By: Christian Goeckel

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

If you’re like me, you take your fantasy team very seriously. And if you’re very much like me, you need all the help you can get. It’s almost the time of year where the fantasy magazines will start rolling off the press, and I will have my nose in all of them.

One of the things I always look to is the new crop of players entering the league. Guys like Zeke Elliot can step right off the college gridiron and make your team an immediate contender.

To help with this year’s draft, we take a look at the class of 2017 and it potential fantasy stars. Of course, you’ll still get beat by the guy who forgets the draft and auto-picks his team. But dangit, you’ll feel like the NFL GM you are on draft day.

Quarterback: To those who picked up last year’s number one pick, Jared Goff, how was the bottom of the cellar? Carson Wentz? Who really needs a good quarterback? To those who claimed to have picked Dak Prescott at all, stop. Just be glad you picked him up week 3 before anyone else.

Deshaun Watson, Hou: Watson is the only quarterback you should entertain the thought of picking, especially in standard leagues. He joins a playoff caliber team in weak division. Hopkins and Fuller provide him outside threats, while C. J. Fiedorowicz gives him a great option at tight end. If Watson meshes with head Coach Bill O’brien, he could be a legitimate top 15 qb.

Running back: This running back class is stacked. Period. There are a solid ten backs who should be able to earn at least flex duties on your team. This is the top four.

Christian McCaffrey, Car: Cam Newton has to be giddy about his new toy. McCaffrey is a great option at running back, and should unseat Jonathan Stewart. He can also split out to the slot, and is an amazing returner.

Leonard Fournette, Jax: This one worries me. Not because of Fournette’s ability, but the quarterback he plays behind. If Bortles can turn the corner, Fournette should be a touchdown machine. If not, he’ll face a ton of stuffed boxes.

Dalvin Cook, Min: Yes, the Vikings just signed Latavius Murray, but Dalvin Cook should beat him out for the number one spot. Cook offers a much bigger homerun threat, and is a fantastic receiver out of the backfield.

Alvin Kamara, NO: Anybody that plays with Drew Brees should be on your radar. Just ask Michael Thomas. Kamara is an explosive receiver out of the backfield. Look for a lot of 50 yds receiving, 50 yds rushing type of games.

Receiver: Last year’s first round picks (Corey Coleman, LaQuon Treadwell, Josh Doctson) were all fantasy bust. Late round finds like Tyreek Hill and Michael Thomas gave a bunch of squads legit number one options at receiver.

Corey Davis, Ten: This dude can straight up ball. He’ll be the go to guy day one in Tennessee. With Mariota on the rise, Davis has a shot at being a top ten receiver.

Mike Williams, LAC: The Chargers have a ton of options at receiver, but none seem to be the go to guy. Williams should fill that role, especially around the redzone.

JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pit: Martavis Bryant keeps up his current run of bad choices, Smith-Schuster should get a ton of targets behind Antonio Brown.

Tight End: Last year guys like Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper provided depth at during a fairly week year for tight ends. A couple of rookies from this year’s class have an opportunity to take that to the next level.

O.J. Howard, Tam: Did O.J. Howard only play in National Championship games at Alabama? This freak athlete seemed drastically underused in Tuscaloosa. That’ll change in Tampa. Jameis Winston is licking his chops to get on the field with his new weapon. Howard should be a top ten tight end very quickly.

Evan Engram, NYG: The term ‘tight end’ is used very loosely here. Engram isn’t much bigger than his new teammate, Brandon Marshall. With the Giants going four wide a ton, expect to see Engram in the slot consistently. He’ll be a really solid flex option all year.