Fantasy Football

2015 Fantasy Football: Ranking the Rookie Wide Receivers

In this article we will be ranking the top five fantasy wide receivers in re-draft PPR leagues. Of course this is pre-draft so things could dramatically change after we find out where these wideouts land in the 2015 NFL Draft. For now, this is how I’m ranking them.

1. DeVante Parker, Louisville
Parker was expected to be one of the best wide receivers in the nation last season, although, there were questions about how he would perform without Teddy Bridgewater. Physically Parker is a superior athlete. Big, strong and fast. He has great hands with excellent catch radius and is an undeniable playmaker. Unfortunately he broke his foot and was forced to miss the first seven games of the season. No one really knew how he’d bounce back, at least right away. In the six games he managed to play in, all he did was catch 43 passes for 855 yards and five touchdowns. Needless to say Parker is my No.1 WR in this draft. He has the potential to become an A.J. Green type receiver.

Best Fit: Miami Dolphins

2. Dorial Green-Beckham, Oklahoma
Green-Beckham is Randy Moss all over again. He’s a 6-foot-5, 237 pound freak athlete that runs a sub-4.5 40-yard dash. Much like Moss his off-field issues have dropped his draft stock. DGB allegedly was involved in an incident in which he knocked a female down a flight of stairs and was in a car that had marijuana in it. Nonetheless, he has rare athletic ability and I’m trying to win a fantasy football championship not a morality contest. If you want to pass on these kinds of guys that it is very admirable, but I will be admiring the championship trophy sitting in my living room.

Best Fit: New Orleans Saints

3. Amari Cooper, Alabama
Cooper is the safest player in this entire draft. Not the safest receiver, the safest player. He has no flaws in his game. Smooth route runner, reliable hands and great athletsism. In 2014 he broke all Julio Jones school records. Even when everybody knew they were going to Cooper, he still managed to make play after play. Parker and DGB have a bit more upside, however, if you want to play it safe, Cooper is your best bet. If I was an NFL GM, this list would look much different and Cooper would be on top of it. As you may already be aware, I’m not an NFL GM, I am in fact a fantasy football analyst. So if I’m drafting a rookie, I swinging for the fences. Drafting Cooper would still be far from a disappointment.

Best Fit: Oakland Raiders

4. Devin Smith, Ohio State
Smith is a better version of Torrey Smith. What separates him from other “fly guys” is the skill he’s developed when it comes to high-pointing a football. He is unbelievable at going up and pulling a ball down in a crowd. An incredible vertical leap paired with impeccable timing and strong hands makes Smith a serious threat both on deep balls and in the red zone. He may have as much upside as any wideout in this draft. He’s still a bit raw but as he continues to develop he may be scary good.

Best Fit: Baltimore Ravens

5. Phillip Dorsett, Miami
He’s fast. Really, really fast. Maybe the fastest player to ever come out of The U. That includes guys like Devin Hester, Santana Moss and Ed Reed. He also really developed as a route runner and as a football player in general in 2014. We have seen these Miami kids like Allen Hurns and Travis Benjamin have some success out of nowhere in the pros. Dorsett is a better version of them and is not just a one trick pony. He’s a burner so he can beat you deep, however, he is also very dangerous on screens and crossing routes as well. He has the potential to be a star on the next level.

Best Fit: Carolina Panthers

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