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Welcome back to the Rookie Report! Week 11 was yet another nightmare week for injuries. Season-ending injuries (or at least potentially season-ending) were suffered by Jay Cutler, Gio Bernard, Zach Miller, Cody Kessler, and CJ Prosise, while less severe injuries befell AJ Green, Darren Sproles, Ryan Mathews, Stefon Diggs, Andrew Luck, Mark Ingram and Robert Woods. It's likely creating some messes for your fantasy lineups, but it also is creating opportunity for several members of this year's rookie crop. Your decisions this week are likely pretty important with just 2 regular season fantasy games left in most leagues. Before I dive in to the rookie matchups, I wanted to put out a quick reminder: The players below are listed in the order I would want to play them within each position level. There are several comparable players listed as 'Borderline' this week, so I wanted to make sure to clarify that in this all-important week. With that out of the way, let's take a look at the week 12 slate:

Rookies to Start:

QB Dak Prescott, DAL (Wk. 12: vs. Was.): It's getting hard to not trust Dak at this point. He's had the safest floor of anyone not named Brees or Brady with 17+ fantasy points in 9 straight (all point totals are in ESPN standard scoring). He's been taking his production to another level over the past month. He's been the QB5, QB7, QB10, and QB4 in the 4 games since the Cowboys' bye. Washington isn't a defense to be afraid of. They rank in the middle of the pack in points allowed to opposing QBs and 17th in Football Outsiders' pass defense DVOA stat, which measures efficiency. Prescott should once again be a top-10 option.

RB Ezekiel Elliott, DAL (Wk. 12: vs. Was.): Like Prescott, Zeke has proven to have a rock-solid floor, and he's shown an even higher ceiling than his QB. He's gotten to the point where he is a ‘set it & forget it’ option at running back each week. Elliott leads the NFL in rushing yards and the Washington ranks 29th in run defense DVOA. Zeke is a strong RB1 option once again.

RB Jordan Howard, CHI (Wk. 12: vs. Ten.): Howard should see a ton of volume this week with Jay Cutler and Alshon Jeffery both out, and he is averaging over 5 yards per carry on the season. His efficiency is likely to suffer this week as the Titans stack the box and pay no mind to Matt Barkley. Tennessee allows the 9th-fewest RB points per game, so the sledding may be tough, but volume should be enough to get Howard to RB2 status.

WR Michael Thomas, NO (Wk. 12: vs. LA): A home game for New Orleans means you should get all of your Saints pass catchers into the lineup. That didn't apply for Thomas vs. Denver, but it should apply here. The Rams' overall numbers vs. WRs have been decent, but they've been vulnerable on the road, allowing over 30 WR points in 3 of their 5 road games. New Orleans should have a great chance to make it 4 of 6. Thomas should be a safe WR3 this week.

Borderline Rookies:

QB Carson Wentz, PHI (Wk. 12: vs. GB): The recent implosion of the Green Bay defense makes Wentz tempting, but he’s been pretty hard to trust thanks to his recent track record. The Packers have allowed over 280 passing yards in each of their past 4 games, and 12 TD passes in that stretch, but Wentz has just 4 TDs and 8 turnovers in his past 6 games. He’s also averaged less than 5 yards per attempt in 3 of his last 5. There’s potential for a decent game here, but I view Wentz as more of a QB2 streamer this week. It would be a pretty big leap of faith to trust him as a QB1 this week despite the great matchup.

RB Devontae Booker, DEN (Wk. 12: vs. KC): Booker is flex-worthy this week despite struggling in his last 2 games before the Broncos’ bye. He did play 71% of the offensive snaps in week 10 and handled a robust 26 touches. I’d expect him to still be operating as Denver’s clear lead back this week, and the Chiefs allow the 8th-most yards per carry to opposing backs and rank 21^st in run defense DVOA. The only thing stopping me from listing him as a guy to start is his recent inefficient play.

