Fantasy Football’s Best Rookies-The 21st Century

Cam Newton next to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell at the 2011 NFL Draft. Newton was the #1 overall pick, by the Carolina Panthers.

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As the 2024 NFL draft approaches, (April 25-27, 2024) I thought it would be fun, and interesting to find the players who put up the best fantasy numbers, as rookies. As I always say, this is not the best NFL players per say, but the best fantasy players. This list is based mostly on straight analytics, but with an attempt to put those numbers into perspective, with reference to how those numbers stacked up against the rest of the league in that particular year. So without further ado, lets begin the list.

#10. Adrian Peterson RB-2007

The Minnesota Vikings had high hopes for their rookie RB out of Oklahoma, they had used the number 7 over all pick in the 2007 NFL draft, to acquire. Peterson did not disappoint, rushing for 1,341 yards, averaging a robust 5.6 yards per carry, and found the end zone 12 times in the 2007 season. These numbers ranked him 4th among RBs, and 13th among all offensive players, in total fantasy points.

#9. Ja’Marr Chase WR-2021

The Cincinnati Bengals drafted this LSU WR with the 5th pick in the 2021 NFL draft, reuniting him with his college QB, Joe Burrow, who had been drafted number 1 overall, the year prior. The duo picked up right where they left off at LSU, where they set offensive records and won a national championship. Chase hauled in 81 passes for 1,455 yards and 13 TDs, adding 3 more TDs rushing. He finished the season ranked 3rd among WRs in total fantasy points. That was only good for 25th among all offensive players, but 7th among non quarterbacks.

#8. Robert Griffin III QB-2012

With the #2 pick in the 2012 NFL draft, the Washington (now Commanders) selected the Heisman Trophy winner, QB Robert Griffin III. Washington went on to draft another QB, Kirk Cousins, in the 4th round, something Washington was highly criticized for at the time for taking two quarterbacks in the same draft year. Cousins went on to have a longer, more successful career, but it was Griffin that stole the show in 2012. Griffin not only was able to throw for 3,200 yards and 20 TDs, but more importantly to fantasy owners, also rushed for 815 yards and 7 TDs. He finished the season ranked in 5th overall in total fantasy points, a mere less than 1 point per game average, less than the number 1 ranked overall, Drew Brees.

#7. Kareem Hunt RB-2017

The Kansas City Chiefs had just drafted their quarterback of the future, who they traded up to get, Patrick Mahomes. In the 3rd round, they decided to continue to boost the offense, and went with the RB speedster out of Toledo, Kareem Hunt. The Chiefs starting RB, Spencer Ware, was injured in a 2017 preseason game, and Hunt was then named the starter. As fortune would have it, Hunt went on to rush for a league high 1,327 yards, and added 8 TDs to that. He also caught 53 passes for 455 yards and 3 TDs. He finished 3rd in total fantasy point among non-quarterback players.

#6. Matt Forte RB-2008

The Chicago Bears decided to go with the versatile RB coming out of Tulane, Matt Forte, in the 2nd round of the 2008 NFL draft. Forte would have to compete for the spot with a committee of other RBs the Bears already had on their roster. The Bears must of liked what they saw from Forte, and gave him the opportunity to carry the ball 23 times in their debut. Forte turned that into 123 yards ( a Bears franchise record for most debut rushing yards) and a TD. He continued to have a dynamic season rushing for 1,238 yards and 8 TDs, while also catching 63 passes for 477 yards and 4 TDs. That versatility is big in the fantasy world. Forte finished the season ranked 3rd in total fantasy points, among all non-quarterback players, and 11th among all players.

#5. Doug Martin RB-2012

Rounding out the top 5 is 2012’s rookie RB Doug Martin, who was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1st round, at #31. Martin was also a versatile RB in his rookie campaign, adding 49 receptions and 472 yards with a TD, to his 1,454 yards and 11 TDs rushing. Fantasy owners who played Martin in week 9, were especially pleased, as he racked up 251 yards and 4 TDs, scoring over 50 fantasy points in most standard scoring leagues. Not only were Martin’s 251 yards and 4 TDs a franchise record, but he is only 1 of 2 players in league history to rush for 250+ yards and 4 TDs in one game. Martin went on to finish the season ranked 2nd in total fantasy points among non-quarterback players, trailing only 2000+ yards rushing leader, Adrian Peterson.

#4. Saquon Barkley RB-2018

In college, Barkley did some of it all, and set multiple records at Penn St., including most career rushing TDs (43), and most total yards in a single game (358). He was also the first player in Penn St. history to score on a return and pass for a TD in a single game. Needless to say, the NY Giants had high hopes for their young RB they had just drafted in the 2018 NFL draft, with the #2 pick overall. Barkley absolutely delivered, rushing for 1,307 yards and 5 TDs. That alone isn’t too bad, but Barkley also had 91 receptions for 721 yards and 4 TDs. Barkley’s 2000+ yards from scrimmage and 9 TDs, ranked him 2nd in total fantasy points among non-quarterbacks, in 2018.

#3. Clinton Portis RB-2002

Clinton Portis was the 4th RB to be selected in the 2002 NFL Draft. The Denver Broncos used their 2nd round (51st overall) pick to draft the RB out of the University of Miami. Portis compiled 1,508 yards and 15 TDs rushing, and 33 receptions for 364 yards and 2 TDs. In fantasy, his numbers translated to 7th ranked in total fantasy points among all offensive players, including QBs, and 5th among non-quarterbacks. Portis went on to rush for over 1,300 yards in each of his first 4 seasons, and over 1,500 yards in 3 of them.

#2. Ezekiel Elliot RB-2016

Ezekiel Elliot had his best fantasy season of his career in 2016, his rookie season. The Dallas Cowboys used the #4 overall pick to draft this former Ohio State Buckeye. In 2016, the Cowboys had one of the top regarded offensive lines, helping Elliot to rush for 1,631 yards and 15 TDs. Elliot also was able to haul in 32 receptions for 363 yards. He finished the season ranked 7th among all offensive players, and 2nd among all non-quarterbacks, in total fantasy points. Unfortunately for Elliot, the Dallas Cowboys, and Cowboy fans, Elliot was never able to duplicate the success of his rookie season.

#1. Cam Newton QB-2011

Fresh off of winning the Heisman Trophy award, and the BCS National Championship in 2010, Newton was picked #1 overall in the 2011 NFL Draft, by the Carolina Panthers. He wasted no time showing everyone what he could do in the NFL, passing for 422 yards and 2 TDs, adding a rushing TD as well, in his very first game. His 422 passing yards was a new NFL record for most passing yards in a rookie debut. The very next week, he followed that up with a 432 yards passing, 1 passing TD and 1 rushing TD performance. His 854 yards passing in the first two games of his career, is also an NFL record. Newton is the only player in NFL history to have thrown for 400+ yards in the first two consecutive games of a career. He went on to throw for 4,051 yards and 21 TDs, and rush for 709 yards and 14 TDs, for the season, ranking him 3rd among all players, in total fantasy points. Only Newton’s NFL MVP season of 2015 was a statistically better season then his rookie campaign.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my top 10 list of all time best rookie fantasy players of the 21st century! As always, I’d like to hear where you agree or disagree with my list, and who you think I may have left off the list. Please feel free to leave those comments below!

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