This year’s rookie class may well be defined by the likes of A.J. Green, Julio Jones and Mark Ingram, but there are always gems that are unearthed from the lower strata of draft rounds. Some flourish as rookies and others bide their time. Either way, they are valuable fantasy commodities that can be the difference on your team.
Leonard Hankerson, WR – Washington
At one point, the talented receiver from Miami was the third-best wide receiver in the draft on many experts’ boards, but inexplicably fell to the middle of the third round behind guys like Randall Cobb, Torrey Smith, Jonathan Baldwin, and even parking-ticket-machine Greg Little. Hankerson may have fallen into the best situation for the upcoming season in terms of playing time, though. If Santana Moss signs elsewhere, Hankerson has only Anthony Armstrong and fellow rookies Niles Paul and Aldrick Robinson as competition. As I said in The Rookie, playing time is a major factor in predicting rookie receiver success, and Hankerson may be the winner in this draft class.
Hankerson broke the single-season Miami Hurricanes receiving touchdown record last season (13) with terribly inconsistent quarterbacks throwing to him. He carries himself quietly in the same way as Andre Johnson and Reggie Wayne, and could dominate in a similar way at the next level. His biggest knocks are stiff hips and a propensity for drops, but he is a hard worker who has improved his flaws immensely throughout his college career. For a guy with that kind of pedigree and production, I am surprised that he has been so under-the-radar. I like Hankerson as a late-round flier, and he could be a great dynasty steal.
Ryan Williams, RB – Arizona
When the Cardinals used a relatively high draft pick to take Williams, my first thought was, “Bye bye, Beanie!” Not in the sense that the Cardinals would be cutting the Ohio State product rapidly accruing “bust” credits, but certainly from a fantasy perspective. Wells has had a tough time in the NFL, partially due to injuries, and Williams’ arrival could spell the end for Wells’ fantasy relevance, as if he had much left.
Williams himself is an intriguing fantasy option. One the one hand, the Cardinals may be stubborn and try to force Wells until he proves he is a bust, and they have had Hightower in the system for years now. On the other, Williams is probably the best running back they have. I would not count on Williams to give you big points from the get-go, and he may be too expensive if his ADP holds up (86.67 – 7th-8th round), but keep an eye on him during the pre-season to see if he moves up on the depth chart.
Denarius Moore, WR – Oakland
Here is a guy who nobody is talking about, perhaps rightly so in the immediate future. Moore is a stereotypical Raiders pick, a burner out of Tennessee who might wind up being better than any receiver currently on the Oakland roster. His pre-draft stock spiked all the way up to the second round just before the draft, but he wound up falling to the middle of the fifth.
Moore averaged 21 YPC on 43 catches during his senior season. He is a soft-handed receiver who runs good routes, according to the scouting reports, and has a good shot at becoming a starter in the future. This does little to help his fantasy stock for the upcoming season, as the Raiders have several good, young receivers in front of him on the depth chart. Keep tabs on him during the season though; injuries or poor play could net him some playing time.
Alex Green, RB – Green Bay
Green Bay’s backfield is currently loaded, though the new CBA may cause a departure or two. With John Kuhn, James Starks, Ryan Grant, and Brandon Jackson in the fold, it is a wonder the Packers drafted a running back, let alone one in the fifth round. That speaks volumes about what they thought about their stable of running backs and Green’s talent. I think he has a bright future in that offense if he can get on the field.
A product of Hawaii’s pass-happy offense, Green averaged 8.2 YPC and scored 18 rushing touchdowns during his senior season, catching 27 passes for 363 yards and 1 TD to boot. His level of competition and offensive system at Hawaii throws a wet towel on his impressive statistics, but the Packers found a great fit for their offense who could climb the depth chart in a hurry. Green might be hard-pressed to see much action this season unless Green Bay’s becomes a M.A.S.H. unit again, but he is someone to keep at the top of your waiver wire watch list as the season progresses.
Johnny White, RB – Buffalo
The former Tar Heel steps into a bit of a crowded backfield in Buffalo with Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller sitting in front of him on the depth chart. Fred Jackson has come into his own after years of depth chart battles. C.J. Spiller could not cut into Jackson’s playing time last year despite being a first round pick, and Jackson is entrenched as the starter for the time being.
White’s draft stock also reportedly climbed high before crashing on draft weekend, perhaps his lack of experience at running back being a major culprit. He spent a lot of time playing wide receiver and cornerback before assuming his role as a starting running back last season. F-Jax is in his 30s, and if Spiller proves to be a bust, White could find himself with some serious playing time come mid-season. For now, he is not worth drafting, but he is another player to keep an eye on.
Colin Kaepernick, QB – San Francisco
It is a bit unfair to call a guy who was drafted at the top of the second round “unheralded”, but he was the fifth quarterback drafted and stands a chance to make a bigger impact than the four before him. San Francisco has committed to re-signing Alex Smith for some reason, but he has had a quick hook in recent seasons and I see no reason for Jim Harbaugh to be stubborn if Smith struggles. Kaepernick is an athletic quarterback with a cannon for an arm, and he could give the 49ers offense a lift if he can quickly pick up the offense and adapt to the NFL.
Never draft a rookie quarterback, at least not as your QB1. He could be a good backup once he assumes the starter role, though, and he may be a nice surprise in the Bay Area and on your dynasty team down the line.
Greg Salas, WR — St. Louis
Alex Green's teammate at Hawaii, Salas could be the next Davone Bess. With Danny Amendola being an underneath guy, Mark Clayton a prime decline candidate, and a receiving corps that generally left something to be desired, the Rams used a fourth round draft pick on Salas. Sam Bradford dropped back 640 times during his rookie season, and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' offense could create a monster at wide receiver. Knowing who that receiver will be is a crap shoot right now, but Salas is a great guy to keep on your radar.
Questions and comments are always welcome via Twitter – @PFF_Alex
© 2025 PFF - all rights reserved.