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(Editor's note: This was completed before the start of Thursday Night Football, but posted shortly after kickoff.)

Welcome back to the Rookie Report! There are now just 3 weeks remaining before the fantasy playoffs. You should have a good picture of where you stand in the playoff chase. Week 11 is the last week of the season with more than 2 teams on a bye (Tampa and Carolina in week 13 are the only byes left after this week). This may be the last week that you’re scrounging for a fill-in in your lineups, and with how productive the rookie crop has been this year there’s likely to be someone listed below that can help you. So far this season, the rookie class accounts for 2 of the top-14 QBs, 5 of the top-20 RBs, and 6 of the top-30 WRs. Which of those players are going to be useful in week 11? Let’s dive in and find out…

(Notes: All scoring and points allowed rankings are based on half-PPR scoring unless otherwise noted. Players under same header at same position are listed in the order I would play them in this week.)

Rookies to Start:

QB Justin Herbert, LAC (Wk. 11: vs. NYJ): Herbert hit a bit of a speed bump last week against the Dolphins, but I’d expect him to get back on track against the Jets this week. Against the lowly Jets, a blowout is always a possibility (the Chargers are an 8.5-point favorite this week), but the Jets have given up big fantasy days in blowout losses to Kyler Murray, Josh Allen & Patrick Mahomes this year. The Chargers also don’t play in a lot of blowout games. They’ve played just 1 game that was decided by more than 8 points this season, so this might not get too out of hand. The Jets rank dead last in Football Outsiders’ pass defense DVOA stat, and even including last week’s clunker Herbert has at least 2 touchdowns in 6 straight games and 260+ passing yards in 7 of his 8 starts. He’s back to being a safe low-end QB1 this week. 

RB D’Andre Swift, DET (Wk. 11: @Car.): Swift has clearly established himself as the Lions’ lead back in recent weeks. He’s led the backfield in snaps for 5 straight weeks since the team’s bye and was on the field for a whopping 73% of the snaps in week 10 despite the Lions playing from ahead for most of the game. Detroit usually deploys Adrian Peterson a lot more in that scenario, but things seem to have changed. Swift has been making the most of his opportunity, finishing as a top-16 RB in 4 of the last 5 weeks, and a top-5 back in two of them. This week he gets to face off with Carolina, who allows the 4^th-most running back points per game and could be without starting QB Teddy Bridgewater this week. If Teddy sits, the Lions are more likely to play from ahead and could give Swift more rushing work. In any case, Swift should be a strong RB2 this week with top-5 upside once again. There is some concern about Swift’s availability for this week as it was announced Thursday that he went into the concussion protocol, so watch the injury updates closely. If he’s unable to play, Kerryon Johnson could be a sneaky upside play this week. He’s more likely to pick up Swift’s receiving work than Adrian Peterson.

RB Antonio Gibson, WAS (Wk. 11: vs. Cin.): JD McKissic continues to play an outsized portion of the snaps and see an absurd number of targets each week (15(!) in week 10), but Gibson continues to make do with his limited early-down role. He did actually see his second and third 3^rd-down touches of the year last Sunday in the loss to Detroit. The key for Gibson is that the game has to stay competitive. When Washington falls behind and gets into a pass-happy mode, McKissic plays the bulk of the snaps. The Football Team isn’t very good, so that’s happened often. This week, Washington is actually favored by a point & a half. That could bode well for Gibson if the game plays out that way. The Bengals rank just 21^st in run defense DVOA and have allowed the 7^th-most rushing yards in the league. Expect Gibson to play a bit more in this game than he has in recent weeks, and with a lot of top backs banged up around the league he should be a safe RB2 in a reasonable matchup.

RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC (Wk. 11: @LV): Keep an eye on the injury report for CEH. He was held out of practice on Thursday unexpectedly, but if that proves to not be a significant issue, I actually like Edwards-Helaire as an RB2 this week. He’s been playing about twice as many snaps as Le’Veon Bell since the veteran was acquired, and the Raiders' offense is good enough to keep this game competitive into the second half. Las Vegas has a piss-poor run defense, ranking 26^th in run defense DVOA and allowing the 5^th-most running back points per game. This looks like a perfect spot for the rookie to get back on track after 3 straight floor games. He totaled 80 scrimmage yards on 13 touches in the first meeting with the Raiders in a game where the Chiefs just didn’t look like themselves. I expect they’ll look much better this time around, and that Edwards-Helaire will be part of the reason why. It’ll take a bit of a leap of faith to trust him even if he’s healthy, but I expect a strong outing from CEH on Sunday.

WR Chase Claypool, PIT (Wk. 11: @Jax.): I talked last week in this space about Claypool turning the corner and starting to see a significant target share even in weeks when Diontae Johnson stayed on the field, and that continued in week 10. Claypool finished with 4-56-2 on 10 targets against the Bengals in a game that the Steelers led most of the way. This week’s game script should be similar with Pittsburgh a 10-point favorite. Claypool has 32 targets over the last 3 weeks, so anything short of 8 in this one would be a disappointment even if the Steelers play from ahead. With the big-play ability Claypool has shown, 8+ targets against a defense allowing the 9^th-most WR points per game isn’t something you can leave on the bench.

WR Justin Jefferson, MIN (Wk. 11: vs. Dal.): Jefferson flashed again in a big way on Monday night, possibly helping Kirk Cousins break his Monday night curse along the way. Jefferson posted 8 catches and 135 yards as Kirk Cousins got his first win as a starter on Monday Night Football in his 10^th try. It also continued a strange pattern with Jefferson, who has put up blowup games every third game. In team games 3, 6, and 9, Jefferson has had at least 9 targets and 135 yards receiving in each one, averaging 8-159-1 on 10 targets in those games. In the team’s other 6 games, he hasn’t seen more than 5 targets in any of them and has only reached 50 receiving yards twice. I’m not going to read too much into this trend just yet. I think it’s mostly coincidence, but I thought it was interesting to note. This week’s matchup with the Cowboys is a good one. Dallas allows the 3^rd-most WR points per game, and while Minnesota may play from ahead and lean on the run game, I’d have a hard time leaving Jefferson’s upside on the bench in such a favorable matchup. He’s a solid WR3 this week with the upside for a lot more.

Borderline Rookies:

QB Tua Tagovailoa, MIA (Wk. 11: @Den.): Tua has looked sharp in his last two starts, but hasn’t reached QB1 levels as he finished as the QB16 and QB15 in those two games. Denver isn’t a pushover defense, but they also aren’t a very daunting one either. The Broncos rank 12^th in pass defense DVOA but allow the 14^th-most QB points per game. They gave up 3 passing scores in 2 of their last 3 games, and the only reason they held Derek Carr in check last weekend was that the Raiders ran all over them in a blowout win. I don’t expect this game to be as lopsided. Tua probably finishes somewhere in that high-to-mid QB2 range again. He’s worth consideration if you’re missing your starter in a 1-QB league, and he’s a solid QB2 in superflex and 2-QB formats.

QB Joe Burrow, CIN (Wk. 11: @Was.): Burrow finished last week with his 2^nd-lowest fantasy scoring game of the season in a daunting matchup with the Steelers, and this week he gets another matchup that looks tough on paper. Despite their poor record, Washington ranks 5^th in pass defense DVOA and allows the 11^th-fewest QB points per game. When you dig a little deeper, it looks like Washington’s numbers were built in a 3-game stretch where they got to face off with Daniel Jones (twice) and Andy Dalton, and gave up fewer than 15 QB points in each game. In the 3 games around that stretch, they gave up 23+ points to Matt Stafford, Jared Goff, and Lamar Jackson. I think Burrow is closer to that second group than the first one. I’d still tread a little carefully here with Burrow and view him more as a QB2 than a QB1 in what is still not a plus-matchup.

RB James Robinson, JAX (Wk. 11: vs. Pit.): I’m not going to pretend that you might sit James Robinson if you have him, but it’s worth noting that you should temper your expectations for him this week and probably shouldn’t be targeting him in DFS formats. The Steelers allow the 2^nd-fewest RB points per game and rank 6^th in run defense DVOA. Pittsburgh is also a 10-point favorite, so game script could be working against Robinson. Throughout the season Robinson has had a pretty safe built-in floor with his receiving usage, averaging about 4 catches and 32 receiving yards per game, but that hasn’t carried over to Luton’s starts. In the last two weeks with Minshew out, Robinson has just 2 catches for 3 yards on 7 targets. The Steelers allow a league-low 3 running back catches per game. Robinson is likely going to have to earn his points on the ground this week, and as a 2-score underdog, it could be a more uphill fight than we’re used to. Robinson will be a low-floor RB2 against the Steelers.

RB Salvon Ahmed, MIA (Wk. 11: @Den.): Ahmed had an impressive day last Sunday putting up 85 yards and a touchdown against the Chargers. He seems to have a pretty firm grasp on the early-down role until Myles Gaskin returns from injury, and the matchup this week isn’t much tougher than the one he just faced. Denver allows the 14^th-most RB points per game, and in the last 3 weeks they’ve allowed 2 pairs of teammates to run for over 150 combined yards against them (Devontae Booker/Josh Jacobs last week, and Justin Jackson/Troymaine Pope in week 8). There’s plenty of upside for Ahmed to run the ball well again in this one. He doesn’t get much receiving usage – just 1 target in the last 2 games, so the cap that puts on his ceiling makes him more of a flex play than a solid RB2.

RB Jonathan Taylor, IND (Wk. 11: vs. GB): It’s been a precipitous fall from grace for Jonathan Taylor over the last few weeks, at least among fantasy players. Since the Colts’ bye in week 7, Taylor has played less than 35% of the snaps in each game and seen that share drop each week since that bye. He did find the end zone once in those games, but also lost a fumble and averaged just 34 scrimmage yards per game. With the way that Frank Reich uses his running backs, there’s always a chance that Taylor gets the hot hand and gets some extended usage, but it’s hard to count on that given the way he’s played in recent weeks. The matchup with Green Bay is a good one. The Packers allow the 3^rd-most RB points per game, but this could be more of a Nyheim Hines week as Green Bay gives up the 2^nd-most RB receiving yardage per game. Even in his diminished role, Taylor has averaged 8 carries and 2 catches per game since the bye, so you could talk yourself into using him if you’re desperate for a running back.

