Welcome back to the Rookie Report! I hope you enjoyed Thanksgiving with family and/or friends and enjoyed the stress-free process of setting lineups last week with no players on byes, because that changes this week. Week 13 has an unsightly SIX teams sitting out, including some offenses with weekly stud performers. Setting lineups this week is going to be much more challenging, and many of you may be in must-win situations as we make the push for the playoffs in these last 2 weeks of the fantasy regular season.
If you read this whole column, you’re going to get tired of hearing me say there are 6 teams on byes this week, but it’s relevant when considering which rookies are worth playing. With so many teams sitting, that rookie receiver who puts up 8 PPR points per week is suddenly going to look a lot more appealing if you’re desperately searching for replacement options to fill out the lineup. By now we’ve started to get a clearer picture of which rookies you can trust, and which ones you can’t, but there’s still plenty to sort out as you make those crucial start/sit decisions this week.
A couple of housekeeping notes for the players listed below – All players listed under the same header at the same position are listed in the order that I would play them this week. All usage rates (snap share, target rate, air yardage share, etc.) are from the MB Fantasy Life Utilization Tool from Dwain McFarland, and all references to fantasy points and points allowed rankings are based on half-PPR scoring unless otherwise noted.
Let’s dive into week 13…
Rookies You Already Know You Should Start:
QB CJ Stroud, HOU (Wk. 13: vs. Den.): The Broncos defense has been much better in recent weeks than their overall numbers would suggest. They’ve held 4 of their last 7 opponents below 200 passing yards, and only Patrick Mahomes threw for 250+ against them in that span, but let’s be serious, you’re not sitting Stroud. CJ has set the NFL rookie record for passing yards in a 4-game stretch in his four November starts (1,466 yards), topping 300 passing yards in each game and piling up 12 total TDs in the process. He’s probably more of a contrarian play in DFS lineups this week rather than a chalk option given the matchup, but he’s a top-5 QB option in season-long lineups, especially with Lamar and Josh Allen on byes.
RB Bijan Robinson, ATL (Wk. 13: @NYJ): Robinson posted his best game of the season in week 12 in a less than ideal matchup, and this week he faces a Jets’ defense that allows the 6th-most RB points per game. If we throw out the headache game in Tampa, Bijan has now put up at least 6.7 PPR points or more from just receiving production in every single full game he’s played with Desmond Ridder at QB, and the Jets rank just 22nd in FTN’s pass defense DVOA on throws to the opposing running backs. Bijan’s also averaged 12 rushing attempts per game in those contests. He should see plenty of work in a game that should have a neutral or positive game script all day. He’s a top-12 back this week.
RB Jahmyr Gibbs, DET (Wk. 13: @NO): Gibbs posted his worst fantasy performance since September on Thanksgiving against Green Bay, and he was still good enough to finish as the RB25 for the week. The usage numbers were also very positive – Gibbs played nearly 70% of the offensive snaps, was in a route on 82% of the team passing dropbacks and handled 15 touches. That workload should be similar this week, and even if Gibbs is as inefficient this week as he was on Turkey Day, that workload should be enough to push him up to an RB2 finish just by virtue of there being 6 byes this week. I expect he’ll be better this week, even against a New Orleans team that allows the 11th-fewest RB points per game. I’m not sure I’d count on a ceiling game here, but I’d treat Jahmyr as a low-end RB1 for this weekend.
WR Tank Dell, HOU (Wk. 13: vs. Den.): Dell has continued to shine during CJ Stroud’s hot streak over the last month. He’s put up at least 50 yards and a TD in each of the last 4 games. He’s logged finishes as the WR1, WR11, WR3, and WR20 in that span. Denver’s defense has been better in recent weeks. They haven’t allowed a wide receiver touchdown since week 7, but you can’t sit Dell right now. Like his QB, he’s a better option this week in season-long leagues rather than DFS lineups, but with 6 teams on a bye, Dell has to be treated as a top-12 option for week 13.
TE Sam LaPorta, DET (Wk. 13: @NO): LaPorta finally got himself back on track and posted a TE3 finish on Thanksgiving against the Packers. I mentioned in this column last week that the chunk plays had gone away for LaPorta. He’d gone 5 straight games without a single catch of 20+ yards and had averaged 10 or fewer yards per catch in each of them. His first target against Green Bay went for a 31-yard gain. Two plays later, he scored a touchdown. This week’s matchup is a solid one. The Saints allow the 9th-most TE points per game, and in their last 8 games, they’ve allowed 6 TDs and 6 catches of 20+ yards to opposing tight ends. LaPorta is comfortably a top-10 option this week with so many teams on byes.
Borderline Rookies I’d Lean Toward Starting:
RB De’Von Achane, MIA (Wk. 13: @Was): We’re looking at another week of keeping a close eye on the injury report for Achane. He sat last week after aggravating the knee injury that put him on IR earlier this season, and he’s questionable for this Sunday. Mike McDaniel said Achane was held out on Black Friday due to an abundance of caution, and that he should be fine, but pay close attention to reports leading up to the weekend. If Achane is able to play, he gets a good matchup against a bad Washington defense. The Commanders have allowed the 12th-most RB points per game, and they’ve given up some big plays in recent weeks. They’ve allowed 10+ yards on 13.4% of the rushing attempts against them in their last 4 games, and 4 rushes went for more than 25 yards in that span. We know Achane’s volume isn’t going to be huge if he plays with Raheem Mostert around, so he’s going to need big plays to return value in your lineup, and those big plays can be had against Washington. Achane is a volatile option this week if he’s active. We’ve seen the ceiling in his breakout games earlier in the year, but if he winds up with a normal 4 or 5 yards per carry kind of performance here, there’s a good chance he finishes outside the top-24 backs this week. He’s a boom-or-bust RB2 option.
RB Zach Charbonnet, SEA (Wk. 13: @Dal.): Kenneth Walker III has been officially designated as ‘doubtful’ for Thursday night’s tilt with the Cowboys, so Charbonnet should again handle the bulk of the workload. Charbs handled 18 out of 21 Seattle backfield touches last weekend. The results could’ve been better. He finished as the RB32 with just 58 scrimmage yards on those 18 touches in a tough matchup with the 49ers, and he draws another tough task this week with the Cowboys. Dallas allows the 5th-fewest RB points per game and ranks 9th in run defense DVOA. Still, it’s hard to be much less efficient than Charbonnet was last week. I’d view that output as his floor for this week if KW3 doesn’t miraculously play. With 6 teams taking the week off, that kind of outing would get him close to the RB2 ranks, and there’s always upside for more when you get a bellcow workload. I’d treat Charbonnet as a back end RB2 option this week.
