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Welcome back to the Rookie Report! We’re nearing the midway point of the fantasy regular season, and we’re starting to get a better idea of which surprising performances have been just a hiccup or flash in the pan, and which are trends with staying power. Last week went mostly as expected for the rookie crop.

Terry McLaurin and Kyler Murray continued their standout rookie seasons, Miles Sanders was relegated to mainly passing down work (although he did find some success there), Daniel Jones fell flat in a really tough matchup, and DK Metcalf, Darius Slayton, Benny Snell and Jakobi Meyers all found their way to respectable performances. Snell was especially impressive posting 75 yards on 17 carries and another 14 on 1 reception. With James Conner banged up with a quad injury, Snell is a running back worth targeting in next week’s waivers (or to scoop up off the free agent heap this week if he’s still out there due to the Steelers’ bye).

Another rookie who is on a bye this week to take note of is WR Scotty Miller of the Bucs. With Breshad Perriman sidelined and a negative game script Miller played 60% of the offensive snaps and was targeted 7 times in London. Some folks will forget about him through the Bucs bye this week. Keep him in mind in deep PPR leagues (especially dynasty). This week should be a more productive one for the rookie RBs with Montgomery, Jacobs, and Singletary back on the field, but there are plenty more rookies to talk about in week 7. Let’s dive in…

Rookies to Start:

QB Kyler Murray, ARI (Wk. 7: @NYG): Kyler posted his best fantasy game yet in week 6 against the hapless Falcons’ defense, and he gets another substandard unit this week. The Giants are allowing the 5^th-most QB points per game. They’ve coughed up more than 300 passing yards 4 times in 6 games and have given up multiple TDs in 5 of them (including rushing scores). Murray ranks as the QB7 for the year in terms of points per game, and he’s run for 221 yards in the past 4 weeks. He’s a locked-in QB1 this week and should be a top-5 option at the position if Christian Kirk returns to the field.

RB Josh Jacobs, OAK (Wk. 7: @GB): The Packers did a pretty good job of containing Kerryon Johnson on the ground on Monday night, but most of his attempts came after the Lions had put Green Bay in a hole and their run-heavy play calling became obvious to predict. On the season, The Packers rank just 26^th in Football Outsiders’ run defense DVOA stat and have allowed the 4^th-most fantasy points per game to the position. Jacobs is the RB15 on the season in PPR points per game. The Raiders have been committed to the run and have managed to get Jacobs to 79+ rushing yards in 4 of 5 contests. I like the chances that he makes it 5 of 6 here as the Raiders try to work the run game to keep Aaron Rodgers off the field.

WR Marquise Brown, BAL (Wk. 7: @Sea.): If Brown plays this week, he should probably play for you. He’s seen at least 5 targets in every game he’s been active. The Seahawks have a middling secondary that ranks 15^th in pass defense DVOA, but they allow the 8^th-most passing yards per game in the league and this is the 2^nd time all year the Ravens will be underdogs. The last time they were an underdog Brown was targeted 9 times against the Chiefs. His production didn’t really measure up to his usage in that game, but KC’s secondary has been better than expected this year. If any team knows what it takes to keep Lamar Jackson contained in the pocket and keep him throwing rather than running, it’s the one that practices against Russell Wilson every day. I expect Hollywood to post his best performance since week 2 if he’s able to play. His status is genuinely up in the air as of Wednesday, so monitor injury reports if you’re considering him.

Borderline Rookies:

QB Daniel Jones, NYG (Wk. 7: vs. Ari.): Jones was predictably harassed into his worst game of the year against New England last Thursday. He was held to season-lows in rushing yards, completion percentage, passing yards, and completions, and threw a season-high 3 picks. On a positive note, he did become the first QB to throw a touchdown against the Patriots this year. Things get a lot easier this week. The Cardinals rank just 29^th in pass defense DVOA and have allowed opposing signal-callers to post an outlandish 121 passer rating. They’ve allowed at least 240 passing yards in every contest and given up multiple TDs in 5 of 6. Jones may be down Sterling Shepard this week but should have Saquon Barkley and Evan Engram back. The return of Patrick Peterson from suspension should improve the entire defense for Arizona, but it will likely take a week for him to shake off the rust of 6 weeks of missed action and he still won’t be a cure-all once he does. Jones should be a high-end QB2 at worst this week.

QB Gardner Minshew, JAX (Wk. 7: @Cin.): The Bengals have ceded the 4^th-most QB points per game to opposing passers, but they’ve somehow limited them to just 1.3 passing scores per game. The place they’ve really been burned by quarterbacks is on the ground (Josh Allen 9-46, Kyler Murray 10-93-1, Lamar Jackson 19-152-1). Minshew can run a little himself, but I wouldn’t expect a gaudy output like those other QBs have posted. I expect him to bounce-back this week to a degree against a bad Bengals’ defense. The Bengals are expected to be without both of their starting corners, so Minshew should have a safe floor as a mid-level QB2 despite likely having limited volume again.

RB Devin Singletary, BUF (Wk. 7: vs. Mia.): Singletary gets the ultimate plus matchup in his likely return to action this week. The Bills enter the week as a whopping 17-point favorite and only Cincy allows more running back points per game than the Dolphins. The Bills might not want to give Singletary a full workload in his return so I would expect Gore to still see a good amount of early down work, but Yeldon should be pushed to the bench. This is a matchup that is good enough to have 2 fantasy relevant runners come out of it, so Singletary is very much in play as a low-end RB2/flex option.

RB David Montgomery, CHI (Wk. 7: vs. NO): Montgomery’s volume took a hit in week 5 in London as the Bears trailed by multiple scores for most of the 2^nd and 3^rd quarters, but I wouldn’t expect them to get ambushed like that again with an extra week to prepare for the Saints and Alvin Kamara truly questionable to play. He should be back up to 15+ carries and a few targets like we were used to, but the Saints have been a stingy defense since Teddy Bridgewater took over at QB. They allow the 7^th-fewest RB points per game and rank 5^th in run defense DVOA. This isn’t exactly a smash spot for Monty, but his volume should get him on the RB2 map this week.

RB Miles Sanders, PHI (Wk. 7: @Dal.): Sanders demonstrated last week why it’s hard to just write him off even when he is phased out of the running game. Head coach Doug Pederson stayed true to his word and gave a bigger share of the carries to Jordan Howard, limiting Sanders to his lowest snap share and lowest number of touches of the season. He managed to salvage a reasonable fantasy week despite this, pulling in 3 catches for 86 yards and a score on just 3 targets. The bigger concern here is that he only got those 3 targets. The Eagles were behind all game and Sanders was operating as the primary receiving back with Darren Sproles out. You’d have expected the ball to come his way a bit more. He’s a dicey flex option this week even if Sproles is out again. You’d be hard-pressed to expect Sanders to duplicate last week’s output if his usage is the same, and the Cowboys have only allowed 2 running backs to reach 40 receiving yards on the year.

WR Terry McLaurin, WAS (Wk. 7: vs. SF): If you have McLaurin, you are probably starting him. I just wanted to list him as a ‘Borderline’ option to emphasize that this is a really tough matchup for him. The 49ers rank 1^st in pass defense DVOA and have allowed a league-low 10 pass plays of 20+ yards thus far. McLaurin thrives on the deep ball, ranking 2^nd in the NFL with 124 air yards per week. He’s clearly cemented himself as the #1 wide receiver in DC, but this week he is more of an upside WR3 than the locked in WR1/2 he’s played like.

WR DK Metcalf, SEA (Wk. 7: vs. Bal.): Metcalf’s targets have been inconsistent this year (31 targets in 6 games), but he’s managed to top 60 yards in 4 of 6 contests this season. He may be squaring off with Marcus Peters this week after the Ravens traded for him from the Rams. Peters has had a reputation as a playmaker who can get burned due to his aggressive style, but so far this year Pro Football Focus has graded him as a top-10 corner in the league. Metcalf may still see a good number of targets come his way with Will Dissly suffering an achilles injury and Tyler Lockett drawing shadow coverage from Marlon Humphrey. He’s an interesting option in DFS tournaments on the off chance that Peters reverts to his burnable ways, and is in play as a WR3 due to the likely bump in volume.

TE TJ Hockenson, DET (Wk. 7: vs. Min.): Hockenson gets the borderline treatment this week because of how ugly things get at the end of the TE1 list, especially in a week with Greg Olsen, Vance McDonald, and OJ Howard on byes (ok, OJ hasn’t really been helpful). It’s hard to picture Hockenson having a big week against a Viking defense that has made tight ends work for their points this year, but TJ’s 6 red zone targets in his past 3 games means he’s got as good a shot as any Lions’ pass catcher of finding the end zone. The Vikings have allowed 5 different tight ends to top 40 yards and all 5 of them had at least 8 targets to get there. Only 2 of them (Darren Waller and Austin Hooper) cleared 55 yards, and none of them got in the end zone. Hockenson doesn’t see the same kind of volume as the guys that the Vikings have been facing. He’s averaged 5 targets per game and hasn’t had more than 6 in a game since week 1. I wouldn’t expect him to post a big day, but the shot at a TD keeps him in play.

Rookies to Sit:

RB Alexander Mattison, MIN (Wk. 7: @Det.): Mattison set season-highs in carries (14) and yards (63), and once again most of it came in garbage time with the game decided. He also lost a fumble which could ding his playing time in the near future. Game script continues to be the biggest factor in his fantasy performances, but until he starts getting more opportunities to catch passes or get the ball at the goal line, he’s going to be a low-upside option. This week’s game in Detroit has just a 1-point spread in the Vikings’ favor. If they wind up playing from ahead, Mattison probably finds his way to 50+ scoreless, catchless yards again. If not, he probably won’t make much of an impact.

RB Justice Hill, BAL (Wk. 7: @Sea.): Hill’s time is eventually going to come, but for now it’s at least encouraging that he hasn’t been completely erased from the game plan. The 17 snaps he played in week 6 was the most he’s seen since week 1, and he managed to tally 35 rushing yards. He remains a guy to keep stashed in deeper leagues. If something were to happen to Ingram or Gus Edwards, he could be a league-winner in this offense.

RB Tony Pollard, DAL (Wk. 7: vs. Phi.): Pollard continued to be an afterthought in week 6 with the Cowboys trailing all game. They’re just a 3-point favorite this week in what should be a close game with Philly. Pollard has been on the field for just 15 snaps in the last 3 weeks, and I don’t expect a big jump there unless the Cowboys pull away.