RB Rob Kelley, WAS (Wk. 12: @Dal.): I love the way Kelley is playing lately, and he certainly has a vice-grip on the starting RB job in Washington after his impressive 31-point performance Sunday night, but the matchup this week is a tough one. Kelley isn’t an explosive runner. He gets by on run volume alone and is a non-factor in the passing game. Dallas’s ball control offense has limited opposing running backs to just 16.4 attempts per game (fewest allowed in the league), and only 2 teams have had more than 18 attempts against them. The volume will be a bit thin this week for ‘Fat Rob’ Kelley. The offense is still good enough to set him up for a short TD or 2, but he will likely be a disappointment if he doesn’t find the end zone.

RB Wendell Smallwood, PHI (Wk. 12: vs. GB): The Eagles’ backfield is pretty banged up coming out of week 11, and that could make Smallwood the starter this week by default. Early reports have made it sound like Ryan Mathews is unlikely to play with an ankle injury, and Darren Sproles is likely to play through a rib injury. If that situation holds, I still like Smallwood as a streamer in deeper leagues. He would see plenty of early down work on a team that has the 8th-highest percentage of run plays called. Green Bay’s entire defense has been crumbling lately and has allowed 22, 27, 28, and 32 RB points in their past 4 games. They also lost starting inside linebacker Blake Martinez to injury Sunday night. I’d move Wendell to the ‘Start’ section if both Sproles & Mathews are out, and closer to ‘Sit’ if both play, but as things stand, he should be a fine streaming option in leagues with 12+ teams.

WR Tyler Boyd, CIN (Wk. 12: @Bal.): At the very least, Boyd is worth a pickup in just about all leagues. His role moving forward is still a little up in the air since Brandon LaFell seems like a more natural fit for the AJ Green role, but Boyd did have his best game of the year last week after Green went down. Also, LaFell missed practice on Wednesday and his status is in doubt for this week. I’d expect Cincy to lean on Jeremy Hill and the running game a bit more, but Boyd could fill some of the short passing game void left by the Gio Bernard injury. The Ravens rank 21^st in pass defense DVOA on short passes, which is an area where Boyd has performed well. He should be a safe WR3 in PPR formats, and will be a little less safe in standard leagues.

WR Sterling Shepard, NYG (Wk. 12: @Cle.): Shep has found the end zone in 3 straight games, has seen 7+ targets in 8 of the last 9 (6 targets in the other game), and faces the hapless Browns this week. The Browns clock in at 30^th in pass defense DVOA. It’s hard to fully trust Shepard as a locked-in starter until his yardage output increases. He’s been too touchdown dependent. Still, the number of targets he sees and the plus matchup will make him a borderline WR3 again.

WR Tajae Sharpe, TEN (Wk. 12: @Chi.): Sharpe has bounced back nicely from his early season woes with 58+ yards in 4 of his past 5 games, and 68 yards and a TD in each of the past 2. The Bears have allowed the 3rd-most wide receiver points per game and have allowed 150+ yards to the position in 8 of 10 games as well as 11 total TDs. Sharpe is on the WR 3/4 radar this week.

Rookies to Sit:

QB Jared Goff, LA (Wk. 12: @NO): I’d avoid Goff even in 2QB leagues despite what appears to be a good matchup in the Superdome. The matchup might not be quite as tempting as you’d expect. The Saints do rank a pretty poor 25^th in pass defense DVOA, but have allowed just 13.8 fantasy points per game in their past 4 contests (would be tied for 5th-fewest if it was their season average). Goff will be playing with training wheels on during his first few starts. He averaged just 4.3 yards per attempt last week, and while the game script should lead the Rams to be more pass-heavy, Jeff Fisher doesn’t always follow game script.

RB Kenneth Dixon, BAL (Wk. 12: vs. Cin.): Dixon remains a big part of the mix in the Ravens’ backfield as the snaps were almost an even split between he and Terrance West last Sunday. The Ravens did play much of that game from behind, however, and Dixon has been utilized much more on passing downs than in running situations. I would expect them to be in better shape on the scoreboard against the AJ Green-less Bengals. West gets the goal line carries, so there isn’t much TD upside for Dixon, and without it he’s going to be hard to trust this week. He’s had just one usable week thus far, and I don’t expect this to be number 2.

