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There are some players this week that have received a boost in the rankings due to injury issues on their teams, such as Miles Sanders and Jonathan Williams and quite a few guys that may be coming back from extended absences (here's looking at you, T.Y. Hilton, Brandin Cooks, and Sterling Shepard). Make sure to watch the rankings and injury updates as we learn more about the statuses of these players leading up to kickoff!

Pay attention to these rankings throughout the week, as they will continue to evolve based on the latest injury updates, news, and player/matchup analysis. Good luck this season and remember, you can tweet us @drinkfive with any of your lineup questions!

Welcome back to the Rookie Report! Our long football-less national nightmare is finally over. Week one is upon us! By now you’ve hopefully you’ve made it through your draft and are relatively happy with the team you’ve put together, but now you get the fun of managing the lineup week-to-week. Week one is typically the epitome of the ‘start your studs’ mantra. We have limited information when it comes to schemes for new play callers, which teams have made defensive improvements, and who will get substantial playing time. The preseason can help us decipher some of these things, but teams do a pretty good job of playing coy in August and keeping things under wraps until the games start to count. Week one isn’t the time to get cute with your lineup decisions. With that in mind, there are only going to be a few rookies that I’d recommend playing in week one. Most of the rookies mentioned this week will be guys you should sit or are upside options in DFS lineups or guys you should be stashing on your bench.

In case you’re new here, each week I’ll break down the rookie crop’s matchups and place the relevant players into categories of ‘Rookies to Start’, ‘Borderline Rookies’, ‘Rookies to Sit’, and ‘Deep League Sleepers, Stashes, and Cheap DFS Options’. Make sure to read the details rather than just the headers though. Usually there is additional context that is important with understanding what to do with each player depending on your league’s format. Let’s dive into week 1…

Rookies to Start:

RB David Montgomery, CHI (Wk. 1: vs. GB): After trading away Jordan Howard in the offseason, the Bears traded up in the draft to take Montgomery in the 3^rd round with the hope that he would be their feature back. They signed Mike Davis as insurance, but all reports out of camp say Montgomery has been everything the Bears hoped he would be. Tarik Cohen will still factor in, but I expect Montgomery to be their starter out of the gate. The Packers revamped their defense a bit in the offseason, but losing Mike Daniels at DT is unlikely to be a positive change for a unit that ranked 23^rd in Football Outsiders’ run defense DVOA last year and dead last in pass defense DVOA on throws to running backs. Montgomery will be a bargain in DFS lineups in week 1 and should probably be in your starting lineup if you drafted him.

Borderline Rookies:

QB Kyler Murray, ARI (Wk. 1: @Det.): We’re only a few days away from finally seeing the Cardinals pull back the curtain on Kliff Kingsbury’s air raid offense. The Cardinals haven’t wowed anyone in the preseason, but they were intentionally vanilla in their play calling and didn’t want to tip their hand about the scheme. That’ll change Sunday and we’ll get to see if this is all hype or if the air raid will be the next evolution of NFL offenses. If things go well for the offense this week Murray has massive upside, but there is obvious risk as there is with any brand new offense. The matchup is a good one on paper. The Lions had one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL last year. They upgraded by bringing in Rashaan Melvin and Justin Coleman at corner, but they still lack quality coverage linebackers and should be vulnerable over the middle. One of the biggest aspects of Murray’s game, his rushing ability, might not be a huge factor in week 1. The Lions allowed the 2^nd-fewest rushing yards to opposing QBs last season, and 6 of their games were against QBs who finished in the top-9 in rushing yards at the position (Russ, Josh Allen, Dak, Cam Newton, and Trubisky x 2). While there are safer options out there, none of them will make you feel more alive than starting Murray. He could completely faceplant, or he could have a Cam Newton-esque debut. In his first NFL game, Newton posted 422 passing yards and 3 total TDs (2 passing, 1 rushing).

RB Josh Jacobs, OAK (Wk. 1: vs. Den.): The Broncos were a middling run defense a year ago (ranked 16^th in run defense DVOA) and didn’t do much from a personnel standpoint to address it, but new head coach Vic Fangio should get as much out of this unit as possible. Fangio’s defenses have ranked in the top-7 in rushing yards allowed in 5 of his last 8 seasons as a defensive coordinator, and in the top-10 in fewest rushing TDs allowed in 7 of 10 seasons. Jacobs will get a lot of volume, which puts him squarely in play as a RB2/flex option, but he isn’t an automatic start.

RB Miles Sanders, PHI (Wk. 1: vs. Was.): The Eagles enter week 1 as a 10-point favorite over Washington which should bode well for Sanders, but there are reasons for caution. For starters, Sanders is unlikely to open the season as the bellcow back. Head coach Doug Pederson talked openly this week about using a committee – “For us here, it’s worked. And we’ll continue to [use a committee].” Jordan Howard is going to get a share of the work and may get the goal line carries, and Darren Sproles will mix in as well. Washington is also a better run defense than the overall numbers from last year would suggest. Before Alex Smith’s injury torpedoed their season, they were on pace to finish 4^th in the league in points allowed and 5^th in rushing yards allowed. It can’t be completely ignored that they did fall apart after Smith went down, but they have the personnel to be a formidable unit once again. Sanders has the upside to be a great option this week, but the floor is a little lower than you like to see this week.

Rookies to Sit:

RB Darrell Henderson, LAR (Wk. 1: @Car.): We really have no idea how much Henderson is going to play this week and his DFS price tag is a bit too rich for my blood with that much uncertainty, especially against a tough defense. The Panthers allowed the 5^th-fewest RB points per game last year and the 2^nd-fewest RB receiving yards. Todd Gurley isn’t going to see the same workload he did last year with his knee issues, but the Rams really like Malcolm Brown as well. I’d give this backfield a week two to play out to get a better idea of what the workload split will look like before trusting anyone other than Gurley.

RB Devin Singletary, BUF (Wk. 1: @NYJ): Singletary has been a popular name in fantasy with LeSean McCoy being cut over the weekend, but don’t get carried away and plug him in right away. The Bills are going to ease Singletary into more of a featured role as the season goes on and he likely won’t be more than part of a timeshare early in the year. Frank Gore will probably lead the team in carries, and TJ Yeldon will have a role in the passing game as well. The matchup in week one isn’t a great one. The Jets allowed the 12^th-fewest RB points per game last year and added Quinnen Williams and CJ Mosley to the front seven in the offseason. They should be an improved unit. I’d steer clear of Singletary in week 1.

RB Darwin Thompson, KC (Wk. 1: @Jax.): On the other side of the LeSean McCoy news, Darwin Thompson’s outlook got markedly less sunny as the Chiefs signed Shady after Buffalo cut him. Both Thompson and projected starter Damien Williams will take a tumble in early season rankings as the workload split gets murkier. I’d keep Thompson benched until things get a little clearer, but I wouldn’t cut him outside of the shallowest leagues. This backfield reminds me a bit of the Saints in 2017 when they brought in Adrian Peterson and drafted Alvin Kamara. They had a projected starter in his prime in Mark Ingram, and it took 4 weeks for Ingram and Kamara to force Peterson out of the rotation. It’s not crazy to think Darwin and Damien could do the same with McCoy here. McCoy may have some juice left, but it hasn’t really shown itself the past couple years in Buffalo. This is a backfield to monitor closely early in the season.

