5 NFL rookies worth drafting in your 2023 Fantasy Football league

If you haven’t had your Fantasy Football draft yet (I recommend doing it Labor Day weekend after preseason is over, but that’s just me), then here is some advice for you. A rookie may not be your typical first pick, but several experts have put at least one rookie in the top five overall fantasy picks for 2023 - Atlanta Falcons’ first-round pick, Bijan Robinson out of the University of Texas. Rookies come with risks, of course. But some are worth the reward. Here are the top five NFL rookies you should risk it for.

5 NFL rookies worth drafting in your fantasy league 2023

Bijan Robinson, RB - Atlanta Falcons

Bijan Robinson is listed as a top 5 or top 10 pick in almost every expert’s list of fantasy players for this season. He’s a rookie, but he comes with so much promise that more than a few people feel sure he’ll come through. Falcons coach Arthur Smith seems to think so too, as it looks like he’s going to be giving significant time to the Robinson. Last season, Atlanta led the NFL in rushing attempts and were third in total rush yards. Not only that, but Robinson can catch - at UT, he averaged 13.5 yards per catch and had six receiving touchdowns. Check out this one-handed catch he snagged in the preseason:

Jahmyr Gibbs, RB - Detroit Lions

Jahmyr Gibbs, the rookie out of Alabama, has also been hyped up by many, with experts putting him in the top 15 overall fantasy picks. Since many fantasy pros are now saying to go with receivers first over running backs, it says something that a running back is listed so high. Of course, rookies are rookies, and Gibbs will be in competition with David Montgomery, who just signed a 3-year deal with the Lions. But Gibbs’ versatility could see him used as more than just a RB and could be a good addition to your team. First round pick? For me, probably not. But worth a shot on the roster.

Jordan Addison, WR - Minnesota Vikings

Jordan Addison was the drafted 23rd overall in the first round by the Vikings. Of course, Justin Jefferson should be your obvious top pick for not only a Vikings wide receiver, but any receiver...or any player. And while tight end T.J. Hockenson will still see a majority of targets, Addison is on the path to being the WR2 behind Jefferson, as he’s more likely than K.J. Osborn to take over where Adam Thielen left off. And with a QB who throws as much as Kirk Cousins, Addison is on track to gain over 1,000 yards. Worth the risk.

Oh yeah, he caught it.

Zay Flowes, WR - Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens drafted Zay Flowers out of Boston College in the first round, desperate to add to their WR core, with Odell Beckham Jr., Rashod Bateman, and Devin Duvernay either missing time or on their way out. There is also TE Mark Andrews to consider - he is the one reliable receiver the Ravens have had and will get more opportunities than Flowers. With that taken into consideration, plus the fact that Lamar Jackson’s team is majorly a run-heavy team, Flowers is best risked as a WR3 on your roster.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR - Seattle Seahawks

Jaxon Smith-Njigba had an incredible college career at Ohio State, recording 1,606 receiving yards in 2021 - a Big Ten record for yards in a single season. He’s without question an incredible athlete. But again, rookies come with risks as the big league is quite different than college ball. If you have the choice, obviously go with DK Metcalf (or Tyler Lockett) over Smith-Njigba here, but as a WR3 for Seattle, he is still worth having on your roster, especially if you’re in a keeper league as he has the potential to take over as a WR2 by next season (or perhaps even sooner if anything happens to the other two). He’s worth the risk, but in the later rounds of your draft.