RBs DeAndre Washington & Jalen Richard, OAK (Wk. 12: vs. Car.): It was nice to see Richard find the end zone in week 11. Since DeAndre played just 4 snaps, it appears that there is some clarity in the Raiders' number 2 running back role. We've been down this road before, however. The Raiders have had no problem swapping the roles of these two without warning before, and there is no guarantee they won't do it this time. In any case, neither Washington nor Richard is a good option in a tough matchup with the Panthers, even if Richard remains the clear number 2 back.

RB Dwayne Washington, DET (Wk. 12: vs. Min.): Washington failed to produce against the lackluster Jaguars' run defense, putting up just 6 yards on 13 carries. The Vikings aren't any better at limiting fantasy points to opposing running backs than the Jags, but they rank 12th in run defense DVOA while Jacksonville ranks 23rd. You can't count on Dwayne to produce this week.

WR Tyreek Hill, KC (Wk. 12: @Den.): Hill’s volume should be decent once again if Maclin is unable to play for the 3^rd straight week, but the Broncos should be able to limit all of KC’s wide receivers. Denver ranks 1^st in overall pass defense DVOA, and also 1^st in pass defense DVOA on short throws, which are a big part of Hill’s game. He’s best left sidelined this week.

WR Robby Anderson, NYJ (Wk. 12: vs. NE): Anderson does have a little upside this week as he’s basically been operating as the Jets’ WR2, but he has yet to top 7 fantasy points in a game, has seen his QB change on an almost weekly basis, and faces the defense that allows the 7th-fewest WR points per game. He’s safe for 3-6 points, but not much more.

WR Will Fuller, HOU (Wk. 12: vs. SD): At this point you can’t trust Fuller until he proves he’s operating at full strength. He’s a speed merchant, so his value is being sapped drastically by his leg injury. He just put up a 1-17 line in a plus matchup last week. I would keep him firmly benched until he starts producing again.

WR Braxton Miller, HOU (Wk. 12: vs. SD): Miller played more snaps than Fuller last Monday, but he produced just 5 catches for 25 yards. He did find the end zone for the first time in his young career, but his snap share will drop as Fuller gets healthier and you can’t count on a weekly TD from anyone in this offense.

TE Austin Hooper, ATL (Wk. 12: vs. Ari.): With Jacob Tamme on IR, Hooper should take over as the starting tight end for the rest of the season. Unfortunately, he has a brutal matchup this week. The Cardinals haven't allowed a tight end TD all season, and they allow just 2.9 catches per game to the position. Only two teams have gained more than 50 yards with their TEs against Arizona. Some notable TE stat lines against them: Martellus Bennett 3-14, Jimmy Graham 5-53, Greg Olsen 1-11, and Kyle Rudolph 2-12. I find it hard to believe that Hooper will be the tight end to buck that trend.

TE Hunter Henry, SD (Wk. 12: @Hou.): Henry should be getting healthier and did score a touchdown heading into the bye week, but Antonio Gates is back in the saddle as the Chargers top TE, and the Texans allow the 5th-fewest TE points in the league. You can't trust Henry this week.

Deep League Sleepers, Stashes, and Cheap DFS Options:

RB Paul Perkins, NYG (Wk. 12: @Cle.): The Giants are a touchdown favorite on the road, so Perkins might see some extra work if the G-Men get out in front. The Browns rank just 30^th in run defense DVOA. There is a good amount of risk here after Perkins saw just 6 touches last weekend, but he has the upside to have a decent flex-worthy week.

RB Derrick Henry, TEN (Wk. 12: @Chi.): This is mostly a gut call with Henry. He was shelved last week as the Titans were playing catch up right out of the gate after falling into a 21-0 hole, but this week they’re 5-point road favorites in Chicago. The Bears are going to be starting Matt Barkley at QB, so falling way behind in this one seems highly unlikely. I expect the Titans to win easily, and for Henry to see a good amount of work once they get ahead. The Bears have been fairly solid against the run, allowing the 4^th fewest RB points per game, but they’ll be missing their leading tackler (Jerrell Freeman) due to a PED suspension. If the Titans win big like I think they can, Henry has a good chance to return RB2 value. He might be worth a roll of the dice in DFS tournaments.

