Matthew Berry: Target These Rookies Early in Your Fantasy Football Draft

Matthew Berry's rookie list this year is less about talent evaluation than about opportunity, and every name he gave the show came attached to a reason the depth chart is about to move.

Jeremiah Love had already come up earlier in the conversation, so Berry moved past him quickly to get to a name with more nuance.

"I think Jordan Addison has a monster year," Berry said. "I know there's concerns about the health, but I'm a big believer in this entire Saints offense, this entire Kellen Moore offense."

His argument for New Orleans is cumulative rather than dramatic. Chris Olave is in his second year in the system. The offensive line improved. Etienne is in the backfield. And the division, in Berry's assessment, does not scare you. Stack all of that up and the health question becomes the only real question. "Obviously needs to stay healthy."

Tennessee got a similar treatment, with a caveat attached to the front of it. "I don't think Tennessee's going to be great," Berry said, "but I think as an offense, I'm a Brian Daboll believer. I believe in him as a play caller."

The player Berry wants out of that situation is Carnell Tate. His reasoning is that the Titans have spent real money and are, in his words, "giving Cam Ward every chance to succeed." Adding Daboll as a play caller matters. Wan'Dale Robinson is coming in. Berry also flagged Gunnar Helm, the young tight end who flashed a few times last season, as someone he likes. In that mix, he expects Tate to command a big target share.

Seattle is where Berry sees the clearest path to volume. Zach Charbonnet is rehabbing from a severe late season ACL tear that happened in the playoffs, and nobody knows when he is back or what he looks like when he gets there. Meanwhile the Seahawks used a first round pick on Price, and Berry does not see much competition in camp.

"Price has a chance to, pardon the pun, run away with this job," he said.

Berry also pushed back on the reflexive objection, which is that Charbonnet eventually returns and eats the workload. "Well, let's see. Let's see when he comes back," he said. "But I promise you if Price is getting the job done, he's still going to have a significant role for the Seattle Seahawks."

The last name was the deep one, offered as a stash rather than a starter. Berry likes Jaleel Johnson in Denver as a second half player, and his case is built entirely on what the Broncos did around him.

"By re-signing JK Dobbins and drafting Jaleel Johnson, the Broncos sort of told you what they think of RJ Harvey," Berry said. His read is that Harvey profiles as a third down and scat back option rather than a lead runner, and that Denver already gave him a long look in that role last season. Dobbins, meanwhile, has struggled to stay healthy.

Berry acknowledged the messiness. It is a three headed backfield, and Sean Payton has always used multiple running backs, even in a season where he is not calling the plays himself. It will still be a Sean Payton offense.

That does not change where Berry thinks this ends up.

"I just believe there's a scenario where Jaleel Johnson is the starting running back of the Broncos over the second half of the season. So that's a guy I'd like to draft and stash."