RB JK Dobbins, BAL (Wk. 11: vs. Ten.): The Ravens’ offense hasn’t been quite right in the last few weeks, with 3 of their 4 lowest team point totals coming in the last 3 games, and the return of Mark Ingram isn’t going to benefit Dobbins. In Ingram’s first game back, Dobbins handled just 6 touches and gained 14 scrimmage yards. He averaged 15 touches per game in the 2 games Ingram missed. The matchup this week is favorable with the Titans allowing the 8^th-most RB points per game, but it’s uncertain that Dobbins will see enough work to take advantage. The Ravens are a 6.5-point favorite, so game script should be in their favor, but given the workload split in Baltimore, Dobbins is no more than a desperation flex option in deeper leagues.

WR Tee Higgins, CIN (Wk. 11: @Was.): Higgins continued his impressive rookie campaign last week with a 7-115-1 line against the Steelers. It was his 6^th-straight game with 60+ yards and his best fantasy day of the season. He’s very likely to reach that 60-yard minimum again this week, but this probably won’t be a ceiling week for him. Washington allows the 2^nd-fewest WR points per game, largely on their ability to limit wide receiver touchdowns. They’ve given up just 5 TDs to the position all year and are the only defense in the league that hasn’t allowed a 100-yard day to an opposing wideout. You know what kind of floor you get with Higgins, and he should be fine as a WR3, but if you have another option with more upside this might be a week to consider them. Higgins missed practice with an illness late in the week, so there is even more uncertainty thrown in. Make sure to monitor his status if you plan to play him.

WR CeeDee Lamb, DAL (Wk. 11: @Min.): Lamb actually managed to post a solid day against Pittsburgh going into the bye with Garrett Gilbert under center. It sounds like Andy Dalton will be back at QB this week, but it’s unclear if that will be an upgrade or not. Lamb has the highest target share of any receiver on the team when Dalton is in (22.3%), but he’s turned 19 targets from Dalton into just 9 catches for 85 yards. The Vikings are a plus matchup for receivers, allowing the 5^th-most WR points per game, but with the inconsistency of this offense since Dak’s season ended I’d view Lamb as a volatile WR3 option.

WR Michael Pittman Jr., IND (Wk. 11: vs. GB): Pittman was one of the stars of the Colts’ victory last Thursday, posting his first career 100-yard game. He looks to be fully recovered from his compartment leg syndrome and may be pulling ahead of TY Hilton for the team’s WR1 role. I’d still expect the Packers’ top corner Jaire Alexander to be matched up on Hilton, which should mean Pittman is in line for another decent day. The Packers have the offensive firepower to keep the Colts throwing, and while Green Bay does a decent job of limiting WR production (they allow the 9^th-fewest WR points per game), they rank just a middling 16^th in pass-defense DVOA and have been burned by Keelan Cole and Richie James in recent weeks. Those guys may be closer stylistically to Hilton, but I’d still view Pittman as an upside WR3 in this matchup.

WR Jerry Jeudy, DEN (Wk. 11: vs. Mia.): Jeudy came back down to earth a little bit last week after his breakout week 9 performance, but he still posted his 3^rd straight game with double-digit PPR points and more than 65 receiving yards. He’ll face a tough individual matchup this week against Byron Jones, but he’s been peppered with targets in recent weeks (32 total in the last 3 games). I’d be a little nervous for him if Lock is out and Brett Rypien starts. In Rypien’s one previous start, Jeudy was targeted just 4 times, but it’s a small enough sample that I wouldn’t overreact to it. The week before that game when Rypien came on in relief of Jeff Driskel, he targeted Jeudy 3 times in just 9 attempts. Jeudy is a reasonable WR3 or flex option this week, but don’t expect a ceiling game against Jones.

WR Jalen Reagor, PHI (Wk. 11: @Cle.): Reagor was on the field for a season-high 88% of the offensive snaps last week and targeted a season-high 7 times in that game despite Alshon Jeffery’s return. He’s now seen 13 targets in 2 games since returning and is basically neck & neck with Travis Fulgham for WR1 status on the team. This week he faces off with a Cleveland defense that allows the 6^th-most WR points per game and ranks 20^th in pass defense DVOA. He does draw the toughest individual matchup with Denzel Ward, but against this defense, he’s still got room to post a nice day if he sees another 7+ targets. Carson Wentz has been up & down this year, so there is some volatility here, but if you believe Reagor’s WR1 role is for real, he’s an upside WR4 this week.

Rookies to Sit:

QB Jake Luton, JAX (Wk. 11: vs. Pit.): Luton came back down to earth a bit in his second NFL start against Green Bay. The Jaguars hung around in the game, but the rookie finished as the QB22 with fewer than 10 fantasy points. He gets an even tougher matchup this week. Pittsburgh ranks 2^nd in pass defense DVOA and allows the 5^th-fewest QB points per game. Luton should get Laviska Shenault back this week, but that likely won’t be enough help to push him into being a useful option against the Steelers. He’s probably not worth considering even as a QB2.

RB Joshua Kelley, LAC (Wk. 11: vs. NYJ): Week after week I’ve been listing Kelley as a borderline option as part of the backfield committee in LA, and week after week he fails to produce a quality stat line. His ceiling games have been around 10 PPR points, and that just isn’t the kind of upside you’re hoping for from him. He hasn’t found the end zone since week 1, and at the moment this backfield looks like the Kalen Ballage show. Kelley played just 27% of the offensive snaps last week while Ballage played the other 73%. The matchup this week is good. The Jets are the worst team in the league and allow the 7^th-most RB points per game, but we’ve been burned by Kelley time and again. I wouldn’t want to use him even in this plus matchup unless I was pretty desperate. This probably means he’s going to have his best game of the season.

RB DeeJay Dallas, SEA (Wk. 11: vs. Ari.): Carlos Hyde will be active tonight, and will likely slot in as the lead back for Seattle on early downs with Chris Carson sidelined again and Alex Collins back on the practice squad. Travis Homer will be out tonight as well, so Dallas will serve as the 3^rd-down back against a Cardinals team that doesn’t give up a lot of receptions to the opposing backfields (just 4.4 per game). Only Raheem Mostert, Ezekiel Elliott, and Mike Davis have caught more than 3 passes in a game from the running back position against Arizona. With Hyde back, and Bo Scarbrough active as the 3^rd-string running back, it’s hard to imagine Dallas getting any opportunities at the goal line. Without a touchdown or a significant number of catches, there isn’t much upside for Dallas.

RB Cam Akers, LAR (Wk. 11: @TB): Akers has started to become a bigger part of the backfield committee for the Rams, but the role he’s carved out doesn’t have a lot of fantasy upside. For starters, he has struggled in pass protection and as a result, hasn’t been getting many opportunities in passing situations. He has just 1 target in the last 2 games. He also isn’t getting the ball at the goal line. The Rams ran for 3 short scores last week, and it was Malcolm Brown and Darrell Henderson doing the scoring. The increased playing time is a good sign for Akers, but until he cleans up the pass blocking or starts run the ball effectively enough to make it hard for Sean McVay to keep him off the field, he’s not going to be seeing the high-value touches. Against a Tampa defense that ranks 2^nd in run defense DVOA, you don’t want to bet on Akers producing in that limited role.

WR Laviska Shenault, JAX (Wk. 11: vs. Pit.): As I mentioned with Jake Luton, the Jacksonville passing game as a whole is going to be shaky this week. The Steelers have been vulnerable to wide receivers, allowing the 11^th-most points per game to the position, but the guys who have made them pay have been bigger perimeter wide receivers. The 4 highest point totals they’ve allowed to receivers this year were put up by Darius Slayton, AJ Brown, Travis Fulgham, and Tee Higgins. Shenault is not that kind of receiver. If he finds his way to 60 yards and a score in this one it would be a wildly successful game for him.

WRs Henry Ruggs & Bryan Edwards, LV (Wk. 11: vs. KC): Ruggs is a guy that I always view as a boom-or-bust kind of player, but he has consistently busted since his breakout performance against the Chiefs back in week 5. He totaled 118 yards and a touchdown in that game but has a total of just 7 catches for 74 yards on 14 targets in the 4 games since. Are the Chiefs the opponent to get him booming again? I probably wouldn’t bet on it. The Chiefs allow the 5^th-fewest WR points per game, and Ruggs’ 2 catches of 40+ yards in the first meeting make up half of the 40+ yard completions Kansas City has allowed all year. Keep him sidelined. His teammate Bryan Edwards took a step forward last week, playing 20 snaps in his first extended action since week 3. I wouldn’t consider him this week, but if his snap share keeps trending in the right direction, he should be a better weekly fantasy play than Ruggs before long.

WR Devin Duvernay, BAL (Wk. 11: vs. Ten.): Duvernay’s time may be coming, but the recent resurgence of Willie Snead in the slot for the Ravens hurts Duvernay’s upside. He’d be best suited to stretching the seam from the slot, and Snead seems to have that role pretty well locked down right now. Duvernay has moved ahead of Miles Boykin on the depth chart and played at least 40% of the offensive snaps in each of the last 3 weeks (a season-high 55% last weekend), but until that starts turning into more consistent targets he’s going to be a low-floor dart throw for fantasy. He’s been targeted just 6 times in those last 3 games. The Titans are burnable. They allow the 4^th-most WR points per game and Duvernay has splash play abilities, so if you want to take a swing in a DFS tournament be my guest. He only costs the minimum on DraftKings, but this passing game is too volatile for me to roll the dice on Duvernay right now.