RB Troymaine Pope, SEA (Wk. 12: @TB): Pope is just a stash for really deep leagues at this point as he battles through a high ankle sprain suffered last week. The Seahawks liked Pope enough to cut C-Mike loose to promote him from the practice squad, and the coaching staff has heaped praise on him. He hasn’t been productive yet, but he could have big value if anything happens to Thomas Rawls down the stretch. Keep an eye on his health situation.

WR Corey Coleman, CLE (Wk. 12: vs. NYG): Coleman probably has too prominent a role on his team to be called a ‘Sleeper,’ but I didn’t feel like he fit into the ‘Borderline’ or ‘Sit’ sections either. He hasn’t been very productive since returning from his broken hand, but if he keeps seeing 12 targets like he did last Sunday, he’s bound for a breakout game at some point. The Giants rank 2^nd in pass defense DVOA on throws to WR1s, which would be Terrelle Pryor for Cleveland, so there could be some opportunity for Coleman despite the tough matchup. If you want to roll the dice on him in a deeper league, there’s enough of a floor that he won’t kill you if he doesn’t go off.

WR Malcolm Mitchell, NE (Wk. 12: NYJ): This will undoubtedly feel like you’re chasing last week’s points after Mitchell’s 4-98-1 breakout game last week, but he’ll have big upside again if Chris Hogan sits once more. Hogan and Gronk are practicing Wednesday, so they might be able to play, but Brady did heap praise on the youngster and he likely earned himself more snaps going forward. The Jets rank 30^th in pass defense DVOA, and have allowed the 10th-most WR points per game, so Mitchell could be a WR3 if Hogan doesn’t suit up.

That's all I've got for this week. Hopefully, it helps with the tough lineup decisions this week. Keep a close eye on the injury report as the week wears on to make sure you don't start anyone who's not playing or anyone who's playing time depended on the starter being out. Also, if you're waiting on injury updates for Sunday, make sure to not use players in Thursday's games in flex spots if you can help it. It can allow for more flexibility with fill-ins if anyone ends up out at the last minute. If you have any specific questions, or just want to yell at me about anything included above, feel free to hit me up on twitter and let me know (@Shawn_Foss). As always: Good luck, trust your gut, and have fun. It's just a game. 

Welcome back to the Rookie Report! It’s been an interesting season through 10 weeks. The Zeke and Dak show rolled through another one of the better teams in the league last week. CJ Prosise, Rob Kelley, Wendell Smallwood, and Tyreek Hill all made good on increased opportunities, while one of the steadiest rookie performers took a step back (Michael Thomas). Above all else, the national TV games were actually exciting this week (if you don’t count the Thursday game). While it’s been a rough season for some of the highest drafted skill position rookies, one of them did get some good news this week as the Rams are finally making the move to Jared Goff at QB. Most feel that they waited too long to make the switch, but it’ll be fun to watch at any rate. Maybe Paxton Lynch will be next. Let’s jump in and see what we can expect from the rookies in week 11…

Rookies to Start:

RB Ezekiel Elliott, DAL (Wk. 11: vs. Bal.): The Ravens rank number one in Football Outsiders’ run defense DVOA stat which measures efficiency, and have allowed he fewest fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. None of that matters to Zeke. While he likely won’t duplicate last week’s monster game and isn’t exactly a chalk play in DFS this week, no matchup is daunting enough at this point to push him to your bench in season-long leagues.

RB Rob Kelley, WAS (Wk. 11: vs. GB): The Packers’ run defense that was so stout early on this season suddenly has looked vulnerable in recent weeks. They still rank 5^th in run defense DVOA, and are in the top-10 in limiting RB fantasy points, but they’ve given up a whopping 77 points to running backs in the past 3 games (all point totals are in ESPN standard scoring). It’s true that 23 of those points were given up in the passing game, where Kelley has little impact, but with the volume he’s seen lately Kelley should have no trouble being a usable RB2 this week.