RB Alexander Mattison, MIN (Wk. 1: vs. Atl.): Latavius Murray averaged about 6 and a half carries per game last season in the games that Dalvin Cook was healthy. This should be Cook’s backfield so long as he can keep himself on the field. The Vikings are a 4 and a half point favorite this week so the game script should be positive, but I don’t think there will be enough upside to make Mattison worth a play. Keep on eye on if he gets goal line work though. There’s value in being a touchdown vulture.

WR Preston Williams, MIA (Wk. 1: vs. Bal.): The Dolphins are a touchdown underdog in this matchup so they should be throwing a bit and Ryan Fitzpatrick is always willing to let it fly, but it’s still unclear how the wide receiver depth chart will look in week one. Even if Williams logs a lot of snaps, the Ravens outside corners are fantastic and it’ll be an uphill battle to be useful in this one for Preston.

WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside, PHI (Wk. 1: vs. Was.): If DeSean Jackson is unable to play this week due to his finger injury, JJ would be an intriguing TD dart throw. Unfortunately for him, it sounds like Jackson is going to play. The Eagles have an implied total of 28 points in this one so there is plenty to go around if Arcega-Whiteside does wind up with an expanded role, so watch the injury report on D-Jax.

WRs KeeSean Johnson & Andy Isabella, ARI (Wk. 1: vs. Det.): Both players got a notable downgrade in their week 1 outlook when the Cardinals released their depth chart with Michael Crabtree listed as a starter in 3-WR sets. The Cardinals have the offense that we know the least about at this point. They may play a bunch of 4-WR sets like Kingsbury did as a college coach, and they will probably rotate a bunch of receivers into the game. Isabella and Johnson are both likely to log some snaps. One thing we do know about Arizona is that Larry Fitzgerald will be playing in the slot, and the Lions are most vulnerable over the middle. Johnson and Isabella are both no more than dart throws in DFS tournaments in week 1.

WR AJ Brown, TEN (Wk. 1: @Cle.): Brown missed time in camp with a leg injury, and there are just too many questions about what his usage will look like to trust him in any formats this week. The Titans’ offense isn’t expected to be a volume passing attack, and he’s still got to carve out place in the pecking order with established vets Corey Davis, Adam Humphries and Delanie Walker ahead of him right now.

WRs Marquise Brown & Miles Boykin, BAL (Wk. 1: @Mia.): The Ravens are a 6.5-point favorite this week so the passing volume will probably be limited. Hollywood Brown is still working on getting back up to game speed in his recovery from offseason Lisfranc surgery. He’ll play in week one, but he probably won’t have his usual explosiveness early in the season. Boykin could have some sneaky upside in DFS tournaments as a minimum-priced option, but he will probably be squaring off against the best part of the Dolphins’ defense, Xavien Howard. Both guys are best left out of your lineups in week 1.

WRs Terry McLaurin & Kelvin Harmon, WAS (Wk. 1: @Phi.): It’s hard to buy into anyone in the Washington passing attack in week one, but the ball will have to go somewhere if Jordan Reed is unable to play due to a concussion. My best guess of where the ball will go is to Trey Quinn, Vernon Davis, and Chris Thompson. McLaurin looks to have won a starting job on the outside to open the season, so he’s the better option of the two rookies this week, but I’d avoid both. Washington will try to establish the running game and keep the Philly offense off the field as much as they can.

WR Hunter Renfrow, OAK (Wk. 1: vs. Den.): There will be weeks when Renfrow is a sneaky PPR flex option, but week one against all-world slot corner Chris Harris Jr. isn’t one of them. There’s no reason to try him out this week even with the news that Antonio Brown is being suspended.

TE TJ Hockenson, DET (Wk. 1: @Ari.): I’d expect Hockenson to be splitting snaps with Jesse James in week one, and the Lions will likely want to go run-heavy to slow down the game and keep Arizona’s high-octane offense sidelined. With Patrick Peterson out and possibly Haason Reddick as well, the offense should run through Kerryon Johnson and the perimeter receivers. Arizona’s defense allowed the 2^nd-fewest tight end points in the league last year. All signs point to Hockenson being better suited for your bench than your lineup this week.

TE Irv Smith Jr., MIN (Wk. 1: vs. Atl.): There has been a lot of talk about the Vikings running more 2-TE sets this season with Kyle Rudolph and Irv Smith, and that seems to make sense given that their number 3 receiver to open the year is probably Josh Doctson (the alternative is Chad Beebe). I’d still like to see it in action and see Smith make an impact before I trust him in lineups. The Vikings want to be a run-first offense and you know Diggs & Thielen will get their targets. For week 1, other cheap DFS tight end options I’d prefer over Smith include Vernon Davis (if Reed is out), Adam Shaheen (if Burton is out), Will Dissly, and CJ Uzomah.

Deep League Sleepers, Stashes, and Cheap DFS Options:

RB Justice Hill, BAL (Wk. 1: @Mia.): The Ravens are a 6.5-point road favorite this week against what might be the worst team in the NFL. Their offense projects to be run-heavy even in neutral game scripts. In a game like this, 40+ rushing attempts is very possible for them. Mark Ingram will start to open the year, and Gus Edwards is still on the roster, but I’d expect Hill to be the first guy off the bench and not Gus. Their OC just said today that everyone will play and they’ll ride the hot hand. First round pick Christian Wilkins may provide some help for the Dolphins abysmal run defense, but the entire defensive unit outside of Xavien Howard will be bad this year. Hill has a great chance at an expanded role this week if the Ravens play from ahead as expected. Kenneth Dixon averaged nearly 10 carries per game as the RB2 in Baltimore over the final 5 games last season. If the Ravens play from ahead, Hill probably gets more than that. He’s a bargain in DFS lineups and a playable flex option in deep leagues.

RB Tony Pollard, DAL (Wk. 1: vs. NYG): The luster came off Pollard awfully quick when Zeke signed his mega extension this week, but hopefully you didn’t drop him when you heard the news. The Cowboys didn’t draft Pollard expecting him to assume the lead back role. They drafted him because he’s a dynamic receiving back and Zeke wasn’t all that efficient as a receiver last season. Elliott ranked 15^th in yards per target out of 19 backs who saw at least 50 targets. Obviously with the money Dallas is paying him Zeke is going to have a workhorse role, but that doesn’t mean Pollard won’t have one at all. He may even steal some slot snaps and targets from Randall Cobb. For week 1, I can’t imagine that Zeke will walk right back into a full workload. Reports are out that he will only see 20-25 snaps. If that proves true, Pollard should be in play as a flex option in most formats. The Giants allowed the 8^th-most RB points per game last season and didn’t really make strides to improve that unit. Like Baltimore, Dallas is a touchdown favorite and already leans more run-heavy in neutral game scripts.

WR DK Metcalf, SEA (Wk. 1: vs. Cin.): DK is a risky play this week since he just had his knee scoped a couple weeks ago, but Pete Carroll says he’s good to go and the matchup is an enticing one. His snaps might be limited, but he specializes in the long ball and the Bengals allowed the 3^rd-most completions of 20+ yards and the 4^th-most completions of 40+ yards last year. They haven’t done much to address the secondary. Metcalf will need a deep ball or 2 to return value, but he is an intriguing swing to take in DFS tournaments.