WR Mecole Hardman, KC (Wk. 7: @Den.): Mecole saw just 4 targets against Houston with Tyreek Hill back on Sunday, and he was the receiver who saw his snaps take the biggest hit from the return, playing the lowest snap % he has all year. The Broncos rank 7^th in pass defense DVOA and allow the fewest points per game to opposing WRs. 50 yards would be a positive outcome for Hardman even with Sammy Watkins ruled out again. There is always the threat of a homerun play with Mecole, but the chances he makes good on that threat are greatly reduced with Hill back.

WR Deebo Samuel, SF (Wk. 7: @Was.): The 49ers have been the run-heaviest team in the league so far, throwing on just 43% of their offensive plays, and their pass distribution has been wildly inconsistent from week to week. Samuel is second on the team in targets, and he averages just 4.4 per game. He also entered the week with a questionable tag due to an injury suffered Sunday. The 49ers enter week 7 as a 10-point road favorite against Washington. I don’t expect there to be enough of a passing game to support more than one or two fantasy relevant pass-catchers, and if there is a guy beyond George Kittle that comes through this week, it will most likely be Dante Pettis, who is starting to look more like the guy we expected him to be.

WR AJ Brown, TEN (Wk. 7: vs. LAC): There’s been a changing of the guard at QB in the Music City and hopefully it will jump start the Titans’ offense. This week they face the struggling Chargers. The Chargers rank just 27^th in pass defense DVOA, but they have been especially vulnerable against WR1s. They’ve allowed 4 different WR1s to reach 17 PPR points against them in 6 games (TY Hilton, Golladay, DeVante Parker and Courtland Sutton). Kenny Stills is the only non-WR1 to reach 70 yards against them. Corey Davis is the most likely receiver to benefit from the matchup this week. The Titans’ first plan of attack is always the run game, and they should have success against a Charger defense that is coughing up 120 rushing yards per game. That should keep the passing volume low and make Brown no more than a dart throw in deep leagues and DFS tournaments.

WR Preston Williams, MIA (Wk. 7: @Buf.): The Dolphins’ offense is projected to get wiped out this week. Vegas gives them a ridiculously low implied total of just 11.5 points, and the Bills have been excellent against opposing WRs. They’ve allowed the 3^rd-fewest PPR points per game to the position. Only 4 receivers have reached 50 yards against them, and only 2 have reached 70. Williams has had a better connection with Josh Rosen than newly re-appointed starter Ryan Fitzpatrick. I wouldn’t count on Preston to post much more than 30-40 yards in this one.

WR KeeSean Johnson, ARI (Wk. 7: @NYG): Johnson has had opportunity this year, but thus far the snaps and targets just aren’t turning into fantasy points. He’s seen 21 targets and 1 rushing attempt in the last 5 weeks, and he’s posted just 21.2 PPR points in that time. Christian Kirk will likely return this week, limiting Johnson’s opportunity even further. There just isn’t a lot of reason to roll him out there at this point, even in a matchup against the defense that allows the 5^th-most WR PPR points per game.

WR Hunter Renfrow, OAK (Wk. 7: @GB): The potential absence of Tyrell Williams at least makes Renfrow someone you could consider if you were in a pinch in a deep PPR league this week, but I don’t like this spot for him. Green Bay ranks 5^th in pass defense DVOA this season, and although they’ve shown some vulnerability against the pass lately it’s been perimeter receivers who have hurt them. They’ve allowed 3 outside WRs to top 100 yards in the last 2 weeks (Golladay, Gallup, Amari Cooper). Renfrow should see a handful of targets, especially if the Raiders play from behind, but I wouldn’t count on him turning them into much. He’s yet to top 30 yards this season.

WR Miles Boykin, BAL (Wk. 7: @Sea.): With Hollywood Brown out last week Boykin played 56% of the offensive snaps (less than only Willie Snead among the WRs), but he only managed to post 2 catches for 28 yards on 3 targets. The Ravens continue to be a run-first offense, and when they do throw the passing game gets funneled to Mark Andrews and Brown. Even with Brown out, Andrews was the only player to be targeted more than 5 times and received 24% of the team’s total targets. There would be some upside for Boykin as a cheap DFS option this week if Hollywood were to sit again. The Seahawks have been just a middling pass defense and Baltimore would likely have to throw more than they did last week, but we haven’t seen enough of a ceiling yet to trust Boykin in season-long formats.

WR Parris Campbell, IND (Wk. 7: vs. Hou.): Campbell is listed as doubtful for this week, but if by some miracle he does manage to play he’s managed to top 6 PPR points just once in 4 games (8.2 in week 2).

TE Noah Fant, DEN (Wk. 7: vs. KC): Fant’s role in the offense has been secure, but his fantasy production has had a low ceiling thus far. On paper the Chiefs look like a favorable matchup for a tight end. They’ve allowed the 4^th-most catches and 4^th-most yards to the position. The problem is that few tight ends have really posted big days on their own. The Jaguars’ tight ends went 8-59 against them, but it was split between Geoff Swaim and James O’Shaughnessy. The Raiders posted 9-96, but it was split between Waller and Derek Carrier. In all, the Chiefs have allowed 11 tight ends to record 3+ catches against them in just 6 games. Only 3 of them made it to 50 receiving yards, and only one of them found the end zone. Fant will likely need a touchdown to return value this week, and that’s something the Chiefs haven’t been surrendering to tight ends.

TE Foster Moreau, OAK (Wk. 7: @GB): Moreau has seen his snap count increase for 4 games in a row, but not because Darren Waller is playing any less. Moreau set his season highs in London with 4 catches for 46 yards. The Packers are unlikely to let him reach those numbers again this week. Green Bay has allowed the 6^th-fewest TE PPR points per game, and Zach Ertz is the only tight end they’ve allowed to total more than 4 catches and 40 yards all year.

Rookies on Byes this week: QB Devlin Hodges, PIT, RB Benny Snell, PIT, RB Reggie Bonnafon, CAR, WR Diontae Johnson, PIT, WR Scotty Miller, TB, TE Zach Gentry, PIT

Deep League Sleepers, Stashes, and Cheap DFS Options:

QB Drew Lock, DEN (Wk. 7: vs. KC): Obviously Lock isn’t a guy that has any relevance this week. He’s currently on IR, but it’s possible he could be activated as early as week 8. There are rumors afoot this week that if Denver loses on Thursday, they may look at trading Emmanuel Sanders. It would only be a matter of time before they hand the QB job over to the heir apparent if this becomes a lost season. He’ll have some young weapons even if they trade Manny – Courtland Sutton, Noah Fant, Phillip Lindsay, Royce Freeman, DaeSean Hamilton. If you are in a 2-QB league with slim waiver pickings, it might make some sense to stash Lock a little early in hopes he takes the job sooner than later.

RB Darrell Henderson, LAR (Wk. 7: @Atl.): Henderson FINALLY got a chance to play a little bit last Sunday with Todd Gurley sidelined, and he did not disappoint. It wasn’t all perfect – he did fumble a pitch at one point, but the skill he showed on his very first rushing attempt was tantalizing. He played just 17 snaps but managed to turn 7 touches into 48 scrimmage yards. I think he did enough to warrant more playing time going forward if Gurley is sidelined again, but it might be even better than that for Darrell. Malcolm Brown is questionable for this week as well with an ankle injury. There is a chance that Henderson is the lead back against a Falcons’ defense that has given up 7 TDs to running backs in 6 weeks. They had been limiting backs in the passing game prior to week 6, but Chase Edmonds and David Johnson combined for 101 receiving yards and 2 scores Sunday. Gurley has been trending towards playing, but if Gurley and Brown both sit, Henderson is an RB2 this week. If Gurley plays and Brown doesn’t, I’d still expect a decent amount of Henderson. Grab him if he is still on waivers in your league.

WR Jakobi Meyers, NE (Wk. 7: @NYJ): Meyers was solid on Thursday night filling in for the injured Phillip Dorsett, posting 4-54 on 4 targets. I’d be surprised if Dorsett returns this week, but Josh Gordon also came away with an injury in Thursday night’s game. It’s possible that Meyers will be playing as the WR2 against the Jets. New York has allowed the 12^th-most WR PPR points per game this year and let all 3 of New England’s wide receivers (Dorsett, Gordon, and Julian Edelman) catch for more than 50 yards in the first meeting between the teams in week 3. If Gordon and Dorsett both sit, I’d expect Meyers to duplicate his output from last week with the upside for more.

WR Darius Slayton, NYG (Wk. 7: vs. Ari.): Patrick Peterson’s return will make the Cardinals a tougher matchup overall, but they have coughed up the 4^th-most WR PPR points per game. P-squared won’t suddenly change that overnight, and he’s unlikely to spend a lot of time matched up with Slayton. Slayton has shown a nice rapport with rookie QB Daniel Jones. The returns of Engram and Barkley will put a damper on his upside, but Sterling Shepard is likely to sit which will keep Slayton on the field. He played 98% of the offensive snaps last week and saw 8 targets. He wasn’t overly productive with those targets, but he goes from a brutal matchup to a very favorable one and he’s getting high-value targets as well, averaging just over 18 air yards per pass attempt in his direction. Slayton is an interesting DFS tournament play at a very reasonable price ($4,100 on DraftKings).

WR N’Keal Harry, NE (Wk. 7: @NYJ): While Jakobi Meyers has been doing a nice job filling in for the banged-up Pats’ wide receivers, their 1^st round pick N’Keal Harry has been getting closer to returning. He is set to start practicing this week, and once that happens the Pats will have 3 weeks to move him to the active roster. If Harry plays like the guy that the Pats thought they were drafting, he could move ahead of Meyers and Dorsett on the depth chart once he’s activated. It’s probably a little premature to scoop him off the waiver wire this week in most formats but keep an eye on the practice reports and monitor where the Patriots are at with him. This is a high-scoring offense, so if Harry has a role he will likely have some late-season fantasy relevance.

TE Dawson Knox, BUF (Wk. 7: vs. Mia.): The only thing keeping me from making Knox a borderline TE1 option this week is the pending return of Tyler Kroft, who seems likely to play. We don’t know what kind of split the Bills will employ with their tight ends, but every offensive player has a shot a good day when your team plays the Dolphins. Miami has allowed the 12^th-most PPR points per game to opposing TEs, and Knox has averaged 4 targets and 39 yards per game over the past 4 games. It’s ugly out there when you’re searching for a fill-in TE, and Knox does have the upside for a solid game.

