(Welcome to PFF Fantasy’s Bold Predictions Week. All week long, our writers will offer up the boldest of predictions for the season to come. It’s easy to say Aaron Rodgers will be good; it’s harder to say Mike Glennon will be the No. 1 quarterback. Not that anyone is guessing that, but you get the idea. Check back all week for more.)
It’s Bold Predictions Week here at PFF Fantasy, and after Scott Barrett got the ball rolling with a series of bold predictions for each position, I’m here to snowball the effort with some bold calls for this year’s crop of rookies.
I did this exercise last year as well, with mixed results. I was a bit overhyped on Paul Perkins and Tyler Boyd, but I nailed predictions on Malcolm Mitchell and Michael Thomas, and was somewhat on — at least in spirit — with a Derrick Henry call. But now all of those guys are veterans (even though players like Perkins and Henry are still difficult to figure out).
This year’s crop of rookies featured five players from premiere fantasy positions (RB-WR) go in the top 10 in the NFL draft. It was the first time at least five players (combined) from those two positions were drafted that high since 2005. So this year’s group definitely brings some high expectations.
But there are other rookies who weren’t drafted in the top 10 that are already making some noise. Barrett’s piece highlighted rookie running back Kareem Hunt, for example. D’Onta Foreman has been making some noise this preseason, as has his teammate, Deshaun Watson.
So what are the bold calls? Let’s get to it.
Deshaun Watson is a top-12 fantasy quarterback this season
What’s the point of framing the series as one that revolves around “bold predictions” if the first prediction isn’t even all that bold?
Watson isn’t even set up to start for the Texans in Week 1, but there’s little doubt he’ll be the starter sooner rather than later. The Houston roster is loaded with talent on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, meaning Watson would be in a position to succeed immediately (not unlike Dak Prescott last year).
Also not unlike Prescott, Watson has the ability to run, and that’s a godsend for fantasy purposes. Watson has two preseason games under his belt, and he already has two rushing touchdowns, both of which were improvised.
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