WR Michael Thomas, NO (Wk. 11: @Car.): I think a bounce-back is in order for Thomas after a rough outing against Denver. He had tallied 50+ yards and/or a TD in every single game prior to week 10, and squared off with the best WR defense in the league last week. The Panthers are in the bottom third of the league vs. wide receivers, and Thomas managed to put up 5-78-1 in the Saints’ first meeting with Carolina. I expect something in that neighborhood again this week and think Thomas is back in play as a solid WR3 Thursday night.

Borderline Rookies:

QB Dak Prescott, DAL (Wk. 11: vs. Bal.): Prescott finished as the QB10 against Pittsburgh last week, but the matchup is a little tougher this week. The Ravens rank 6^th in pass defense DVOA, and allow the 7^th fewest QB fantasy points per game. Dak has shown to have a usable floor, with 17 points or more in 8 straight games, but he’s probably more of a high-end QB2 this week rather than a locked-in QB1.

RB Jordan Howard, CHI (Wk. 11: @NYG): I’m not buying the injury talk around Howard. Coach Fox said he was hurt after he was limited to just 2 carries for 11 yards in the second half last week. Howard rolled to 89 yards in the first half and claimed he didn’t suffer an injury when he was first asked. He’s since changed his tune to the company line, but there’s something more going on here. He is practicing in full this week and should suit up. If he’s the lead back this week as he should be, he’ll be a mid-level RB2 in a bit of difficult matchup, but the bogus injury claim makes me question if he will have his usual role in this one. The uncertainty is enough for me to drop him down a few spots to a borderline RB2/RB3 play.

RB CJ Prosise, SEA (Wk. 11: vs. Phi.): Prosise is a much better option for PPR leagues than standard this week. Thomas Rawls seems all but certain after the release of Christine Michael, and he likely will take a bigger chunk of the workload than Michael did last week. Pete Carroll has already claimed that Rawls will ‘play considerably’ in week 11. With a decreased role and a tougher matchup this week, Prosise will be hard-pressed to duplicate Sunday night’s results. The Eagles allow the 5th-fewest RB points per game. It isn’t all bleak for CJ. The Seahawks offense has been pass-heavy of late, and Prosise is still the best receiving back on the team. Also, the Eagles rank just 24^th in pass defense DVOA on throws to RBs. He should be good to go as a PPR flex, but I’d be cautious about using him in that capacity in standard leagues.

RB Kenneth Dixon, BAL (Wk. 11: @Dal.): Dixon was productive on 11 touches last week, and his snap share has been steadily increasing. He’s the superior passing down back of he and Terrance West, and the Cowboys have been allowing 54 receiving yards per game to running backs. West has just 12 catches for 77 yards in 9 games this season. Dixon has caught a pass on 41.7% of the plays in which he’s run a receiving route. There won’t be a ton of rushing volume for the rookie, but he is very much in play as a flex option in PPR leagues.

WR Tyreek Hill, KC (Wk. 11: vs. TB): Hill saw 13(!) targets last week with Jeremy Maclin sidelined, and Maclin hasn’t practiced all week and appears likely to be out again with a groin injury. The Bucs do rank 7^th in pass defense DVOA on short passes, which are Hill’s strength, but they also have allowed the 2nd-most WR fantasy points per game. With the volume Hill is likely to see, he should be a solid WR3 option in PPR leagues, and more of a borderline play in standard leagues. He did average just 8.9 yards per catch in week 10.

WR Sterling Shepard, NYG (Wk. 11: vs. Chi.): Shepard still isn’t producing big yardage numbers, but his target share remains steady and he’s found the end zone in each of the last 2 games. The Bears allow the most WR fantasy points per game in the league, so Shepard is a good bet as a floor WR3 again this week, and he gets a slight boost if Victor Cruz sits again (though that seems unlikely).

Rookies to Sit:

QB Carson Wentz, PHI (Wk. 11: @Sea.): The Seahawks have definitely seemed more vulnerable against the pass this year, allowing 200+ yards passing in each of their past 6 games, but they’ve allowed multiple passing TDs just once. Wentz has thrown just 2 TDs and turned the ball over 6 times in the past 5 games, and has just 1 game with over 240 yards since their week 4 bye. The Seahawks struggles make them a matchup you don’t have to avoid with good quarterbacks, but not one you should target with mediocre ones. Leave Wentz on the pine.

