2011 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Snapshot of Value Rookies
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This year is going to be a little different than usual for the rookies. Without the mini-camps and OTAs it will take them some time to establish themselves and make a mark at this level. At some point in the season though, these rookies could make an impact.
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Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Kansas City Chiefs: Baldwin will likely take some time to get adjusted to the NFL, but he could be a player that improves as the season wears on.
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Delone Carter, RB, Indianapolis Colts: How long can Joseph Addai keep it up? Donald Brown has had enough chances to prove his worth. Carter could quietly end up being one of the top running backs in this class.
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Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals: Dalton could be one of the few rookie quarterbacks to start the bulk of the games this year. He has some weapons, but likely won’t take too many chances.
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Roy Helu, RB, Washington Redskins: Helu has the making of a solid running back choice in the Redskins option, but Tim Hightower’s presence, along with Mike Shanahan’s quirkiness slows the enthusiasm train.
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Blaine Gabbert, Jacksonville Jaguars: Gabbert could get his shot late in the season if Jacksonville struggles, or earlier if David Garrard does.
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Kendall Hunter, RB, San Francisco 49ers: Hunter is part of a crowded backfield in San Francisco, but he has the explosiveness to make an impact if he gets a significant amount of carries.
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Greg Little, WR, Cleveland Browns: Little has not had a good preseason, but like Baldwin could improve as the season wears on. Little needs to focus on his concentration and consistency.
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DeMarco Murray, RB, Dallas Cowboys: Murray could wind up being a productive player this year, but first he’ll have to earn touches away from Felix Jones.
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Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers: Newton is off the charts athletically and shouldn’t have too much trouble winning the job away from Jimmy Clausen. He’ll make some rookie mistakes, but he’ll also make some head-turning plays.
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Christian Ponder, QB, Minnesota Vikings: Donovan McNabb always seems to miss time to injury. If Ponder gets a shot and plays well the Vikings could decide the future is now.
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Stevan Ridley, RB, New England Patriots: Try not to get too carried away by his preseason performance, but Ridley could be highly productive if he can separate himself from the pack.
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Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Atlanta Falcons: Julio Jones is the Falcons rookie getting the attention, but Rodgers can make a nice impact out of the backfield for the Falcons. His value will be the greatest in PPR leagues.
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Torrey Smith, WR, Baltimore Ravens: His value took a big hit when the Ravens traded for Lee Evans, but he still has the big play ability that could be beneficial to fantasy owners.
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Ben Tate, RB, Houston Texans: Tate had his rookie season wiped away by a broken bone, but hasn’t been able to escape the injury bug to this point. It’s going to take some bad team luck for Tate to get a shot at a significant role, but if things go that direction, Tate could be huge.
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Shane Vereen, RB, New England Patriots: Early injuries and a crowded backfield could cost him, but he has the ability to make an impact.
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Ryan Williams, RB, Arizona Cardinals: Beanie Wells just hasn’t lived up to the hype. Both injury and ineffectiveness have been his downfalls. If Beanie struggles early and Williams plays well, he’ll take over the lead back gig in no time.
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Also check out:
- 2011 Fantasy Football QB Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy Football RB Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy Football RB Rankings - PPR
- 2011 Fantasy Football WR Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy Football TE Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy Football DEF Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy Football IDP Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy Football K Rankings
