Many fantasy football experts will tell you to use caution when drafting rookies in your fantasy football draft. Some rookies will no doubt pay off, like Eddie Lacy of the Green Bay Packers and Giovani Bernard of the Cincinnati Bengals, who were ranked by many as the number one and number two rookie running backs in fantasy football last preseason. They finished the season the same way, with Lacy as the seventh ranked running back and Bernard as the 13th ranked running back. On the other hand, Kenbrell Thompkins of the New England Patriots, was often times the first rookie wide receiver drafted last year, but failed to meet expectations. He finished as the 11th ranked rookie wide receiver and the 59th wide receiver overall.
Through the first three weeks, approximately one fourth of the way through the fantasy football regular season, here are the top rookies so far:
Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Carolina Panthers (53.30 points)
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Coming into the season the Panthers were short on receivers, losing Steve Smith Sr. and Brandon LaFell who were their top two wide receivers last season. They drafted Kelvin Benjamin in the first round, 28th overall and all he has done so far is lead the team in targets with 28, receiving yards with 253, and is second in receptions with 16. He is currently the ninth ranked wide receiver in fantasy football.
Brandin Cooks, WR, New Orleans Saints (45.70 points)
Derick E. Hingle / USA Today Sports
Like Benjamin, Brandin Cooks was drafted in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft. Unlike Benjamin, Cooks joined a team that was not lacking in the receiving department. Sharing the field with receivers Marques Colston, Robert Meachem, Kenny Stills, and tight end Jimmy Graham, it was believed by many he would often be overlooked by Drew Brees. So far Cooks has 24 targets, 18 receptions, and 168 receiving yards, all second only to Graham.
Allen Hurns, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (43.60 points)
Phil Sears / USA Today Sports
Allen Hurns was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent after the NFL draft. In the first week, he had four receptions for 110 yards and scored two touchdowns. He is leading the Jaguars in receiving yards and touchdowns and is second in receptions.
Derek Carr, QB, Oakland Raiders (41.32 points)
Cary Edmondson / USA Today Sports
The Raiders selected Derek Carr with the 36th overall selection of the NFL draft. He was slated to be the backup to Matt Schaub, but beat him out for the starting job in the preseason. He has completed 63 percent of his passes, thrown for 588 yards, and passed for three touchdowns in his first three starts.
Terrance West, RB, Cleveland Browns (39.10 points)
Jason Bridge / USA Today Sports
Terrance West has taken advantage of the injury to starting running back Ben Tate in the first three weeks of the season. He has 47 carries, for 204 yards, and two touchdowns. With Ben Tate set to return and Isaiah Crowell impressing I am not sure how much longer West can be relevant in the Browns backfield.
Some rookies to keep an eye on in the coming weeks include wide receiver John Brown of the Arizona Cardinals, wide receiver Allen Robinson of the Jacksonville Jaguars, quarterback Blake Bortles of the Jacksonville Jaguars, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater of the Minnesota Vikings, and running back Carlos Hyde of the San Francisco 49ers.
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