WR Deebo Samuel, SF (Wk. 1: @TB): I list Deebo here solely as a guy to stash on the bench for now. He shouldn’t be a free agent in leagues deeper than 10 teams, but he’s on rosters in just 18% of Yahoo and ESPN leagues. It’s only a matter of time before Samuel makes his way into a starter’s role in 3-WR sets, but for now he may be running behind Kendrick Bourne. That makes him a guy to leave on the bench this week, even in a juicy matchup against the Bucs.

WR Parris Campbell, IND (Wk. 1: @LAC): Campbell lands in the same boat as Deebo. He’s rostered in even fewer leagues than Samuel – 7% of ESPN leagues and 6% on Yahoo. The Colts and Frank Reich have been raving about him throughout the summer and he should be a big part of their plans this year. He was limited to just one preseason game by a hamstring issue, but the Colts have said that Campbell won’t be limited at all in week one. He should open the year as their starting slot receiver over Chester Rogers. I’d still like to see what his usage will look like in this offense before throwing him into a lineup. He didn’t log a single preseason snap with Jacoby Brissett under center and the Colts might play more 2-TE sets than the average team with Jack Doyle and Eric Ebron on the roster. Outside of TY Hilton and Marlon Mack, the Colts are an offense to monitor early in the season before trusting their players in your lineups, but if Campbell is on the wire right now someone is going to get a great in-season pickup when they snag him.

WR Damion Willis, CIN (Wk. 1: @Sea.): Willis is an interesting name because he came out of nowhere this summer to take a starting spot across from Tyler Boyd in the Bengals’ offense with AJ Green sidelined. He was a vertical threat at Troy and should be a nice complement to possession receiver Boyd until AJG returns. Willis is a big target at 6’3”, 204, and had a 65^th percentile speed score as a prospect. He’s worth stashing in deeper leagues in case he flashes in week 1.

TE Noah Fant, DEN (Wk. 1: @Oak.): The Oakland Raiders have been notoriously bad at covering the TE position in recent years. Over the past 5 years, they’ve allowed the 13^th, 3^rd, 9^th, 6^th and 3^rd -most TE points per game. They return largely the same personnel at safety and outside linebacker from that group that allowed the 3^rd -most last year. They did add Lamarcus Joyner, but this will still be a sub-standard unit. Joe Flacco loves to target the tight end position – 21% of his career throws have gone to the position and Fant’s biggest competition on the roster is Jeff Heuerman who saw a career-high 48 targets last season. Coach Vic Fangio said this week that Fant will be “out there a lot” against the Raiders. If he sees 6+ targets he’ll prove to be a bargain at his $3,400 DraftKings price tag.

That’s all I’ve got for this week. Hopefully it helps you with your toughest lineup decisions involving rookies. Keep an eye on the injury report through the week and make sure not to start anyone who is inactive. If you have any specific questions or want to yell at me about anything included in the article, 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! Week 8 brought us the coming-out party for David Montgomery, touchdowns for Miles Sanders & Devin Singletary, multiple touchdowns for DK Metcalf and Darius Slayton, and another sparkling Gardner Minshew performance. Week 9 has already brought us the benching of Andy Dalton for rookie Ryan Finley and the games haven’t even started yet. Finley may be worth a speculative add in 2QB leagues despite the Bengals being on a bye in week 9. I expect him to be more of a game manager type in the same vein as Dalton, but he will have some weapons to work with. Dalton was the QB18 on the year and hasn’t had AJ Green on the field for a single snap. Green is expected to return after the bye. We’re approaching the home stretch of the fantasy regular season and hitting some of the biggest bye weeks of the year. Hopefully, you’ve got the depth to withstand the byes, but if not, there are certainly some rookies who might help you survive. Let’s dive into the week 9 outlook.

Rookies to Start:

RB Josh Jacobs, OAK (Wk. 9: vs. Det.): Jacobs had his lowest rushing yardage total since Week 3 and failed to find the end zone last Sunday, but he still posted a passable week with 10.1 PPR points. It’s certainly not the kind of output you hope for from him, but if he’s going to finish as the RB28 when he has a bad game, I’d be more than comfortable firing him up as an RB2 every week. Jacobs gets a favorable matchup against the Lions this week. Detroit has allowed the 3^rd-most RB points per game on the year and ranks 19^th in Football Outsiders’ run defense DVOA stat which measures defensive efficiency. They’ve given up a league-worst 62 receiving yards per game to opposing backs, and while Jacobs hasn’t been Oakland’s primary receiving back, he does have multiple catches in 3 straight games. Jacobs should be in your lineups if you have him.

WR DK Metcalf, SEA (Wk. 9: vs. TB): Now that Metcalf has finally broken through and had his first top-24 week of the season, he gets a chance to duplicate the feat in about the best possible matchup. The Bucs are what we call a pass funnel defense. They rank 1^st in the league in run defense DVOA, but 26^th in pass defense DVOA. Seattle will undoubtedly be looking to establish the run in a game where they’re a touchdown favorite, but this secondary is too porous to not go after. The Bucs allow the 5^th-most WR points per game and have given up 9 receiving TDs to opposing receivers through 7 games. Metcalf has been Russ’s favorite weapon in close with 11 red zone targets. I like his chances at 50+ yards and a score this week.

Borderline Rookies:

QB Gardner Minshew, JAX (Wk. 9: vs. Hou. (London)): Gardner Minshew continues to make it harder for the Jaguars to go back to Nick Foles whenever he is ready to return. Minshew posted his best fantasy game of the year last week, finishing as the QB5, and gets another favorable matchup in London Sunday morning. Gardner had a passable fantasy day when these teams met in week 2, finishing as the QB15, but the Texans’ pass defense has been trending in the wrong direction since then, and they lost JJ Watt for the year. They’ve given up at least 270 passing yards and 3 TDs through the air in 4 straight games, a stretch that included matchups with Jacoby Brissett and Derek Carr. I wouldn’t just assume Minshew will match that kind of day, but he’s more of a borderline QB1 this week than just the usual solid QB2 play that he typically is. The Texans allow the 6^th-most QB points per game and rank 23^rd in pass defense DVOA.

QB Daniel Jones, NYG (Wk. 9: vs. Dal.): With Jared Goff, Matt Ryan, and Drew Brees all on byes this week, and Brandon Allen and Dwayne Haskins likely to make starts, Jones has to at least be in consideration as a QB2. He posted his best passing day of the year in Detroit last week and finished as the QB1 for the week. The matchup this week is much tougher with Dallas coming to town. The Cowboys have allowed the 4^th-fewest QB points per game, but they have been notably worse on the road, allowing 16+ points to Case Keenum and Sam Darnold in 2 of their 3 road games this year. That’s obviously a small sample and hard to bank on, but Jones is starting to make some strides as his offensive weapons get healthy, and I like his chances of finishing this week as a mid-range QB2 or better. Dallas ranks just a middling 17^th in pass defense DVOA.