WR Puka Nacua, LAR (Wk. 13: vs. Cle.): With 6 teams on byes this week, you probably are going to have to start Puka. The output has not been ideal in recent weeks as Puka has been held to fewer than 8 PPR points in 3 of his last 4 games. He has the built-in excuse that one of those games was started by Brett Rypien, but there have been some down games with Stafford under center too, and this week’s matchup is brutal on paper. The Browns allow the 2nd-fewest WR points per game and rank 2nd in pass defense DVOA. There are still reasons to be optimistic about Nacua this week. He’s still earned at least 7 targets in every game this season, and the Browns’ coverage scheme might be favorable to him. No team plays more man-to-man coverage than the Browns, and Puka has tallied double the fantasy points per route run and nearly triple the yards per route run that Cooper Kupp has when facing man-to-man coverage. He’s the Rams’ receiver you want to target this week. I’d still be comfortable plugging Puka into fantasy lineups despite the tough matchup in this one.
WR Josh Downs, IND (Wk. 13: @Ten.): Downs came out of the Colts’ bye and was back to his usual role in the offense, playing the bulk of the slot snaps and being peppered with short targets by Gardner Minshew. The final stat line wasn’t overwhelming (5 catches for 43 yards), but Downs was targeted a whopping 13 times in the game. Downs now averages 9.6 targets per game in the 5 full healthy games he’s played with Minshew as QB. He could be primed for a spike performance this week in a great matchup too. The Titans allow the 8th-most WR points per game, and they rank 31st in pass defense DVOA on short throws. Downs also logged his second-best yardage game of the season in Indy’s first meeting with the Titans back in October. Downs should be treated as a PPR WR2 this week, and a high-end WR3 in half-PPR. This could be one of his better games of the season.
WR Rashee Rice, KC (Wk. 13: @GB): The Chiefs finally used Rice as their featured receiver last Sunday against the Raiders, and the results were eye-opening. Rice set new season highs in route participation rate (68%) and targets (10), and he turned that into a dazzling 8-107-1 line and WR4 finish for the week. Will he continue to be targeted at that rate this week? We can certainly hope so, but what’s really important is that we’ve now seen a ceiling from Rice that he just hadn’t shown prior to last weekend. The floor should still be intact and solid enough to make Rice a WR3 this week against a Green Bay defense that ranks 17th in pass defense DVOA, but that newly discovered ceiling means you can play him over some lackluster WR2/3 options like DeAndre Hopkins, Jerry Jeudy, or Chris Godwin and not feel like it's a desperation play.
WR Demario Douglas, NE (Wk. 13: vs. LAC): While it sounds like a longshot that Douglas gets cleared from the concussion protocol in time for this game, this would be a prime spot for a strong outing if Douglas were able to play. The Chargers have allowed the 3rd-most WR points per game and have been bleeding big plays in recent weeks. They’ve allowed 11 plays of 25+ yards in the last 3 games, and Douglas is the likeliest candidate to make a splash play for the Patriots. The rookie has been targeted at least 7 times in each of his last 4 games, and that kind of volume against the Chargers should result in a WR3 day or better. Keep an eye on the injury reports throughout the week to see if Douglas is progressing. There’s upside here if he can get cleared.
WR Jayden Reed, GB (Wk. 13: vs. KC): Reed has finished as a PPR WR2 or better in 3 straight games and has finished lower than the WR31 just once in his last 6 contests. He doesn’t always have a route participation rate around 80% like he has the last couple weeks, but Green Bay has consistently found ways to get the ball into his hands and Reed continues to produce. Kansas City is a tough matchup, allowing the 8th-fewest WR points per game and ranking 3rd in pass defense DVOA, but passing volume shouldn’t be a problem with Green Bay a 6.5-point underdog. Reed has averaged 8 opportunities per game (targets + carries) in the last 3 weeks, and that kind of workload this week, with many teams sitting on byes, should be enough to make him at least a WR3 option despite the matchup.
Borderline Rookies I’d Lean Toward Sitting:
QB Will Levis, TEN (Wk. 13: vs. Ind.): Levis has shown us over the past month that his 4-TD debut was just a tease. He’s totaled zero touchdowns in 3 of the 4 games played since, and only hit 200+ passing yards once in those 4 games. He could get an extra weapon into the lineup this week with Treylon Burks back at practice, but I’m not sure that really moves the needle. The Colts rank 10th in pass defense DVOA and have allowed fewer than 200 passing yards to the starting QB in 5 of their last 6 games. They have allowed multiple TDs in 3 of those contests, but nothing we’ve seen from Levis over the last month should give you confidence that he’ll make it 4 of 7. I’d prefer Levis over some of the bottom of the barrel QB options this week if I were looking for a QB2, but I wouldn’t want to start Levis in a 1-QB league this week.
RB Tyjae Spears, TEN (Wk. 13: vs. Ind.): For the 2nd week in a row, the Titans will face a defense that is easier to run against than throw against, and you saw how that worked out for Tyjae last week. Spears played his lowest snap share since week 2 and had his worst fantasy game of the season as Derrick Henry dominated the backfield work in a 7-point win. I don’t think it’ll be quite that bad for Spears this week – there’s a better chance that the Titans are in a negative game script and forced to throw than there was last week against the Panthers. Even if that is the case, Spears’ receiving output hasn’t been nearly as effective since the team switched to Will Levis at QB. In 5 games with Levis at the helm, Spears has recorded 12 or fewer receiving yards in 4 of them despite averaging 4 targets per game. There’s still upside here. I expect Spears to be closer to his normal 8-10 touch range this week rather than the 3 he saw last week, and the Colts are a good matchup (allow the 7th-most RB points per game), so you could plug in Tyjae as a PPR RB3 or RB4 if you were desperate. That lackluster receiving efficiency with Levis makes me lean against that though.
WR Jonathan Mingo, CAR (Wk. 13: @TB): Mingo topped 60 receiving yards for just the 2nd time all season last weekend as the Titans did everything they could to take away Adam Thielen. Thielen finished with just 1 catch for 2 yards on 3 targets. I wouldn’t expect Thielen to be shut down like that again this week, so I wouldn’t view last week as the start of a breakout for Mingo. The Panthers have fired Frank Reich and turned play-calling duties over to OC Thomas Brown, but it should be more of the same for this offense. Brown called the games against Houston, Indy and Chicago earlier this year, and the results weren’t much different than the rest of the season. Mingo averaged 5.3 targets per game and 29 yards per game in that stretch. This week’s matchup with the Bucs is a good one for receivers. Tampa has allowed the 4th-most WR points per game and has coughed up 311 passing yards per game since their week 5 bye. They’ve also been getting hurt down the field, giving up 29 completions of 20+ yards in their last 7 games. Unfortunately, Bryce Young is not the QB to take advantage of that matchup. Mingo would have serious upside in this matchup if he had a QB who could hit him deep, but I’m going to go ahead and bet against Bryce Young being able to do that this week. Mingo is a volatile WR4 option.
WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, SEA (Wk. 13: @Dal.): JSN on Thanksgiving earned his lowest target total since all the way back in week 3, but he still found his way to 40 receiving yards for 6th time in the last 7 games. He has continued to be a stable floor PPR WR4 over the past couple months, but he faces a tough matchup this week in Dallas, one where it wouldn’t surprise me if his playing time ticks down a bit. Geno Smith has struggled to throw the ball out of 11 personnel (3-wide sets). Per NFL writer Doug Farrar, Geno has a passer rating of 78.8 when in 11 personnel, 12th lowest in the league, and no defense allows a lower passer rating to opponents in 11 personnel than the Cowboys (72.6). The Seahawks could use more 2-tight end sets to try to offset that disadvantage, and it won’t be DK Metcalf or Tyler Lockett going to the bench in those situations. Smith-Njigba should still have his familiar 40-yard floor, but I don’t see much of a path to ceiling in this one unless he finds the end zone.
WR Dontayvion Wicks, GB (Wk. 13: vs. KC): Wicks has cleared the concussion protocol and should return to action this week as the Packers’ WR4 in their 4-man rotation at the position. He’s more likely to hamper the upside of his teammates this week than he is to make a fantasy impact of his own. Wicks has seen more than 4 targets in a game just twice this year, so he typically needs a deep ball to make himself useful in fantasy lineups, and the Chiefs rank 3rd in pass defense DVOA on deep throws. They allowed just 4 completions of more than 20 yards in 3 November games. Wicks has carved out a substantial role for himself in this offense, but this feels like a week where he’s best left on the bench.
WR Michael Wilson, ARI (Wk. 13: @Pit.): Wilson has missed the last 2 games with a shoulder injury and isn’t practicing as of Thursday. Even if he gets in a limited practice session Friday and can play, I wouldn’t expect a big game in his first action in 3 weeks. I think it’s likelier that the Cards hold him out with their bye next week. Pittsburgh does allow the 10th-most WR points per game, but they play man coverage at the 7th-highest rate, and almost all of Wilson’s damage this season has come against zone. This wouldn’t be a great spot for a fully healthy Wilson, let alone a banged-up Wilson.
WR Quentin Johnston, LAC (Wk. 13: @NE): Johnston’s rookie season so far has been a long, strange, disappointing trip, and it took another strange turn last weekend. Johnston suffered a rib injury in the 3rd quarter against the Ravens on Sunday night, and he was cleared to return to the game but was held out by head coach Brandon Staley. That’s not all that uncommon - the strange part was the way Staley bristled and condescended to the media member who asked him about the decision in his postgame presser. It was an odd exchange that probably had more to do with the pressure Staley is feeling from the hot seat he’s sitting on than with anything to do with QJ, but it sort of feels like Staley was looking for a reason to sit him. Alex Erickson was already taking a sizable chunk of the WR3 role before Johnston suffered the injury, and that probably continues this week. Johnston had 3 weeks as a full-time receiver in this offense, and he averaged less than 7 PPR points per game in that span. QJ is practicing in full ahead of this week’s game, but you can’t start him now that he seems to be back to a part-time role.
TE Tucker Kraft, GB (Wk. 13: vs. KC): Kraft wasn’t targeted a ton in his first opportunity to start last Thursday, but he did log an 88% route participation rate and found the end zone on his way to a TE9 finish on Turkey Day. The matchup gets tougher this week. The Chiefs allow the 4th-fewest TE points per game, and only Gerald Everett has reached double-digit fantasy points against them this season. They haven’t allowed any tight end to reach 30 yards against them in their last 6 games. Some of that is because they just haven’t faced any good tight ends in that span, but Kraft isn’t a guy who necessarily changes that. Kraft should have a full-time role, and there are 6 teams on byes this week, so he’s at least in consideration if you’re looking for a streaming tight end, but he’s likely scoring less than 6 points unless he gets into the end zone.
Rookies You Already Know You Should Sit:
QB Bryce Young, CAR (Wk. 13: @TB): I’ve tried to pick the spots where Bryce Young has a bit more upside this year but have mostly failed because there just aren’t a lot of weeks where Bryce has more upside. Young has made 10 starts this season, and he’s reached 12+ fantasy points in only half of them, and 15+ points just once. The Panthers made a major change this week, sacking head coach Frank Reich and replacing him in the interim with special teams coordinator Chris Tabor. It’s a big change for the organization, but likely won’t change much for Bryce. Offensive coordinator Thomas Brown will step into the play-calling duties, a role he’s already held for 3 games this season. In those 3 games, Bryce Young averaged 199 passing yards per game and totaled 2 TDs and 3 INTs. Don’t count on drastic improvements due to the coaching change. The matchup this week is good. Tampa Bay has allowed 250+ passing yards to 8 of the 11 QBs they’ve faced, and multiple total TDs to 7 of them. That doesn’t mean you can’t count on Bryce to increase those numbers. Even with so many teams on byes this week, Bryce should be viewed as just a low-end QB2 option.
QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, CLE (Wk. 13: @LAR): Thompson-Robinson left last weekend’s game with a concussion, and it remains to be seen if he’ll get cleared in time to return this week. Even if he does, there’s not a good reason to insert him into lineups unless you’re desperate in a superflex league. DTR has tallied just 1 total touchdown in nearly 3 games of action. He was on his way to his best game of the season before getting hurt last week, but I wouldn’t count on him to repeat that, especially if Amari Cooper isn’t able to suit up. The Rams aren’t a difficult matchup for QBs, allowing the 13th-most points per game to the position. They’ve especially struggled to contain rushing QBs, allowing Anthony Richardson (56 yards and a TD), Jalen Hurts (72 and a TD), and Joshua Dobbs (47 yards) to all have strong running days against them. DTR does have that element to his game, but he may be hesitant to take off and run after suffering the concussion last week. He’s a fringe QB2 even with so many teams on byes.