TE Josh Oliver, JAX (Wk. 7: @Cin.): The Bengals boast one of the worst pass defenses in the league, and after Geoff Swaim went down with a probable concussion last weekend the Jaguars were down to just Seth DeValve at tight end. The Jaguars play with multiple tight ends on nearly 40% of their offensive snaps and the Bengals have given up lines of 3-67-1 to Dawson Knox and 6-99 to Mark Andrews. Oliver is no more than a dart throw for a TD this week, but if he doesn’t miss this game with injury he should be on the field a decent amount. If he misses, DeValve becomes an interesting minimum-priced DFS option.

That’s all I’ve got for this week. Hopefully it helps you with your toughest lineup decisions involving rookies. Keep a close watch on the injury report this week to make sure of the status of anyone who can affect your lineup, even if it’s not the guy in your lineup. For example, Jakobi Meyers loses some of his appeal if Josh Gordon and/or Phillip Dorsett are good to go. If you have any specific questions or just want to yell at me about any of the info included above, feel free to hit me up on twitter and let me know (@Shawn_Foss). As always: Good luck, trust your gut, and have fun. It’s just a game.

Welcome back to the Rookie Report! We’re down to just 4 weeks left of the fantasy regular season, so it’s crunch time if you’re not where you want to be in the standings. Week 10 brings SIX bye weeks (HOU, PHI, WAS, NE, DEN, JAX), so there are probably plenty of you out there in need of bye week fill-ins. Week 9 was a big one for the rookies, with David Montgomery, Josh Jacobs, DK Metcalf, Devin Singletary and Kyler Murray all posting banner weeks. Parris Campbell was on his way to a breakout game before suffering another significant injury. It’s a bummer for him since he was in line for extended work with TY Hilton sidelined, but there are plenty of other rookies who could potentially help moving forward. Let’s talk about what to expect in week 10…

Rookies to Start:

QB Kyler Murray, ARI (Wk. 10: @TB): It took a late long TD to get there, but Kyler became the first QB all year to top 20 fantasy points against the 49ers last week. He’s been better at home than on the road, but the Bucs pass defense has been a mess this year. They’ve allowed the 4^th-most QB points per game on the year and rank 26^th in Football Outsiders’ pass defense DVOA stat. With Wentz, Watson and Brady all on byes this week, Murray should have no trouble finishing as a top-10 QB in a great matchup.

RB Josh Jacobs, OAK (Wk. 10: vs. LAC): If you have Jacobs on your roster, he should be in your lineup this week. He’s topped 120 rushing yards in 3 of his last 4 games and faces a Chargers defense that ranks 25^th in run defense DVOA and allows the 10^th-most points to the position. The Chargers have been playing well as of late and could get out to an early lead, but Vegas doesn’t expect that to happen with LA favored by just 1 point. You should trust Jacobs to perform once again.

RB David Montgomery, CHI (Wk. 10: vs. Det.): It was only a couple weeks ago that Montgomery ran for just 6 yards on 3 carries and Matt Nagy had to tell the world he isn’t an idiot. All that’s happened since then is back-to-back RB7 finishes for Monty. The Bears may feel like a dumpster fire at this point, but it hasn’t affected Montgomery. This week he gets to face the defense that is allowing the most fantasy points per game to the position. The Lions have had more trouble with pass-catching backs than pure runners, but the Bears seem to finally be committed to giving Monty the ball. He should be a solid RB2 this week.

Borderline Rookies:

QB Daniel Jones, NYG (Wk. 10: @NYJ): After allowing 6 passing scores total in their first 6 games of the year the Jets have given up 6 more in just the last 2 weeks and over 275 yards passing in each game to Gardner Minshew and Ryan Fitzpatrick. Jones has proven to be turnover prone, but with the wheels coming off for the Jets he should be able to post a nice day. The Jets rank just 25^th in pass defense DVOA and haven’t been able to generate much of a pass rush since shipping Leonard Williams to the G-Men. I’d expect Jones to be a solid QB2 this week who could push for a top-12 week with so many players on byes.

RB Devin Singletary, BUF (Wk. 10: @Cle.): Week 9 felt like a turning point for Singletary. It was the first time all year that he out-snapped Frank Gore in a game that the Bills played mostly from ahead. He had played big snaps in week 1 when they trailed the Jets all game, and again in week 8 in the loss to the Eagles, but the Bills never trailed in week 10 and Singletary saw the lion’s share of the work. He out-snapped Gore 41-21, and out-touched him 23-11. He had as many carries in week 10 as he did in the other 4 games he suited up for combined. The Bills are somehow actually underdogs this week in Cleveland, but that may play more into Singletary’s favor as the primary pass-catching back. The Browns allow the 9^th-most RB points per game, and Singletary has scored double-digit PPR points in every game he’s played. I’d try to find a way to get him in your lineup this week if you can.

RB Ty Johnson, DET (Wk. 10: @Chi.): Despite their recent struggles, the Bears are still considered to be a formidable defense, but they’ve given up the 8^th-most fantasy points per game to opposing backs. Johnson’s playing time jumped to 62% of the offensive snaps with Tra Carson out last week, and I’d expect that sort of workload to continue. Johnson hasn’t reached 30 yards rushing in any game since the Kerryon injury, but the Bears allow more receptions per game to the position than every team but the Texans. JD McKissic will mix in a bit, but Johnson seems likely to see 15+ touches in this game and that should put him in play as a PPR flex option.

WR Marquise Brown, BAL (Wk. 10: @Cin.): Brown looked to be over his hamstring injury on Sunday, posting 3 catches for 48 yards against the Patriots. That isn’t exactly a useful fantasy line, but it came against one of the best pass defenses in the league. This week he faces off with one of the worst. There is a real possibility that the Ravens throw fewer than the 23 passes they threw last week if this game gets out of hand, but Brown has a reasonable shot to do some damage before it gets lopsided. The Bengals allow the 3^rd-most pass plays per game of 20+ yards and they rank 30^th in pass defense DVOA. With 6 teams on byes this week, Brown is a reasonable WR3 play and upside DFS option.

TE TJ Hockenson, DET (Wk. 10: @Chi.): It’s becoming a repetitive weekly refrain with Hockenson…he’s in play as a low-end TE1 option pretty much every week due to the lack of depth at the position. To illustrate that point, Will Dissly is still a top-10 scorer at the position on the year despite not playing a game since week 5. Hockenson posted his best yardage total since week 1 last Sunday against the Raiders, and it feels like the Lions have been making a concerted effort to get him more involved. This week he faces a Bears’ defense that allows the 4^th-most points per game to the position. The low floor we’ve seen makes TJ a less than appealing option, but it’s brutal out there if you’re looking for a fill-in and Hockenson does offer nice upside this week.

Rookies to Sit:

QB Ryan Finley, CIN (Wk. 10: vs. Bal.): You probably don’t need me to tell you to sit Finley this week, but here I am doing it anyway. Patrick Mahomes is the only QB to tally more than 1 touchdown against the Ravens all year, and I really don’t expect Finley to be the second, especially with the news Thursday that he won’t have AJ Green back for this one. He’s worth monitoring in superflex and 2-QB leagues, maybe even a stash in deeper ones, but putting him in the lineup this week would be asking for trouble even with 6 teams on bye.

RB Darrell Henderson, LAR (Wk. 10: @Pit.): Malcolm Brown is trending in the right direction to return for the Rams this week, and that is likely to push Henderson down to the RB3 role on his own team. The Rams are favored by 3.5 points this week, so it doesn’t exactly shape up to be a blowout where the backups will get extended run. I’d stay far away from Henderson this week unless it becomes clear that Brown isn’t playing. Even in that scenario you’d have to be desperate to consider Henderson. He’d still be looking at a very limited workload against a defense that allows the 7^th-fewest RB points per game.

RB Alexander Mattison, MIN (Wk. 10: @Dal.): Once again Mattison reminded us that he carries a very low floor in weeks that the Vikings don’t play from ahead. Mattison carried the ball just 3 times last Sunday for in the loss to the Chiefs and the Vikings are a 3-point underdog in Jerry World this weekend. Mattison will probably get a handful of carries, but I wouldn’t expect a usable fantasy game unless the Vikings somehow run away with this one.

RB Tony Pollard, DAL (Wk. 10: vs. Min.): A comfortable win over the Giants got Pollard just 15 snaps, 3 carries and 3 targets. I wouldn’t expect things to be nearly as comfortable this week against the Vikings. Pollard is worth taking a shot on in matchups where the Cowboys are expected to win in a romp, but when they aren’t there isn’t much reason to consider him unless Zeke isn’t healthy.

RB Justice Hill, BAL (Wk. 10: @Cin.): I keep waiting for Hill to get more opportunity in this offense and it may happen at some point, but I’m not willing to roll the dice that it will be this week. Hill did put up 31 rushing yards in the first meeting with Cincy in week 6, and the Ravens are comfortable road favorites in this game, but in the 3 games this year that Baltimore has won by double-digits Hill has seen a total of 10 carries and 1 target. It has been Gus Edwards getting the extra carries and not Hill. You could throw a dart at Hill this week in DFS tournaments, but I wouldn’t expect much from him even if the Ravens win in a rout.

RB Myles Gaskin, MIA (Wk. 10: @Ind.): Don’t fall into the trap on Gaskin as a potential sleeper down the stretch. Gaskin is likely to be active for the first time all year this week with Mark Walton suspended, but the Dolphins have had just 2 double-digit PPR scoring performances from a running back all year. Two of the four games Walton will miss are against teams in the top 8 at limiting RB points, including this week’s opponent the Colts. Gaskin would be a dicey option if it were clear he was going to be the lead back, but he’s likely to split work with Kalen Ballage. Let someone else chase the opportunity here.