RB Miles Sanders, PHI (Wk. 9: vs. Chi.): Sanders has been doing an incredible job of making the most of a less than ideal situation. He’s had to deal with being used as a second fiddle to Jordan Howard in the running game, but in the last 3 weeks, he’s turned 21 touches into 242 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 RB9 finishes. Those top-10 weeks were sandwiched around an RB36 finish in week 7. It appears that the Eagles are figuring out how to best deploy Sanders to maximize his game-breaking ability, but the lack of consistent touches is going to give him a low floor in weeks where he doesn’t cash in a big play. The matchup with the Bears this week is actually better than you might think. Chicago is allowing the 8^th-most running back points per game, and they’ve struggled to slow down pass-catching backs. They’ve allowed the 4^th-most receptions and 6^th-most receiving yards per game to the position. The volume is suspect, but this is a decent spot to use Sanders in your flex and hope his strong performances continue.

RB David Montgomery, CHI (Wk. 9: @Phi.): The difference in Montgomery’s output in week 7 and his output in week 8 is staggering. It really makes you wonder what Matt Nagy was thinking against New Orleans when he only ran Monty 3 times. The ISU product was a revelation in week 8, piling up over 130 rushing yards and a touchdown against one of the worst run defenses in the NFL. In week 9 he’ll face one of the best. The Bears would be wise to continue to feed him the ball given how poorly Mitch Trubisky has played, but success has been hard to come by for running backs against the Eagles. Philly has allowed 5 backs all year to finish as the PPR RB17 or better (only 1 higher than RB15), and every single one of them tallied more than 9 and a half points as a receiver. Monty’s best receiving output of the year was the 5.2 PPR points he put up last Sunday (4 catches for 12 yards). The Eagles rank 6^th in run defense DVOA. Volume alone should keep Monty in consideration this week as an RB2/flex option, but this could be another one of those weeks where you’re cursing his name afterward.

RB Devin Singletary, BUF (Wk. 9: vs. Was.): The final numbers from week 8 are extremely promising for Singletary. He found the end zone for the second time this year and finished as the PPR RB17 despite handling just 7 touches, and more importantly played 68% of the Bills’ offensive snaps while Frank Gore handled just 29%. I’d like to take a moment to tell people with Singletary on their rosters not to get ahead of themselves just yet. Singletary saw just one offensive touch before the Eagles had opened up a two-score lead in the early second half. Frank Gore is still going to be the lead back in this offense when the Bills play from ahead, and they should do that this week as a 9.5-point favorite against Washington. There should still be a good amount of work for Singletary in a pretty favorable matchup, but don’t expect him to play two-thirds of the snaps again this week unless the Bills are playing from behind. Washington allows the 10^th-most RB points per game and ranks 18^th in run defense DVOA. Singletary is an upside flex play this week.

WR Marquise Brown, BAL (Wk. 9: vs. NE): Brown is expected to return this week, and the Ravens have had the bye week to try and come up with a plan to attack the Patriots’ defense. The Pats have been performing at a historic level, but the Ravens’ offense is something different than what they’ve faced this year. Hollywood’s production had dipped a bit prior to his hamstring injury, as he totaled just 9-93-1 on 21 targets in the previous 3 games he’s played, but I’d look for the Ravens to try and get him involved early in this one. New England allows the fewest WR points per game, so this is a dicey spot to get Brown back in your lineups, but he’s an intriguing contrarian play in DFS lineups at just $4,800 on DraftKings. You also are going to be hard pressed to find a player with more upside than Brown if you need a bye week fill-in this week in deeper leagues.

WR Diontae Johnson, PIT (WK. 9: vs. Ind.): With Mason Rudolph at QB, Johnson has ascended to the clear WR2 in the Pittsburgh offense. He’s got almost as many targets from Rudolph as JuJu does, and in the 3 games that Rudolph has started and finished, Johnson has totaled 14-211-3 on 19 targets. The Colts have been worse against the run than the pass, but they’ve been no more than a middling defense against wide receivers. With both James Conner and Benny Snell unlikely to play, the Steelers may be throwing a bit more than usual in this one. Johnson should be right on the cusp of being a WR3 option this week.

Rookies to Sit:

QB Kyler Murray, ARI (Wk. 9: vs. SF): Murray is coming off his two worst fantasy games of the season, and this week runs into an absolute buzzsaw on a short week. The 49ers defense has been playing at an insane level of late. Since their week 4 bye, they haven’t allowed a single passing touchdown or QB rushing yard and have limited their last 4 opponents to 412 passing yards total. It’s true they haven’t faced a real running QB yet this season, so Murray could test them in some ways they haven’t been tested yet, but there’s no way I would trust Murray in fantasy lineups this week.

QB Dwayne Haskins, WAS (Wk. 9: @Buf.): It looks as though Haskins is likely to make his first career start this week if Case Keenum can’t get out of the concussion protocol, but this is a brutal spot to get an opportunity. The Bills allow the 5^th-fewest QB points per game and haven’t allowed any passer to throw for multiple touchdowns against them yet. Nothing we’ve seen from Haskins suggests he’ll be the first guy to do it. Washington looked afraid to throw the football in the second half last Thursday with Haskins in, as he attempted just 5 passes in the second half despite the team trailing for the entire half. I’d be surprised if Haskins throws the ball more than 20 times, and even more surprised if he does anything productive with those throws.

RB Alexander Mattison, MIN (Wk. 9: @KC): Mattison did what I expected him to do last week and thrived in a game the Vikings won easily. Earlier this year you would not have pegged this game at Arrowhead as one the Vikings were likely to win easily, but with Matt Moore at QB it’s a very real possibility. The Chiefs have struggled against opposing backs, allowing the 4^th-most fantasy points per game to the position and ranking 30^th in run defense DVOA. All of this adds up to Mattison having some sleeper appeal, but I would struggle to pull the trigger on that this week. The Chiefs have played better than I would’ve expected with Moore at QB, and Mattison needs the team to be up comfortably to get significant touches. With a price tag of $5,000 on DraftKings, he’s a little too expensive to be a sneaky option in GPP tournaments for me.

RB Benny Snell, PIT (Wk. 9: vs. Ind.): Snell exited Monday night’s game with a knee injury and seems to be at best very questionable for Sunday’s tilt with the Colts. James Conner was hurt as well, but early reports make it sound like Conner has a better chance of suiting up this week than Snell. The guy who should pick up the slack is Jaylen Samuels, who will serve as the lead back if Conner is unable to go. There is some upside here with the Colts ranking 29^th in run defense DVOA, so Snell has some minor sleeper appeal if he plays and Conner doesn’t, but he would still be the change of pace back to Samuels in that case. He’s probably best left on the bench this week even if he does play.

WR Terry McLaurin, WAS (Wk. 9: @Buf.): Some of you might not have the luxury of being able to sit McLaurin and as Washington’s WR1 there is still at least a little upside here, but I list him in the ‘Rookies to Sit’ section to drive home just how unfavorable this spot is for him. If Haskins starts it’ll be hard to justify starting McLaurin. The Bills allow the 5^th-fewest WR points per game and the total passing volume for Washington would be limited. The Bills haven’t allowed a receiver touchdown this season and have only allowed 3 receivers all year to average 15 yards per catch or more: Josh Gordon (3-46), Allen Hurns (3-53) and Alshon Jeffery (4-64). If McLaurin has a limited number of targets, it’s going to be hard to put up big yards or TDs in this one. If Keenum plays, McLaurin becomes more of a low-ceiling borderline play, but this could be a tough week for the F1.