RB Tank Bigsby, JAX (Wk. 13: vs. Cin.): Travis Etienne suffered a rib injury in last week’s contest, so you may be tempted to think Bigsby could see an expanded role this week. I wouldn’t get too excited. Etienne was able to play through the injury on Sunday, he’s practicing in a limited capacity as of Thursday, and when he did cede more work to the backup last week, it wasn’t to Tank Bigsby. D’Ernest Johnson has quietly usurped Bigsby for the RB2 role in this offense over the last 3 weeks, and it was Johnson who handled the bulk of the opportunities that Etienne didn’t. Johnson finished the game with 61 yards on 9 touches while Bigsby tallied just 1 rush for 6 yards. I’d guess that Etienne will be able to suit up this week, but if the rib injury does sideline him, I expect Bigsby to handle just a smattering of touches behind D’Ernest. The Bengals are one of the worst run defenses in the league – they rank 29th in run defense DVOA – but Bigsby will be nothing more than a DFS dart throw if Etienne sits.
RB Jaleel McLaughlin, DEN (Wk. 13: @Hou.): McLaughlin was down to just 2 snaps played in week 12. He’s the clear RB3 right now behind Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine. There’s not a good reason to roster him in most redraft leagues right now, and you can’t start him this week in Houston.
RB Emari Demercado, ARI (Wk. 13: @Pit.): Demercado returned from his toe injury last weekend but played just 22% of the offensive snaps behind James Conner. He finished with just 3 touches for 15 yards. That kind of workload isn’t going to get you very far even against a middling Steelers’ run defense.
RB Chase Brown, CIN (Wk. 13: @Jax.): The Bengals have said they want to get Chase Brown more involved in the offense going forward after he logged zero touches in his return from IR last weekend, but I’ll believe it when I see it. The Bengals are still trying to win games to keep their dying playoff hopes alive, and Brown doesn’t have enough experience yet to be a clear upgrade over either Joe Mixon or Treyveon Henderson in this offense. I wouldn’t be surprised if Brown gets a few touches this week, but he’ll still function as the RB3 against a defense that ranks 1st in run defense DVOA.
WR Trey Palmer, TB (Wk. 13: vs. Car.): Palmer has been on the field plenty as the WR3 in this offense, but the production just hasn’t been there. Trey has been held below 25 receiving yards in all but two games this season, and last weekend he was under a 70% route participation rate for the first time since week 6 as fellow rookies Rakim Jarrett and Payne Durham chipped away at his playing time. This week’s matchup also isn’t a good one for an ancillary receiver. Only the Browns have faced less passing volume than the 1-10 Panthers. Carolina has allowed the 5th-fewest points per game to opposing WRs and ranks 2nd in pass defense DVOA on throws to the opposing WR3.
WR Marvin Mims Jr., DEN (Wk. 13: @Hou.): Mims has now earned 3 targets in back-to-back games after earning that many in a game only once prior to week 11, but his playing time headed in the wrong direction and the production still isn’t there. Mims lost snaps in week 12 to Lil’Jordan Humphrey, and now the team has designated Brandon Johnson to return from IR as well, but his biggest problem here is just the overall team passing volume. Russell Wilson has averaged just 26 passing attempts and 165 passing yards per game over the last 6 contests. That’s just not enough for an ancillary target like Mims to make an impact. Mims hasn’t reached 40 yards in a game since week 4, and last week’s 35 yards were the first time he’s even reached 15 in a game since then.
WRs Xavier Gipson & Jason Brownlee, NYJ (Wk. 13: vs. Atl.): The Jets’ first week with Tim Boyle at QB wasn’t a whole lot different than what we’ve seen with Zach Wilson under center. Boyle threw for just 179 yards and the offense tallied just 6 points (the only team TD was a pick-6). Boyle also leaned heavily on Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, and Tyler Conklin in the passing game. Gipson and Brownlee were full-time players last week with Allen Lazard an unexpected healthy scratch – Brownlee was in a route on every single passing dropback and Gipson was in a route on 79% of them – but the duo combined for just 4 targets in a game where Boyle threw the ball 38 times. Atlanta ranks a miserable 29th in pass defense DVOA, but I’m just not confident the Jets’ passing game gets going enough to make either of these receivers a worthwhile fantasy option, even in this good matchup.
WR Andrei Iosivas, CIN (Wk. 13: @Jax.): Iosivas logged his highest route participation rate of the season in week 12 (34%), but it amounted to just 1 catch for 16 yards on 2 targets. The increased playing time is a good sign, but it doesn’t mean much with Jake Browning at QB, and at some point, Tee Higgins will return to the lineup. There’s not much reason to consider Iosivas this week.
WR Jake Bobo, SEA (Wk. 11: @Dal.): Bobo logged his lowest route participation rate of the season last week (14%). There’s no need to consider a guy who’s run 10 or fewer routes in 4 of his last 5 games, especially in a tough matchup. Dallas allows the 3rd-fewest WR points per game.
WR Kayshon Boutte, NE (Wk. 13: vs. LAC): With the return of DeVante Parker to the lineup last week, Boutte was at just a 14% route participation rate, and he tallied just 1 catch for 8 yards on 2 targets against the Giants. Demario Douglas could miss this game after suffering a concussion last Sunday, but I wouldn’t count on a spike in production for Boutte if that happens. He’s totaled just 2 catches for 19 yards on the season on 65 routes run, and he’d be sharing the WR3 role with Tyquan Thornton and possibly Jalen Reagor even if Douglas sits.
Rookies on week 13 byes: QB Aidan O’Connell, LV, QB Tommy DeVito, NYG, RB Keaton Mitchell, BAL, RB Roschon Johnson, CHI, RB Eric Gray, NYG, WR Zay Flowers, BAL, WR Jordan Addison, MIN, WR Jalin Hyatt, NYG, WR Tre Tucker, LV, WR Tyler Scott, CHI, TE Dalton Kincaid, BUF, TE Michael Mayer, LV
Rookies to sit who are injured or have had very limited or non-existent roles: RB Deuce Vaughn, DAL, RB Kendre Miller, NO, RB Sean Tucker, TB, RB Chris Rodriguez Jr., WAS, RB Elijah Dotson, LAC, RB Israel Abanikanda, NYJ, RB Christopher Brooks, MIA, RB Kenny McIntosh, SEA, WR Derius Davis, LAC, WR Rakim Jarrett, TB, WR Xavier Hutchinson, HOU, WR Ronnie Bell, SF, TE Luke Musgrave, GB, TE Luke Schoonmaker, DAL, TE Darnell Washington, PIT, TE Payne Durham, TB, TE Brenton Strange, JAX, TE Josh Whyle, TEN
Deep League Sleepers, Stashes, and Cheap DFS Options:
QB Jaren Hall, MIN (Wk. 13: Bye): I mention Hall for those of you in deep superflex leagues where any starting QB is worth a pile of gold. I don’t know how likely it is that the Vikings make a QB change over their bye week, but head coach Kevin O’Connell said they were going to be ‘evaluating the position’ after Joshua Dobbs threw 4 interceptions on Monday Night Football against a bad Bears’ defense. Normally when a coach says that, a change is likely. You could potentially get ahead of your league mates on Hall by picking him up this week instead of waiting until the change is official. There’s always a chance the Vikings will go with Nick Mullens instead of Hall if a change does happen, but we’ve seen enough of Mullens to know he isn’t very good. Hall has completed 8-of-10 passes for 101 yards in his limited action this year and would likely have Justin Jefferson back in the lineup.