WR Quintez Cephus, DET (Wk. 11: @Car.): There is some potential upside for Cephus this week with Kenny Golladay and Danny Amendola both missing practice on Thursday, but it’s been clear in the past couple of weeks that the Marvins – Hall & Jones – are the ones who will benefit most from their absence. The Lions’ QB Matt Stafford will be playing through a torn ligament in his throwing hand, which throws a little additional uncertainty into how effective the Detroit passing game will be, and there’s always a chance that they call up Mohamed Sanu from the practice squad and that he siphons snaps from Cephus. Add in the fact that Carolina allows the 12^th-fewest WR points per game, and a possible expanded role for the rookie just isn’t all that exciting in this one. If you’re scrounging this far down the WR ranks, I’d take a swing on a higher ceiling than Cephus has this week.

WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, CLE (Wk. 11: vs. Phi.): Peoples-Jones did play a handful more snaps last week than he did in week 10, even hauling in a couple of catches for 16 yards, but he’s still playing as the WR4 in this offense…an offense that ran the ball on about two-thirds of their offensive plays a week ago now that Nick Chubb is back. There isn’t a reason to start DPJ in any formats this week.

TE Harrison Bryant, CLE (Wk. 11: vs. Phi.): After posting a goose egg last week, you probably don’t need me to tell you to sit Bryant. It’s ugly enough at tight end this week that a lot of folks playing on ESPN are using Taysom Hill as a tight end streamer, so you may be looking pretty far down the ranks for help. The Eagles do allow the 6^th-most tight end points per game, but as I mentioned under Peoples-Jones, with Nick Chubb back last week the Browns ran the ball on about two-thirds of their offensive snaps in a close game. With Austin Hooper back, Bryant’s snap share is down to just over 50%, so he’ll likely be limited to less than 20 routes run. You’re counting on a TD if you play him, and if you don’t get one another goose egg is entirely possible.

Rookies on Byes: RB Zack Moss, BUF, RB JaMycal Hasty, SF (also out with broken collarbone), WR Brandon Aiyuk, SF, WR Darnell Mooney, CHI, WR Gabriel Davis, BUF, WR Austin Mack, NYG, TE Cole Kmet, CHI

Deep League Sleepers, Stashes, and Cheap DFS Options:

RB La’Mical Perine, NYJ (WK. 11: @LAC): It’s undoubtedly a trap to suggest playing any Adam Gase running back, but I actually like Perine’s chances at a decent day in this one. Frank Gore continues to see more rushing work than the rookie, but the Jets have talked breathlessly about wanting to get Perine more involved. This would be a good week to do it. The Chargers have allowed the 11^th-most RB points per game, but more importantly, have allowed more than 6 catches per game to the position, and Perine has 2 catches in each of the last 4 games while Gore has 8 catches all season. Perine is mostly a desperation flex play in season-long leagues, but he costs little more than the minimum on DraftKings and I’ve got a feeling he’s going to outplay that cost.

RB Anthony McFarland, PIT (Wk. 11: @Jax.): McFarland missed last week’s game with an illness, but should be good to go for week 11. Prior to his absence, he had played more snaps than Benny Snell in week 10 and seemed to be starting to carve out a bigger role for himself. The key to this matchup for McFarland will be garbage time, and how much of it there will be. I kind of suggested playing this game last week with AJ Dillon against these same Jaguars, and that didn’t work out so well, but it’s worth noting that McFarland could see some extended run if the Steelers get far enough out in front. He has more big-play speed than Snell, so he has a better chance of cashing that garbage time work into fantasy points. I wouldn’t look at him as anything more than a cheap DFS tournament play though.

WR KJ Hamler, DEN (Wk. 11: vs. Mia.): After seeing 10 targets in back-to-back games now that he plays primarily in the slot, I might be doing Hamler a disservice to call him a ‘deep-league sleeper’. If Drew Lock misses this game as expected, Hamler could lose a little bit of that mojo, but since he’s in the slot he’ll mostly avoid top corners Xavien Howard and Byron Jones. Instead, he’ll face off with Nik Needham, which should result in some extra looks going Hamler’s way. The Dolphins allow the 13^th-most WR points per game, and Hamler should be in a pretty good spot to take advantage of a reasonable matchup. His price tag could be a steal at $3,600 on DraftKings, and he should be a decent flex option for deeper leagues.

WR Denzel Mims, NYJ (Wk. 11: @LAC): Since returning from injury Mims has played a significant role in the Jets’ offense. He’s been on the field for 96% of the offensive snaps in each of the last two weeks and seen 6 targets per game since his return. He’s played one game with Joe Flacco at QB, and in that game, he turned 8 targets into 4 catches and 62 yards. This week he faces a Chargers’ defense that does a pretty good job limiting wideouts, allowing the 6^th-fewest points per game to the position, but it’ll be Breshad Perriman who gets the toughest matchup, squaring off with Casey Heyward. Slot man Jamison Crowder will be the Jet with the most favorable matchup, but Flacco showed a willingness to take deep shots in his last start, and I’d expect Mims to be the guy who benefits if that happens again this week. He’s shown a built-in floor with at least 40 yards in each game he’s played, but he’s got an upside this week well beyond his $3,300 price tag on DraftKings.

WR Freddy Swain, SEA (Wk. 11: vs. Ari.): Keep a close eye on the status of Tyler Lockett for Thursday night before considering Swain. If Lockett is out the rookie has some sneaky upside for DFS tournaments, especially the Thursday showdown slate where he costs just $1,200 on DraftKings. Swain has been consistently playing around 30-35% of the offensive snaps with everybody healthy. It hasn’t really translated to targets, but he did manage to post 3-37 on 4 targets last Sunday. If Lockett misses the game or is limited, both Swain and David Moore would be in line for bigger roles against a defense that allows the 8^th-most points per game to opposing WRs. There would be upside for both, but Swain’s lower price tag will make him an intriguing option.

That’s all I’ve got for this week. Hopefully, it helps you with your toughest lineup decisions involving rookies. Make sure to check the active/inactive updates on Sunday, and make sure you don’t start a sidelined player. If you have any questions or want to yell at me about anything written 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, and happy Turkey Day! Hopefully, you’ve been able to find a safe, socially distanced way to see family for the holiday and still eat a gluttonous amount of food. There will be a bit less football on Thursday than originally planned with the Baltimore-Pittsburgh game moved to Sunday, but it’ll still be the first week with all 32 teams in action since September. The rookie class won’t be quite at full strength after injuries to Joe Burrow and LaMical Perine, and a positive COVID test for JK Dobbins and a benching for Jake Luton, but most of the rookies will be in action this week. The WR class continued to pace the field in rookie production with strong weeks from Justin Jefferson, Chase Claypool, Michael Pittman Jr., and CeeDee Lamb (who made a spectacular TD catch), but the top of the running back class got back on track too. Clyde Edwards-Helaire scored two touchdowns, Antonio Gibson and JK Dobbins found paydirt as well, and Jonathan Taylor topped 100 scrimmage yards for the first time since week 6. In all, there was 4 rookie running backs in the top-12 RBs for the week. Even Cam Akers got into the end zone for the first time this year. Will the rookies continue to be useful in week 12 as you make your final push for the fantasy playoffs? Let’s dive in and find out…

(Notes: All scoring and points allowed rankings are based on half-PPR scoring unless otherwise noted. Players under the same header at the same position are listed in the order I would play them in this week.)

Rookies to Start:

QB Justin Herbert, LAC (Wk. 12: @Buf.): The beat goes on for Justin Herbert after another stellar performance in week 11 against the hapless Jets. Herbert has accounted for 3+ touchdowns in 6 of his last 7 games and has thrown for more than 260 yards in 8 of his 9 starts. This week he gets to face a Bills’ defense that has numbers that don’t stack up to their reputation of being a tough defense. The Bills have allowed the 5^th-most QB points per game, and the only QBs they’ve held below 20 fantasy points are Sam Darnold (twice) and Cam Newton. The other 7 they’ve faced all hit that mark. Herbert should be locked in as your QB1 unless you have an elite guy like Mahomes or Russ ahead of him.

RB James Robinson, JAX (Wk. 12: vs. Cle.): The Jaguars have made the regrettable decision to turn to Mike Glennon at quarterback this week. While that isn’t an ideal change for the offense as a whole, it shouldn’t be a problem for Robinson, who has shown in recent weeks that he can run effectively with a bum at QB. Defenses focusing on him has not been a problem. Glennon at QB also shouldn’t hurt Robinson’s chances at being productive in the passing game. In his last stint as a starter with the Bears in 2017, Glennon targeted Tarik Cohen and Jordan Howard a combined 44 times in 4 starts (albeit on a team with a bad WR group). Cleveland looks like a tough matchup on paper, allowing the 8^th fewest running back points per game, but that’s mostly a product of a positive game script. The Browns have been leading on the scoreboard for 56% of their defensive snaps. Cleveland ranks just a middling 15^th in run defense DVOA, and just 23^rd in pass defense DVOA on throws to running backs. Robinson has had at least 17 touches every week so far. I’d expect that to continue again in this one, and there is nothing in this matchup to scare me off of treating him like a low-end RB1 this week.

RB Antonio Gibson, WAS (Wk. 12: @Dal.): We finally got a chance to see last Sunday what it looks like for Gibson when Washington plays from ahead. Gibson played more snaps than JD McKissic for just the 3^rd time all season and the first time since week 5, and he finished with 104 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. This week’s matchup with the Cowboys should be close for much of the day, so Gibson should stay heavily involved. Dallas ranks just 25^th in run defense DVOA and allows the 14^th-most RB points per game. Most of the running back production they allow is on the ground, which should favor Gibson over McKissic. Dallas allows the 2^nd-fewest RB receptions and the fewest RB receiving yards per game. I like Gibson’s chances at putting up 80+ yards and finding the end zone for the 5^th-straight game.

