2018 NFL ROOKIES

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Derwin James - DB - Chargers

Chargers first-round S Derwin James has mostly lined up at strong safety during OTAs.

That's not necessarily where he'll play during the regular season, however, as team reporter Ricky Henne of Chargers.com insists the team will "add more to his plate" as the summer progresses. Arguably the steal of the draft, the former Florida State standout somehow fell in the Chargers' lap at pick No. 17. James should be an immediate starter for the Bolts, strengthening what was already one of the league's best secondaries.
Source: chargers.com

May 25 - 2:16 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Michael Gallup - WR - Cowboys

The Dallas Morning News' Jon Machota thinks third-round WR Michael Gallup will record "around 450 yards and 4 touchdowns" this season.

Machota could see Gallup ending up as the Cowboys' No. 1 option, but even then he does not project a monster season for the rookie. "Whoever [is the leading receiver], I don't think it'll be 1,000 yards and 10 TDs," Machota writes. "I think we're looking more at something like 800 yards and 6-8 TDs." Gallup might not be a WR1 as a rookie, but he could be a useful fantasy option in a wide-open receiver corps. His role will be important to monitor in camp and the preseason.
Source: Dallas Morning News

May 28 - 10:52 AM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Denzel Ward - DB - Browns

Browns first-round CB Denzel Ward was promoted to the first-team defense in this week's OTAs sessions.

The No. 4 overall pick was with the second team last week. It would be a major surprise were Ward not out there with the starters in Week 1.
Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer

Jun 5 - 6:41 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Hercules Mata'afa - LB - Vikings

Vikings waived/injured DE Hercules Mata'afa.

He'll revert to IR. An undrafted free agent, Mata'afa was having a strong offseason before ACL surgery. He should compete for a 2018 roster spot.

Jun 20 - 6:23 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Josh Allen - QB - Bills

ABC Buffalo believes Josh Allen could still win the Bills' starting job this summer.

Allen spent the offseason primarily running with the third-team offense. Coach Sean McDermott has already said that is where he will begin camp. Draft position talks, however, and Allen will probably flash enough raw talent this summer to put himself seriously in the running. If Allen wins the Week 1 job, he will be set up to fail with an unimpressive receiver corps behind a rebuilding offensive line.
Source: ABC Buffalo

Jun 26 - 2:13 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Derrius Guice - RB - Redskins

ESPN's John Keim writes it would be "surprising" if second-rounder Derrius Guice does not open the season as the starter.

Washington does have Rob Kelley and Samaje Perine as options on early downs, but Guice should easily beat them out if he stays healthy in camp. How much the rookie does as a receiver is a bigger question, especially with Chris Thompson certain to be involved, but coach Jay Gruden commented on how good Guice looked as a receiver during the offseason program. He is unlikely to be a true "featured" back, but he should get enough work to pay off his late third-round ADP.
Source: ESPN

Jun 26 - 10:22 AM

[JazzBBallin2]

Good read.

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

D.J. Moore - WR - Panthers

Panthers.com's Max Henson writes first-round WR D.J. Moore "looked more than ready to contribute" during the offseason.

Devin Funchess, Greg Olsen, and Christian McCaffrey should handle the majority of the targets, but there will still be room for Moore to produce if he is ready. Every indication has been he is, and Henson believes the rookie's "unique" ability to create after the catch will be used "as much as possible." Moore is an upside target in the later rounds.
Source: panthers.com

Jul 16 - 11:33 AM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Dallas Goedert - TE - Eagles

Philly Voice's Jimmy Kempski believes Eagles second-round TE Dallas Goedert "has a great chance to put up better numbers" than Trey Burton did as the No. 2 tight end.

Burton caught 60 passes for 575 yards and six touchdowns over the last two seasons, but much of that production came with Zach Ertz sidelined. Impressed by how the rookie performed in the offseason program, Kempski thinks Goedert will be able to do more than that even with Ertz healthy, although it still seems unlikely the rookie carves out redraft value on a loaded offense unless Ertz goes down. Still, Goedert looks like an exciting Dynasty prospect.
Source: Philly Voice

Jul 16 - 11:24 AM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Roquan Smith - LB - Bears

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports Bears first-round ILB Roquan Smith did not report with the rest of the rookies on Monday.

Smith is one of 14 draft picks who have yet to sign a rookie deal. This is not technically a holdout because Smith is not under contract, but the rookie wage scale has made "holdouts" like this a rare occurrence in recent years. It is likely the two sides reach a deal before veterans report on July 19.
Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter

Jul 16 - 9:54 AM

[NinerSickness]

Dallas Goedert - TE - Eagles

Philly Voice's Jimmy Kempski believes Eagles second-round TE Dallas Goedert "has a great chance to put up better numbers" than Trey Burton did as the No. 2 tight end.

Burton caught 60 passes for 575 yards and six touchdowns over the last two seasons, but much of that production came with Zach Ertz sidelined. Impressed by how the rookie performed in the offseason program, Kempski thinks Goedert will be able to do more than that even with Ertz healthy, although it still seems unlikely the rookie carves out redraft value on a loaded offense unless Ertz goes down. Still, Goedert looks like an exciting Dynasty prospect.
Source: Philly Voice

Jul 16 - 11:24 AM

[CrimsonCrew]

Dallas Goedert - TE - Eagles

Philly Voice's Jimmy Kempski believes Eagles second-round TE Dallas Goedert "has a great chance to put up better numbers" than Trey Burton did as the No. 2 tight end.