WR Cedric Tillman, CLE (Wk. 13: @LAR): Tillman has been playing increased snaps since the trade of Donovan Peoples-Jones to Detroit, logging route participation rates above 85% in each of the last 3 games, and that increased playing time finally turned into some production last weekend. Prior to last week, Tillman had totaled 3 catches for 10 yards on the season. He put up 4 catches for 55 yards on Sunday, flirting with a WR3 finish in fantasy. This week he may see veteran Joe Flacco step in at QB, which likely means better passing numbers for the team (Flacco’s career-worst passer rating is 23 points higher than DTR’s this season), and there’s a chance Amari Cooper misses this game with a rib injury. Flacco does have a rapport with Elijah Moore already as the two played together in New York, so I probably wouldn’t start Tillman unless Amari is out, but there’s some sneaky WR3 upside here if Cooper sits. The Rams are just a middling pass defense at 14th in pass defense DVOA.
WR A.T. Perry, NO (Wk. 13: vs. Det.): Perry has now played 2 games with extended snaps, and he’s mostly been running empty routes. He’s been targeted just 6 times on 74 routes run. He flashed in week 10 with a touchdown and another long reception, but last Sunday he was limited to just 1 catch for 7 yards. The Saints were already down Michael Thomas (on IR with a knee issue), but they’re expecting to also be without Rashid Shaheed this week and don’t know if Chris Olave will get cleared from the concussion protocol in time for the game. That means Perry could be arguably the WR1 this week against a Detroit defense that allows the 6th-most WR points per game. If the top-3 receivers are all out, I’d expect the Saints’ passing game to run through Alvin Kamara, Juwan Johnson, and Taysom Hill, but Perry would likely fall into 5-6 targets by default in that scenario. I’m not saying he’d be a plug-and-play WR3 in that situation, but he’d be worth consideration if you were looking for a fill-in option in deeper leagues.
That’s all I’ve got for this week. Hopefully it helps you sort through your lineup decisions and find your way to a win this weekend. Feel free to hit me up on Twitter (@Shawn_Foss) if you have any questions or want to yell at me about anything written above, and always make sure to apply what’s written in the context of your own league rules and roster. Keep a close eye on the injury report throughout the week if you have any guys who are questionable and do a final pre-game check to make sure you don’t start any inactive players. As always: Good luck, trust your gut and have fun. It’s just a game.
Welcome to a new season of the Rookie Report. ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!? The NFL kickoff is less than an hour away as I write this, and I’m sure all us football junkies are getting jittery with anticipation (or maybe just drunk). For those of you unfamiliar with the Rookie Report, each week I’ll give a rundown of the rookies you should start for sure, borderline starting options, guys who should stay on the bench, and throw in some deep league sleepers. I’ll give my thoughts on their outlook for the week which you can hopefully use to effectively utilize your rookies. They are the hardest players in fantasy to predict.
Alright, that’s enough jibber-jabber. Let’s get to it. Since this is week 1, I’m going to start off by quickly laying out my top 10 fantasy rookies for this season. They aren’t necessarily the most talented players, just the ones who will have the best fantasy value this year.
Honorable Mention:Johnny Manziel, QB, CLE, Eric Ebron, TE, DET, Allen Robinson, WR, JAX, Devonta Freeman, RB, ATL, Andre Williams, RB, NYG
Alright, with that laid out, let’s move on to week number one…
Rookies to Start:
WR Brandin Cooks, NO (Wk. 1: @Atl): Cooks is the one rookie that I would certainly recommend starting this week. It seems like Kenny Stills is unlikely to play, and the game could be a shootout. I think Cooks is ready to go off. In PPR leagues, he should be a solid WR3 or flex play. He might not score a TD, but I’d be shocked by anything less than 5 catches, and he has the wheels to take it to the house at any given time.
Borderline Rookies:
RB Bishop Sankey, TEN (Wk. 1: @KC): Am I in love with Sankey in week one against a typically stout Chiefs’ front? No. Do I think he’s capable of a productive week? Absolutely. I’d probably lean against playing Sankey this week, but I think he’ll get a bigger share of the work than the preseason usage would suggest. I think Sankey sees 15+ touches in the opener, with 70-80 total yards.
WR Sammy Watkins, BUF (WK 1: @Chi.): Watkins has been banged up for much of the preseason, but he’ll be good to go on Sunday. The Bears’ boasted one of the worst defenses in the NFL a year ago, and they haven’t looked that much better in the preseason. I wouldn’t expect a breakout with E.J. Manuel throwing him the ball, but Watkins could have a nice debut. I’d expect somewhere in the range of 4-5 catches for around 60 yards, but wouldn’t be surprised if he does more.
WR Mike Evans, TB (Wk. 1: vs. Car.): The Panthers’ strength on defense is their front 7. Evans’s size is going to create problems for the secondary, especially if they double-team Vincent Jackson like most teams did last year. Evans is as good a bet as any Buccaneer to find the end zone in week one, but I wouldn’t expect a huge catch tally. The Bucs will be a run-first team.
WR Kelvin Benjamin, CAR (Wk. 1: @TB): Benjamin’s value for week one really hinges on Cam Newton. Newton is listed as a game-time decision right now, but even if he plays I’d imagine the ribs will limit his effectiveness. If Cam doesn’t go, there’s no way you start Kelvin. If he does play, you’re pretty much hoping for a TD. Benjamin likely won’t go much over 50 yards against a pretty solid Tampa defense.
WR Jordan Matthews, PHI (Wk 1: vs. Jax.): Matthews was a standout all August for the Eagles after a shaky preseason debut. There will be a lot of mouths to feed in this offense, and this game looks like an easy Philly victory, but Matthews has been so efficient with his targets that it may only take 5 or 6 looks in his direction to have a productive week. He may be worth a shot in some deeper leagues.
Rookies to Sit:
QB Derek Carr, OAK (Wk. 1: @NYJ): Carr may be starting for Oakland, but he shouldn’t be starting on your fantasy team. Rex Ryan loves to blitz, and Carr will be in a hostile environment. Carr played in a college offense that featured a lot of short passes and easy reads. The Jets defense will be anything but easy to read. I’d expect Carr to be rattled by the pressure and have a shaky first outing. Surely you can find 2 quarterbacks (If in a 2-QB league) that you should play ahead of him.