WR DK Metcalf, SEA (Wk. 10: @SF): The matchup this week is less than ideal for Metcalf squaring off against the team that allows the 6^th-fewest WR points per game and ranks 1^st in pass defense DVOA. The 49ers showed some cracks against Arizona last week and Russell Wilson has proven himself to be a magician all season, but the Niners been a different animal at home allowing an average of 144 passing yards per game and a 2:6 TD-to-INT ratio in 3 games at Levi’s Stadium. Metcalf posted his best PPR game of the season last weekend with 25 points, but I wouldn’t expect anything near a repeat performance. I don’t expect Josh Godon to take a big chunk out of DK’s workload in his Seahawks’ debut, but he adds another layer of uncertainty to the mix. The tough matchup doesn’t render Metcalf completely unplayable this week with so many byes, but I’d lean against it if you have other reasonable options.

WR Hunter Renfrow, OAK (Wk. 10: vs. LAC): Renfrow posted his 2 best games of the year in the last 2 weeks, with totals of 10-142-2 on 11 targets. It’s exciting to see him get more involved in the offense and make plays, but for the year he still has just 2 games with more than 5 targets and just 2 catches of longer than 12 yards. He needs volume to get by. The Chargers allow the 8^th-fewest WR points per game and have allowed just 4 WR touchdowns in their past 7 games. You could use Renfrow as a flex in deeper PPR leagues if you really need a fill-in, but I’d probably avoid him anywhere else.

WR Deebo Samuel, SF (Wk. 10: vs. Sea.): You could do worse than Samuel this week, but he remains no higher than 3^rd in the target pecking order of a passing attack that throws the ball less than any other team in the league. He seems to have solidly established himself as the WR2 behind Emmanuel Sanders and is playing close to 70% of the snaps, but he’s only topped 44 yards in a game once this season. The Seahawks rank just 22^nd in run defense DVOA, so the 49ers would be wise to stick to what they do best and run the ball to keep it away from Russell Wilson as much as possible, and that’s going to affect the upside Samuel has. If you think 3-4 catches for 40-50 yards is going to help you win this week, Samuel should be able to produce somewhere in that ballpark. I’d look for someone with more upside in most leagues.

WR Olabisi Johnson, MIN (Wk. 10: @Dal.): Adam Thielen looks to be back on the shelf this week, which should get Bisi back into the mix, but the Cowboys have been solid against opposing WRs. They allow the 5^th-fewest WR points per game and have allowed multiple wide receivers to reach 50 yards in the same game just twice all year. Stefon Diggs should be the clear lead option this week, so I’d look to Johnson to finish in the 30-40 yard range. I’d look for better options if I were considering Bisi.

WR Mecole Hardman, KC (Wk. 10: @Ten.): Hardman should get Mahomes back at QB this week which should give him a better chance at maximizing his big play opportunities, but with the whole WR group healthy he’s played just 20 snaps total in the last 2 weeks. There’s still that weekly chance of a home run play, but it’s not something to take a shot on outside of a DFS tournament.

WRs KeeSean Johnson & Andy Isabella, ARI (Wk. 10: @TB): Each of these guys found the end zone last week against the 49ers, but I wouldn’t count on them doing it again even in a great matchup. The Bucs allow the most WR points per game, and rank just 26^th in pass defense DVOA, but the duo combined for just 38 snaps and 4 targets last week. That just isn’t enough volume to count on for fantasy production. Kliff Kingsbury has already said Isabella isn’t going to see a spike in playing time as a result of his 88-yard TD, and the team is expected to use David Johnson lined up out wide quite a bit this week with Kenyan Drake involved. These guys are best left on your bench.

WR Miles Boykin, BAL (Wk. 10: @Cin.): You probably don’t need much explanation here. If Boykin’s season totals were all put up last week, he still would’ve been just the WR3 for the week. I love his talent, but the opportunity just hasn’t been there for Boykin so far this year.

TE Foster Moreau, OAK (Wk. 10: vs. LAC): As Darren Waller has drawn more attention, Moreau has made a habit of getting in the end zone. He’s scored 3 TDs in the last 5 weeks, but if you throw out the TDs he has just 4 catches for 37 yards over the last 3 weeks. He needs to find the end zone to be useful for your team, and the Chargers haven’t let a tight end score all year. If any Raider breaks that streak this week I’d expect it to be Waller.

TE Dawson Knox, BUF (Wk. 10: @Cle.): Knox’s playing time rebounded in week 9 as he was back up to a 76% snap share, but he hasn’t posted a useful fantasy day since week 4 and has just 2 useful games all year. The Browns do allow the 11^th-most points to the position, so there is some appeal as a DFS dart throw hoping for a touchdown, but that feels like wishful thinking at this point.

Rookies on Byes: QB Gardner Minshew, JAX, QB Dwayne Haskins, WAS, RB Miles Sanders, PHI, RB Ryquell Armstead, JAX, WR Terry McLaurin, WAS, WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside, PHI, WRs N’Keal Harry & Jakobi Meyers, NE, TE Noah Fant, DEN, TE Josh Oliver, JAX

Deep League Sleepers, Stashes, and Cheap DFS Options:

WR Diontae Johnson, PIT (Wk. 10: vs. LAR): Johnson doesn’t get a great matchup this week against a Rams’ defense allowing the 10^th-fewest WR points per game, but I think the opportunity is there for a stronger game that expected. Jalen Ramsey probably won’t follow JuJu Smith-Schuster into the slot, but he’ll be matched up on him whenever he lines up outside. Johnson had a disappointing game last weekend, but his snap share was right on par with where he’s been. The Steelers are a 3.5-point underdog this week and the Rams rank 4^th in run defense DVOA and 15^th in pass defense DVOA, so the way to attack them is through the air and the script should give Pittsburgh reason to throw. If Ramsey locks horns with JuJu a bunch, Diontae should be the biggest benefactor.

WR Darius Slayton, NYG (Wk. 10: @NYJ): Slayton’s usage has dipped a bit with Golden Tate integrated into the offense since returning from suspension, but the Giants are likely to be without Evan Engram on Sunday and face a Jets team that has allowed the 7^th-most WR points per game. Slayton is far from a sure thing this week, but I like his chances to post a solid game with Engram’s 8.5 targets per game out of the equation.

WR AJ Brown, TEN (Wk. 10: vs. KC): Brown gets mentioned as a sleeper this week due to the potential that Corey Davis misses this game. Brown has been targeted 18 times in the last 3 weeks with Ryan Tannehill at QB, and while Tannehill also has shown an affinity for slot receiver Adam Humphries the Chiefs have been more vulnerable to outside WRs. Kansas City allows the 7^th-fewest WR points per game, but the biggest fantasy days they’ve allowed have been to athletic perimeter receivers like Courtland Sutton (6-87), Kenny Golladay (5-67-2), Marvin Jones (3-77), DJ Chark (4-146-1), and Tyrell Williams (5-46-1). They even let Laquon Treadwell post a career-high 58 receiving yards last week. Brown is much closer to the type of receiver they’ve given up points to than Humphries is. If Davis misses this game, Brown becomes a big upside WR4 despite a seemingly tough matchup.

TE Irv Smith Jr, MIN (Wk. 10: @Dal.): The Vikings will have some extra passing volume to spread around this week with Adam Thielen sidelined again, and Smith has been proving to be a reliable target. Over the past 4 weeks he has the same number of receptions as Kyle Rudolph (14) and 9 more receiving yards (143), and he has an impressive 83.6% catch rate on the year. The Cowboys allow the 7^th-most points to the tight end position, which leads me to believe that tight end is where many of those extra targets will go. Smith is an interesting dart throw this week in the deepest of leagues and in DFS tournaments.

TE Jace Sternberger, GB (Wk. 10: vs. Car.): There is no reason to play Sternberger this week against a Panthers’ defense that allows the 7^th-fewest points to the position, but it’s worth noting that he has been activated off injured reserve and the Packers haven’t really gotten what they’d hoped for from the soon to be 33-year old Jimmy Graham. The 22-year old Sternberger was a field stretcher at the tight end position for Texas A&M and he may get the chance to do the same for the Packers sooner than we’d expect. Sternberger was second among all tight ends in NCAA yards per catch last year. He’s certainly worth a stash in dynasty leagues if he’s out there, and he might come in handy in deeper TE premium leagues before this season is out.

That’s all I’ve got for this week. Hopefully it helps you with your toughest lineup decisions involving rookies. Keep a close eye on the injury report throughout the week and make sure you aren’t starting anyone who will be inactive or roadblocked by an active player who was hurt. If you have any specific questions or just want to yell at me about what is written above, feel free to reach out on twitter and let me know (@Shawn_Foss). As always: Good luck, trust your gut, and have fun. It’s just a game.

Welcome back to the Rookie Report! Hopefully you survived the bye-pocalypse last week and are still in pretty good shape in the playoff picture. Week 10 featured some breakout rookie performances. Darius Slayton and Deebo Samuel put up monster games due to injuries to the other weapons on their teams. DK Metcalf and Irv Smith matched their career high with 6 and 5 catches respectively and Andy Isabella saw his role expand in Arizona with a 3-77 line. Josh Jacobs and Marquise Brown each got in the end zone as well. The week wasn’t as friendly to Devin Singletary and David Montgomery but both managed to post reasonable performances. There are a few more byes to get through this week, so let’s look at what rookies could help you plug some holes…

Rookies to Start:

RB Josh Jacobs, OAK (Wk. 11: vs. Cin.): Look, you don’t need me to tell you to start Jacobs this week, but I want to emphasize that he’s one of the best chalk plays in DFS this week. He’s topped 10 PPR points in 6 straight games and has been a top-12 RB in 4 of those contests. This week he gets to face a Bengals’ defense that has allowed the 4^th-most RB points per game and ranks 29^th in Football Outsiders’ run defense DVOA stat. The Raiders are a 10.5-point favorite and should be running a ton. Jacobs is probably a top-5 RB play this week.

RB Devin Singletary, BUF (Wk. 11: @Mia.): Singletary was badly underutilized last week, but I don’t expect the Bills to repeat that mistake in Miami. Devin’s been playing about two-thirds of the Bills’ offensive snaps for 3 weeks running now, and the Dolphins allow the 5^th-most RB points per game and rank 30^th in run defense DVOA. Although Miami has been playing at a higher level lately, I expect the Bills to win easily. Frank Gore may even have some value as a flex option this week, but Singletary should be a very safe RB2 option.

