As we approach late July, this one of the best times to be alive if you’re an NFL fan.
Every team has the potential to improve on their standing from last season, and the hope meter for each franchise completely resets.
We’ll be plugged into the progress of key rehabbing players, old faces in new places, and training camp battles that will help define the course of the 2021 NFL season.
In addition to all of that, fans will fire up their fantasy football apps of choice, and hop into mock draft rooms to finalize their season-long or daily strategies.
Whether you’re competing with life-long friends or random opponents, being able to construct a dynamic fantasy team is among one of the most satisfying personal highs.
Identifying which NFL newcomers will be fantasy beasts is a large part of this endeavor.
Without any further delay, let’s take a look at three NFL rookies who stand to contribute in a major way in fantasy football this year.
3. Trevor Lawrence
It would almost be sacrilegious to exclude one of the most impressive quarterback prospects of the last decade from this list.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence has been deemed one of the most professional-ready players for a couple of years, and that seasoning-beyond-his-years approach should be counted on in fantasy this year.
He’s going to start for the Jaguars from day one, and while head coach Urban Meyer might try to rely on running backs James Robinson and Travis Etienne, Lawrence will have no shortage of chances to prove he can play on this level.
As one of the worst teams in the NFL last year, the Jaguars threw the football seventh-most of any team in the league.
While they figure to be improved, Jacksonville will still be in catchup mode most of the time, giving Lawrence ample time to air it out, and accumulate fantasy goodness.
Real deal 🤝 https://t.co/ZX6SmCnis7
— Trevor Lawrence (@Trevorlawrencee) July 16, 2021
2. Najee Harris
There might not be a more attractive rookie running back in the NFL this year than Najee Harris of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Whether you’re a Steelers fan looking for improved production on the ground, or a fantasy player looking for an alternative to the high-cost superstars, Harris checks off a ton of boxes.
Pittsburgh is unlikely to let aging quarterback Ben Roethlisberger carry the load in the passing game, (the team threw more than anyone in the league last year), and will likely try to deploy more balance.
Part of the reluctance to run last year was due to the notion that James Conner was not fitting the bill as a bell-cow in the backfield.
Since the Steelers invested a first-round pick on a running back, which is seldom done in the league these days, fans can feel confident that Harris will be heavily involved early and often in their attack.
1. Trey Lance
It’s risky business to feature a player who may not even start Week 1, but the upside San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance brings to the table as a fantasy asset is immense.
He’ll have to show during training camp that he is worth starting sooner rather than later over incumbent Jimmy Garoppolo.
But it’s no secret that San Francisco management would like to see Lance grab the job by the horns, considering they traded up to the number three overall pick in the NFL Draft to select him.
Lance profiles as a potential league winner if he can hit his stride early on.
In his last full season at North Dakota State, he rushed for 1,100 yards.
Even if opposing defenses stack the box against Lance, he figures to have the athleticism to scamper for first downs and much more with his legs.
I'll never forget that call… Go behind-the-scenes with me and @sleepnumber on my journey from Marshall, MN to the NFL. #ad
Watch here: https://t.co/kHFU34vjVT pic.twitter.com/obMFHIer8P
— Trey Lance (@treylance09) May 12, 2021
Rushing quarterbacks have become fantasy gold in recent years, and it would be great idea to take a flier on him.
NEXT: George Kittle Reaches Out To Help Improve The League And Community