RB Jeremy Hill, CIN (Wk. 1: @Bal.): Although I’m very bullish on Hill for the season, I think week one is not the best place to utilize him. The Ravens’ defense is always pretty good, and at we still aren’t completely sure how the work will be split between Hill and Gio. Gio got the 1st team reps in goal line situations in the preseason, but averaged barely over 2.5 yards a carry for the preseason tilts. Hill will certainly see work in week one, but I want to be sure the touchdowns are coming his way before I start trotting him out there in the weekly lineup.
RB Andre Williams, NYG (Wk. 1: @Det.): After the Hall of Fame game, Williams looked like he would share work with Rashad Jennings and be a really nice player this year, but that sentiment faded over the last few games of the preseason. He’ll still get some carries, maybe even a red zone tote or 2, but merely as a change of pace back for now. Jennings will be a 3-down back in the early going. Until that starts to shift, Williams should stay benched.
Deep League Sleepers:
RB Jonathan Grimes, HOU (Wk. 1: vs. Was.): I list Grimes here because we haven’t seen Arian Foster play a single down of preseason football due to injury. Foster insists he feels “wonderful,” but I bet the Texans still intend to spell him more than the average bell cow running back and Grimes has been the most impressive of the backups. The Redskins defense was sieve –like last year, so Grimes could have a nice game with just a handful of carries.
RB Lorenzo Taliaferro, BAL (Wk. 1: vs. Cin.): Ray Rice is suspended for the first 2 games of the season, and Bernard Pierce has spent the majority of the preseason banged up. Taliaferro is a perfect fit for OC Gary Kubiak’s one-cut zone running scheme, so if he gets a chance to spell Pierce and looks good, they may ride the hot hand. Kubiak was the OC in Denver as they had a different RB break 1,000 yards every year back in the late ‘90’s-early ‘00’s. Remember Olandis Gary, Mike Anderson and Rueben Droughns? There are a couple of obstacles for the rook though. The Bengals’ defense should be stout up front with Geno Atkins back, and Justin Forsett is listed as the number 2 back headed into the weekend. Don’t be shocked if the rook does find some work however.
WR Cody Latimer, DEN (Wk. 1: vs. Ind.): ESPN’s Broncos beat writer Jeff Legwold reported that the two primary players the Broncos will use to fill Wes Welker’s production are Emmanuel Sanders and Latimer. There was no mention of Andre Caldwell, who is currently listed above Latimer on the depth chart. I think that means we’ll see Latimer lined up outside in 3-WR sets with Sanders in the slot. It’s a huge boon for Latimer’s week one outlook in what should be a shootout with the Colts. There are always plenty of targets to go around with Peyton under center, and I think a line of 5-75-1 is very possible for Latimer in week one. There won’t be any questions after this week about whether or not he’s ahead of Caldwell in the pecking order.
TE Jace Amaro, NYJ (Wk. 1: vs. Oak.): Amaro gets a plus matchup in week one in an offense where he should be the second-best receiver on the team. I don’t expect the Jets to be explosive or for Amaro to pile up touchdowns, but he should see plenty of targets all year. In deep PPR leagues (14 or more teams), I think Amaro could be a nice play this week. He should see 6+ targets.
That’s all I’ve got for week one. Hopefully it helps you out. Now you can go ahead, kick back and enjoy the first weekend of NFL games that count since the Super Bowl. I’ll end the column with the same advice I always do: Trust your gut, and have fun. It’s just a game.
Welcome back to the rookie report! Week one was full of surprises and upsets, but isn’t every week in the NFL? Hey, “On any given Sunday…..,” right? Nowadays it’s more like any given Thursday, Sunday or Monday. Hopefully your fantasy teams were able to come out on top in week 1, but if not, it’s time to bounce back. Before we dive in to week 2’s rookie outlook, let’s take a look back at the fantasy rookie performer of the week for the season openers.
Rookie Performer of Week 1: Brandin Cooks, WR, NO: Cooks was a stud in the opener with Kenny Stills sidelined, racking up 3 catches on the opening drive and ending the game with 7 catches, 77 yards, 18 rushing yards, and a TD. It was just the start of what figures to be a dominant rookie campaign in PPR leagues. Honorable mention: Kelvin Benjamin, WR, CAR
Here’s a quick look at what to expect for week 2:
Rookies to Start:
RB Terrance West, CLE (Wk. 2: vs. NO): West was one of the biggest surprises in the league in week 1. He put up triple-digit yards after starter Ben Tate did what Ben Tate does and got hurt. West struggled throughout the preseason, registering a yards per carry mark somewhere in the negative YATR range (Yards above Trent Richardson. We’re making his usual 2.9 YPC football’s Mendoza line). West looked like a different player in week one, putting up over 6 yards a carry. He’ll start against a not so scary Saints run defense. If you’re afraid the Browns will abandon the run after falling behind, don’t be. They didn’t when they fell behind the Steelers 24-3 and it almost helped them win the game. West is a no-brainer flex choice and a low end RB2 in 10-team leagues this week.
WR Brandin Cooks, NO (Wk. 2: @Cle.): On the other side of the Browns-Saints game, Cooks should be able to come close to matching his week one output. He is running a lot of the same routes that Darren Sproles ran in New Orleans, and that means they’re getting him the ball in space. It’s only a matter of time before he’s able to break a long one. Until he does, you’ll happily settle for his 14-16 points in PPR formats. He should be good for that again with Stills still on the mend and possibly out this week.
WR Kelvin Benjamin, CAR (Wk. 2: vs. Det.): I’m willing to admit when I’m wrong, and I’ve been wrong about Benjamin. I still don’t think he’s got the upside of a true fantasy WR1, but he looks like a very safe play most weeks. The Panthers’ passing game really revolves around Kelvin and Greg Olsen. I’m a little hesitant to trust Kelvin since we haven’t seen him play with Cam, but everything I’ve heard this preseason said he and Cam were fast friends. I think the chemistry will be solid. Against the Lions sub-par secondary, Kelvin should approach 100 yards again and might find paydirt again. Feel free to trot him out comfortably as a WR3.
Borderline Rookies:
RB Bishop Sankey, TEN (Wk. 2: vs. Dal.): I wouldn’t have the courage to play Sankey after watching him play behind Dexter McCluster and even Leon Washington on the depth chart in week 1, but I think he’ll climb soon. There’s at least a little worry that he’s this year’s version of Montee Ball, who was highly touted entering the season and wound up stuck behind Knowshon Moreno all season. Sankey did put up 25 yards on just 6 carries in week one, and the Cowboys defense is really bad. All Bishop needs is a chance. I’m just not sure if he gets it this week. You are probably best served with Sankey on the bench, but you should continue to keep him rostered. He’s got every-down skills.