WR AJ Brown, TEN (Wk. 9: @Car.): Ryan Tannehill reminded us last week that he’s still Ryan Tannehill and made any of us who believed in the offensive resurgence the Titans showed in week 7 look like fools. Brown salvaged his fantasy day with a touchdown, but 3 targets isn’t the kind of volume that fantasy winners thrive on. The Panthers have been a better pass defense than you might realize, ranking 3^rd in the league in pass defense DVOA. Look for the Titans to focus on the ground game for much of this one, making Brown more of a TD dart throw again this week.

WR Deebo Samuel, SF (Wk. 9: @Ari.): The 49ers have been scheming the ball into Deebo’s hands, which is exciting to see, but this offense isn’t high-volume enough to have 3 fantasy-viable pass catchers, and the top 2 look to clearly be George Kittle and Emmanuel Sanders. Samuel will have weeks where finds the end zone and/or has nice production, but this is unlikely to be one of those weeks with the Niners favored by double-digits. It should be a lot of Tevin Coleman, Matt Breida, and even some Raheem Mostert this week.

WR Mecole Hardman, KC (Wk. 9: vs. Min.): Hardman managed to produce a long touchdown on Sunday night, but he did so on just 2 targets while splitting WR3 snaps with Demarcus Robinson due to the return of Sammy Watkins. With Matt Moore under center that is about the best performance you can expect from Hardman. He’ll be a TD dart throw once again this week. The Vikings have allowed just 2 pass plays of 40+ yards all year, and if I had to bet on a Chief to put up a 3^rd one it would be Tyreek Hill. There are likely safer options available this week than Hardman.

WR Hunter Renfrow, OAK (Wk. 9: vs. Det.): This isn’t the worst spot to hope for Renfrow to build on what he did last week, but almost all of his production came on one long play that isn’t likely to be repeated this week. The Lions have struggled with slot receivers, but most of the guys they have had those issues with have been much more proven than Renfrow (Golden Tate, Keenan Allen, Larry Fitzgerald). That one TD accounted for more than 30% of Renfrow’s PPR points for the season. Outside of that play he has just 17 catches for 138 yards in 7 games. Don’t chase a repeat performance that isn’t coming.

WR Olabisi Johnson, MIN (Wk. 9: @ KC): All signs point to Adam Thielen returning to the lineup Sunday, so Bisi Johnson should return to your league’s waiver wire. There won’t be a ton of opportunity for him in the pass game with Diggs and Thielen on the field, and this week’s opponent allows the 7^th-fewest WR points per game.

WR Jakobi Meyers, NE (Wk. 9: @Bal.): As expected, the Mohamed Sanu trade has impacted Meyers’ playing time. He saw the field for just 25 offensive snaps last week, the fewest he’s played since week 4, and was targeted just twice. I would expect that number to go down further as Sanu gets more acclimated to the offense. The Ravens haven’t been a pass defense to fear, but they’re getting healthier and Meyers isn’t likely to have a useful fantasy day on just a couple targets.

WR Miles Boykin, BAL (Wk. 9: vs. NE): Boykin posted his best yardage game of the year headed into the bye in week 7 (55 yards against Seattle), but he still hasn’t seen more than 3 targets or 2 catches in any game this season, and the Ravens didn’t have Marquise Brown for 2 of them. He continues to be a complementary player that isn’t getting enough usage to be trusted in fantasy lineups.

WR Parris Campbell, IND (Wk. 9: @Pit.): Campbell returned from his abdominal injury last weekend, but he’s got more work to do to get back into the receiver rotation in Indy. He played just 8 snaps in week 8 and was targeted only once. The Steelers have long been a team to target with slot receivers, but I would need to see Campbell be more involved in the offense before using him in any format.

WRs KeeSean Johnson & Andy Isabella, ARI (Wk. 9: vs. SF): There isn’t a whole lot to say about this duo. With Christian Kirk back this week, Johnson was a healthy scratch and Isabella played just one offensive snap. I’d love to see Isabella to get a chance at some extended run in this offense before the year is out, but there’s no way to be sure that happens at this point.

TE Irv Smith Jr., MIN (Wk. 9: @KC): Smith has seen his snap percentage grow for 4 consecutive weeks and has multiple targets in each of the past 3 games, but his role just isn’t big enough to count on him in fantasy yet. The Chiefs are a decent defense against tight ends. Darren Fells is the only tight end to reach 40 yards against them since week 3, and they have given up just one touchdown to the position all year. Smith should be glued to your bench if you have him anywhere.

TE Noah Fant, DEN (WK. 9: vs. Cle.): Fant set new season highs last week with 8 targets and 5 catches, but he still finished with just 26 yards and was the PPR TE15. This outing still should have been reason for optimism with Fant’s role growing with Emmanuel Sanders gone, but that optimism is dashed by the new man under center. While we may not like Joe Flacco to be the QB for our fantasy players, I don’t believe Brandon Allen will prove to be an upgrade. Allen has never thrown a pass in an NFL regular season game, and over the past two preseasons with the Rams averaged just 5.8 yards per attempt while posting just 1 TD and 5 picks. Until further notice, the only Denver pass catcher worth considering is Courtland Sutton.

TE Foster Moreau, OAK (Wk. 9: vs. Det.): Moreau is no more than a TD dart throw against a defense that has only allowed 2 scores to the tight end position this year. Moreau’s playing time took a small dip last week as the Raiders played more 3 receiver sets. I’d wouldn’t expect that to be the norm moving forward though. The Lions have had issues with backup tight ends this year, allowing Deon Yelder to go 2-43, Marcedes Lewis to go 2-50, and Irv Smith to go 5-60 all within their last 4 team games. I’d still avoid Moreau this week if possible.

TE Dawson Knox, BUF (Wk.9: vs. Was.): With Tyler Kroft healthy for the first time this year, Knox played his lowest snap total of the year (28 snaps) and wasn’t targeted once. This looks like it’ll be a time share moving forward that favors Kroft. I wouldn’t expect Knox to consistently see zero targets, but his volume isn’t a sure enough thing to trust him in lineups.

TE Josh Oliver, JAX (Wk. 9: vs. Hou. (London)): Oliver has been back on the field for two weeks now. In those two weeks he’s played 55 offensive snaps but totaled just 1 catch for 6 yards on 2 targets. His role may expand in the coming weeks but there isn’t enough there right now to consider him in lineups.

Rookies on Byes: QB Ryan Finley, CIN, RB Darrell Henderson, LAR

Deep League Sleepers, Stashes, and Cheap DFS Options:

QB Brett Rypien, DEN (Wk. 9: vs. Cle.): It sounds as though it will be Rypien, and not 1^st round pick Drew Lock that will be activated to serve as backup to Brandon Allen with Flacco sidelined for the next month plus. I wouldn’t be surprised to see head coach Vic Fangio have a quick hook for Allen if things go poorly, and I think Rypien could potentially thrive in the same ways that Gardner Minshew has. Rypien doesn’t have the arm strength that Drew Lock does, but he was a 4-year starter at Boise State that was a consistently efficient passer and shouldn’t be a deer in headlights if given the chance to play. Allen was a one-year wonder in college, and as I mentioned earlier, he has 1 TD and 5 INTs in the 8 preseason games he’s played in. I liked Rypien more than Lock prior to the draft, and I’m hopeful to see him get a shot here. If you’re in a really deep 2-QB league, Rypien might be worth a stash this week to see if he gets a chance.