WR Marquise Brown, BAL (Wk. 11: vs. Hou.): Brown posted his best fantasy game since week 2 last week, and that came in a game where the Ravens’ starters didn’t see the field in the last 20 minutes of a blowout win. The Texans are much more likely to keep the game close than the Bengals were, and their defense allows the 3^rd-most points per game to opposing WRs. Brown is listed as questionable for this game, but he did get in a limited practice on Friday and seems likely to play. Keep on eye on the injury report to make sure that Brown won’t be hampered too badly, but if he’s close to 100% he should be right on the edge of WR2/3 with upside for plenty more.

Borderline Rookies:

QB Kyler Murray, ARI (Wk. 11: @SF): Murray surprisingly finished as the QB6 when he faced the 49ers just 2 weeks ago, but I wouldn’t be confident in a repeat performance. The 49ers will be at home in this one, and they still have allowed the fewest passing yards per game in the league and allowed the 2^nd-fewest QB points per game. Murray has benefitted from the recent emergence of Andy Isabella and has consistently shown the upside to be a reasonable fill-in if your QB is on a bye this week (Russ Wilson, Aaron Rodgers), but I wouldn’t play him over any of the high-end QB1s. He’s reasonably priced on DraftKings as just the 12^th-highest priced signal caller at $6,100, but I’d be more inclined to use him in a cash game than a tournament.

RB Miles Sanders, PHI (Wk. 11: vs. NE): Sanders feels a little bit like a trap this week in season-long leagues. He seems poised to be the lead back for the Eagles with Jordan Howard extremely questionable and the Pats rank just a middling 14^th in run defense DVOA. Still, the Patriots have allowed the fewest RB points per game on the year and Doug Pederson has always preferred a running back committee over a workhorse. Sanders should lead that committee, but newly signed Jay Ajayi should see some early down work as well and Boston Scott may mix in a bit on passing downs. Ajayi knows the offense so there shouldn’t be any ramp up time needed to get him in there if he’s healthy. I’d expect Sanders to get somewhere between 50 and 65 percent of the RB touches. His production has been on the upswing lately and that volume should make him an RB2 this week, but the tough matchup makes him less than a sure thing. He’s should be a staple in DFS lineups this week at just $4,100 on DraftKings (the 48^th-highest priced running back).

RB David Montgomery, CHI (Wk. 11: @LAR): Despite his down game against the Lions last week, Monty has averaged 19 carries for 78 yards and a TD per game on the ground over the last 3 weeks and 17.7 PPR points per game in that stretch. He’s been less than efficient as a runner with fewer than 4 yards per carry in all but 2 games this year, but he has been able to get by on volume. The hope is that he’s able to do the same this week. The Rams allow the 11^th-fewest RB points per game and rank 3^rd in run defense DVOA, and Montgomery is banged up and shaping up as a game-time decision for Sunday night. If he ends up playing, Monty is probably a low end RB2 or high end RB3 this week, but if you don’t have a backup plan in case he doesn’t go, I’d probably sit Montgomery for someone who plays earlier in the day.

RB Ty Johnson, DET (Wk. 11: vs. Dal.): Johnson has cleared the concussion protocol and should return to his role as the lead back of the Detroit committee this week. JD McKissic failed to do enough to wrest the job away with just 55 yards on 16 touches against Chicago. Johnson really wasn’t much better, but he did play 12 of the first 15 snaps of the game before getting injured. If he returns to that role as expected, he’ll be in play as an RB3/flex option due to volume. The Cowboys have allowed the 13^th-most RB points per game and rank 15^th in run defense DVOA. If Detroit can stay in the game, Johnson should see in the range of 12-15 touches. If they fall behind, McKissic may see a bigger share of the work.

WR Deebo Samuel, SF (Wk. 11: vs. Ari.): With Emmanuel Sanders and George Kittle out on Monday night, we finally got to see what Deebo would look like as the featured weapon of the passing game, and it was impressive. Samuel finished with 8 catches for 112 yards on 11 targets and made plays throughout the game. Sanders and Kittle both seem on the fence for this week, and if they both sit Samuel is a strong WR3 play against a Cardinals’ defense that allows the 9^th-most WR points per game. If either or both of those guys play, Samuel becomes more of an upside fill-in option if you’re looking for bye replacements. He’s flashed the ability to be a playmaker in this offense. He just needs to keep seeing the opportunity. He’ll be a steal in DFS lineups at just $4,000 in DraftKings if Kittle and Sanders sit.

WR Terry McLaurin, WAS (Wk. 11: vs. NYJ): It’s hard to have complete faith in McLaurin given how Dwayne Haskins has played thus far, but this is the best possible matchup for him to face to get back on track. Interim coach Bill Callahan plans to move McLaurin around the formation a bit more going forward; Haskins for the first time has had a full week of practice knowing he is going to start a game; and the Jets’ defense is extremely banged up and has given up 10 receiving TDs to opposing WRs in their last 3 games (vs. Mia, Jax, and NYG). If McLaurin doesn’t smash in this spot, it’s hard to envision a spot where he will produce going forward. I can understand if you’re hesitant to trust him after he’s put up just 9 catches for 89 yards in his last 3 games, but I’d be willing to run him out there as a WR3 this week.

WR Diontae Johnson, PIT (Wk. 11: @Cle.): Johnson has proven to be a useful fantasy WR3/flex option a handful of times this year, and he should fall into that range again in Cleveland. There has been a little bit of volatility with Johnson as James Washington has started to emerge in recent weeks and the return of James Conner likely means a more run-heavy game plan. The Browns have been an above average defense against WRs, allowing the 12th-fewest PPR points per game to opposing perimeter receivers, but since the return of Denzel Ward & Greedy Williams in week 8 they've allowed strong games to Julian Edelman (8-78-2), Courtland Sutton (5-56-1), and John Brown (5-77). The matchup isn't an ideal one, but it isn't prohibitive either. I wouldn't be excited to use Diontae as a fill-in for a 10-team league, but you could do worse in leagues of 12 or more teams. Johnson has been good for 6 or so targets most weeks, and he's made a habit of making the most of his opportunities.

UPDATE: Johnson finished with 2 catches for 17 yards on 4 targets before leaving the game early in the 2^nd half after suffering a concussion.

TE Noah Fant, DEN (Wk. 11: @Min.): The Broncos have made a point to get Fant more involved since the Emmanuel Sanders trade. He was having a hard time breaking out while splitting reps with Jeff Heuerman at tight end, but with Heuerman injured the past 2 games Fant has seen his snap share climb to 82% and 86% in the past 2 contests. Heuerman is doubtful for week 11. The Vikings allow the 14^th-fewest TE points per game, but that ranking comes largely on the fact that they haven’t allowed a tight end to score a touchdown. They’ve allowed 4 tight ends to reach double-digit PPR points this year and allowed both Dallas Goedert and Zach Ertz to clear 9 when they faced the Eagles. There is some fear that Brandon Allen starting at QB puts a cap on Fant’s ceiling, but he did manage a long TD in Allen’s one start so far. While that play may not be predictive of what Fant will do going forward, he’s right on the cusp of being a TE1 option this week.

TE TJ Hockenson, DET (Wk. 11: vs. Dal.): Hockenson may finally be turning the corner in his rookie season. In the past two weeks against Oakland and Chicago he’s been targeted 13 times and seen his two highest yardage totals since week 1. The Cowboys have been vulnerable to tight ends, allowing the 4^th-most points per game to the position and Jeff Driskel was able to find TJ 3 times for 47 yards last Sunday. I like Hockenson’s chances to break 50 yards this week, and he could find himself on the cusp of being a top-10 play in this one.

Rookies to Sit:

QB Dwayne Haskins, WAS (Wk. 11: vs. NYJ): The upside is there for Haskins to surprise this week and I could see rolling the dice on him if you were desperate for a QB2, but he hasn’t shown nearly enough to be trusted in lineups. Haskins has averaged less than 6.5 yards per attempt and has 0 TDs and 4 picks in 3 appearances. I like his chances to throw his first career TD pass, but I wouldn’t count on him to approach the 26 fantasy points per game the Jets have given up to QBs over the past 3 weeks. Like I said, the matchup is great. The question is whether you trust Haskins to take advantage.

RB Qadree Ollison, ATL (Wk. 11: @Car.): Ollison might get his first touches of the year this week with Devonta Freeman and Ito Smith both out, but I don’t expect him to be involved enough to be fantasy relevant with both Brian Hill and Kenjon Barner ahead of him on the depth chart. He’s still another injury away from being worth scooping up off the wire.

RB Darrell Henderson, LAR (Wk. 11: vs. Chi.): With Malcolm Brown back from injury last week Henderson was limited to just 8 offensive snaps while Brown played 12. He’d need an injury to Brown or Gurley to go back to being a usable option.

RB Ryquell Armstead, JAX (Wk. 11: @Ind.): The last time we saw Armstead, he was putting up 5 catches for 65 yards back in week 9. Don’t read anything into those numbers. All the catches came in garbage time, and Armstead played just 9 offensive snaps in that contest. He won’t see that kind of passing game work again all year without a Fournette injury. He remains just a handcuff for the time being.

WR Olabisi Johnson, MIN (Wk. 11: vs. Den.): Adam Thielen will sit again this week, but Johnson will likely be no more than a TD dart throw. He’s been playing more than 70% of the offensive snaps for the last 4 games but has just 9 catches for 96 yards and 2 TDs to show for it. The Broncos allow the 3^rd-fewest WR points per game. With Minnesota favored by 10 points I don’t expect a lot of passing volume, so if you’re playing Johnson in any format it’s with the hope that he gets in the end zone.

WR Mecole Hardman, KC (Wk. 11: @LAC): Hardman found the end zone again last week on a long play but has played just 38 offensive snaps in the last 3 weeks. He’s managed to find ways to produce with a line of 3-118-2 on just 3 targets in those weeks, but the limited snaps give him a legitimate goose egg floor. His speed and his QB give him weekly big play upside, but the Chargers have given up just 2 pass plays of 40+ yards all season long.

WR KeeSean Johnson, ARI (Wk. 11: @SF): Johnson did see his playing time increase a bit in week 10, but he’s been targeted just 14 times in his last 4 games and is averaging just 9 yards per catch. He gets a tough matchup this week against a San Francisco defense that allows the 5^th-fewest WR points per game. He did find the end zone the last time the Cards faced the 49ers, but it was his only TD of the season. I’d avoid KeeSean this week.