WR John Brown, ARI (Wk. 2: @NYG): Brown was really impressive in the Cardinals’ opener. He’s the clear cut WR3 in a vertical passing offense that often employs 3WR sets. He caught just 2 balls for 29 yards in the opener, but he did find the end zone and was on the field for nearly 60% of the offensive snaps. Head coach Bruce Arians has openly compared Brown to T.Y. Hilton, and Hilton had an impressive (albeit inconsistent) rookie campaign. Brown will be boom-or-bust. I feel like against the G-Men, Carson Palmer will have his pick of where to go with the ball. I’d expect Fitzgerald to be targeted more heavily to make up for week 1, which means Brown is likely more WR4 fodder than WR3.
WR Sammy Watkins, BUF (Wk. 2: vs. Mia.): Like Brown, Watkins is likely more WR4 than WR3. He managed just 3 catches for 31 yards in week 1 as he played through a foot injury, and this week he’s likely to see a lot of Brent Grimes. I’d expect him to at least match the week one stats, but I’m not sure he exceeds them by much. I’d likely leave Sammy on the bench until I see him start to produce more, but like I wrote last week, Watkins is going to be a focal point in this passing game eventually.
WR Marquise Lee, JAX (Wk. 2: @Was.): Lee put up a respectable stat line in week one with 6 grabs for 62 yards, but he got a bunch of it in garbage time. Not sure there will be as much of that this week in what I think is actually a winnable game for the Jags. I think he still might approach last week’s numbers as Allen Hurns comes back down to earth, but it would have to be PPR and a deeper league for me to consider trotting out Lee, even against a weak Redskins D.
Rookies to Sit:
QB Derek Carr, OAK (Wk. 2: @Hou.): This is going to get redundant quickly. I have to put Carr somewhere on here as long as he’s starting, but things are going to be ugly for a while. They have a weak o-line, limited weapons, and are down MJD this week. They also face JJ Watt and the Houston Texans. I wouldn’t want Carr starting in a 2 QB league. He’s a bottom 10 option amongst the 32 starters.
RB Jeremy Hill, CIN (Wk. 2: vs. Atl.): I was excited for Hill coming into week one, and then he got just 4 carries and played just 10 offensive snaps. I still think Hill has some big weeks coming as coach Hue Jackson mentioned that Hill will play more going forward, but I can’t trust that it starts this week. The Falcons’ defense is far from frightening, but I just don’t know how much more work Hill will see. Gio Bernard wasn’t exactly great on the ground last week, but he got the red zone touches. Keep playing the waiting game with Hill this week.
RB Devonta Freeman, ATL (Wk. 2: @Cin.): Freeman looked really good on the limited touches he saw against the Saints, and his time is coming, but Steven Jackson isn’t done for yet. I think most of Jacquizz Rodgers’s touches will eventually make their way to Freeman, who might be the heir apparent to S-Jax. The problem for now is that the backfield is just too crowded to even roster Freeman in re-draft leagues. Antone Smith also continues to see some work, making this a 4-headed monster at RB.
WR Mike Evans, TB (Wk. 2: vs. StL.): I like Evans' upside, but I’m not sure the Bucs will throw it enough this week to make Evans playable. He was targeted a healthy 9 times in week 1, making 5 grabs for 37 yards and nearly secured his first TD. The usage is encouraging, but the Rams looked like a dumpster fire in the opener. If the Bucs can get out in front, they’ll ride the running game and really limit the damage Evans can do. He might be a good buy-low candidate after this week.
TE Austin Sefarian-Jenkins, TB (Wk. 2: vs. StL.): ASJ caught just one pass in the opener for 26 yards, and seems like a long shot to even suit up this week. He’s still running behind Brandon Myers on the depth chart, but his size will make him a tough matchup once he starts getting starter’s reps.
Deep League Sleepers:
RB Isaiah Crowell, CLE (Wk. 2: vs. NO): With West getting the starting nod, Crowell will undoubtedly be overlooked in many leagues, but he is the superior talent of the 2 Browns’ rookies. Crowell is worth a stash if you have room on your bench in any league. He has RB1 upside if he can secure the starting gig and is a player to target in dynasty leagues. He’ll see change of pace work this week behind West in a run-heavy offense, but he found the end zone twice on just 5 carries last Sunday. He might still be a goal line vulture this week.
RB Carlos Hyde, SF (Wk. 2: vs. Chi.): Hyde was impressive in limited carries in the season opener, and this week the 49ers get the porous Bears’ run defense. The Bears let Fred Jackson carve them up for 61 yards on just 7 carries and allowed nearly 6 yards per carry to the Bills as a team. The 49ers live for the power run game, and Hyde is going to be a big part of that, especially now that LaMichael James is off the team. I think he could certainly match the 50 yards and a score he put up against Dallas last week.
WR Jordan Matthews, PHI (Wk. 2: @Ind.): I was a bit disappointed by Matthews usage in week one. He saw just 4 targets, and ended the game with 2 catches for 37 yards. He has superior talent to Riley Cooper, but until he leapfrogs him on the depth chart, his fantasy production will be inconsistent. He gets a solid matchup this week in what should be a shootout with Indy, but it’s hard to predict a huge week given his limited opportunities. Anything over 60 yards would be a win for Matthews in my opinion.
That’s all I’ve got for week 2. Hopefully it helps you make some tough lineup calls this week, but as always: Good luck, trust your gut, and have fun. It’s just a game.
Welcome back to the Rookie Report! Week two was a fun one for some of the rookie crop, most notably Jeremy Hill, Sammy Watkins and Terrance West. It wasn’t nearly as much fun for the NFL, which is still scrambling to stop the PR maelstrom they’re up against in the wake of the Ray Rice video, several other domestic violence cases and the new accusations against Adrian Peterson. It’s getting to be a mess, but that’s not the sort of thing we dive into here at the Rookie Report. Let’s let others deal with those issues, and talk about what to do with the rookies for week 3.
Rookies to Start:
RB Jeremy Hill, CIN (Wk. 3: vs. Ten.): Week 2 more closely resembled how the Bengals intend to use Hill than week one did. The bruiser ran for 70+ yards and a score and caught for 22 more yards. The Titans, meanwhile, were busy getting steamrolled by DeMarco Murray and the Dallas running game. With A.J. Green still dinged up, expect the Bengals to hammer Tennessee on the ground, and I think Hill is a very good bet to score another TD. He’s a great flex play this weekend.
