The NFL Draft is in the rearview, most major free agents have been signed, and it's time for fantasy football owners to begin gathering their thoughts and notes. Part of the process is figuring out where the new rookies will slot into their rankings, and which will actually impact 2015 at a nice, low price. These five rookies are the most likely to provide bang for the buck come fantasy draft day.
Amari Cooper, WR Oakland Raiders
Cooper was an absolute terror from Day 1 in the toughest conference in college football. Last season he reeled in 124 passes for I,727 yards and 16 touchdowns. He wasn't the fastest guy at the Combine, but his skill set is more mature than any other pass-catcher in this draft. Going to Oakland is typically a death knell, but with the Raiders he'll get a chance to develop a relationship with a promising young quarterback in Derek Carr, who made progress in 2014 despite limited options in the passing game.
Oakland is quietly improving, and even though Kevin White seems to have landed in the better fantasy scenario (Chicago Bears), Cooper is the rookie wideout you want to target most.
T.J. Yeldon, RB Jacksonville Jaguars
With running backs usage is king, and Yeldon is likely to take control of Jacksonville's backfield from Day 1. He is a wrecking ball to tackle, and that's clearly the style Gus Bradley wants to run with-why else would Toby Gerhart have gotten such an extensive look? Todd Gurley might be more talented, and Melvin Gordon was certainly more prolific, but they're not without flaws. Denard Robinson is probably too small to be trusted as a lead back, and Yeldon is prototypical.
Breshad Perriman, WR Baltimore Ravens
Perriman isn't the best receiver in the draft, but he might've been the best value. Rookie wide receivers are often risky bets, but Perriman is going to produce from Day 1. This is no knock on the departed Torrey Smith, but his No. 1 role in Baltimore's offense was to go deep and catch the perfectly thrown deep balls from Joe Flacco.
Perriman doesn't need years of experience to run straight and fast. In fact, Perriman is a more impressive physical specimen than Smith and could be faster. He's going to be one of 2015's most impactful boom-or-bust options.
Cameron Artis-Payne, RB Carolina Panthers
Snapping up a high-production rusher out of Auburn in Round 5 is nice work, and his path to carries isn't all that difficult. Jonathan Stewart has a hold on the starting job for now, but he's always a ticking time bomb because of his injury history. Fozzy Whitaker is solid but unspectactular-if Artis-Payne can hit the ground running in training camp it's not hard to see him getting meaningful work if Stewart gets hurt.
Maxx Williams, TE Baltimore Ravens
Who knows what will happen with Dennis Pitta in Baltimore? Regardless, the Ravens snagged themselves a playmaker in Williams in the second round. His stats are not incredible, but Williams is a huge body with dependable hands that will be a difficult red zone threat to handle from Day 1. Williams should be a $1 player in auctions to stash and see what happens. Even if he only catches 40 passes, the touchdowns might be plentiful.
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