Burton caught 60 passes for 575 yards and six touchdowns over the last two seasons, but much of that production came with Zach Ertz sidelined. Impressed by how the rookie performed in the offseason program, Kempski thinks Goedert will be able to do more than that even with Ertz healthy, although it still seems unlikely the rookie carves out redraft value on a loaded offense unless Ertz goes down. Still, Goedert looks like an exciting Dynasty prospect.
Source: Philly Voice

Jul 16 - 11:24 AM

To be fair, Kittle is already better than Burton. Not saying Goedert won't top Kittle either this year or in the future, and I would have taken him over Pettis in a heartbeat, but simply surpassing Burton isn't that significant. Burton was a red zone threat, but he only had three games where he topped 20 yards last year.

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Antonio Callaway - WR - Browns

Browns coach Hue Jackson said fourth-round WR Antonio Callaway (groin) will be ready for the start of training camp.

Callaway sat out last month's minicamp with a groin/thigh injury but will be all systems go for his first NFL training camp. The 21-year-old is a first-round talent who slipped to the fourth round due to character/off-field concerns.
Source: Nate Ulrich on Twitter

Jul 25 - 12:42 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Deon Cain - WR - Colts

The Indianapolis Star continues to believe sixth-round rookie WR Deon Cain could push for "serious snaps."

Beat writer Zak Keefer reports Cain has been turning heads "early and often," and has been "flat-out hard to ignore." "Every time you looked up during Thursday’s workout, No. 8 was doing something," Keefer reported. "In this league, you gotta make chunk plays," coach Frank Reich said discussing a long Cain catch. "He flashes, he’s got a little knack, he’s good against press coverage." It's still extremely early — the Colts remain in shorts and t-shirts — but Cain is looking more and more like a rookie who could out-perform his Day 3 pedigree.
Source: Indianapolis Star

Jul 26 - 9:58 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Anthony Miller - WR - Bears

The Chicago Tribune reports second-round rookie Anthony Miller is "steadily building a case to be the Bears' starting slot receiver for Week 1."

Miller has been drawing raves in the early days of Bears camp. Even if Miller is anointed the Bears' slot man, beat writer Rich Campbell expects him to be moved all around the formation in new coach Matt Nagy's system. There are enough targets for the taking in the Bears' remade offense for Miller to offer re-draft fantasy value.
Source: Chicago Tribune

Jul 26 - 9:50 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Antonio Callaway - WR - Browns

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports Antonio Callaway "tore up the defensive backs in one-on-one drills" on the first day of Browns training camp on Thursday.

Callaway sat out minicamp with a groin issue but reported to camp ready to play. Beat writer Mary Kay Cabot believes the fourth-rounder could still "steal playing time away from Corey Coleman." There are a lot of question marks in the Browns' receiver corps — Callaway included — but also a ton of upside.
Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer

Jul 26 - 8:18 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Michael Gallup - WR - Cowboys

NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal reports Cowboys OC Scott Linehan "talked up" third-round rookie Michael Gallup's red zone ability on Thursday.

Per Rosenthal, Linehan also said he anticipated Gallup's catch radius "replacing some of what the team lost in the offseason." With Dez Bryant and Jason Witten gone, the Cowboys need someone to step up near the goal line. An excellent route runner with plus short-area quicks, Gallup scored 21 touchdowns in two years at Colorado State. He remains a rookie sleeper to watch.
Source: Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter

Jul 26 - 4:52 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Josh Allen - QB - Bills

Josh Allen is beginning Bills camp with the third-team offense.

"We’re going to pick up where we left from OTAs at the quarterback position," coach Sean McDermott intoned. "Josh Allen will work with the threes as we start training camp tonight." It's going to be hard for Allen to get better/prepared with the third-team offense, but you could arguably say the same thing about the Bills' first-team offense. It's a hollowed out skill corps behind an in-transition offensive line. Despite their aggressive move up for Allen, the Bills' best bet is probably to bring him along slowly.
Source: Bills on Twitter

Jul 26 - 4:12 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

J'Mon Moore - WR - Packers

Packers fourth-round WR J'Mon Moore has already been working with the first-team offense at training camp.

The Packers drafted three receivers, including Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown in the fifth and seventh rounds, respectively, but Moore was the higher pick and is the first of the bunch to see time with Aaron Rodgers' unit. The Packers are hunting for a No. 3 receiver to step up, and Moore is squarely in the mix along with Geronimo Allison. Obviously, this offense can support many players, so whoever wins the job is instantly fantasy-relevant.
Source: Ryan Wood on Twitter

Jul 27 - 11:27 AM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Sam Darnold - QB - Jets

ESPN's Rich Cimini writes the Jets' quarterback competition is Sam Darnold's to win.

Darnold has yet to sign his rookie deal and report to camp, but that should be taken care of in the next couple days. Once he is there, Darnold should be given every opportunity to win the Week 1 job. It would be a small surprise if he is not under center when the season starts.
Source: ESPN

Jul 26 - 10:27 AM