RB Ty Johnson, DET (Wk. 9: @Oak.): Johnson’s role in week 8 was a frustrating one for fantasy players who made him a priority on the waiver wire. It was Tra Carson getting the early down work and somehow even Paul Perkins mixed in a bit as Johnson found his way to just 38 scrimmage yards and 4.8 PPR points. There is hope for Johnson this week though. He was easily the most impressive back for Detroit in that game and had 21 yards nixed by penalties. Importantly for this week, Johnson and McKissic are the only Lions RBs getting targets in the passing game. The Raiders allow the 7^th-most catches and 10^th-most receiving yards to the position. There will be opportunities for Johnson to make an impact. I’m not sure he’s worth playing anywhere outside of really deep leagues and possibly a GPP DFS tournament, but I like his chances at a much better performance this week.

RB Tony Pollard, DAL (Wk. 9: @NYG): The Cowboys enter this week as a 7-point favorite and have had an extra week to get ready for the Giants after appearing to get themselves right in a week 7 drubbing of the Eagles. Pollard didn’t find a ton of running room against Philly, totaling just 28 yards on 8 carries, but the Eagles are one of the best run defenses in the league and Pollard played more snaps in that contest than he had in the previous 3 combined. The Giants aren’t a complete pushover against the run, but they are significantly worse than Philadelphia. They rank 12^th in run defense DVOA and have allowed the 13^th-most RB points per game. If Dallas controls this game as expected, Pollard has a good chance at double-digit touches and should be in play in the deepest leagues.

WR Preston Williams, MIA (Wk. 9: vs. NYJ): This isn’t a bad week to take a shot on Preston Williams in deep leagues and GPP tournaments. $4,200 is an extremely reasonable price tag on DraftKings for a guy that is averaging 8 targets per game in his last 5. The Jets rank 21^st in pass defense DVOA and allow the 8^th-most WR points per game. One of these weeks it will be Williams’ turn to find the end zone, but he offers a nice floor this week with upside for people looking for a bye week fill-in in deeper leagues.

WR Darius Slayton, NYG (Wk. 9: vs. Dal.): This will sound a bit like point chasing after Slayton scored 2 TDs last week on just 2 catches, but I think people are going to overlook the rookie with Sterling Shepard returning. Slayton was targeted 5 times the last time both Shepard & Tate played together, and clearly the team likes going to him in the red zone. He’s averaging 17 air yards per target, which means he only needs a few balls thrown his way to post a nice game. I would probably avoid Slayton in season-long leagues, but at just $3,800 on DraftKings, I like him as a guy who will have really low ownership rates in DFS tournaments and has the potential for another strong day.

TE TJ Hockenson, DET (Wk. 9: @Oak.): If there was ever a week to take a shot on Hockenson returning some value, this is it. The Raiders have been beaten up by tight ends this year, giving up 63 yards per game to the position and 6 scores in 7 games. Only the Cardinals and Bucs allow more fantasy points to the position. It’s been rough out there for TJ since putting up 131 yards in the opener. He has just 109 total yards since and hasn’t eclipsed 32 yards in any one game in that span. You’re not playing him expecting big yardage. You’re just hoping he scores a TD.

That’s all I’ve got for this week. Hopefully, it helps you with the toughest decisions you have this week involving the rookies. Keep a close eye on the injury report throughout the week and make sure everyone in your lineups is good to go, and don’t forget that the Jaguars/Texans game this week is at 8:30 AM CT in London, so if you have any players on those teams make sure you are on top of setting your lineup. If you have any specific questions or just want to yell at me about what is 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! We’ve made it to the final week bye week of the season. Hopefully you’re in good playoff position heading into this week. Week 11 had some exciting new developments, including the continued breakout of Deebo Samuel and the debut of N’Keal Harry, but let’s not live in the past. Let’s look at what to expect from week 12…

Rookies to Start:

RB Josh Jacobs, OAK (Wk. 12: @NYJ): As usual, Jacobs is an obvious start this week. He’s not quite a chalk DFS play, but he should be a fine fantasy starter in this one. The Jets have been tough on running backs for a team with just 3 wins. They’ve allowed the 13^th fewest RB PPR points per game and rank 2^nd in Football Outsiders’ run defense DVOA stat, but the Raiders should feed Jacobs once again. They’re a 3-point road favorite and should have no problem keeping the game script at least neutral. Jacobs has run for 110 or more yards in 4 of his past 6 games and has multiple receptions in 6 of his last 7.

RB Miles Sanders, PHI (Wk. 12: vs. Sea.): Sanders didn’t exactly have the breakout game we all hoped for last weekend with Jordan Howard out, but I like his chances to have that big day this week if Howard sits again. New England is one of the toughest RB matchups in the league because they allow the 2^nd lowest RB receiving production in the league. The Seahawks aren’t a complete pushover, allowing the 11^th-fewest RB points per game, but they rank just 16^th in run defense DVOA and allow the 11^th-highest yards per rush attempt. They’ve also allowed 3 backs this year to reach 8+ catches and 60+ receiving yards in a game. If Sanders gets a full workload he should be a safe RB2 with so many backs out of commission this week. If Howard plays, he falls to more of an RB3 or flex option.

WR DK Metcalf, SEA (Wk. 12: @Phi.): On the other side of the Philly-Seattle game, DK Metcalf looks poised to have a strong week facing a secondary that allows the 7^th-most WR PPR points per game. Metcalf has been playing at a high level lately, and the Seahawks will have Tyler Lockett playing at less than 100%. In his last 4 games, Metcalf has turned 33 targets into 19-259-3. DK is a little pricey to be a sneaky DFS play this week, but he should be a strong WR3 and passable WR3 in a smash spot this week.

Borderline Rookies: 

RB Devin Singletary, BUF (Wk. 12: vs. Den.): Singletary has become the clear lead back in Buffalo, and in a week with numerous injuries and byes at the top of the position, he has to be in RB2 consideration, but the matchup is a bit dicey this week. The Broncos allow the 12^th-fewest RB points per game and haven’t allowed more than 76 rushing yards to an opposing back since week 4 (Marlon Mack hit 76 against them in week 8). They also rank 6^th in run defense DVOA. Singletary remains a solid option and a decent bet to reach double-digit PPR points, but his ceiling isn’t exciting this week. 

RB David Montgomery, CHI (Wk. 12: vs. NYG): You know the drill with Montgomery. The usage has been there, but the rushing efficiency hasn’t. He’s averaged 4 yards per carry or more in a game just twice this season. Monty has had at least 14 carries and 15 touches in each of the last 4 games, and with Chicago favored by almost a touchdown this week I’d expect that streak to be safe, but he’ll likely finish as a low-end RB2 if he doesn’t get into the end zone. The Giants have given up just 8 RB scores on the year (rushing or receiving). The volume will make Montgomery a passable floor play with the hope for more.