WRs Jakobi Meyers & N’Keal Harry, NE (Wk. 11: @Phi.): This is a plus matchup for the New England receivers with Philly allowing the 8^th-most WR points per game, but with Mohamed Sanu fully integrated into the offense Meyers played just 1 offensive snap in week 9 ahead of the bye. N’Keal Harry is poised to be active for the first time this season Sunday, but it remains to be seen what kind of role he’ll have. New England seems to have their 3-WR sets pretty well figured out, so I’d like to see how N’Keal gets utilized before considering him in lineups.

TE Dawson Knox, BUF (Wk. 11: @Mia.): Knox had his best game in weeks last Sunday against the Browns, but it was a game that the Bills trailed for most of. There has been little in-between for Knox this year. He has 3 games with 50+ yards, and fewer that 25 in every other game. 2 of his 3 strong games came in Buffalo losses. The Bills are favored by a touchdown this week. There is a chance that Knox has a nice game, but I would bet this is more likely to be a game below 25 yards than one over 50. The Dolphins haven’t been good this year, but they’ve been middling against tight ends, allowing the 15^th-most points per game to the position. You could do worse than Knox this week, but you could almost certainly do better.

TE Foster Moreau, OAK (Wk. 11: vs. Cin.): You know the drill with Moreau. He needs a touchdown to be helpful, and while the Bengals have an abysmal defense, they’ve given up just 3 touchdowns to opposing tight ends on the year. Moreau is no more likely to find the end zone than Darren Waller (both have 3 scores on the year), and that means he’s a dicey TD dart throw this week.

Rookies on byes in Week 11: QB Daniel Jones, NYG, WR DK Metcalf, SEA, WR AJ Brown, TEN, WR Darius Slayton, NYG, TE Jace Sternberger, GB

Deep League Sleepers, Stashes and Cheap DFS Options:

QB Ryan Finley, CIN (Wk. 11: @Oak.): Finley acquitted himself fairly well in his NFL debut despite facing a dangerous Ravens’ defense without AJ Green. He already has more TD passes on the year than Dwayne Haskins. This week he gets to face an Oakland defense that has allowed multiple TD passes in 6 straight games and has allowed the 3^rd highest passer rating in the league. He’s obviously a risky option making just his second pro start, but the matchup is fantastic and as just the 27^th-highest priced QB on DraftKings he’s got some nice DFS upside this week. If you’re desperate for a QB2 I’d prefer Finley over Haskins, Driskel, or Brandon Allen.

RB Tony Pollard, DAL (Wk. 11: @Det.): When Dallas plays from ahead Pollard gets opportunities, and this looks like a week where they’ll play from ahead. Dallas is a touchdown favorite with Jeff Driskel expected to make his second consecutive start, and the Lions allow the 2^nd-most RB points per game. If you’re desperate at running back due to injuries or byes and were unable to grab Brian Hill off waivers, Pollard is a decent option who could post a solid day in garbage time. He’s had 41 carries and 7 targets in the Cowboys’ 5 wins and averaged 19.6 offensive snaps in those games.

RB Alexander Mattison, MIN (Wk. 11: vs. Den.): Minnesota is favored by double-digits, so Mattison is a safe bet for 5-6 points with a chance at more if he finds the end zone. In Minnesota’s 7 wins, he’s averaged 10 carries for 50.4 yards, and has finished between 49 and 63 yards in 6 of them. He’s started to see a target here and there as well, but the real upside would come from a late TD. Denver’s defense isn’t a pushover, ranking 9^th in run defense DVOA, but Mattison’s production has been almost automatic in their wins. If you like the rest of your lineup and are trying to fill one flex spot in a deep league, it might make more sense to go with the safe handful of points Mattison gives you rather than rolling with a more volatile option like Derrius Guice, JD McKissic, or Nyheim Hines.

WR Hunter Renfrow, OAK (Wk. 11: vs. Cin.): The Raiders should be able to do whatever they want against the Bengals’ hapless defense, and although the run game will be their preferred method of attack there will be an opportunity for Renfrow to make an impact. Hunter has gone 14-184-2 on 16 targets in the past 3 weeks, and the Bengals have been shredded by slot receivers this year. They’ve given up solid days to Cole Beasley (8-48), Larry Fitzgerald (6-58), Dede Westbrook (6-103), and Cooper Kupp (7-220-1). Renfrow is a decent bet for double-digit PPR points.

WR Andy Isabella, ARI (Wk. 11: @SF): I mention Isabella here more as a stash than a guy to play this week. At just $3,500 on DraftKings there is a case to be made for him as a cheap dart throw in DFS tournaments, but his role as a downfield threat could be useful down the stretch in season-long leagues if his playing time keeps increasing. His offensive snaps have gone from 1 to 13 to 26 over the past 3 games, and in the past 2 he’s turned 4 targets into 4 catches for 166 yards and a TD. He’s like Mecole Hardman in that his production is going to come from big yardage plays, but unlike Hardman his playing time is increasing rather than decreasing.

TE Irv Smith Jr., MIN (Wk. 11: vs. Den.): Just like last week, the Vikings face a defense that is tougher on wide receivers than it is on tight ends. The Broncos are still somewhat tough on tight ends, allowing the 12^th-fewest points per game to the position, but they’re stifling against receivers. Smith managed 5 catches last week and played a season-high 74% of the offensive snaps. I’d expect a similar role this week. Look for Smith to get a handful of targets and possibly find his way into the end zone. I like his upside again this week if you need a fill-in in really deep leagues.

That’s all I’ve got for this week. Hopefully it helps you with your toughest lineup decisions involving rookies. Make sure to keep an eye on the injury reports ahead of kickoff Sunday and make sure you don’t end up starting any inactive players. If you have any specific questions or want to yell at me about anything written above, feel free to reach out via twitter and let me know (@Shawn_Foss). As always: Good luck, trust your gut, and have fun. It’s just a game.

Welcome back to the Rookie Report! We’ve made it to the fantasy playoffs. Hopefully you were lucky enough that you get to take the week off, but if you made the playoffs and have to play this week, it’s hard to not put extra weight into every lineup decision you make. This year’s rookie crop has felt more volatile than most other classes, but that may just be because there are so many of them that have been fantasy contributors this year. We head into week 14 with 7 rookie QBs slated to start (if Daniel Jones is able to play). There are 3 rookie RBs among the top-20 in PPR points, 6 WRs in the top-43, and countless other skill players that have been useful as spot starters when injuries opened the door, and plenty more who are likely to do damage in the fantasy playoffs. Let’s dive in and talk about what to do with your rookies this week…

Rookies to Start:

RB Miles Sanders, PHI (Wk. 14: vs. NYG): The Giants have done a nice job of limiting RB production in recent weeks, but I’m betting on Sanders’ usage and the fact the Eagles are favored by 8 and a half points here. Sanders has seen 40 carries and 14 targets in the last 3 weeks and has averaged about 80 scrimmage yards per contest, and the Eagles lost all those games. I expect the Eagles to run a bit more this week if they play from ahead as expected. There is a chance that Jordan Howard returns this week, and if that happens Sanders gets a slight downgrade and would be closer to a borderline option. If Howard sits again, Miles should be a solid RB2.

RB David Montgomery, CHI (Wk. 14: vs. Dal.): Montgomery came through for fantasy players who trusted him enough to start him last week on Thanksgiving, and I like his chances to return value again this week. The Cowboys’ defense has been banged up, missing their starting nose tackle Antwaun Woods and their defensive leader in linebacker Leighton Vander Esch this week. Montgomery continues to see consistent usage with 15+ touches in 6 straight games. His production hasn’t always matched that usage, but Mitch Trubisky has been playing better of late and it is making the whole offense better. Dallas isn’t a defense to fear, ranking 17^th in Football Outsiders’ run defense DVOA stat and allowing the 15^th-most RB points per game. Montgomery should be a useful RB2 this week and is a reasonable $5,100 on DraftKings.

RB Josh Jacobs, OAK (Wk. 14: vs. Ten.): You can’t sit a player with Jacobs’ locked-in usage. He’s averaging 88 yards per game on the ground and has only been held under 70 three times in 12 games. I’d be nervous to roll him out in DFS lineups this week though. The Raiders have gone in the tank as a team the last couple weeks, losing by a combined score of 74-12 in their past 2 games. It was a problem for Jacobs against the Jets, but he bounced back with a 100-yard day in a blowout loss against Kansas City. The Chiefs rank 30^th in run defense DVOA. The Titans rank 4^th. If the Raiders continue the trend of getting blown out, this could be a disappointing fantasy day for Jacobs. Oakland is a 2 and a half-point underdog though, so if they keep it competitive Jacobs should see enough work to be just fine.

Borderline Rookies:

QB Kyler Murray, ARI (Wk. 14: vs. Pit.): Murray had been playing at an improved level recently, but week 12 was a bit of a hiccup. He was able to salvage his day with a rushing score, but he gets a rough matchup again this week. The Steelers have been one of the best pass defenses in the league since acquiring Minkah Fitzpatrick. They’ve held 7 of the 10 QBs they’ve faced since the trade to fewer than 200 passing yards, and Murray has thrown for fewer than 250 in 5 of his last 6 games. He’s been able to keep his fantasy numbers up with touchdowns and rushing yards (he has 9 total TDs in his past 4 games and averaged 42 rushing yards per week in them), but I’d be hesitant to trust him in this matchup as a QB1. The Steelers rank 4^th in pass defense DVOA.

QB Gardner Minshew, JAX (Wk. 14: vs. LAC): I learned my lesson with Minshew early in the season. If he’s starting, he’s in play as a QB2 even in tougher matchups. The Chargers allow the 7^th-fewest QB points per game and just got Derwin James back last week, but they also rank 22^nd in pass defense DVOA. The Chargers have allowed at least 1 passing TD to every QB they’ve faced except Mitch Trubisky. The reason they rank so highly at limiting QB points is because they are also bad against the run and often are playing from behind. I wouldn’t expect Minshew to approach 300 yards, but he usually finds his way to the middle of the QB2 ranks.

RB Devin Singletary, BUF (Wk. 14: vs. Bal.): I’d lean towards playing Singletary this week, but it’s worth noting that the Ravens allow the 7^th-fewest PPR points to opposing RBs. With that said, the best way to attack the Ravens’ defense is with the ground game. Baltimore just allowed Raheem Mostert to run wild last Sunday, and they’ve struggled to contain the run game in other contests as well. Baltimore ranks just 25^th in run defense DVOA. It’s not an ideal matchup, but it isn’t one to run away from either if Singletary would usually be in your lineup. He’s the undisputed lead back for the Bills. He’s had at least 16 touches in each of the past 3 games and averaged 98 scrimmage yards and 13.5 PPR points per game in that stretch.

