DLF’s 2016 Predictions: Fantasy Rookie of the Year

Most rookie drafts are in the rearview mirror, and the NFL Preseason is winding down. We’re all busy combing the news sites trying to keep abreast of all the important developments as we prepare for the best time of the year, the NFL season.  That can only mean one thing – it’s time for us to put a bow on those reams of off-season content with DLF’s 2016 Fantasy Predictions. As we did last year, we have eight different prediction articles for you in the following categories:

• Fantasy MVP
• Fantasy Rookie of the Year
• Most Overvalued Dynasty Player
• Most Undervalued Dynasty Player
• Fantasy Sleeper
• Best Dynasty Buy
• Best Dynasty Sell
• Fantasy Comeback Player of the Year

Today we have our staff picks for this year’s Fantasy Rookie of the Year, and we’ll drop a new article each day leading up to the first day of the season. Let’s get to it.

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Ezekiel Elliott, RB DAL

I could’ve gotten cute here, but barring disaster, Elliott is going to put up big numbers. Shoot, he’s going in the first round in redraft leagues. Hopefully he stays healthy, because he has all the tools to excel in an ideal situation in Dallas. – Austan Kas

Ezekiel Elliott, RB DAL

I won’t try to be contrarian here.  I’m an unabashed fan of Zeke’s game and think he runs away with this.  Any other name here is just trying to be cute. – Trevor Bucher

Corey Coleman, WR CLE

We quite honestly could have made this category “Fantasy Rookie of the Year not Named Ezekiel Elliott” since he’s such an easy choice. However, I’ll be the contrarian again. When you pick Elliott at 1.01, you expect him to be a transcendent player who will change the landscape of your dynasty team. Anything less than elite RB1 numbers from him will seem like a disappointment. With that said, I’m going to go with Corey Coleman. Many have avoided him based on the fact the Browns typically fail to provide valuable wide receivers. However, I’m not confident in Josh Gordon returning to form and Coleman has the ability to be a legitimate WR1 and vault up the rankings after this season. – Ken Kelly

Ezekiel Elliott, RB DAL

Another obvious pick. Assuming that he stays healthy, Elliott should be in for a 2014 DeMarco Murray workload behind that dominant Dallas line.  If he can even play 14 games, he should run away with Fantasy Rookie of the Year in this underwhelming class. – Jarrett Behar

Ezekiel Elliott, RB DAL

All the stars are pointing to Zeke being the best rookie this year and it’s not particularly close. The best Oline in football plus a high powered air attack could have Zeke flirting with best back overall. There is a reason he’s being drafted so high in rookie and redraft drafts across the fantasy landscape. – Adam Tzikas

Ezekiel Elliott, RB DAL

If anyone picks somebody different they’re doing it just to be different. Honorable mentions to Sterling Shepherd and Corey Coleman. – Eric Olinger

Ezekiel Elliott, RB DAL

Elliott is a shoe-in for fantasy rookie of the year. No other rookie has the combination of opportunity and projected workload this year as he does. – Andrew Lightner

Tyler Boyd, WR CIN

The easy bet to make here is Ezekiel Elliott, but I’m going with the contrarian play by selecting Boyd as my fantasy rookie of the year. I believe he’s going to get worked into the offense early this season and see a lot of targets. Boyd made a few highlight reel catches during preseason. He’s a great route runner and his skill set should carry over to the NFL level. – Bruce Matson

Ezekiel Elliott, RB DAL

This is a completely chalky, boring pick but I honestly can’t see this going any other way. It’s a very rare thing for the best running back talent in the NFL draft to actually be drafted by the best run blocking team, but here we are. There’s a very real chance Zeke has a rookie season like Edgerrin James had in his 1999 rookie season. – Matt Price

Ezekiel Elliott, RB DAL

Not getting too cute here.  Elliott has the perfect confluence of talent and opportunity, and even though we have seen rookie running backs disappoint frequently as of late, I am banking on Elliott to buck that trend.  He’s a supreme talent who can contribute in any situation.  Those guys are pretty rare and Todd Gurley‘s 2015 season seems like a reasonable floor for Zeke. – Rob Leath

