2014 brought in many talented rookies that are worth considering for the current and future value they will add to dynasty leagues. Here’s a look at 20 rookies who turned heads in 2014.
1. Odell Beckham Jr., Wide Receiver, New York Giants
Definitely sitting at the top of his 2014 rookie class is Beckham Jr. Putting up some amazing fantasy statistics, and ranking 31st among all offensive positions, Beckham will be a coveted dynasty fantasy football draft pick this season. Even though he missed the first four games of the season dealing from a hamstring injury, the dynamite young receiver finished 2014 ranked fifth among his fellow receivers. Beckham ended his rookie stint with 1,305 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.
2. Jeremy Hill, Running Back, Cincinnati Bengals
Hill turned out to be a gem worth owning in standard leagues, which makes him an absolute must-draft in dynasty leagues moving forward. With the Bengals’ plans of switching to Hill as their starter over second-year running back Giovani Bernard, Hill makes a solid RB1 for 2015 and likely beyond. Ranking 10th among his fellow running backs in fantasy points, Hill managed over 1,300 total yards and nine touchdowns.
3. Mike Evans, Wide Receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Evans had a fantastic rookie outing in 2014. Finishing 10th among all wide receivers in fantasy points is quite an accomplishment for a rookie. He’s definitely keeper material as he continues his young NFL career. Just imagine the potential Evans could have under different quarterback circumstances. The Bucs only won two games in 2014, however, Evans didn’t disappoint in the fantasy department, finishing with 1,051 yards and 12 touchdowns.
4. Kelvin Benjamin, Wide Receiver, Carolina Panthers
Benjamin is another excellent rookie receiver with a very promising fantasy football future. Finishing the 2014 season ranked 17th among his peers, Benjamin will look to build on his numbers in the future. This makes him an awesome wide receiver to add to your keeper league. During the course of the regular season, Benjamin cracked the 1,000-yard receiving mark and scored nine touchdowns. Going out in a big way, Benjamin even added two postseason touchdowns to his resume' and that was against the Seattle Seahawks of all teams.
5. Derek Carr, Quarterback, Oakland Raiders
Playing in his first NFL season as a starting quarterback for all 16 games, Carr ranked 20th in fantasy points among the quarterbacks. Perhaps the best of the rookie class of quarterbacks for 2014, Carr is worth a draft in dynasty leagues. He shows potential to move up in the ranks as he flourishes in his starting role. If your dynasty quarterback is declining, or you’re in need of a second quarterback, Carr makes a serviceable asset to fantasy rosters.
6. Teddy Bridgewater, Quarterback, Minnesota Vikings
A quarterback who stepped up when called upon for starting duty in 2014 was the rookie Bridgewater. A great quarterback to target in dynasty fantasy football leagues, Bridgewater looks to be the Vikings’ franchise quarterback they’re planning on sticking with for years to come. Bridgewater ranked 22nd among his fellow quarterbacks after resuming the starting role in the early part of last season. He’s worth a draft heading forward and he’s only bound to improve upon his 2014 fantasy numbers.
7. Sammy Watkins, Wide Receiver, Buffalo Bills
Being the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2014 makes Watkins special. He’ll certainly have a place in dynasty leagues as he grows with the Buffalo Bills. Under less-than-ideal quarterback conditions, Watkins managed nearly 1,000 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Give Watkins a stable quarterback and he’ll continue to grow into a solid wide receiver for years to come.
8. Brandin Cooks, Wide Receiver, New Orleans Saints
Cooks’ rookie season was cut short due to a broken thumb he suffered back in November. Worth owning in dynasty fantasy football leagues is Cooks who eventually will evolve into the Saints No. wide receiving option when veteran receiver Marques Colston moves on. The Saints traded picks to secure Cooks in the first round of the 2014 rookie draft which should tell potential fantasy drafters something.
9. Andre Williams, Running Back, New York Giants
Williams did a respectable job in his rookie season when called to duty to fill in the weeks that fellow running back Rashad Jennings was injured. In somewhat of a timeshare with Jennings, Williams managed to rank 21st overall in fantasy points this season. Utilizing his bruising body type, Williams was a tank in the end zone, scoring seven rushing touchdowns while tallying up 721 rushing yards. Due to Jennings’ age and knack for injuries, Williams is a must-own in keeper leagues moving forth.
10. Tre Mason, Running Back, St. Louis Rams
Mason surprised and foiled all who drafted Zac Stacy for their keeper leagues last season. Faster than his predecessor, Mason found the lead role while Stacy pretty much became extinct in the Rams’ offense. If you feel inclined to draft a Rams’ running back who will have future value in fantasy leagues, Mason is your guy. Once in the lead role, Mason rushed for 765 yards and scored four touchdowns, making him worthy as a flex option on fantasy teams.