RB Salvon Ahmed, MIA (Wk. 12: @NYJ): It looks like Ahmed may get one more week as the Phins’ lead back before Myles Gaskin returns from injury, and the Jets are a good team to get a start against. If Gaskin ends up playing this week, you don’t want to play Ahmed, and the rookie is dealing with a shoulder injury himself so keep an eye on the injury report this week before plugging him in. Assuming Ahmed plays and Gaskin doesn’t, Ahmed should be a strong fantasy play as the Dolphins face a defense that has allowed the 9^th-most running back points per game. They also enter the week as a touchdown favorite, so the game script should be on Ahmed’s side as well. He’s handled 22 and 17 touches in the two games he’s started, and that kind of volume against the Jets probably makes him a high-end RB2. We did get to see him show off some pass-catching ability last week (5-31 on 6 targets), giving him a higher floor in PPR leagues than previously expected.

WR Justin Jefferson, MIN (Wk. 12: vs. Car.): Jefferson posted another strong outing in week 11 with 84 yards and a touchdown, and this week may get to play without Adam Thielen on the field. Thielen tested positive for Covid-19 early in the week, and while there is still a chance it was a false positive, there’s no guarantee he’s able to play on Sunday at this point. The concern with any Viking pass catchers is always that they could have so much success running the ball that there isn’t a lot of passing volume. Cousins has thrown the ball 25 or fewer times in 4 separate games this year, but we’ve seen Jefferson clear 60 yards in two of those 4 games already, and those concerns are pretty much nonexistent if he’s not sharing targets with Thielen. The Panthers are in the bottom-12 of the league in pass defense DVOA, and I’d bank on the rookie’s upside again. I’d view him as a WR1 if Thielen is out, and a WR2 if he plays.

Borderline Rookies:

QB Tua Tagovailoa, MIA (Wk. 12: @NYJ): Despite his week 11 benching, Tua is expected to be under center again in week 12. The matchup this week is much more forgiving. The Jets rank dead last in pass defense DVOA and have allowed the 4^th-most QB points per game. Tua has been a little bit up-and-down so far this season, but I would expect this to be an ‘up’ week. We haven’t seen Tagovailoa show off a top-10 QB ceiling just yet, but he should be a quality QB2 this week for those of you in superflex and 2-QB formats assuming he can mentally shake off the benching.

RB Jonathan Taylor, IND (Wk. 12: vs. Ten.): Taylor had a bit of a resurgence last Sunday, playing 56% of the offensive snaps and handling 26 of the team’s 40 running back touches (65%). It was the second-highest touch number of the season for JT, and his highest snap share since before the team’s week 7 bye. The million-dollar question is – does it carry forward? Will Taylor continue to lead this backfield? I think the answer is yes, at least for this week. The Colts’ backfield is a fluid situation, but I think Taylor has earned another week as the lead back. The matchup could be a little bit of a concern despite the Titans allowing the 7^th-most RB points per game. This is the same defense that held Taylor to 12 yards on 7 rushes just a couple of weeks ago, and the backs they’ve had the most trouble with have been the smaller and more agile backs. The 5 best running back fantasy performances they’ve allowed this year came from Dalvin Cook, Nyheim Hines, Giovani Bernard, JK Dobbins, and James Robinson. None of that group is all that similar to Taylor stylistically. Despite that, I expect Taylor to get a dozen or more touches this week and get the chance to prove that last week’s bounce-back wasn’t a fluke. Hines will be involved again, but I think Taylor will be a borderline RB2 in this one and keep Jordan Wilkins at bay.

RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC (Wk. 12: @TB): CEH posted his best game in weeks last Sunday, but playing against the Raiders was a predictable smash spot for the rookie. This week’s matchup with the Bucs should be much tougher. Tampa allows the 4^th fewest RB points per game and ranks 1^st in run defense DVOA. There will still be a decent amount of rushing work for Clyde, but the saving grace for Edwards-Helaire is that Tampa has allowed more running back receptions than any team in the league, and the rookie has pulled in 3+ catches in 7 of the last 9 games. Tampa boasts one of the best secondaries in the league, so I think you’ll see more of CEH catching the football out of the backfield than we’re used to. He should finish the week as a solid RB2 in PPR leagues, but more of a flex play in non-PPR formats.

RB Zack Moss, BUF (Wk. 12: vs. LAC): We’ve now seen Moss out-snap Devin Singletary for 3 weeks running, and he’s out-touched him 19-10 in the last two weeks. We haven’t seen big yardage totals out of either back most weeks, but Moss has found the end zone 3 times in the last 3 games while Singletary hasn’t scored in that span. Both backs ran well against New England totaling over 80 rushing yards each in that contest, but the duo has combined for just 115 scrimmage yards in the last two games. The Chargers allow the 10^th-most RB points per game but allow the 16^th-most scrimmage yards to the position, so getting back on track with the yardage may not be in the offing. Moss will need to get into the end zone to be worth playing this week. The Chargers might be willing to oblige. They’ve coughed up 7 running back rushing scores in the last 5 games.

WR Chase Claypool, PIT (Wk. 12: vs. Bal.): It was another productive day for Claypool last Sunday, posting 4-59-1 on 8 targets in a blowout win over the Jaguars. It was his 4^th consecutive game with 8+ targets and 50+ yards, and he’s scored 4 touchdowns in those games as well. It appears that James Washington has eaten into Claypool’s snap share a bit in each of the last two weeks, but that doesn’t really concern me. Claypool continues to be a featured part of the offense. What concerns me this week is the matchup with Baltimore. The Ravens’ secondary has gotten healthy, so that means a tough matchup for all 3 Pittsburgh receivers. Big Ben threw for just 182 yards in the first meeting with the Ravens, and only JuJu Smith-Schuster reached 50 receiving yards on the team. Ben threw into the coverage of one of those top three corners (Jimmy Smith, Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters) 18 times in that game, and completed just 10 of those throws for 63 yards. Claypool still has his usual upside in this one, but it will probably be more of a floor game. I would treat him as a WR3 this week.

WR Michael Pittman Jr., IND (Wk. 12: vs. Ten.): Pittman may be in the process of dethroning TY Hilton as the Colts’ WR1. He’s played 80%+ of the snaps in 3 straight contests and averaged 6 targets and 81 scrimmage yards per game in that span. He also scored his first TD of the season last weekend. No other Indy WR has played more than 67% of the snaps in either of the last 2 weeks. Tennessee is an opponent to target for wide receivers. They rank 25^th in pass-defense DVOA and have allowed the 6^th-most WR points per game. With that snap share and this matchup, Pittman should be a solid WR3 option this week in most formats.

WR Jerry Jeudy, DEN (Wk. 12: vs. NO): Jeudy had a bit of a down game in week 11, totaling just 3 catches for 37 yards, but he was still targeted 8 times in the contest. It was the 4^th straight game he’s seen at least 8 targets, and that kind of volume will keep him in consideration for a WR3 spot most weeks. This week he faces a Saints defense that ranks an impressive 5^th in pass defense DVOA, but has allowed the 14^th-most WR points per game, and the receivers they’ve been most vulnerable to play on the perimeter. They’ve allowed 6 different receivers to tally 15 fantasy points against them this season, and all of them play primarily on the outside. If Jeudy is targeted 8+ times again this week (and I think he will be), there is a great chance of him getting back up to 60+ yards and finishing as a useful fantasy starter.

WR Jalen Reagor, PHI (Wk. 12: vs. Sea.): If there was ever a golden opportunity for a blowup game from Reagor, this is it. Carson Wentz has been struggling to get himself right, but Reagor has been a full-time player and seen at least 5 targets and 3 catches in each game since his return, and this week he gets the matchup of all matchups for wide receivers. The Seahawks have given up by far the most WR points per game. The defense right behind them in that category, the Cowboys, are closer in average points allowed to the 13^th-ranked Raiders than they are to Seattle. Wentz’s poor play keeps me from getting too optimistic here, but there is a big ceiling if the Eagles can get their passing game just a little more on-track. I’d treat Reagor like a WR4 with a big upside. His floor is probably in the ballpark of 4 catches for 40 yards.

WR Brandon Aiyuk, SF (Wk. 12: @LAR): The situation for Aiyuk this week remains in flux as of Wednesday. He was placed on the Covid list for the 2^nd time this season early in the week, but it was just as a close contact and he may still get cleared. Teammate Deebo Samuel returned to practice this week and may also suit up on Sunday, but could be a game-time decision. If Aiyuk plays and Samuel is out, we know he’ll see enough volume to be in play as a WR3. He’d have the unfortunate circumstance of matching up with Jalen Ramsey, one of the truly elite cover corners in the league, to take away any real ceiling he’d have, but he’d have volume. If Deebo and Aiyuk both play, Samuel would more likely be the receiver chased around by Ramsey, which could free up Aiyuk for a productive day on less volume. In either case, he’s still facing the defense that allows the fewest WR points per game. With the 49ers playing in the late afternoon Sunday, I’d probably look for another option this week. If you’re planning on playing Aiyuk, make sure you have a backup plan that plays in the late afternoon or later in case Aiyuk ends up inactive.

WR CeeDee Lamb, DAL (Wk. 12: vs. Was.): Lamb made one of the catches of the week last Sunday against the Vikings, contorting his body on his way to the ground in the end zone. CeeDee has done an admirable job of keeping himself fantasy viable despite a revolving door at QB since Dak Prescott went down. He’s finished with 13+ PPR points in 3 of the 5 games since Dak was injured. This week’s matchup is a tough one though. Washington allows 2^nd-fewest WR points per game and held Lamb to zero catches on 5 targets in the first meeting between the two teams. I wouldn’t count on Lamb being blanked again, but I also think it will be an uphill fight to get to 13 PPR points in this one. I’d probably look for other options unless you have to play Lamb, and I wouldn’t target him in Thanksgiving DFS lineups.  

