30 Apr 2013
Posted by Kyle Wachtel 
I examined the 2013 fantasy football values of rookie quarterbacks and running backs in Impact Rookies - Part One. The second installment covers the rookie wide receivers and tight ends:
Rookie Wide Receivers (Player - Team; Expected Spot On Depth Chart)
Tavon Austin - St. Louis Rams; SWR1
The Rams needed another spark on offense, they liked what they saw in Austin, and then they traded up to the 9th overall pick to draft him. He will replace Danny Amendola in the slot and also be expected to contribute as a returner. Austin is much more explosive than Amendola, who averaged over 9 targets and 5.7 receptions per game during his injury riddled 2012 season. While you can’t automatically pencil Austin in for the same opportunity, you can expect him to receive plenty of targets to become a fantasy commodity, especially in PPR leagues. As long as your league mates aren’t overly infatuated with the former Mountaineer, then you could snag yourself a capable WR3.
Aaron Dobson - New England Patriots; WR2
After the Steelers matched the offer sheet that Emmanuel Sanders had signed with New England, the Patriots were forced to continue their search for a starting X-receiver. They believe they found their guy in Dobson, who they selected in the second round. While there may be a lot of receivers for Tom Brady to keep occupied, Brandon Lloyd still merited 130 targets in 2012, which ranked 19th among all wide receivers. Dobson could easily approach 100 targets this season - enough to make him a WR4.
DeAndre “Nuk” Hopkins - Houston Texans; WR2
Andre Johnson let it be known that he wanted the Texans to draft another wide receiver and the organization heeded his advice. I don’t believe any other rookie wideout is more prepared than Hopkins to make an impact as an outside receiver in year one and he will enter training camp on the fast track to start opposite Johnson. Even though he will likely be the #2 WR, the Texans stellar running game and defense normally minimizes the dependence of the passing game, which means Hopkins likely won’t become more than a WR4 as long as Johnson stays healthy.
Terrance Williams - Dallas Cowboys; WR3
Cowboys’ #3 WRs have made quite the splash over the past couple seasons; Miles Austin’s injury troubles were a major reason for that. Laurent Robinson landed a 5-year deal with $14 million in guarantees after his time as the WR3 and just last season, Kevin Ogletree became an awesome trading commodity after he experienced success early on in 2012. Williams is the favorite for that role this season and you should make a mental note of his name.
Markus Wheaton - Pittsburgh Steelers; WR3
Ben Roethlisberger needed more weapons and the Steelers picked up a prospect in the middle of the third round that was widely graded as a second round talent. At 5’11” with great football speed, he resembles the receivers that Pittsburgh has drafted in the recent past: Santonio Holmes, Mike Wallace and Sanders. He is the all-time leader in receptions at Oregon State with 227 catches and his more well-rounded game could allow him to supplant Sanders as the #2 WR at some point this season. In that case he would garner consideration as a WR4.
Stedman Bailey - St. Louis Rams; WR4
“Ultra-productive” best describes his time at West Virginia. He’s a refined receiver that could contribute right away, however he landed in a situation where he must either fight his way up the depth chart or take advantage of injuries to make an impact this season. He shouldn’t be rostered in redraft leagues to begin the season.
Cordarrelle Patterson - Minnesota Vikings; WR3
Patterson is so raw as a receiver that draft analysts began to wonder if he should make the transition to a running back, which is also a testament to his playmaking ability when the ball is in his hands. The Vikings seem to envision him as a bigger version of Percy Harvin and will try to get him the ball in a similar fashion. However, he is expected to begin the season backing up Jerome Simpson and barring a breakthrough from Christian Ponder, he does not seemed destined to make a fantasy impact in 2012.
Rookie Tight Ends (Player - Team; Expected Spot On Depth Chart)
Travis Kelce - Kansas City Chiefs; TE2
Andy Reid invested the 63rd overall pick in Kelce and intends to have him compete for the starting job with the ordinary Tony Moeaki. He is an every-down player with tremendous measureables: 6’5”-255lbs, 4.62 40-yard dash, 37-inch vertical. If he earns the starting job, he can be viewed as a TE2 for now with a bright future ahead.
Tyler Eifert - Cincinnati Bengals; TE2
I was not thrilled to see the best tight end prospect in this year’s draft head to a team where he will begin his career as the #2 TE. Andy Dalton has not yet cemented himself as the Bengals franchise quarterback either. Nevertheless, the Bengals must plan on utilizing Eifert since they invested a first round selection on him. He could very well set himself apart from Jermaine Gresham by the end of the season and become a serviceable TE2 in fantasy.
Rookie Athletes (Player - Team; Expected Spot On Depth Chart)
Denard Robinson - Jacksonville Jaguars; RB3?
It’s no secret that “Shoelace” burst onto the national scene as a quarterback at Michigan. His future position wasn’t clear even when he was viewed as a Heisman Trophy candidate, but he had the pure athleticism to play in the NFL. At 5’11”, 199 pounds, Robinson ran a 4.43 40-yard dash and possesses terrific quickness. He was initially being viewed as a wide receiver during the pre-draft circuit, but he wasn’t able to shine during positional drills to say the least. The Jaguars plan to make him a running back; a position he may be able to excel in as a change-of-pace back. If Maurice Jones-Drew is injured and Robinson is given a chance to shine, he could become an electric player with flex potential.
