2nd Year Fantasy Football Players to Watch

By Chad Stapley
Chad Stapley

 2nd Year Players Who Are Ready to Break Out

 

Troy Niklas – TE – Arizona Cardinals

Niklas didn’t do anything in his rookie season. He caught a whopping three passes in his first season. Much of that can be due to the fact that he had four different QBs throwing him the ball and he never really got into a groove. Look for Niklas to make huge strides with some consistency at the QB position with Carson Palmer coming back from injury. Niklas is 6’6 and weighs 270 lbs. so he can be a nice red-zone target for Palmer.

 

Devonta Freeman – RB – Atlanta Falcons

Freeman is going into the Pre-Season as the starting RB for the Falcons. He had flashes of brilliance last year when he played mop up duty as the 3rd RB on the roster. Freeman has all the opportunities to excel in year two especially with how teams will have to play extra DB’s in the pass heavy Falcons offense.

 

Ka’Deem Carey – RB – Chicago Bears

Carey is playing behind a workhorse in Matt Forte so he has to fight just to get on the field as is. Forte runs, catches, and blocks very well so the only time Carey really gets on the field is when Forte needs a break. In his only extended action last season against the Packers Carey ran the ball 14 times for 72 yards which shows you he can be an every down RB. Watch for Carey to take a bit of the workload off of Fortes hands in year two.

 

Alfred Blue – RB – Houston Texans

Blue is a no-brainer to be included on this list. He was a 6th round draft pick out of LSU (where he barely got the ball) and he quickly flew up the depth chart. He is more than capable of filling in for oft-injured starter Arian Foster which he proved in his rookie season. Blue ran for over 500 yards as a rookie and should only get more opportunities in year two.

 

Donte Moncrief – WR – Indianapolis Colts

Moncrief might be one of the most dangerous 3rd options at WR in the NFL. Moncrief caught 32 passes his rookie season and that was playing behind two other guys and two TE’s. He is a 6’2 WR who knows how to use his body exceptionally well, given more opportunities in year two he should make strides.

The Jacksonville Jaguars Roster: Blake Bortles, Allen Hurns, Marquise Lee, and Allen Robinson.

All of these guys showed that they can play and excel at this level at some part during their rookie season.

Bortles played through the season even though he had an undisclosed shoulder injury and got thrown around like a sack of potatoes due to an awful offensive line. Bortles was missing half of his WR crew throughout the season also which can play part into his sub-par rookie showing. Bortles has all the tools to be a starting QB and he should make significant strides in year two.

Hurns was the unknown man coming into the season and he ended up being the Jaguars most consistent WR. Hurns caught 51 passes for 677 yards in his rookie campaign with a rookie QB. Looks for Hurns to continue on his strong rookie season.

 

Lee and Robinson both had their fair share of success as rookies but both dealt with injuries and had their season cut short. Lee played in 13 games (some very sparingly) and caught 37 passes for over 400 yards. Robinson played in ten games really proving to be a dominant #1 WR by hauling in 48 passes for over 500 yards. Add these two guys to Hurns and you have a pretty talented WR core to work with.

Carlos Hyde – RB – San Francisco 49ers

This is another no brainer addition to the list. Hyde is the clear cut #1 RB heading into the season and he has all the tools to excel at the position. Hyde ran the ball 83 times for 333 yards and four TDs in mostly mop up duty behind Frank Gore. Hyde should be able to easily break the 1000 yard mark in his first season as a starter granted he stays healthy.