WR Deebo Samuel, SF (Wk. 12: vs. GB): There is a lot up in the air this week for the 49ers offense with regard to injuries. Samuel, Emmanuel Sanders, Matt Breida, and George Kittle are all not taking contact yet as of Thursday. The 49ers seem to have found something in Samuel, so he should be a solid WR3 option even in a tough matchup with Green Bay if he plays, but if you have safe options that play earlier in the day it would probably make sense to get them in the lineup rather than wait on Deebo. The Packers allow the 8^th-fewest WR points per game.

WR Marquise Brown, BAL (Wk. 12: @LAR): Brown is more of a ceiling play than anything this week. The Rams have been ok against opposing wide receivers, limiting them to the 13^th-fewest PPR points per game, but Brown is likely to have to tangle with Jalen Ramsey for much of this game. Julio Jones is the only team WR1 to reach 70 yards against the Rams since week 4. Brown’s deep threat skills make him an intriguing upside option, but this week could be a tough one for him if he doesn’t get a deep ball.

WR Terry McLaurin, WAS (Wk. 12: vs. Det.): McLaurin got back on track to some degree last week, totaling 69 yards on just 4 targets against the Jets. He also had a 67-yard catch nixed by a penalty. All in all, it was a good sign for McLaurin moving forward. He gets another plus matchup this week against a Lions’ secondary that has been cooked lately, allowing five 80+ yard receiving days and 7 WR touchdowns in their last 5 games. McLaurin is in play as a WR3 in a favorable matchup, but beware there is still a low floor given the shaky QB play he’s getting.

WR Hunter Renfrow, OAK (Wk. 12: @NYJ): Renfrow has fully emerged as a weekly PPR WR3 streamer over the last few weeks. The Raiders have actively looked to involve him in the passing game, and he gets a great matchup this week. In his last 4 games he’s gone 19-250-2 on 22 targets. He gets to face the Jets this week, who allow the 2^nd-most WR points per game. I’d expect a double-digit PPR output from Renfrow this week, putting him back in that WR3 range.

TE Noah Fant, DEN (Wk. 12: @Buf.): Fant will be an interesting option at the tail end of the TE1 range this week. With Hunter Henry and Travis Kelce on byes this week, the TE position is a little uglier than usual. The Bills have been as tough a matchup as there is for tight ends this year. They’ve given up just 1 touchdown to the position, allowed only 1 TE to catch more than 4 passes, and only 1 to top 50 receiving yards, and they weren’t the same tight end. Fant has been on a bit of a tear since the Broncos traded Emmanuel Sanders and Jeff Heuerman has been hurt. In the last 3 weeks, Fant has been targeted 23 times and totaled 12-201-1. The usage should be there even in the tough matchup. Fant’s ceiling won’t be great, but he has a reasonable shot at being the second tight end to reach 50 yards against Buffalo.

Rookies to Sit: 

QB Daniel Jones, NYG (Wk. 12: @Chi.): Jones has been a road warrior this season, averaging 24.5 fantasy points per road start compared with 11.25 points per home start, but that largely is a result of who his opponents were. His 3 blowup performances came against the defenses that allow the 2^nd, 4^th and 11^th-most points per game to opposing QBs. This week’s opponent allows the 5^th-fewest and have allowed just 9 passing scores in 10 games. Jones has turned the ball over 11 times in his last 5 starts. He’ll need rushing production to make him even a worthwhile QB2 play this week in a brutal matchup. If you’re considering Jones in a 1 QB format you’re doing yourself a disservice this week.

QB Ryan Finley, CIN (Wk. 12: vs. Pit.): Finley had a prime opportunity to have a decent game last week and he fell horribly flat, completing just 42% of his passes for 115 yards, zero TDs and a pick. This week he’ll face a Steelers’ defense that has held 5 of their last 7 opponents to fewer than 200 passing yards and forced 16 QB turnovers in those games. If Finley were your last option in a superflex league, I’d consider starting a non-QB instead.

RB Ty Johnson, DET (Wk. 12: @Was.): Johnson returned from his injury last weekend, but he didn’t return to his normal role. I think Bo Scarbrough’s early down role might become the new normal in Detroit rather than a one-game fluke. Both Ty Johnson and JD McKissic are more built to be third down backs rather than early down grinders. Washington has given up the 5^th-most rushing yards per game to opposing backs, and I’d look more to the new guy Scarbrough to be the best fantasy option in the Lions’ backfield this week. 

RB Tony Pollard, DAL (Wk. 12: @NE): It was nice to see Pollard get into the end zone last week and make the most of his opportunities, but the Cowboys enter week 12 as a touchdown underdog and Pollard doesn’t get opportunities when the Cowboys are behind. 37 of his 51 carries this season have come with Dallas in the lead (27 of them with a multiple score lead) and 8 of his 11 targets came with the team ahead as well. This week’s opponent, the Patriots, allow the fewest RB points per game and allow fewer than 30 running back receiving yards per game. There isn’t much upside for Pollard here even if he gets a boost in playing time.

RB Qadree Ollison, ATL (Wk. 12: vs. TB): Ollison found the end zone last week, but it would be tough to roll the dice on a repeat performance. He was the 3^rd option in the run game behind Brian Hill and Kenjon Barner, so you’re just hoping for a goal line carry or 2 if you play him. The Bucs allow the 3^rd-fewest RB points per game and rank 1^st in run defense DVOA. I’d look elsewhere if desperate for a running back this week.

RB Ryquell Armstead, JAX (Wk. 12: @Ten.): It was nice to see Armstead get a couple targets again in the passing game, but he’s still only seeing a handful of snaps and a few touches per game. There isn’t enough production to consider him unless Fournette misses time.

RB Myles Gaskin, MIA (Wk. 12: @Cle.): Gaskin is fighting for scraps in one of the worst offenses in the league. No running back on the team saw more than one carry other than Kalen Ballage despite Ballage being his usual inefficient self. Gaskin has played just 12 snaps in the two weeks he’s been active. Even with Mark Walton being cut from the team, there isn’t a reason to take a flyer on Gaskin.

WR Darius Slayton, NYG (Wk. 12: @Chi.): The last time we saw Slayton he was roasting the Jets for 10-121-2 on 15 targets. It was an impressive performance to be sure, but it’ll be tough for him to produce anywhere close to that this week. Sterling Shepard is practicing in full and is expected to clear the concussion protocol in time to play this week, and Evan Engram has an outside shot at suiting up as well. Shepard was targeted 9 times in each of the 3 games he played with Daniel Jones, including one that Golden Tate was active for. I still think Slayton is in line for a decent workload (5-7 targets), but the Bears allow the 2^nd-fewest WR PPR points per game and Slayton is a bit overpriced to be a cheap DFS option ($5,300 on DraftKings). You could play Slayton if you’re desperate, but with Shepard back and the tough matchup I’d look for a safer option.

WR AJ Brown, TEN (Wk. 12: vs. Jax.): I’d love to tell you that Brown is a sneaky option this week, but the Titans’ passing game just hasn’t been trustworthy all year and Jacksonville has allowed just one wide receiver to reach 70 yards in their last 4 games. The return of Corey Davis should also take away some of Brown’s target share. If Brown manages to top 50 yards this week it would be a bit of an upset.

