stay healthy he has an opportunity to be the feature back that Pittsburgh has been missing. Top 3 pick in rookie/dynasty leagues. Currently, Le’Veon Bell has a right foot injury and could return to action around the first week of October.

2. Giovani Bernard, Cin

You were probably surprised like the rest of us that Giovani Bernard was the first running back taken off the board, but he has made the Cincinnati Bengals look like Albert Einstein by drafting him. This kid can do it all: he can run with the best of them, can catch the ball out of the backfield, and his pass blocking has improved, convincing running back coach Hue Jackson that the rookie can be an every-down back.

Cincinnati Benglas rookie RB Giovani Bernard

The only thing that is standing in the rookies’ way is BenJarvus Green-Ellis, but I don’t think that should be a problem as Green-Ellis has shown that he is an average-at-best runner and nothing more. With so much that the kid can offer the Bengals will try to give him as many touches as they can, lining him up in the backfield, in the slot, and out wide. I believe Bernard will be starting by the end of this year or next year, so all you keeper/dynasty league players make sure he is on your list because he is definitely worth a top 3 pick.

3. Marcus Lattimore, SF

Are you serious Sid? You really think a guy coming off two major knee injuries in college has the potential to be one of the better running backs that were drafted this year? Short answer: Yes!

I know that he probably will not play at all this year but that shouldn’t stop you from drafting him in your keeper/dynasty leagues, he has the tools to be something special in this league. At first glance he definitely passes the eye test standing at 6’0’’ and weighing 210 lbs. His 40-yard dash has been timed at an impressive 4.46 sec. Lattimore is a touchdown machine, racking up 38 rushing TDs in 28 games at South Carolina. Lattimore has the physical tools to do well and when this guy hits the open field most defenders either do the Deon Sanders way of tackling or are not able to catch him. Sitting on the sidelines this year should help the rookie improve and read the game better and make him an overall better player. Remember the guy Lattimore is tagged to replace, Frank Gore, also had major knee issues coming out of college, and Frank the Tank has had a pretty productive career so don’t let the knee issues scare you away. Target Marcus Lattimore with an early second round pick in rookie/dynasty drafts.

RB Honorable Mention

Montee Ball, Den
Eddie Lacy, GB
Joseph Randle, Dal
Kenjon Barner, Car

Wide Receivers

1. Tavon Austin, StL

Even though he is one of the smaller receivers (5’8” 174 lbs.) to be drafted, he may be packing the biggest punch. He has so many tools at his disposal it isn’t even funny. First, there is the speed factor; he ran a 4.29 40-yard dash. Tavon Austin has some pretty good hands, his last two years at West Virginia he posted 215 receptions. He can line up in the slot and also play on the outside. Austin has the quickness to elude would-be tacklers and the shiftiness of a running back. He really doesn’t have a kink in his armor besides his height, but we see so many dominant players in the league, that we can throw the height issue out the window. Only thing I would worry is if he can maintain it for 10+ years because of his small stature. Tavon Austin is expected to be on of the featured offensive weapons for the Rams and is definitely is worth a top 3 pick in rookie/dynasty drafts.

2. DeAndre Hopkins, Hou

The Clemson product had a pretty good college career, now he’s looking to translate that to NFL success. The rookie landed in a good spot with the Houston Texans and wide receiver Andre Johnson as his mentor; he will have the chance to learn from one of the best in the business. He is by no means a huge wide receiver (6’1” 207 lbs) or even one of the fastest (4.57 40-yd dash), but what he may lack in size and speed, he makes up for in good route running. Most rookie wide receivers come into the league not knowing how to run the route tree, not Hopkins, he can run them all. He also has some big, reliable hands that all you have to do is throw in his vicinity and he will make the grab.

He has steadily improved each year while in college with the accumulation of his breakout year last year of 82 catches, 1,405 receiving yards, and 18 touchdowns. He should be targeted in the mid-to-late first round in rookie/dynasty leagues.

3. Cordarrelle Patterson, Min

This guy will be a playmaker in the NFL. He has good size (6’2” 220 lbs.) and blazing speed (4.33 40-yd dash) and will use that to beat coverages deep and often. He is one of the quicker receivers and has the ability to make defenders miss him. If he can put it together at a more consistent basis he will definitely take this league by storm. Patterson still is still raw for the simple fact that he hasn’t played against top competition for that long, only one year at the University of Tennessee, but overall he is ready to make an impact in the NFL. I recommend you target him in the middle to late first round of rookie/dynasty drafts.

WR Honorable Mention

Aaron Dobson, NE
Robert Woods, Buf
Keenan Allen, SD
Kenny Stills, NO
Markus Wheaton, Pit
Kenbrell Thompkins, NE

Tight Ends

1. Tyler Eifert, Cin

Regarded as the consensus No. 1 tight end in the draft, Eifert will have to work hard to gain a starting spot. He will be competing with incumbent starter Jermaine Gresham and will have to show the coaches that he can battle in the trenches, still go out wide and make plays with his hands. He had a fairly productive 3-year career at Norte Dame, registering 140 receptions for 1,840 yards and 11 touchdowns. He is a big guy at 6’5” 250 lbs. which will help with the pounding he will take at the line of scrimmage and when he splits out wide where smaller defensive backs will be trying to cover him. First year might be rough on him but going forward he should be a solid No. 1 tight end option in fantasy. Target Eifert with a mid-round pick in keeper/dynasty leagues.

TE Honorable Mention

Dion Sims, Mia
Zach Ertz, Phi
Vance Mcdonald, SF

Have any rookie/keeper/dynasty questions? Hit me up on Twitter @SidSaysFC

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