RB Alexander Mattison, MIN (Wk. 14: vs. Det.): Mattison became a hot waiver wire commodity this week after Dalvin Cook left Monday night’s game with a shoulder injury. It sounds as though Dalvin is likely to play this week, but I would expect a lot of Mattison. The Vikings are favored by 2 touchdowns against the hapless Lions who allow the 3^rd-most RB points per game. The biggest surprise from Monday’s game was how involved Mattison was in the passing game. The rookie actually tied for the team lead with 4 catches and turned them into 51 yards. I’d expect Mattison to handle most of the work this week even if Cook plays, and I think it’s likely he out-produces Dalvin. I’d be willing to consider him as a flex even if Cook is able to go, and he’ll likely be a steal at his DraftKings price of just $4,500.

RB Benny Snell Jr., PIT (Wk. 14: @Ari.): The Cardinals have been a better run defense than pass defense this year, but the Steelers are likely to lean on the ground game as usual since Devlin Hodges will be making just his 3^rd pro start. Snell has totaled 37 carries in the last 2 weeks and is likely to continue to see a healthy workload in this one with the Steelers favored by 2 and a half on the road. There is a chance that James Conner returns this week, and if he does that will certainly cut into Snell’s opportunities, but Mike Tomlin openly said that Snell has earned the right to stay in the rotation even when Conner comes back. The Cards allow the 9^th-most running back points per game and rank 16^th in run defense DVOA. Snell offers little as a receiver. He has just 3 catches on the year, so he’s a much better option in non-PPR formats. If Conner is out, I’d consider him a solid flex option outside of full-PPR leagues, but he is a bit dicier in PPR.

WR DK Metcalf, SEA (Wk. 14: @LAR): Metcalf has become an integral part of the Seahawks passing attack as the year has gone on. He’s averaged 7.7 targets, 4.7 catches, and 61.5 yards per game in his last 6 games. The 61% catch rate in those games is a 9% improvement on what he did in the first 6 weeks of the season. He’s developed a troubling fumbling habit with 3 fumbles lost in the past 6 games, but overall the arrow is pointing up for DK. This week’s matchup could include Metcalf squaring off with Jalen Ramsey, but my guess is that he will cover Tyler Lockett a fair amount as well. The Rams are a middling pass defense, allowing the 14^th-fewest points per game to wide receivers. They’ve let other big physical receivers have success against them this year (Mike Evans, Auden Tate, Miles Boykin, and Metcalf himself in the first meeting with the Rams). DK is in play as a WR3 this week.

WR Darius Slayton, NYG (Wk. 14: @Phi.): Slayton gets a plus matchup this week against the Eagles, who allow the 5^th-most WR points per game, but he also is likely to have a new QB under center and a more crowded pass catching group this week. Slayton didn’t record his first catch of the year until week 3, after the team had already made the switch to Daniel Jones. It remains to be seen if he’ll have the same connection with Eli. It’s also possible that Evan Engram and Golden Tate return this week. Slayton has had some productive games with Golden Tate in the lineup, but all 4 games where he saw more than 5 targets came with Evan Engram sidelined. If Engram and Tate both return, Slayton is a volatile WR3/flex option. If one or both sit, he becomes a much safer play.

WR Deebo Samuel, SF (Wk. 14: @NO): Samuel can’t be disregarded as a fantasy option after posting his 4^th straight game with 13+ PPR points last week in a less than ideal matchup in rainy Baltimore. He gets another difficult matchup this week in the Big Easy, but at least the weather won’t be an issue. It’s possible that Samuel draws the shadow coverage of Marshon Lattimore, the Saints’ best cover corner. New Orleans ranks an impressive 9^th in pass defense DVOA, but they’ve allowed the 10^th-most WR points per game. The bigger concern for Deebo is his target share. With George Kittle back on the field, Samuel was targeted just 6 times in the past 2 weeks. I’d look for him to be a bit more involved this week, but he’s still just an upside WR3 option with all the 49ers’ main receiving weapons healthy.

WR Marquise Brown, BAL (Wk. 14: @Buf.): Brown gets the unenviable opportunity to square off with TreDavious White’s shadow coverage this week. White has been a tough matchup for most of the receivers he’s faced, and the ones who have put up decent fantasy days against him have gotten there on volume rather than big plays. The Ravens are the run-heaviest team in the league, and the Bills rank 22^nd in run defense DVOA. That’s where they’re likely to attack Buffalo. I don’t expect big volume for Brown, so you’re hoping he cashes in a big play or 2 if you start him. The Bills have allowed the 9^th-fewest WR points per game and have given up just 3 pass plays of 40+ yards all year. Brown’s upside keeps him in consideration, but I’d have a hard time pulling the trigger this week.

TE Kaden Smith, NYG (Wk. 14: @Phi.): It appears that Evan Engram may return this week, but with the Giants playing to improve their draft position I wouldn’t expect them to push Engram back before he’s ready. If Engram doesn’t play, Smith should have plenty of opportunity again. He’s been targeted 14 times in the last 2 weeks and finished as the PPR TE4 and TE10 in those games. The Eagles aren’t an ideal matchup for tight ends, allowing the 9^th-fewest PPR points to the position per game, but they did give up 52 yards to Ben Watson in week 11 and a 5-79-1 line to Mike Gesicki last Sunday. No matter who is at QB, the Giants will keep their tight end involved. Smith will probably be a lower end TE1 this week if Engram is held out again. If you’re thinking about playing Engram, you should have Smith as a fallback option just in case.

Rookies to Sit:

QB David Blough, DET (Wk. 14: @Min.): Blough surprised us all on Turkey Day by throwing 2 first quarter touchdowns in his first NFL start. After tallying 131 yards and those two scores on his first 6 passing attempts, he managed just 149 yards and a pick on his other 32 attempts. I wouldn’t bank on a repeat with your season on the line. The Vikings rank just a middling 14^th in pass defense DVOA, but Blough’s best shot at a decent fantasy day will come from piling up stats in garbage time. The Lions are a 13-point underdog in this game and have an implied total of just 15 points.

QB Drew Lock, DEN (Wk. 14: @Hou.): Lock’s NFL debut was remarkably similar to David Blough’s. He put up the majority of his production in the 1^st quarter, when he completed 9 of 13 passes for 73 yards and 2 scores. He completed just 9 of 15 for 61 yards and an interception the rest of the game. The game plan for Lock is clearly to dink and dunk as evidenced by his sub-5 yards per attempt average. Unlike Blough, Lock gets a favorable matchup this week. The Texans allow the 6^th-most QB points per game and rank 25^th in pass defense DVOA. Lock could produce a nice day, but the conservative game plan will likely keep him from cashing in on a good matchup. I wouldn’t look at Lock as anything more than a desperation QB2 this week.

QB Dwayne Haskins, WAS (Wk. 14: @GB): There’s nothing to be excited about with Haskins this week, and likely for the rest of 2019. Through 4 starts, he’s averaging just 15 completions for 165 yards per game and has failed to throw a TD pass in 3 of them. The floor here is miserable, and we just haven’t seen any sort of ceiling yet, especially facing a Green Bay defense that allows the 9^th-fewest QB points per game.

QB Daniel Jones, NYG (Wk. 14: @Phi.): I mention Jones here just to make sure you’re aware that it’s highly unlikely that he plays this week. If he does get the chance to start, the Eagles aren’t as enticing a matchup as they appeared to be last week. Ryan Fitzpatrick shredded them for 365 yards and 3 scores, but no other QB had reached 250 yards or 3+ touchdowns against the Eagles since Kirk Cousins in week 6. Jones has been a turnover machine this year with 11 interceptions thrown and 9 fumbles lost in his 10 starts. He’d be no more than a low end QB2 if he does end up starting.

RB Darwin Thompson, KC (Wk. 14: @NE): It was nice to finally see Thompson get his opportunity last week with the Williamses banged up, and he made good on it by putting up 44 yards and a TD on 11 carries, but I’m not sold that it was more than just a 1-week flash in the pan. Much of Thompson’s work came with the game already out of hand, and the team signed Spencer Ware this week to add depth to their backfield. Head coach Andy Reid is really comfortable with Ware, and LeSean McCoy still figures to be the lead back if Darrel and Damien are both out. On top of that, the Patriots allow fewer RB points per game than any other team in the league. It all adds up to Thompson being a bit overhyped this week. I’d let someone else take that risk on Darwin.

RB Myles Gaskin, MIA (Wk. 14: @NYJ): After Kalen Ballage got hurt last week, it was the Patrick Laird show for Miami. Laird played 60% of the offensive snaps to Gaskin’s 22%. Laird is also clearly the guy the Dolphins prefer as a receiving back, out-targeting Gaskin 14 to 4 over the past 4 weeks. Gaskin is going to see more work going forward than he was seeing with Kalen Ballage healthy, but Laird is the Dolphin back to consider for fantasy purposes.

RB Tony Pollard, DAL (Wk. 14: @Chi.): Pollard has teased fantasy upside at times this season but has only turned in 2 useful weeks on the year. I wouldn’t be confident he makes it 3 this Thursday. He just doesn’t play enough to consider in any format this week with so many other options available. It doesn’t help his cause that he was also hit with a questionable tag this week. His status appears genuinely in doubt.

RB Ty Johnson, DET (Wk. 14: @Min.): The Detroit backfield has become the Bo Scarbrough show of late, and that has relegated Johnson to fantasy irrelevance. He continues to split 3^rd down work with JD McKissic, rendering both useless for fantasy purposes. There may be a little more work for the 3^rd down duo this week with the Lions a heavy underdog, but not enough to warrant fantasy consideration for either.

RB Darrell Henderson, LAR (Wk. 14: vs. Sea.): Henderson managed to get a handful of carries in last week’s blowout win, but I don’t expect him to see any work in what should be a closer game this week. Henderson totaled just 11 offensive snaps played in the 3 games prior to week 13.

