Fantasy Football: Rookies Who Will Have Major Impact
By Chris Jones
Bishop Sankey, RB, Tennessee Titans
Nov 29, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies running back Bishop Sankey (25) rushes against the Washington State Cougars during the second half at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Bishop Sankey, RB, Tennessee Titans
With the 22nd pick in the second round of the 2014 draft, the Tennessee Titans selected University of Washington Running Back Bishop Sankey, making him the first back taken.
With Chris Johnson gone, all that is left in the Titans’ backfield is Shonn Greene, so Sankey will get a major chance to shine in his rookie season.
Johnson, now with the New York Jets, accounted for 279 of Tennessee’s 462 total rushing attempts in 2013, and 1077 of their 1894 total rushing yards.
Now the Titans are left with Greene and Sankey, and it is becoming more and more apparent that the rookie from Washington might be the better option. In 2013, Greene averaged only 3.8 yards a carry, and only had two runs of 20 yards or more. He has also battled injuries throughout the preseason, recently hyperextending his knee.
In Sankey, the Titans have a runner that can provide a combination of tackle-breaking strength and breakaway speed, making him a good option to be the featured back come the start of the 2014 season.
For the Washington Huskies in 2013, Sankey had a monster year. He averaged 5.7 yards on 327 carries, and accounted for 20 of their 35 touchdowns on the ground.
With no real clear threats in the passing game, Tennessee will have to rely, mostly, on their running game. If he can avoid fumbling the ball, Sankey could be their guy, paying instant fantasy dividends.