WR Tee Higgins, CIN (Wk. 12: vs. NYG): Higgins has several factors working against him this week. The Bengals will be without Joe Burrow after he was knocked out for the season last week, and instead, it will be former Bronco Brandon Allen under center. There’s also a chance he is going to spend most of his day tangling with James Bradberry, who has shown himself to be a true shutdown corner this year. The Giants have given up some receiver production, allowing the 15^th-most WR points per game, but the guy matching up with Bradberry usually isn’t putting up much of it. There are some glimmers of hope for Higgins. It’s possible the Bengals could move him around to try and get him away from Bradberry at times since this might not be a true shadow situation. Also, if you look at Brandon Allen’s performances in his 3 starts last year, you see a willingness to force the ball to his #1 WR. Allen targeted Courtland Sutton at least 8 times in all 3 of his starts last season. If that volume finds its way to Higgins this week, he could wind up with a respectable game even in the tough matchup. Just know that the ceiling probably isn’t going to be there this week, and you’re just hoping that he manages to put up 10 PPR points if you play him.

Rookies to Sit:

RB Cam Akers, LAR (Wk. 12: vs. SF): Akers did find the end zone for the first time on Monday night, but don’t be fooled into thinking it makes him fantasy viable yet. He was still a distant 3^rd in snap share behind Darrell Henderson and Malcolm Brown in the game, and he only posted 19 scrimmage yards on 6 touches. The 49ers allow the 7^th-fewest RB points per game, and Akers is third in line among the guys trying to score those points against them. I’d look elsewhere if desperate at RB this week.

RB Joshua Kelley, LAC (Wk. 12: @Buf.): With Troymaine Pope back from his concussion, Kelley was limited to a season-low 11 offensive snaps last week. Kalen Ballage has established himself as the clear lead back with Pope and Kelley splitting the work that’s leftover, at least until Austin Ekeler returns. Considering that Ekeler’s return is probably coming within the next week or 2, there’s no reason to hold on to Kelley in season-long leagues at this point.

RB Anthony McFarland, PIT (Wk. 12: vs. Bal.): You likely don’t need me to tell you to avoid McFarland this week, but he’s played a total of just 19 offensive snaps in the last 4 games he’s been active for. Baltimore is a tough matchup for running backs, ranking 4^th in run defense DVOA, but it’s even tougher to produce against that defense if you aren’t getting onto the field.

WR Denzel Mims, NYJ (Wk. 12: vs. Mia.): Mims has been solid since getting healthy, drawing an average of 6.5 targets per game, and many of them downfield. He’s posted 217 yards on 13 catches over the 4 games he’s played, but the bulk of that production has come with Joe Flacco at QB. Sam Darnold has returned to practice this week and may start on Sunday. If Darnold starts, I’d expect him to have tunnel vision for Jamison Crowder. Crowder has been targeted at least 10 times in each game he played with Darnold this season and just 5 total targets in the last two games with Flacco at QB. He also draws the easiest CB matchup this week. While Mims and Breshad Perrriman deal with Xavien Howard and Byron Jones on the outside, Crowder gets to tangle with Nik Needham in the slot, who he should have no problem with. The Dolphins rank 11^th in pass defense DVOA, so this isn’t an easy matchup to begin with. I’d give Mims a bit of a bump if it’s Flacco at QB again, but if it’s Darnold as expected I would lean against playing Mims.

WR KJ Hamler, DEN (Wk. 12: vs. NO): Drew Lock’s injury and the positive game script may have had a negative impact on Hamler’s playing time in week 11. The Broncos leaned on the running game and played a lot more 2-tight end sets against Miami than we typically see from them. Some of that may have been to protect Lock, who has been dealing with a rib injury, but more likely it was the result of a positive game script. Denver didn’t lead much in the 3 games prior to the tilt with the Dolphins but led for nearly 3 full quarters last Sunday. That run-heavy game script limited Hamler to just 58% of the offensive snaps. He did see 6 targets and turned them into 4 catches for 35 yards, but he had been targeted 10 times in each of the two games before that. The Broncos could go back to playing from behind this week, but I’m not sure it will result in a boost in production for Hamler. New Orleans has allowed the 14^th-most WR points per game, but they have been good at limiting slot production. Of the 13 wide receivers who have put up 10 fantasy points or more against the Saints, only 3 of them play primarily in the slot, and none of those 3 were among the 6 receivers that reached 15 points against them. Hamler is best avoided this week.

WR Laviska Shenault, JAX (Wk. 12: vs. Cle.): Shenault has missed the last two games with an injury, and now he’s in line to come back to a game with Mike Glennon at QB. Throughout his career, Glennon has heavily targeted tight ends and big outside receivers like Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans. Almost a quarter of his career targets were aimed at V-Jax. I’d expect DJ Chark to be the most useable receiver in this offense while Glennon is under center, but even he would be tough to trust. Volume from a bad QB doesn’t always lead to fantasy production. The Browns are a decent matchup. They allow the 11^th-most WR points per game and will be without their top CB Denzel Ward, but Glennon may render that a moot point. Keep Shenault sidelined this week.

WR Henry Ruggs, LV (Wk. 12: @Atl.): Is this the week that Ruggs finally has a blowup game again? It could be. The Falcons have allowed a league-high 47 pass plays of 20+ yards on the year, and the Seahawks are the only other team to give up 40 or more of them so far, but I wouldn’t count on a strong day from Ruggs. He’s got just 67 scrimmage yards on 9 touches over his last 4 games and played under 60% of the snaps last week for the first time all season (in games he’s been active for). He’s got a little more upside than usual in this game, but I wouldn’t take the chance. He’s a little pricier than I’d like in DFS where his price tag is $1,300 above the minimum on DraftKings. I also wouldn’t go near Bryan Edwards in any lineups after he played just 9 snaps last weekend in his 3^rd game since returning to the field.

WR Austin Mack, NYG (Wk. 12: @Cin.): I was tempted to list Mack as a sleeper this week but can’t really imagine where it’s feasible to play him. Most of his value comes from the volatility of the relationship between the Giants and Golden Tate. Mack was the beneficiary in week 9 when Tate was benched for complaining about his usage, serving as the team’s WR3 and posting a 4-72 line on 5 targets. The interesting thing was that Mack didn’t go completely to the bench in week 10 when Tate was re-inserted. Instead, the two split the WR3 role. Mack wasn’t heavily utilized, catching his only target for just 9 yards in that game, but this week’s matchup is an interesting one if Mack continues to see time on the field. The Bengals allow the 9^th-most WR points per game and rank 31^st in pass defense DVOA on throws to ancillary wide receivers (not the team’s WR1 or 2). If Mack does see some time on the field again this week, he could potentially make the most of the opportunity. That opportunity would probably be just 3 or 4 targets though.

WR Quintez Cephus, DET (Wk. 12: vs. Hou.): This is a week where there should be some sneaky upside for Cephus, but I’m not buying that he’ll make good on it. The Lions will be without Kenny Golladay and Danny Amendola on Thursday, but that was also the case last Sunday and Quintez played his lowest snap total of the 3 games that Golladay has missed. The signing of Mohamed Sanu has Cephus splitting the WR3 role behind Marvin Jones & Marvin Hall. Houston is a pretty good matchup, allowing the 10^th-most WR points per game, but Cephus hasn’t been targeted more than twice in a game since week 2. I wouldn’t consider playing him as anything more than a cheap dart throw in a Thanksgiving slate DFS tournament.

WR Gabriel Davis, BUF (Wk. 12: vs. LAC): Davis’s playing time has been pretty steady this year. He’s been on the field for more than 30 offensive snaps in all but one game on the season, but his production has been anything but steady. He’s topped 9 PPR points 4 different times this year…and come up short of 2 points 3 different times. I wouldn’t bank on this being a week where he tops 9 again. The Chargers rank 6^th in pass defense DVOA on throws to ancillary wide receivers. This isn’t a week to roll the dice on Davis being productive.

WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, CLE (Wk. 12: @Jax): Since his breakout game against the Bengals in week 7 where he scored a game-winning touchdown, DPJ has played an average of just 9 snaps per game and seen 2 total targets across 3 games. He doesn’t play enough to warrant consideration even in a plus matchup like this one.

WR Marquez Callaway, NO (Wk. 12: @Den.): Now that Michael Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders are back to health, Callaway has been on the field for just 14 snaps in the last 2 weeks. With Taysom Hill at QB, there isn’t enough passing volume to justify considering any pass-catchers on this team outside of Thomas and Sanders. Hill threw just 23 times in his first start, and 17 of those throws targeted the top 2 receivers. Brees was averaging nearly 36 attempts per game in the 8 full games he played.

WR Van Jefferson, LAR (Wk. 12: vs. SF): Jefferson did score a touchdown last Monday, but like with his teammate Akers, don’t be fooled into thinking his role is growing. He was on the field for just 4 of the team’s 72 offensive snaps and was targeted just the one time. He’s still a distant 4^th on this WR depth chart.

TE Cole Kmet, CHI (Wk. 12: @GB): The playing time has been increasing for Kmet, but the fantasy production has not. Kmet played more snaps than Jimmy Graham in week 10 before the last week’s bye, but he turned that into just 1 catch for 7 yards, and I wouldn’t expect him to continue playing more than Graham going forward. It was likely a product of a game plan that called for better blocking tight ends in front of the backup running backs since David Montgomery was sidelined. Green Bay allows the 4^th-fewest tight end points per game, and if any Bear tight end is going to put up production against them my money is on Graham.

TE Harrison Bryant, CLE (Wk. 12: @Jax.): Bryant went without a target last Sunday for the 2^nd straight game since Austin Hooper’s return to the lineup. The weather has played a role with both games being played in downpour conditions, but it’s never a good sign to put up back-to-back goose eggs. We also saw David Njoku play over 50% of the offensive snaps in a game with Austin Hooper on the field for the first time all season. The Jaguars do allow the 4^th-most points per game to tight ends, so I doubt Bryant gets completely skunked again, but if Njoku is more involved the rookie has even less upside than usual. Bryant has had more than one catch just once in a game that Hooper played.