WR Sammy Watkins, BUF (Wk. 3: vs. SD): It’s hard to envision Watkins duplicating his stat line from last week, but he’s clearly the focal point of the Bills’ passing game right now. I would expect that to continue in week 3 and San Diego’s secondary hasn’t been great thus far. Michael Floyd and the Cardinals torched them in week 1. I’d roll with Watkins as my WR3.
Borderline Rookies:
RB Terrance West, CLE (Wk. 3: vs. Bal.): West got it done in a surprising week 2 victory over the Saints. The Ravens boast a tougher run defense than New Orleans. West is still going to see a high volume of carries and could be a decent flex option, but I doubt he puts up the kind of points he did a week ago.
WR Brandin Cooks, NO (Wk. 3: vs. Min.): Cooks was disappointing last week vs. Cleveland, but he still makes a reasonable WR3 in PPR leagues going forward. The Mark Ingram injury could actually get him more work as a runner and in the short passing game. Expect a minor bounce back this week.
WR Mike Evans, TB (Wk. 3: @Atl.): Evans is sort of a roll of the dice this week. He has been a big part of the Tampa passing game, but his fantasy numbers haven’t been fantastic. Atlanta is likely to be playing from ahead, and their secondary isn’t very good. It’s a decent week to take a shot on Evans, but know there’s some bust risk.
WR Kelvin Benjamin, CAR (Wk. 3: vs. Pit.): Kelvin didn’t do much damage in week 2, but he’s too big a part of the Panthers’ offense to not be considered in fantasy. It isn’t exactly a tasty matchup, but I’d expect Benjamin’s numbers to fall somewhere in between his lines from week 1 and week 2.
WR Allen Robinson, JAX (Wk. 3: vs. Ind.): Banged up for much of the preseason, Robinson finally looked healthy in week two, coming up with 4 catches for 75 yards. He has the size to physically dominate DBs, and I think he will be the best Jaguars receiver going forward. I think another 70 yards is likely in a game that will be played from behind again.
Rookies to Sit:
QB Derek Carr, OAK (Wk. 3: @NE): This is going to be a weekly tradition before long. The Patriots just forced 4 interceptions from Matt Cassel, and I think their defense has a chance to be scary. Carr seems just cocky enough to test Darelle Revis. I doubt he wins that matchup. It could be another long day for Carr and the Raiders.
RB Bishop Sankey, TEN (Wk. 3: @Cin.): Even if Sankey didn’t have some climbing to do up the depth chart, Cincy is a brutal matchup. Don’t expect much even if he sees extended work and keep him benched.
RB Isaiah Crowell, CLE (Wk. 3: vs. Bal.): This is one call I think might backfire on me. Crowell is touchdown dependent right now as long as West sees the majority of the carries. He has some value, but against a better defense this week, I don’t think he matches his rushing yards from a week ago. I do think he could overtake West for the starting gig eventually.
RB Andre Williams, NYG (Wk. 3: vs. Hou.): Williams still isn’t seeing enough action to warrant a fantasy start. It’s still mostly Rashad Jennings. Until his role increases, you have to leave Williams benched, especially with the offense looking anemic so far.
WR Marquise Lee, JAX (Wk. 3: vs. Ind.): The Jaguars quarterback play has been pretty bad so far, and Lee has been inconsistent. He hasn’t done much damage outside of garbage time in week 1. He’s going to have some solid PPR weeks, but I wouldn’t count on this being one of them. His value should rise once Blake Bortles takes over.
WR Jarvis Landry, MIA (Wk. 3: vs. KC): Landry gets mention this week because it looks like he’s worked his way into the WR3 role in Miami, a role that has made Rishard Matthews and Brandon Gibson playable at times. It’s worth noting he had the lowest drop rate in college last year of any rookie wide receiver. He will become a trusted target before long.
Deep League Sleepers:
QB Teddy Bridgewater, MIN (Wk. 3: @NO): I only mention Teddy because Matt Cassel threw 4 picks last week. Adrian Peterson is out for the foreseeable future, so this offense will need a QB that isn’t just a game manager. That isn’t Cassel. He’s still yet to complete a pass more than 15 yards downfield through 2 weeks. Another bad performance could be enough to get Teddy on the field. He should be squarely on the 2QB league radar.
QB Blake Bortles, JAX (Wk. 3: vs. Ind.): Speaking of starting QBs on the hot seat, Chad Henne’s should be scalding before long. The Jags haven’t had any semblance of an offense so far, and I’m sure the fans in Jacksonville are already clamoring for Bortles to take over. The Jaguars want to hold Bortles off as long as possible, but if things continue the way they’re going, they won’t be able to wait much longer. Blake could have mid-level QB2 upside if he gets the starting job.
RB Jerick McKinnon, MIN (Wk. 3: @NO): Like I mentioned above under Bridgewater, Peterson isn’t coming back any time soon. Matt Asiata isn’t exactly a stud. McKinnon is worth a stash in deeper leagues. He’s a raw prospect, but one with great athleticism (more than Asiata at least).
RB Damien Williams, MIA (Wk. 3: vs. KC): The Dolphins took some big hits last week losing Knowshon Moreno and Lamar Miller during the course of the game. They went out and signed Daniel Thomas back to the roster this week, but Williams was impressive in the preseason and beat out Thomas for a roster spot. Miller is likely to play this week, but Williams is likely to see the change of pace work. If Miller doesn’t play, treat Williams as a deep league flex option this week.
RB Alfred Blue, HOU (Wk. 3: @NYG): In the preseason, it looked like Jonathan Grimes was the number 2 back behind Arian Foster, even when the depth chart came out with Alfred Blue listed as number 2. By now, it’s become clear that it’s Blue’s job. He isn’t fantasy relevant yet, but it’s hard to imagine Foster stays healthy all year with his current workload. Blue could be a great speculative add in deep leagues.
WR Davante Adams, GB (Wk. 3: @Det.): It’s become pretty clear that Adams is pushing Jarrett Boykin for the WR3 spot in Green Bay, and might completely surpass him. This is a pass heavy offense with no tight end to speak of. The GB number 3 is a fantasy relevant role, and Adams is worth a roster spot in 12-team leagues.
WR Ryan Grant, WAS (Wk. 3: @Phi.): After DeSean Jackson went down in week 2, Grant shined in the blowout win over Jacksonville. He clearly has a great rapport with Kirk Cousins, but he will need DeSean out again to be fantasy relevant this week. He’s an interesting WR3 option in 12-team leagues if D-Jax doesn’t play. As of now though, Jackson is expected to suit up.
That’s it for this week. Hopefully it helps you come away victorious. I’ll end this the same way I end every week: Good luck, trust your gut, and have fun. It’s just a game.