Sterling Shepard, WR NYG

Walking into an offense that likes to throw it, but really only has one wide receiver of relevance, Sterling Shepard is due to make a big splash as a rookie. He can play either in the slot or on the outside. And with OBJ getting doubled on the other side, he should see plenty of targets against inferior defensive backs. – Dan Sainio

Ezekiel Elliott, RB DAL

Unless you are in the business of predicting injuries, I don’t know how you can pick anyone else. Most talented rookie plus the best situation equals the most productive. Enjoy it if you had the 1.01 pick! – Jacob Feldman

Ezekiel Elliott, RB DAL

Zeke has a commanding lead in this department. All the receivers are looking at being the WR2 on their team at best, the quarterbacks aren’t in line start week one, and Derrick Henry needs a DeMarco Murray injury to have a shot. Zeke is +110 to win the award, and to put that in perspective, Andrew Luck was +300 in 2012. If Zeke stays healthy, that’s easy money. – Izzy Elkaffas

Ezekiel Elliott, RB DAL

I expect I won’t be the only one with this prediction, as I’m guessing it will be a popular one.  He has a great offensive line to open up a running back’s path straight to pay dirt.  The team has more than one playmaker.  Dez Bryant will get his fair share of passes but they will help one another keep defenses honest.  Zeke is in for a big year. – Carla Gruse

Ezekiel Elliott, RB DAL

No other choice makes sense here. Elliott landed in the perfect situation to utilize his talent right away in the NFL and become a great FF asset. While high draft picks can flop (see Trent Richardson), this is about as safe as it gets. The only concerns I have for Elliott in 2016 are Alfred Morris and Darren McFadden. Dallas could spread the touches out more because they have capable backups, and save Elliott from overusing him early in his career. – Nick Whalen

Ezekiel Elliott, RB DAL

It’s not a foregone conclusion, but I can’t make a reasoned case for anyone other than Ezekiel Elliott. – Brian Malone

Sterling Shepard, WR NYG

It’s easy to say Ezekiel Elliot here, but I’m going to go off the tracks a little bit and go with Sterling Shepherd. I think he is in an excellent position in New York with Odell Beckham Jr taking enormous amount of heat away from him. Shepherd is a solid route runner and catches the ball with ease. When he does have the ball he does amazing things with it. – Mike Valverde

Ezekiel Elliott, RB DAL

I just can’t be “that guy” that bucks the trend and puts a different name down in this category, Zeke is the clear choice. If he can avoid injury, he will roll through the first seven weeks of the season, smoke right through the bye week, and blow the other rookies out of the water through the rest of the season. It’s weird, he only fumbled once every 162.5 carries last season. Wonder why? #stickyfingers – Adam Bendzick

Ezekiel Elliott, RB DAL

Dak Prescott, QB DAL

How can you not place these two in this spot? Dak’s performance to date has been otherworldly. With Tony Romo sidelined a minimum eight weeks, and perhaps in a position that he must start thinking about life after football, it’s more than likely that the Cowboys are Prescott’s team going forward.

Ezekiel Elliot suited up for the first time in preseason week three and put on a show, facing off against Kam Chancellor on multiple occasions in ways that would most running backs on injured reserve. Elliot not only held his own, but made the veteran look bad, with a spin move to avert the tackle, and continue downfield. His pass blocking skills were also superb, as advertised. – Mo Brewington

Here’s how the Fantasy Rookie of the Year predictions broke down:

• Ezekiel Elliott (14 1/2 votes)
• Sterling Shepard (2 votes)
• Tyler Boyd (1 vote)
• Corey Coleman (1 vote)
• Dak Prescott ( 1/2 Vote)

Well, that escalated quickly. If Elliott runs away from the competition like he did in this poll, it’ll make a lot of owners of the 1.01 pick very happy.

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