Deep League Sleepers, Stashes, and Cheap DFS Options:

QB Jalen Hurts, PHI (Wk. 12: vs. Sea.): Carson Wentz’s play is starting to make it difficult for the Eagles to keep running him out there. Sitting at 3-6-1, it’s hard to believe they’d be in the playoffs if the season ended today, but they may start looking for a spark if they want to stay in that position. Hurts could get the call eventually, and his running ability would give him instant upside even if he isn’t very productive as a passer. Hurts made strides throwing the ball in his last year in college after transferring to Oklahoma, but obviously, there is a difference between Big 12 defenses and NFL defenses. He had 3 separate college seasons with over 850 rushing yards, including nearly 1,300 yards and 20 TDs on the ground in 14 games as a senior. We all know that running QBs can be a cheat code in fantasy. If you have the bench space in a 2-QB league, especially a dynasty league, it would make some sense to stash the Eagles’ rookie QB.

RB Malcolm Perry, MIA (Wk. 12: @NYJ): Perry has been quietly becoming more involved in the Dolphins’ offense in recent weeks, playing regularly at wide receiver since Preston Williams went down a few weeks ago. Perry saw season-highs of 5 targets and a 78% snap share in week 11. If he’s on the field a similar amount this week, he’ll have some upside against a Jets’ defense that allows the 5^th-most WR points per game. Perry has RB eligibility, so if you’re hard-pressed for a running back in a deeper PPR league, Perry could fit that bill this week, and he’s an interesting stash in those same deep PPR leagues in case his role grows going forward. Perry was an option QB at Navy, running for over 2,000 yards and throwing for over 1,000 as a senior, so there may be some trick play potential here as well. It’s normally a good sign for a player learning a new position to get on the field this much as a rookie.

RB DeeJay Dallas, SEA (Wk. 12: @Phi.): Dallas will likely return to the bench this week as Chris Carson is expected to return on Monday in Philly, but Dallas does intrigue me for the Monday night showdown slate DFS tournaments. Backup Carlos Hyde was splitting the backup work with Travis Homer in the early part of the season when Chris Carson was healthy and even spent a couple of weeks as a healthy scratch. In recent weeks, Dallas has sort of moved into Homer’s 3^rd-down specialist role, and he may get the opportunity to spell Carson a bit, especially if the Seahawks decide not to overwork Carson in his first game back. The Eagles rank 30^th in pass defense DVOA on throws that target the running backs, so there is some sneaky upside if Dallas plays more than expected.

WR Darnell Mooney, CHI (Wk. 12: @GB): It’ll be an interesting week for the Bears with Mitch Trubisky back at quarterback. He was inefficient early in the year, leading to his benching, but the change back likely won’t be a big downgrade for Mooney. Trubisky targeted Mooney 6 times in the first two weeks of the season, when he was still behind Ted Ginn on the depth chart, and connected with him for one of the two TDs the rookie has scored. This week, I’d expect Jaire Alexander to shadow Allen Robinson, which could open things up for Mooney. Alexander has the highest coverage grade of any cornerback from Pro Football Focus this season, and the Packers rank 27^th in pass defense DVOA on throws to a team’s WR2. Chicago is an 8.5-point underdog, so they’re likely to be playing from behind and throwing. If Trubisky provides any kind of spark at all, I’d expect a surprisingly good showing from Mooney.

WR Devin Duvernay, BAL (Wk. @Pit.): The Ravens will be without JK Dobbins and Mark Ingram this week, and Duvernay is a track star who played running back in high school before converting to wide receiver in college. He lost snaps at wide receiver last week with Dez Bryant activated, but I’d expect Baltimore to get creative this week in trying to get the ball into the explosive rookie’s hands. The Steelers rank 1^st in the league in pass defense DVOA, but they’ve still managed to give up the 16^th-most WR points per game. I don’t think the Ravens feel entirely comfortable going into the week with just Gus Edwards and Justice Hill at running back, and I’d look for them to manufacture a few extra touches for Duvernay. I’m not sure what format you’d be able to play him in, but don’t be surprised if he leaves the week with 60+ scrimmage yards.

That’s all I’ve got for this week. Hopefully, it helps you with your toughest lineup decisions involving rookies. Make sure to check the active/inactive updates before kickoff, and make sure you don’t start a sidelined player. If you have any questions or want to yell at me about anything written 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! What a wild ride the 2020 season has been. The calendar has turned to 2021, and most fantasy leagues this season are now complete, but there is another week of NFL regular season football to go. While most of us know better than to play in leagues with a week 17 championship game, there are those leagues that exist, so while this week’s Rookie Report will be a little more slanted toward DFS options, I wanted to provide some insight about the rookies for those still playing for a title. Week 17 is all about motivation. What teams still have something to play for? Which teams will be phoning it in for the week? Knowing the answers to those questions will help you identify players who could have big final weeks and those who will disappoint. With that in mind, let’s dive into week 17…

(Notes: All scoring and points allowed rankings are based on half-PPR scoring unless otherwise noted. Players under the same header at the same position are listed in the order I would play them in this week.)

Rookies to Start:

QB Justin Herbert, LAC (Wk. 17: @KC, DrafKings main slate price: $7,100): Typically the Chiefs wouldn’t be a great matchup for a QB, but this is a game that Kansas City will just be trying to survive healthy. They’ve already clinched a playoff bye. Look for the Chargers to let Justin Herbert air it out a bit in his final regular-season game as a rookie with the Chiefs sitting the majority of their starters. Herbert has thrown for over 250 yards in all but 3 starts this season, and I fully expect him to keep that number at 3 this week, even with Keenan Allen sidelined again. Herbert should be a safe top-10 QB again this week.

RB Jonathan Taylor, IND (Wk. 17: vs. Jax., DK main slate price: $7,400): The Colts need to win this game AND have at least one other 10-5 AFC team lose in order to make the playoffs, so look for them to ride their best players to ensure they hold up their end. Over the last month, that means Taylor. JT has averaged 117 scrimmage yards and a touchdown and a half per game over the past 4 weeks, and this week he faces a Jacksonville defense that has allowed the 3^rd-most RB rushing yards. The Jaguars have allowed at least 1 back to reach 89 yards on the ground in 5 of their past 6 games, and one over 80 scrimmage yards in all 6. Taylor should have his way in this one for as long as the game is competitive. Triple-digit yards and multiple TDs is the ceiling for Taylor in this one, but he should be a safe bet for 15+ fantasy points in just about all formats this week.

RB JK Dobbins, BAL (Wk. 17: @Cin., DK main slate price: $6,700): The Ravens come into this week with both Mark Ingram and Gus Edwards questionable to suit up. If both sit, Dobbins may get a crack at being a workhorse back against a defense that ranks 20^th in Football Outsiders’ run defense DVOA stat. Justice Hill would likely get some change of pace work, but it would be Dobbins’ show until the game got out of hand. A more likely scenario is that Ingram is able to play (he logged a full practice on Friday), but even in that scenario, I’d expect Dobbins to make a push for a top-10 week. He’s averaged 67 rushing yards per game during his current 5-game touchdown streak, and he should have no trouble reaching 70+ and a score again in this one. He should be very safe in DFS cash games, even if he lacks the ceiling you typically look for in tournaments. If Edwards and Ingram both sit, that ceiling is there.

RB Antonio Gibson, WAS (Wk. 17: @Phi., DK SNF showdown price: $9,000): Gibson returned from his turf toe injury last week and looked sharp, tallying 61 rushing yards on just 10 carries. This week he faces an Eagles team that will be without several defensive starters, including Fletcher Cox, Derek Barnett, and Duke Riley, who all start in the front 7. With that same trio sidelined last week (Cox played 7 snaps while the other 2 were out), Zeke Elliott looked like his old self and ran for 105 yards. It was just Elliott’s second 100-yard day of the year. Washington can clinch a division title with a win in this game, so they should be going full tilt while the Eagles just try to get through the game. Gibson is likely in line for a big game here and should be a staple in any showdown lineups for Sunday night, and would be a good choice for captain.

WR Justin Jefferson, MIN (Wk. 17: @Det, DK main slate price: $7,600): Jefferson should be able to put on one final show for the season on Sunday. The Vikings will be without Dalvin Cook, so they may throw a little more than usual, and the Lions have looked like they’ve thrown in the towel on the season in recent weeks. Detroit ranks dead last in pass-defense, DVOA, and has allowed the most WR points per game. In the past 3 weeks, the Lions have allowed at least one 100-yard wide receiver each week and given up 8 receiving TDs to opposing wideouts in that span. Jefferson and teammate Adam Thielen should both be great plays for DFS in week 17.

Borderline Rookies:

QB Jalen Hurts, PHI (Wk. 17: vs. Was., DK SNF showdown price: $11,400): Hurts has taken the starting job in Philly and run with it in the last few weeks. Turnovers hurt him in a bad loss to the Cowboys a week ago, but in his 3 starts he’s finished as the QB10, QB1, and QB16. This week he faces a Washington defense that has been one of the stingiest against the pass in the league and needs this win to clinch the division title. In their last 13 games, Washington has allowed just 4 QBs to throw for more than 220 yards, so Hurts will be hard-pressed to put up a 3^rd-straight 300-yard passing game, but he should still have a stable rushing floor. The rookie has run for 60+ yards in all 3 of his starts, and Washington has allowed 4 different QBs to run for 50+ this season. With Miles Sanders sidelined, even more of the rushing load should fall on Hurts. He’s a bit pricey for the showdown slate Sunday night but should be treated as a low-end QB1 for any teams that have championships this week.

RB D’Andre Swift, DET (Wk. 17: vs. Min., DK main slate price: $6,300): The Lions appeared to have thrown in the towel on the 2020 season in recent weeks, but if that were truly the case Matt Stafford wouldn’t be playing through injury and starting Sunday. This game still has the potential to get out of hand with how bad the Detroit defense has been, but on paper, it should be a great matchup for Swift. Minnesota ranks 27^th in run defense DVOA and allows the 6^th-most RB points per game. Swift appears to have his injury issues behind him after he played about two-thirds of the offensive snaps in each of the past two weeks and saw a total of 33 touches in those games. I’d expect similar usage in this one, and against this defense, that means a top-10 RB week could be in the offing. There is risk in betting on a Detroit player since it remains to be seen how motivated the Lions will be to win this game, but if you have him in a championship game he should probably be in your lineup.