WR Olabisi Johnson, MIN (Wk. 14: vs. Det.): Adam Thielen’s status seems to be uncertain once again this week, and Johnson continues to play a significant role in the offense with him out, but the Vikings have begun to lean even more heavily on 2-TE sets lately than usual. Both Kyle Rudolph and Irv Smith played 85% of the offensive snaps last Monday while Bisi played just 56%, his lowest share since week 6. He’s even begun to split some of the WR2 snaps with Laquon Treadwell. With Minnesota favored by 2 touchdowns this week, I’d expect similar personnel usage as the Vikings lean heavily on the run game. You could make an argument that Johnson is a sneaky upside DFS option. The Lions allow the 7^th-most WR points per game, Stefon Diggs is likely to be shadowed by Darius Slay, and Johnson’s price tag is just $3,700 on DraftKings. He’s seen similar situations several times in the last few weeks though and hasn’t reached 45 receiving yards in any game this season. The last time the Vikings faced Detroit, Bisi put up 4-40-1 on 8 targets. It was his best fantasy game of the season, but without the TD it wouldn’t have been very useful.

WRs Terry McLaurin & Kelvin Harmon, WAS (Wk. 14: @GB): Haskins has torpedoed the value of any receivers that he throws to with his limited passing production. McLaurin’s 2 catches for 8 yards last week should be all you need to see to know you can’t trust him with your season on the line. Harmon has shown some value as a low upside PPR target with 11 catches for 147 yards over the last 3 weeks, but there are safer options out there for this all-important week.

WRs N’Keal Harry & Jakobi Meyers, NE (Wk. 14: vs. KC): With the Patriots back at full strength at wide receiver last week, N’Keal Harry saw his snap share drop precipitously. Meyers still played 70% of the snaps and drew 7 targets against Houston, but I think it’s likely New England was easing Mohamed Sanu back from what was originally supposed to be a multi-week injury. I’d expect Sanu to play a bit more this week. If you want to roll the dice on Meyers’ usage continuing this week, keep in mind that the Chiefs rank 6^th in pass defense DVOA and allow the 3^rd-fewest WR points per game. The only place I’d be considering Meyers this week would be in DFS tournaments, where he’ll cost just $3,500 on DraftKings.

WR Mecole Hardman, KC (Wk. 14: @NE): Mecole failed to see a single target in a matchup against one of the most burnable secondaries in the league last week. I’d look for the Chiefs to try and get him more involved this week, but I’m not confident he finds a way to fantasy relevance against a Patriots defense that has allowed just 2 offensive touchdowns in 5 games at Gillette Stadium. Hardman will need a touchdown to be fantasy relevant, and he’s not a great bet to find one.

WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside, PHI (Wk. 14: vs. NYG): Arcega-Whiteside did get into the end zone for the first time in his career on Sunday, but he saw his snap count cut in half with the returns of Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor. He split WR3 duties with Greg Ward and was targeted just twice. With fantasy seasons on the line, there’s no reason to read into that TD that his usage is going to increase. He’s caught just 5 passes all year and shouldn’t be on your radar this week.

WRs Andy Isabella & KeeSean Johnson, ARI (Wk. 14: vs. Pit.): Isabella & Johnson continue to be afterthoughts in the Cardinals’ passing game. Isabella seemed to be breaking out with back-to-back strong games a few weeks ago, but he’s tallied just 1 catch for 6 yards on 5 targets over the last 2 weeks. Johnson didn’t play a single snap in the loss to the Rams. Both should be afterthoughts for you too as you consider fantasy options this week.

TE Irv Smith Jr., MIN (Wk. 14: vs. Det.): Like his teammate Olabisi, Irv’s best fantasy game of the year came in the Vikings’ first meeting with Detroit. He’s trended towards being a full-time player over the last few weeks, seeing his snap share climb from 61% to 74% to 81% to 85% over the last 4 games. He’s been targeted at least 3 times in 6 straight contests, but I can’t recommend him with your season on the line. As long as he’s splitting the role with Rudolph, he’s shaky as anything more than a TE2 for a season long league, and just hasn’t shown the ceiling to warrant using him in a DFS tournament this week with bigger upside options at similar prices out there like OJ Howard, Kaden Smith, and Jonnu Smith.

TE Dawson Knox, BUF (Wk. 14: vs. Bal.): Knox is seeing the most extensive playing time he’s seen all year lately. He’s played more than 70% of the offensive snaps in 3 straight games after only hitting that mark once prior to week 11, but it isn’t translating to fantasy production and the Ravens have been wiping out tight ends. Baltimore has allowed the 4^th-fewest PPR points to the position per game, and since week 4 they haven’t allowed any tight end to reach 35 yards against them and have given up just 1 touchdown to the position. I wouldn’t hate Knox as an option in a league that requires you to start 2 tight ends, but I would look for better options if considering him as a TE1.

TE Noah Fant, DEN (Wk. 14: @Hou.): Fant had shown flashes of consistent production with Brandon Allen under center and Jeff Heuerman sidelined, but Heuerman’s return and the change to Drew Lock have made Fant a less than exciting option. Fant did drop a touchdown last week, but it was one of just 3 targets he saw from rookie Drew Lock. Heuerman, meanwhile, drew 5 targets despite playing 13 fewer snaps than Fant. Noah is still the better fantasy option of the two in Denver, but this week’s opponent hasn’t been particularly giving to tight ends. They’re in the top half of the league at limiting tight end points and have given up just 3 tight end scores all year. With other options emerging like Mike Gesicki, Jack Doyle, and Jacob Hollister, I wouldn’t be inclined to take a chance on Fant this week.

TE Foster Moreau, OAK (Wk. 14: vs. Ten.): With Hunter Renfrow out last week, Moreau didn’t really see a big bump in playing time. He still played his usual amount, about half the offensive snaps, but Keelan Doss got on the field for 55% of the offensive snaps after not playing since week 7. Neither of them will be useful fantasy options as long as Darren Waller is commanding 30% of the targets like he did last week. If you play Moreau it’s with a hope & a prayer that he finds the end zone. The Titans have given up 6 tight end scores in 12 games this year.

Deep League Sleepers, Stashes, and Cheap DFS Options:

QB Devlin Hodges, PIT (Wk. 14: @Ari.): The Steelers have certainly called a conservative game plan with Hodges under center. He’s averaged just 20.5 passing attempts and 172 passing yards per start in the 2 games he’s gotten the nod, but he’s shown a willingness to take shots down field as evidenced by his 4 completions to James Washington of 30 or more yards in the last 2 weeks. He’s averaging a healthy 8.7 yards per attempt on the year. This week he takes on a Cardinals’ defense that is hemorrhaging QB points at a rate rarely seen. For the season they’ve given up a full 3 points more per game to opposing QBs than any other team in the league, and in the last 5 weeks they’ve given up an insane average of 379 passing yards per game. They’ve also given up 14 passing scores in those games and given up 26.3 fantasy points per game to QBs. Hodges is a little pricier in DFS than I would’ve expected given his limited production so far ($5,900 on DraftKings), but this is a great week to consider him as a lower priced cash-game option and a sneaky QB2 in leagues that let you start 2. Don’t count on him to approach 380 yards, but he should be in line for the best passing day of his young career.

RB Patrick Laird, MIA (Wk. 14: @NYJ): With Kalen Ballage going on IR, the backfield in Miami is left to Laird and Myles Gaskin. As mentioned under Gaskin above, Laird is the guy who saw the bulk of the playing time after Ballage went down. The Jets have been a solid run defense this year, ranking 2^nd in run defense DVOA, but they have allowed an opposing back to tally 4 or more receptions in 10 of their 12 games this year. Laird hasn’t been much more efficient that Ballage was as a runner, but he has topped 40 receiving yards in 2 of the last 3 games. He’s worth consideration in deep PPR leagues if you’re struggling for a running back this week.

WR AJ Brown, TEN (Wk. 14: @Oak.): The Raiders have been one of the most burnable pass defenses downfield in the league, giving up 56 passes of 20+ yards, 24 of them going for 30+. The Titans have completed 14 passes this season of 30+ yards, and 6 of them have been to AJ Brown. Khalif Raymond and Jonnu Smith each caught 2, and no other Titan caught more than 1. Brown has been getting more consistent usage since the Titans made the switch to Tannehill at QB. He averaged 3.8 targets per game in Mariota’s starts, and 5.2 per game in Tannehill’s. Brown still doesn’t have a safe floor, but this looks like a spot where a smash game is possible. He’s a nice DFS tournament option and an upside flex play in deep leagues.

WR Parris Campbell, IND (Wk. 14: @TB): Campbell got in a full practice on Wednesday and looks on track to return this weekend in Tampa. TY Hilton said this week that he may be done for the year, and Campbell has been heavily involved whenever he’s been on the field and Hilton hasn’t. In the two games Campbell played with Hilton sidelined, he’s totaled 13 targets and 3 rushing attempts. And turned them into 10 catches and 105 scrimmage yards. The efficiency isn’t ideal, but the Buccaneers allow a full 5 more PPR points to wide receivers per game than any other team in the league. Campbell is practically free in DFS ($3,200 on DraftKings) and could be walking into a big role against easily the worst defense in the league against the position. If you can stomach playing a guy fresh off missing a month with an injury in your fantasy playoffs, Parris could be a really nice option in deep PPR leagues.

WR Diontae Johnson, PIT (Wk. 14: @Ari.): Johnson has been disappointing in recent weeks, coming up short of 30 receiving yards in 4 of his past 5 games. Granted, he did leave a game in the middle of that stretch concussed and bleeding from his ears, but those numbers aren’t going to help fantasy owners. This is as good a spot for him to get back on track as he’s had in a while. The Cardinals have been handing out receiving yards lately like they’re candy on Halloween. The Steelers still aren’t a high volume passing attack, and Johnson is likely to be the 3^rd-best fantasy option in this passing game this week behind James Washington and Vance McDonald, but he costs just $4,300 in DraftKings and has tied Washington for the team lead in targets over the last two weeks. I’m not sure where I would use Johnson this week, but I think this is a nice bounce-back opportunity for him. There is still a chance that JuJu Smith-Schuster could return this week, which would make everything written above irrelevant.

That’s all I’ve got for this week. Hopefully it helps you with your toughest lineup decisions involving rookies. Make sure to keep an eye on the injury reports ahead of kickoff Sunday and make sure you don’t end up starting any inactive players. If you have any specific questions or want to yell at me about anything written above, feel free to reach out via twitter and let me know (@Shawn_Foss). As always: Good luck, trust your gut, and have fun. It’s just a game.