11. Jordan Matthews, Wide Receiver, Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles drafted well with Matthews and so will those who target him in dynasty leagues. Matthews turned 67 catches into eight touchdowns in 2014. Making the most of the opportunities he had, Matthews yielded 13.01 yards per catch. He was able to work with both quarterbacks, Nick Foles and Mark Sanchez successfully showing his flexibility to tackle the task at hand. A definite threat in the red zone makes Matthews a receiver who should keep rewarding his owners for quite some time.
12. Isaiah Crowell, Running Back, Cleveland Browns
Undrafted and picked up by the Cleveland Browns, Crowell is worth a stash in keeper leagues. Where the Browns went with a three-headed running back committee in the beginning, Crowell is the one they trusted most to be the lead carrier about mid-way through the season. Averaging 4.1 yards per carry, the young rookie took charge of the ground game finishing the season with eight touchdowns and 607 yards. Crowell no matter where he plays makes for a keeper spot in dynasty leagues.
13. Zach Mettenberger, Quarterback, Tennessee Titans
Mettenberger didn’t step onto the scene in Tennessee until later in the season, however, when he was on the field, he was quite impressive. With the Titans’ starting quarterback Jake Locker constantly battling injury, and backup Charlie Whitehurst not exactly shining, the rookie Mettenberger could be in for a larger role in the Titans’ offense soon enough, making him a dynasty target. With eight touchdowns and 1,412 yards, Mettenberger was the most productive of the three Titans’ quarterbacks who shared he field in 2014.
14. Jarvis Landry, Wide Receiver, Miami Dolphins
Landry became a popular target of quarterback Ryan Tannehill later in the 2014 season. With 112 targets and 84 catches, Landry racked up 758 yards and five touchdowns in his rookie season. Worth considering in dynasty leagues, especially those with PPR formats, Landry had the 13th most catches of all wide receivers in 2014. He will continue to earn fantasy points just based on his touches. Wide receiver Mike Wallace’s future with Miami is a bit shaky at this time which opens the door for more opportunities for Landry in the future.
15. Martavis Bryant, Wide Receiver, Pittsburgh Steelers
Bryant was faster than a speeding bullet when he had possession of the ball, averaging 21.1 yards per catch in his rookie debut with the Steelers. While he only had 26 catches all season, he truly made the most out of them, turning eight of his receptions into touchdowns. Bryant is an extreme threat to score when he gets his hands on the ball, and he’ll only see more action with the Steelers’ offense moving forward. He’s certainly worth taking a chance on in dynasty leagues.
16. Carlos Hyde, Running Back, San Francisco 49ers
At some point in the near future, Hyde will carry the torch for veteran running back Frank Gore. Whether that opportunity is this year or not, Hyde is worth drafting if you have a slot to house him until he is called upon to handle the lead ground duties for San Francisco. Averaging 4.01 yards per carry on the 83 times he rushed the ball along with scoring four rushing touchdowns shows promise for Hyde’s future.
17. Blake Bortles Quarterback, Jacksonville Jaguars
Still a bit rough around the edges is Bortles who finished 2014 as the 24th ranked fantasy quarterback. It will be some time before one would trust starting Bortles in fantasy leagues, however, he’s worth a dynasty draft if you’ve got the time and space to let him evolve. Bortles passed for 2908 yards and scored 11 touchdowns in 2014, and if he can cut back on those costly interceptions, he’ll suffice as a backup quarterback soon enough.
18. Branden Oliver, Running Back, San Diego Chargers
Oliver was an undrafted rookie who had a few fantastic games when he filled in for the Chargers’ injured running backs. Whether the Chargers decide to hold on to him, or he lands with another team, Oliver showed enough promise to be worthy of drafting in a keeper league. Let’s just say Oliver finished with a higher fantasy ranking than his fellow starting running backs, tallying up over 850 total yards, and scoring four touchdowns along the way.
19. Terrance West, Running Back, Cleveland Browns
West was somewhat productive as a member of the Browns’ offense in his rookie year. Splitting carries most of the season had West ranking 32nd in fantasy points while he scored four touchdowns and totaled 673 rushing yards. While it looks like the Browns favor Crowell mentioned above, West should still play a role in the Browns’ offense at least as a change of pace back making him a flex-worthy target in dynasty leagues.
20. Johnny Manziel, Quarterback, Cleveland Browns
Those who trust drafting Manziel for future use in a dynasty leagues must practice patience. As a college quarterback, Manziel had fantastic stats. However, as an NFL rookie Manziel didn’t fare so well in the two opportunities he was given to start. Perhaps after a couple of seasons to take some time to mature and learn the ropes of playing as an NFL quarterback Manziel will eventually have value as a dynasty fantasy quarterback.