RB Cam Akers, LAR (Wk. 17: vs. Ari., DK main slate price: $6,100): Akers was held out of practice for much of the week with a sprained ankle and is questionable for Sunday’s tilt with the Cardinals, but I’d expect him to be heavily involved if he’s able to play. The Rams will be without Jared Goff and will likely lean on the run more than usual, and Akers has shown himself in recent weeks to be the best option in this backfield. The Cardinals allow the 11^th-most RB points per game, and just last week were shredded by Jeff Wilson, Jr. to the tune of 183 rushing yards. Akers himself tallied 94 scrimmage yards and a score in the first meeting with Arizona. Something in that same ballpark would be a successful day for Akers in this one, but if he’s close to 100% he may be able to do even more. Keep a close eye on the injury updates here.

RB Rodney Smith, CAR (Wk. 17: vs. NO, DK main slate price: $4,000): Smith has been seeing extended playing time in recent weeks, averaging 36 scrimmage yards on 6 touches per game in the last 3 weeks, and Mike Davis is unlikely to play this week. The matchup isn’t a good one, with New Orleans allowing the fewest RB points per game, but in the last 3 weeks, they’ve let 4 different backs top 60 rushing yards and given up 5 running back scores in that span. Smith isn’t in the same class as the backs who have been running well against the Saints (CEH, Dalvin, Lev Bell, and Miles Sanders), but he’ll have plenty of opportunity with the Panthers’ backfield shorthanded. Smith should see 15+ touches, and his role as the default workhorse back isn’t built into his DFS price tag. He should return more than his cost in cash games and is a reasonable option for limited slate tournaments. He is also probably on the waiver wire if you have a championship game and need to replace a sidelined starter like Miles Sanders or Dalvin Cook. With the Saints missing all of their running backs, the Panthers may hang around in this game for a while and keep the ball going to Smith.

RB Zack Moss, BUF (Wk. 17: vs. Mia., DK main slate price: $4,600): Moss is an interesting case for this week. The Bills don’t have a reason to aggressively try to win this game. I’d expect Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs to be done after the first series or two of the day, and several other key players may play limited snaps as well. While that could mean limited snaps for Moss and Devin Singletary, I’m not sure how comfortable the Bills will be giving all of the backfield work to 32-year-old Taiwan Jones, and with Allen off the field the quarterback won’t be vulturing goal-line carries from Moss. The Dolphins rank just 23^rd in run defense DVOA, so there is some upside for Moss if he does play close to his normal share of the snaps, but the risk of a shortened day for him is real.  

WR Jerry Jeudy, DEN (Wk. 17: vs. LV, DK main slate price: $4,200): Jeudy has caught a lot of flack from the fantasy world and Broncos’ fans after dropping 6 passes in last week’s loss to the Chargers. The thing that I take away from that game is that he was targeted 15 times. Targets are earned, and Jeudy had to be getting open a lot to see that many passes in his direction. We’ve consistently seen the Steelers go back to Diontae Johnson despite drops because he’s consistently able to get separation. This week Jeudy faces a Raiders defense that ranks 22^nd in pass defense DVOA. The corner he should match up with most often is rookie Damon Arnette, who has allowed an 80% completion percentage and nearly 10 yards per target into his coverage. I expect the Raiders offense to do enough to keep Denver throwing, and for Jeudy to be eager to make last week a distant memory. The rookie has some serious upside in this matchup that I expect him to make good on. It would take some balls to play him after his dropsies last week, but I think those that do so will be rewarded.

WR CeeDee Lamb, DAL (Wk. 17: @NYG, DK main slate price: $5,200): Dallas is one of the teams that has every reason to play to win in week 17. A victory by the Cowboys and a loss by Washington on Sunday night would give Dallas the division title, so expect them to pull out all the stops. The Dallas offense has been coming together in recent weeks. Their two best yardage games without Dak Prescott at QB were in the last 2 weeks, and Lamb has been more consistent in recent weeks as well. He’s averaged 12.4 PPR points per game in the last 4 weeks, and this week gets a favorable individual matchup against slot corner Darnay Holmes. Amari Cooper will be shadowed by James Bradberry, and that should free up some extra targets for Lamb and Michael Gallup. Lamb went for 8 catches and 124 yards in the first meeting with the G-Men, albeit with Dak at QB. This is a week where Lamb has a solid chance to finish above that 4-40 floor that we’ve seen from him since Prescott went down.

WR Laviska Shenault, JAX (Wk. 17: @Ind., DK main slate price: $4,200): The Jaguars have already ruled out DJ Chark, James Robinson, and Collin Johnson for this week, so Shenault should be heavily featured in a matchup where the team should be playing from behind and throwing a lot. Shenault already leads the team in targets from Mike Glennon with 21 and should be a good bet for 6+ targets again this week. The Colts have been a tougher pass defense, ranking 7^th in pass defense DVOA, but they’ve allowed the 14^th-most WR points per game and given up 5 receiver scores in the past 3 weeks. Shenault is the best bet of the Jaguar receivers to find the end zone this week.

WR Gabriel Davis, BUF (Wk. 17: vs. Mia., DK main slate price: $3,600): The Bills have already clinched the 2^nd or 3^rd seed in the AFC, and it seems likely that they’ll rest their starters for the majority of this game. They haven’t officially announced it, but after clinching the division in week 16 last season the Bills sat most of their starters and played Josh Allen for just 7 snaps in week 17. Davis could serve as the de facto WR1 for much of this game. Even with Matt Barkley at QB for most of the game, it shouldn’t be hard for Davis to outproduce his price tag if the other receivers sit as expected. The Dolphins rank a solid 6^th in pass defense DVOA but have allowed the 16^th-most WR points per game and given up over 100 receiving yards to Nelson Agholor and Jakobi Meyers in the past 2 weeks. I’d be at least a little surprised if Davis doesn’t lead the Bills in receiving yards this week.

WR Tee Higgins, CIN (Wk. 17: vs. Bal., DK main slate price: $5,000): Higgins finally posted a big day without Joe Burrow at QB last week, but it came against the pathetic Texans’ secondary. This week’s matchup is much tougher against Baltimore, and Higgins is questionable with a hamstring issue, so keep a close eye on the injury report if you’re considering him. If he does play, the volume should be there for him again. Higgins has averaged 7 targets per game since Burrow went down with an injury. The most likely outcome for Higgins this week would be another floor game in the ballpark of 50 yards, but the volume gives him some upside. Baltimore has allowed the 9^th-fewest WR points per game, but have given up 65+ receiving yards to 4 different receivers in the last 4 weeks.

WR Chase Claypool, PIT (Wk. 17: @Cle., DK main slate price: $5,700): Claypool is a bit of a roll of the dice this week with Mason Rudolph under center and the playing time for the rest of the Steelers’ starters still up in the air. Diontae Johnson is the receiver most likely to sit in this one, so Claypool should still be involved. Cleveland has been vulnerable to opposing receivers, allowing the 10^th-most WR points per game, but it remains to be seen if Rudolph will be able to help these receivers take advantage. The Steelers are a 9-point underdog, so they should be throwing. Claypool’s upside is going to come from catching a long ball or getting in the end zone, and for what it’s worth, Rudolph did complete 11 passes of 30+ yards last season in 10 games. I’d probably look elsewhere for most lineups this week, but if you want to try your hand at the showdown slate, Claypool and James Washington are the two Steelers I think are most likely to have a nice game. Washington was a college teammate of Rudolph and is $4,800 cheaper than Claypool in the showdown format.

Upside DFS Sleepers:

RB Darrynton Evans, TEN (Wk. 17: @Hou., DK main slate price: $4,000): The Titans need to win this week to secure the AFC South title, but this one has the chance to get out of hand. The Texans’ defense made the Bengals look unstoppable last weekend to the tune of 540 offensive yards. Derrick Henry should run through this defense like a hot knife through butter, and that could lead to Evans getting some garbage time run in the 2^nd half. The last time the Titans had garbage time Evans posted 57 scrimmage yards and a TD against the Lions. The Texans allow the most running back points per game, so any extended playing time for Evans could have a nice upside.

WR Van Jefferson, LAR (Wk. 17: vs. Ari., DK main slate price: $3,000): The Rams lost Cooper Kupp to the COVID list this week, and Jefferson should be the next man up in the slot for them. They need to win this week against Arizona to make sure they make the playoffs. It seems logical that the Rams would use more 2-tight end sets with Tyler Higbee & Gerald Everett, but the game script could force them into more WR-heavy formations. The Rams will be without starting QB Jared Goff, so keeping pace with the Cardinals may be a bit tougher in this one. Jefferson likely gets a lot of practice work with Wolford on the 2^nd team and seems a good bet to see at least a handful of targets in this one. Jefferson costs the minimum on DraftKings and faces a middling defense against WRs.

WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, CLE (Wk. 17: vs. Pit., DK main slate price: $3,500): Before last week’s trip to the COVID list, DPJ had been on quite a roll with 221 receiving yards in the 3 games prior. He’s topped 50 yards in all 4 games where he’s played at least 50% of the offensive snaps, and it looks like the Steelers will be resting several of their key players in this game. There is a great opportunity here for Peoples-Jones to get loose for another big play or 2. There is a low floor here since DPJ hasn’t had more than 5 targets or 3 catches in a game, so he’s a better option in a DFS tournament than in cash games or in any championship matchups.