WR Jakobi Meyers, NE (Wk. 12: vs. Dal.): With N’Keal Harry active for the first time last Sunday, Meyers was relegated to the 5^th WR role for the Pats. He did still play 19 snaps but managed just 1 catch for 7 yards on 2 targets. As Harry gets more integrated into the offense, Meyers is going to find it harder to make a fantasy impact. Meyers would slide into the sleeper category for this week if Dorsett doesn’t play, but it’s still a low upside spot with the Cowboys allowing the 3^rd-fewest WR points per game.

WR Parris Campbell, IND (Wk. 12: @Hou.): It sounds like Campbell may return from his abdominal injury this week, and he would’ve been an interesting sleeper this week if TY Hilton were still out, but Hilton’s return renders Campbell an afterthought for fantasy purposes this week. Monitor his production this week, but he’ll be hard to actually use in any lineups.

TE TJ Hockenson, DET (Wk. 12: @Was.): You might be able to get away with Hockenson as a fill-in tight end this week, but he’s been a disappointment more often than not. Washington was eviscerated by the tight ends of the Jets last week, but prior to last week hadn’t allowed any tight end to reach 60 yards and had only allowed 2 TE scores. Hockenson hasn’t topped 4 catches in any game since week one, and has only reached 50 yards once and has just 1 score since then. There are other tight ends you can find that would be a better option this week.

TE Foster Moreau, OAK (Wk. 12: @NYJ): Moreau continues to get in the end zone every other week, but his usage continues to render him almost unplayable. His snap share has been solid, playing about 40% of the offensive snaps or higher every week, but in the last 4 games he’s totaled just 4-21-2 on 6 targets. If he doesn’t get in the end zone, he’ll give you close to a goose egg, and the Jets have allowed just 2 tight end scores all year.

Rookies on Byes: QB Kyler Murray, ARI, RB Alexander Mattison, MIN, RB Darwin Thompson, KC, WR Andy Isabella, ARI, WR KeeSean Johnson, ARI, WR Bisi Johnson, MIN, WR Mecole Hardman, KC, TE Irv Smith Jr., MIN

Deep League Sleepers, Stashes, and Cheap DFS Options: 

QB Dwayne Haskins, WAS (Wk. 12: vs. Det.): I know…I feel dirty even considering recommending Haskins in a fantasy lineup, but if there was ever a week for him to come through, this is it. The Lions have given up multiple passing TDs in 6 straight games, and 3+ passing scores in 4 of the last 5. They’ve also given up 280+ passing yards in 5 of them and haven’t picked off a pass since week 6. This could be a get right spot for their defense, or it could be Dwayne Haskins’ first useful fantasy week. Haskins has sneaky upside in 2QB leagues as a desperation streamer.

RB Patrick Laird, MIA (Wk. 12: @Cle): You know you’re grasping at straws a bit if you’re considering the backup running back for the Dolphins for your lineup, but you have to figure the Dolphins are only going to put up with Kalen Ballage running for 2 yards per carry for so long before they decide to see what someone else can do. The player with the best chance to be that ‘someone else’ right now is Laird. Myles Gaskin was a more prolific runner in college and was the only one of the pair that was drafted, but the usage on Sunday made it clear that Laird is more likely to benefit than Gaskin if the Dolphins shift some of the work away from Ballage. He out-snapped Gaskin 16-7, and more importantly was the guy on the field during the hurry-up garbage time offense. He totaled 6 catches for 51, and although 4 of them came on the team’s final drive he showed enough that he should get some extended run this week. He was a prolific pass catcher in college with 96 receptions and 5 receiving TDs in his last 2 seasons at Cal, and he should get a chance to showcase that skill more going forward. With the numerous unavailable running backs this week, Laird is an interesting dart throw if you’re desperate for a fill-in RB in PPR leagues.

WR Diontae Johnson, PIT (Wk. 12: @Cin.): I feel like Diontae should be held out of this week’s game just on principle after he suffered a concussion that left him BLEEDING FROM HIS EAR on Thursday, but it sounds like there is a real chance he clears the protocol in time for the game. If he plays, he has to at least be in consideration for a WR3/flex spot with JuJu Smith-Schuster likely out. The Bengals rank 31^st in pass defense DVOA, and Johnson would be the default number 1 or 2 receiver along with James Washington. Keep a close eye on the injury report, but Johnson is a sneaky streamer if he plays.

WR Scotty Miller, TB (Wk. 12: @Atl.): Miller jumped onto the fantasy radar with 7 targets in a game back in week 6 with Breshad Perriman sidelined, but he fell back into obscurity for a few weeks once Perriman returned (just 6 total targets in weeks 8, 9 and 10). In week 11 he resurfaced. Miller was on the field for 51% of the offensive snaps without a Perriman injury and managed to post 4-71 on 6 targets. It may feel like chasing points to consider Miller this week, but he gets to face an Atlanta defense that has allowed the 6^th-most WR PPR points per game and costs just $100 more than the minimum on DraftKings. The Falcons have struggled to defend the slot this year. 3 of the 4 100-yard receiving days they allowed were to players that play significant snaps in the slot (Michael Thomas, Tyler Lockett and Nelson Agholor). They also gave up 3-72 to Keke Coutee, 6-69 to Larry Fitzgerald and 8-65-1 to TY Hilton.

WR N’Keal Harry, NE (Wk. 12: vs. Dal.): Harry is worth looking at this week if you’re desperate for a WR in deeper leagues, and he’s worth a stash after seeing his usage in his NFL debut. Harry played almost an even split with Mohamed Sanu & Phillip Dorsett behind Julian Edelman and was tied for 3^rd on the team with 4 targets. It’s a really encouraging sign to see him so involved right away, and now Sanu is expected to miss multiple weeks with injury and Dorsett is questionable for week 12 with a concussion. The Cowboys are a tough matchup, allowing the 3^rd-fewest WR points per game, but there should be plenty of opportunity for Harry if Dorsett is out. At just $3,300 on DraftKings, he’ll be a fun & inexpensive upside option in DFS tournaments. There will be more favorable matchups ahead to use Harry in later this season if he shows out in his extended opportunity this week (Houston, Kansas City, Cincinnati).

WR Kelvin Harmon, WAS (Wk. 12: vs. Det.): Keep an eye on Paul Richardson’s status for week 12. With Richardson out last week, Harmon was a near every-down player and found a nice rhythm with Dwayne Haskins. Harmon totaled 5-53 on 6 targets and gets to face a Detroit defense this week that allows the 10^th-most PPR points per game to WRs. At just $3,300 on DraftKings, he offers plenty of upside for DFS tournaments if Richardson is out again.

TE Dawson Knox, BUF (Wk. 12: vs. Den.): Knox found the end zone for the first time since week 3 last Sunday and played his second highest snap share of the season. The targets left something to be desired, but Knox gets another favorable matchup this week. The tight end position is the best way to attack the Broncos. They’re a top-5 defense against QBs and WRs, and a top-12 defense against RBs. Tight end is the only position they are in the bottom half of the league at defending. Knox makes for a reasonable fill-in this week if you’re struggling for a tight end.

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.