Some rookie players look to make major impacts to their teams starting in Week 1. However, here are five players who are a bit more under-the-radar as we approach the fantasy football season, still worthy of drafting in later rounds.
5. Jaelen Strong, Wide Receiver, Houston Texans
The Texans certainly needed depth beyond lead wideout DeAndre Hopkins. Over the offseason, they added an injury-prone Cecil Shorts and an aging Nate Washington. Strong could certainly move up in the depth charts ahead these two if he was to play well and turn some heads during the preseason.
Strong is a big guy clocking in at 6-foot-4 and he’s coming from two seasons at Arizona State where he totaled 2,287 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns. Unfortunately, Strong doesn’t have the best in quarterback situations to give him that instant appeal. Wait until late to take a flyer on Strong who might just surprise us with some sleeper potential in 2015.
4. David Johnson, Running Back, Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals are not fully sold on Andre Ellington’s abilities as a lead ball carrier. Last season he lacked durability and dealt with health issues towards the end of the season, which makes Johnson a great pickup in case Ellington misses time.
Johnson is a fantastic ball catcher as proven by 141 career catches from Northern Iowa when he lined up as a wide receiver. He’s big-bodied back standing 6-foot-1 and weighing in at 224 pounds. We’ll have to see how he plays out through training camp and the preseason to know how the team might co-mingle him with Ellington. At this time, Johnson is worth a late-round pick up as a fourth or fifth running back for fantasy rosters.
3. Cameron Artis-Payne, Running Back, Carolina Panthers
When is the last time Jonathan Stewart completed a whole season in Carolina? The answer would be 2011. The team is also without veteran wide receiver, DeAngelo Williams whom they let go during the free agency. While Stewart will resume the starting role, it is only a matter of time before he gets injured. This makes drafting Artis-Payne a smart handcuff move.
Artis-Payne is coming from a 2014 season at Auburn where he tallied 1,608 rushing yards and scored 13 touchdowns. He will at least provide a change of pace to Stewart who truly has no durability to perform as an every-down back. Draft Artis-Payne as a fourth or fifth running back option who could impress.
2. Devin Funchess, Wide Receiver, Carolina Panthers
Add Funchess who is 6-foot-4 into the mix with Kelvin Benjamin, 6-foot-5 and their super-sized quarterback Cam Newton, 6-foot-6 and we have the tallest quarterback to dual wide receiving unit in the NFL. The Panthers desperately needed to draft someone to play opposite Benjamin who was already starting to draw double coverage in his rookie season.
Funchess gives the team this presence with his tight end-like physique threatening the red zone. While Benjamin is the Panthers’ receiver to own, Funchess could adapt into a No. 2 role making him worth of drafting as receiver depth for fantasy teams. Funchess also ranked fourth overall in the Big Ten with 62 catches last season.
1. David Cobb, Running Back, Tennessee Titans
Last season fellow running back Bishop Sankey failed to impress in his rookie campaign. Cobb is a possible all-down running back with only Sankey and veteran Shonn Greene standing his way as competition. It’s no coincidence the Titans selected another running back which means they have possible plans for Cobb.
Cobb is coming off of a 2014 collegiate season that saw him put up 1,626 rushing yards and scored 13 touchdowns. If Sankey doesn’t present himself as a true leader over the course of the summer, Cobb could be up for a larger role. This makes him worthy of grabbing in later rounds as a stash that might just pay off.