WR Marquez Callaway, NO (Wk. 17: @Car., DK main slate price: $3,200): The shorthanded Saints will be without receivers Michael Thomas and Tre’Quan Smith again this week, but will also be without most of their running backs. They aren’t going to win this game simply by pounding the rock with Ty Montgomery, so there should be a bit more passing volume than we saw last week when they leaned on Alvin Kamara for a half-dozen touchdowns. Juwan Johnson had seen a spike in recent playing time with the injuries ahead of him, but while playing 90 offensive snaps over the past 4 weeks he’s managed just 2 catches for 30 yards on 6 targets. Callaway returned from IR last week and immediately played about twice as many snaps as Johnson (42 to 23) and totaled 3-26 on 4 targets. Callaway is the guy who is going to benefit from the increased passing volume, and he costs $200 less than Johnson on the main slate this week. There isn’t a huge ceiling for Callaway, but if the Saints substitute the short passing game for the run game, there could be 6+ targets there for Marquez this week.

WR Devin Duvernay, BAL (Wk. 17: @Cin., DK main slate price: $3,000): Willie Snead is questionable for the Ravens in what will be a must-win game in Cincy, and Duvernay is the best suited of the other receivers to man the slot. If Snead sits, Duvernay should get some chances to showcase his track-star speed against a defense that has allowed the 3^rd-most 20+ yard completions on the year. There is some risk here since Dez Bryant and Miles Boykin have played ahead of Duvernay in recent weeks, so I would prefer Devin as more of a dart throw in the showdown slate for this game, where his price tag is just $1,000, rather than a bigger tournament.

WR Quez Watkins, PHI (Wk. 17: vs. Was., DK SNF showdown price: $1,600): Watkins has shown a penchant for coming up with splash plays in his limited snaps with Jalen Hurts at QB. He took a screen pass for a 32-yard score against the Cardinals and hauled in a 43-yard grab a week ago in Dallas. Watkins is questionable for this week, but several pass catchers have already been ruled out for week 17 – Dallas Goedert, DeSean Jackson and Richard Rodgers. If Watkins plays, there could be some increased opportunity for him, and his price tag is more than reasonable for the showdown slate Sunday night. It would only take one splash TD play to make him worth that cost.

Rookies to Sit (Or avoid in DFS):

QB Tua Tagovailoa, MIA (Wk. 17: @Buf., DK main slate price: $5,100): Tua has thrown for fewer than 100 yards and been pulled in each of his last two games away from Miami. He likely won’t get pulled again this week as coach Brian Flores won’t have Ryan Fitzpatrick as a fallback option in this game. The bearded backup was placed on the COVID list this week. I’d still expect the Dolphins to lean on the run game unless the game script forces their hand. They’ll need to win this one to ensure they make the playoffs, and Buffalo has been locked in as a pass defense, allowing fewer than 360 total passing yards in the last 3 weeks. I’d steer clear of Tua in this one.

RB Salvon Ahmed, MIA (Wk. 17: @Buf., DK main slate price: $4,400): With the return of Myles Gaskin last week, Ahmed handled just 6 carries and saw 1 target against the Raiders. With a playoff berth on the line this week, it should be the Gaskin show again unless the game gets out of hand. If Buffalo rests their starters and Miami pulls away, it could be a combination of Ahmed and Breida carrying the ball down the stretch. I don’t see a huge ceiling for Ahmed unless Gaskin gets hurt early.

RB AJ Dillon, GB (Wk. 17: @Chi., DK main slate price: $4,900): Don’t fall in love with the performance you saw last week. Green Bay gets Jamaal Williams back this week, which will send Dillon back to the bench, and they face a much less generous run defense. The Bears rank 4^th in run defense DVOA.

RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn, TB (Wk. 17: vs. Atl., DK main slate price: $4,400): A Bucs win this week ensures that they’ll face the NFC East’s sub-.500 champ in their first playoff game, so they’ll treat this like a game they want to win. Last week was the first time all year that Vaughn played more than 25% of the offensive snaps, and it came in a lopsided blowout with Ronald Jones out. Jones returns this week, so even a blowout might not result in a ton of snaps for Vaughn in week 17.

RB Anthony McFarland, PIT (Wk. 17: @Cle., DK main slate price: $4,000): The Steelers will be resting starters since they’re locked into the 2^nd or 3^rd seed in the AFC, so James Conner may not play this week. In the last 3 games that Conner sat this season, it was Benny Snell who carried the load. McFarland played a total of just 32 offensive snaps in those games, seeing 8 carries and 3 targets. I’d expect more of the same here if Conner sits.

RB Tony Jones, Jr., NO (Wk. 17: @Car., DK showdown price: $200): Jones isn’t even available for the main slate on DraftKings, but he is expected to be called up from the practice squad Sunday with all of the New Orleans running backs sidelined on the COVID list. Don’t fall for his $200 price tag if you’re playing the showdown slate for this game. I’d expect the short-yardage back to be Taysom Hill, and for Ty Montgomery to do his best to fill in for Alvin Kamara. The Saints are still in play for the NFC’s playoff bye, so they won’t just phone this game in. I’d be surprised if Jones gets more than a few carries in this one.

RB Jason Huntley, PHI (Wk. 17: vs. Was., DK SNF Showdown price: $200): I know, $200 is basically free on the showdown slate, and Huntley should see at least some opportunity with Miles Sanders sidelined, but Huntley hasn’t been active in weeks. He still has Boston Scott, Corey Clement, and Jordan Howard ahead of him on the depth chart. It would be a positive week for Huntley if he just gets on the field for a few touches.

WR Jalen Reagor, PHI (Wk. 17: vs. Was., DK SNF Showdown price: $6,200): Reagor has essentially served as the Eagles’ WR1 in terms of targets, but Quez Watkins’ 57 yards last week is more than Reagor has put up in any game this season. Reagor costs $4,600 more than Watkins on the showdown slate. Washington allows the 4^th-fewest WR points per game. Don’t pay up for Reagor expecting a big game this week, but I do think he has the talent to take a step forward next season.

WR Darnell Mooney, CHI (Wk. 17: vs. GB, DK main slate price: $4,100): Mooney has found the end zone in two of the last 3 games, but if you roll him out there in a championship game or DFS lineups this week you’re counting on him finding the end zone again. Green Bay has allowed just 1 WR touchdown in their last 4 games combined. Volume has been there for Mooney in several games this year (5 games with 7+ targets), but he’s averaged just 4 catches for 41 yards in those games. He’s topped 50 scrimmage yards just twice all season.

WR Michael Pittman, Jr., IND (Wk. 17: vs. Jax., DK main slate price: $4,100): Pittman gets a plus matchup against a miserable Jaguars defense this week, but he’s fallen behind Zach Pascal and now sits at 3^rd in the target pecking order for the Colts. Indy is favored by 14 points this week, so they likely won’t throw much in the second half. That limited volume makes Pittman a bad bet as a dart throw.

WR Henry Ruggs, LV (Wk. 17: @Den., DK main slate price: $3,600): This may look like a good spot for Ruggs to make a couple of splash plays in a matchup against a team that is missing all of its top-3 cornerbacks, but it’s not a wager I’d make. The Broncos have been this shorthanded at CB for 3 games now, and have allowed just 2 completions for 30+ yards in those games, and the corner that Ruggs will match up with most (De’Vante Bausby) runs a 4.35-second 40-yard dash. Ruggs isn’t going to beat you with volume -he has no more than 3 receptions in any game this year – and it doesn’t look like a great bet that he gets a big play this week.

WR Denzel Mims, NYJ (Wk. 17: @NE, DK main slate price: $3,000): Mims has played 4 games this year with Sam Darnold at QB and Jamison Crowder on the field. In those games, he’s totaled 17 targets, 9 catches, and 125 yards. The Pats allow the 11^th-fewest WR points per game. This doesn’t strike me as a good opportunity to bet on a big game from the rookie.

WR Lynn Bowden, Jr., MIA (Wk. 17: @Buf., DK main slate price: $3,500): The Dolphins should be getting healthier this week, as DeVante Parker could return from a hamstring injury, and Bowden has averaged fewer than 50 scrimmage yards per game in the last 4 weeks despite seeing significant usage in that span (nearly 6 targets and 1 rush attempt per game).

WR Quintez Cephus, DET (Wk. 17: vs. Min., DK main slate price: $3,000): The Lions still will be missing Kenny Golladay yet again this weekend, but that hasn’t resulted in Cephus having an expanded role this year. Quintez hasn’t seen more than 3 targets in any game this year that wasn’t against the Bears. There’s also the risk that Detroit pulls Matt Stafford if he takes a few hits in this one. There is an upside for next season with Golladay and Marvin Jones, Jr. each hitting free agency this offseason, but there isn’t much to get excited about here for week 17.

WR Tyler Johnson, TB (Wk. 17: vs. Atl., DK main slate price: $3,200): The Bucs need to win this game to make sure they don’t face off with the Saints, Packers or Seahawks next weekend, and that means very limited snaps for Johnson, as usual, barring a blowout win.

TE Cole Kmet, CHI (Wk. 17: vs. GB, DK main slate price: $3,000): Kmet has been a popular name in recent weeks as he’s been playing the vast majority of the Bears’ offensive snaps and been targeted 6+ times in 3 of the last 4 games. He’s also been handily out-produced by teammate Jimmy Graham in that span and faces a defense this week that allows the 4^th-fewest TE points per game. He’s also still questionable to even play in this one. In his best receiving game of the year so far Kmet finished with just 45 yards. I don’t have confidence that he bests that in week 17.

That’s all I’ve got for this season. Hopefully, you’ve gotten some use out of this column throughout the year in figuring out what to do with the rookies on your fantasy teams. Make sure to keep an eye out for any updates throughout the week and up to kickoff. There could be some surprise benchings/inactive players for teams with nothing to play for this week. If you have any specific questions or want to yell at me about anything written above, feel free to hit me up on Twitter and let me know (@Shawn_Foss). I’ll be back next season to help you navigate your way through a new crop of rookies. I look forward to filling you all in on Travis Etienne, Kyle Pitts, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Justin Fields each week. As always: Good luck, trust your gut and have fun. It’s just a game.