September 3, 2016

Pierre Camus examines three unheralded rookie wide receivers who may emerge as fantasy football sleepers in the 2016 NFL season.

The first round of the 2016 NFL Draft saw four receivers taken, but I'm not discussing any of them in this space. Sure, these players are all being counted on to be playmakers for their respective teams right away. Easier said than done.

Corey Coleman is dependent on a comeback season from Robert Griffin III and will have little help on the opposite side until Josh Gordon returns (assuming he doesn't muck things up for himself again). Will Fuller may work his way into the first team at some point, but his QB Brock Osweiler remains a huge unknown as well. Josh Doctson has been limited throughout the pre-season with an Achilles injury, not a good sign for a skill player. Even if he is ready for week one, he will be behind Desean Jackson, Pierre Garcon and Jamison Crowder in a crowded receiving corps. Laquon Treadwell is a rookie playing on a conservative, run-first offense with a quarterback not known for throwing the deep ball. This doesn't mean that you should be down on all rookie receivers this season. In fact, there may be some players ready to contribute right away that were taken outside the first round, who find themselves in better fantasy situations.

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Rookie WRs Primed for Early Production

Note: ADP rankings come from RotoBaller's very own pre-season expert rankings.

Tyler Boyd (WR, CIN) ADP: 183.6

From the moment Boyd was drafted, he practically walked right into a starting job. With Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones both gone in free agency, Boyd's future in Cincinnati starts now. By all accounts, he has performed well enough in the pre-season to earn that job outright.

Only Brandon LaFell represents any sort of competition and he does not exactly have a history of living up to expectations, having been cast aside by New England following a disappointing season. Boyd profiles as a possession receiver and is known for his hands more than his speed. A 4.58 40 time didn't stop the Bengals from grabbing him in the second round, however, as he tallied 254 receptions, 3,361 yards and 21 touchdowns in a three-year college career.

Skepticism of a repeat season from Andy Dalton is justifiable, but that doesn't mean the Bengals won't produce fantasy worthy numbers out of anyone not named A.J. Green. In fact, the #2 receiver in Cincinnati's offense has reached at least 700 receiving yards and four touchdowns in each of the past three seasons. With red zone target Tyler Eifert questionable for the start of the season, Boyd could find his way into the end zone more often than expected. Boyd is worth a shot as a WR4/WR5 even in non-dynasty leagues.

Michael Thomas (WR, NO) ADP: 154.4

One of the buzziest rookies this pre-season has been Michael Thomas, the Saints' second-rounder out of Ohio State. He has received constant praise in training camp from scouts and generated buzz from on-lookers. He even got an eyebrow-raising compliment from head coach Sean Payton when he said, "...I think he’s going to contribute early. And I don’t follow fantasy football, but, shoot, I’d try to have him. I think he’s going to do well."

If that doesn't motivate you to draft him, I'm not sure what else will. The key word there is early. In the Saints high-flying offense, there will be plenty of opportunity for Thomas to make big plays early and often.

Thomas didn't blow the covers off his workout metrics at the combine, nor did he dominate at the college level. He barely played as a freshman and didn't surpass 800 receiving yards in his last two years as a Buckeye. He did find his way into the end zone 18 times in those two seasons and showed a knack for making big plays, despite a wealth of talent around him.

Thomas even did his best Odell Beckham impression in the second pre-season game with a sideline catch that looked easy for him. Don't be surprised if Thomas busts out with some huge plays this season that make SC Top 10. Thomas is a great dynasty pick, but don't hesitate to take a chance on his upside in re-draft fomats as well.

Tajae Sharpe (WR, TEN) ADP: 185.2

The most unlikely of this group is this fifth-round pick out of UMass. Yes, they have a football program too. When Sharpe was seen running with the first team in OTAs, it was widely assumed it was to send a message to Dorial Green-Beckham, Justin Hunter and company.

Then, the Titans sent a more direct message to DGB by packing his bags and banishing him to Philadelphia. Hunter, meanwhile, is fighting for his roster life and very well may not survive final cuts. A big reason for that is Sharpe's smooth transition to the NFL. Marcus Mariota has shown instant chemistry with Sharpe and praised his route-running ability - a rare asset for a rookie, especially coming from a smaller program.

In his junior and senior years, Sharpe amassed 2,600 yards on 196 receptions. He finished his career seventh on the career leaderboard for receptions in the MAC. More importantly, he has looked sharp (sorry, had to do it at some point) this pre-season, collecting six passes for 68 yards in game two and pulling down a 60-yard reception in game three.

Like Boyd in Cincy, Sharpe has the chance to be a starter early on and may become the primary object of Mariota's affection. His position on what promises to be an 'exotic smashmouth' running team limits his fantasy upside, but he makes an ideal mid-round MFL10 target as well as an intriguing dynasty option. For standard leagues, he will probably serve as a backup or bye week fill-in initially, but could become a coveted asset in the latter half of the season.