Hardcore fans of fantasy football - those who clamor for an experience closer to that of an actual NFL GM - are gravitating more and more towards the dynasty setup, wherein rookies are drafted annually, and you build your team through re-signings and free agency. It’s an intriguing setup, and adds a new twist to your annual fantasy draft - suddenly, potential and long-term upside actually matter to your fantasy prospects.
Don’t Call Them Sleepers: Dynasty Fantasy Football Value Picks
Run a dynasty fantasy football team? Wondering which under-the-radar rookies could reap long-term dividends for your team? Start your research with these five names.
The 2010 rookie class is full of big-time talent. Highly-touted rookies like Sam Bradford (St. Louis), C.J. Spiller (Buffalo) and Dez Bryant (Dallas), along with several not-named-here rooks, have a chance to become household names - in the NFL and in the realm of fantasy - in short order. But which NFL rookies should you be looking at as prudent long-term investments in your dynasty drafts? These five guys should top your list.
Mike Williams, WR, Buccaneers. Williams always had outstanding talent, but a Syracuse career laced with suspensions, questions about his character and ultimately ending with his abruptly leaving the team dropped the enigmatic star to the fourth round. He's been tearing up Bucs camp, quickly establishing good rapport with Josh Freeman and cementing himself as a likely opening-day starter. His head is still a major question mark. His talent and his opportunity isn't. Williams is boom-or-bust, but that boom could be massive.
Jimmy Graham, TE, Saints. If you're hoping for immediate impact, you're out of luck. Graham is third on the Saints' depth chart, is currently dealing with an ankle sprain, and isn't going to be on the field any time soon. But my goodness, is there upside. The former hoops star has barely played football, logging just one season at Miami (17 catches, 213 yards, five touchdowns). But there aren't many 6'8", 260-pound human beings that can run a 40-yard dash in 4.56 seconds, and he's landed himself in quite the explosive offense. Given time and a significant amount of patience, Graham has elite tight end potential.
Riley Cooper, WR, Eagles. Again, if you're looking for immediate fantasy impact, steer clear. The Eagles are loaded at wideout, so at best, Cooper will get onto the field as a fourth receiver in his rookie season. He's been outstanding at Eagles camp, and his size (6'3", 215 pounds) sets him apart in a receiving corps that emphasizes speed over size. Over time, Cooper has a great opportunity to turn into a reliable target - and more importantly, a seriously excellent red zone threat - as he gains experience working with Kevin Kolb in Andy Reid's pass-happy attack.
Anthony Dixon, RB, 49ers. There is nothing truly remarkable about Dixon's game, nor his athletic prowess. He's created some waves as a fantasy prospect of late thanks to two solid pre-season showings, but his long-term upside is not tremendous. Dixon is a strong, powerful runner with nifty agility - the kind of runner that doesn't blow you away, but sticks in the league for a while. For now, he's merely a handcuff for Frank Gore. But he could evolve into one of those running backs that makes for great depth because of his prowess in the red zone.
John Skelton, QB, Cardinals. Poor Ken Whisenhunt. Dude didn't even draft Matt Leinart, got to experience three tremendous offensive seasons with Kurt Warner at the helm, and now has to deal with letting Leinart (or Derek Anderson) run his offense. That's precisely why Skelton, a massive (6'5", 258), strong-armed rookie out of football powerhouse Fordham - is such an intriguing dynasty option. He's got a lot to learn and a lot to work on, namely accuracy and reading defenses. His upside, however, is substantial, and with a shaky depth chart in front of him, could get a serious look as a starter as soon as 2011. Draft and stash.
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