In this article, I have three rising rookie investments that you need to be adding to your IDP portfolios right now. These are the initial public offerings (IPOs) of these penny stocks and the investment price makes these IDP assets a must-have for your fantasy teams. This is the perfect opportunity to add these players to your rosters, so you can get a maximum return on your investment. Let’s take a look at the three rookies that are beginning to rise up draft boards.
Nick Cross, S, Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts selected safety Nick Cross in the 3rd round with the 96th overall pick. They drafted him to help build their depth and eventually become a starter. Little did they know that day come sooner than they thought. This off-season starter Khari Willis made the decision to retire in pursuit of a career in ministry. With that sudden loss, the selection of Cross became even more valuable. The Colts picked up veteran safety Rodney McLeod in free agency, but at age 32 he’s not the long-term answer. With no other competition currently on the roster, Cross is in a perfect situation to become a full-time starter.
Cross has been on the radars of fantasy managers, but since the news of Willis retiring, his draft stock has begun to rise. He is currently being selected at an average of 74.8 in rookie drafts, which depending on the size of the league, equates to him being a 5th-round pick. Cross is the 6th safety being selected in rookie drafts and where he’s being selected and the opportunity ahead of him, makes him one of the best rookie IDP investments in this class. 5th round draft capital on a potential NFL-caliber starting safety is the type of investment I am looking for.
Demarvin Leal, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted defensive tackle Demarvin Leal in the 3rd round with the 84th overall pick. The Steelers have always had one of the best interior defensive line units around the league. In a similar situation to the one above with the Colts, Pittsburgh lost seven-year veteran Stephon Tuitt to retirement and they also have an aging Cameron Heyward. Tuitt was a versatile d-lineman who had a career year in his last season played (2020) and Heyward could retire at any time. Pittsburgh recently signed a free agent Larry Ogunjobi to help fill that void but the Steelers need that long-term option and that is Leal.
Leal is a terrific option for position-specific leagues. He was a star at Texas A & M, but only recently has begun to get the attention of fantasy managers. Leal is being drafted at an average of 78.3, which puts him being selected somewhere in the middle of the fifth round of rookie drafts. Since the announcement of Tuitt retiring, Leal has been getting drafted a full round earlier. The dynasty investment for Leal is at its best right now. The immediate return won’t come quickly but it's in the long-term when he will pay off.
Roger McCreary, CB, Tennessee Titans
It seems for the past few years the Titans have drafted CBs early right? Well, it seems that way because they. In 2020, they drafted Kristian Fulton in the 2nd round, and then in 2021, they drafted Caleb Farley in the 1st round. To this point neither has been what the Titans have expected. Now fast forward to this year's draft and Tennessee strikes again at the CB position, as they drafted Roger McCreary in the 2nd round with the 35th overall pick. Farley may not quite be ready at the start of the season and Fulton has to show some major improvement. With the door wide open for a starter, McCreary has as good a shot as either of those two.
The two major things any player needs to get heavy reps or start as a rookie are talent and opportunity, McCreary has both. While the big-name cornerbacks of this daft class are getting all the attention, McCreary has flown under the radar until recently. He is being drafted at an average of 87.8 in rookie drafts, which equates to an early sixth round selection. Most fantasy managers like to stream the position, but occasionally there is a cornerback that just makes sense taking a flyer late on in position-specific leagues. McCreary will get every opportunity to make an impact, even if baptism-by-fire but that’s just fine in fantasy.
Thanks for reading my article. I am a member of the FSWA (Fantasy Sports Writers of America). Follow me on Twitter at @HollywoodTitan, on Facebook on my IDPNation page, on Reddit in the fantasy football IDP sub — I’m user KingTitan1 — and tune in each week and listen to IDP Nation and Devy IDP Grind, the podcasts that I co-host, on several different platforms. Feel free to email or dm me with any questions that you have, as I’m always glad to help fellow IDPers. #IDPNation #IDP #IDPDevy.