QB Jared Goff, LA (Wk. 11: vs. Mia.): It’s worth keeping an eye on Goff’s start to see how he fares against a middle-of-the-pack QB defense. We’ve seen other rookies have success right out of the gate in recent years. With that said, there’s no good way to justify starting a guy who has spent the past 10 weeks not being good enough to unseat Case Keenum. He should only be considered in leagues where EVERY starting QB is in a lineup.

RB Wendell Smallwood, PHI (Wk. 11: @Sea.): Smallwood had a surprising productive game in week 10, but he still played fewer snaps than both Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles. He disappeared for weeks after his first productive game this year, with a total of 53 scrimmage yards in the 5 games between his 70-yard outbursts. I’d expect him to fade back to being irrelevant this week.

RB Derrick Henry, TEN (Wk. 11: @Ind.): Henry remains a high-value handcuff for DeMarco Murray who won’t have much standalone value unless something were to happen to the starter. He saw a decent amount of work against Green Bay, but a lot of it was in garbage time with the Titans comfortably ahead. That’s not something you can count on each week with a 5-5 team, and he still only put up 3 fantasy points against the Packers.

RB Paul Perkins, NYG (Wk. 11: vs. Chi.): Perkins still hasn’t moved ahead of Rashad Jennings on the depth chart, and the Bears’ run defense has been better than you’d think. They’ve allowed the 4^th fewest RB fantasy points per game, and held 4 backfields to single-digit fantasy totals in their past 6 contests. Considering that Perkins will split that with Jennings, and will take the lesser part of the split, there isn’t a good reason to fire him up this week.

RBs DeAndre Washington & Jalen Richard, OAK (Wk. 11: vs. Hou.): The extreme elevation in Mexico City (it’s more than 2,000 feet higher above sea level than Denver) could cause the Raiders to give Latavius Murray some extra rest and even out the carries a bit between he and his backups, but there is no way to know if it will benefit Richard or Washington more. Playing either of them is playing with fire, and it isn’t something I’d recommend.

WR Corey Coleman, CLE (Wk. 11: vs. Pit.): Coleman is always liable to break out with a big game thanks to his big-play ability, but Kessler still hasn’t shown the arm to throw deep, and only 4 teams have allowed fewer 20+ yard pass plays than the Steelers have. This shapes up as more of a Terrelle Pryor week, as the Steelers rank 29^th in pass defense DVOA on throws to WR1’s, and 11^th on throws to WR2’s. There is upside, but I would probably steer clear if you have better options.

WR Tyler Boyd, CIN (Wk. 11: vs. Buf.): Boyd has topped 40 yards just twice all year, and only once in the past 7 games. The floor is really low, and there isn’t a ceiling to chase.

Rookies on Byes: RB Devontae Booker, DEN, WR Robby Anderson, NYJ, TE Hunter Henry, SD, TE Austin Hooper, ATL

Deep League Sleepers, Stashes, and Cheap DFS Options:

QB Cody Kessler, CLE (Wk. 11: vs. Pit.): I know, this is an odd call given I just said to sit one of his best wide receivers, but Kessler might make a decent floor QB2 this week. The Steelers have allowed 250+ passing yards in 8 of their 9 games this season, and 14+ QB points in 7 of them. The Browns’ passing game has been a bit of a mess lately, but Kessler should be getting more comfortable as he gains experience and continues to get used to having his full complement of weapons. I like Kessler’s chances at approaching 250 yards and throwing at least one TD…Those are hardly exciting numbers, but there is a chance for more.

RB Dwayne Washington, DET (Wk. 11: vs. Jax.): Washington is the clear number 2 back behind Theo Riddick in Detroit, and the Jaguars have been struggling mightily against the run of late. They’ve allowed over 150 rushing yards in 2 of their past 3 games, and rank 28^th in run defense DVOA for the year. If Washington sees 10 or more carries, he may creep into an RB3 day.

WR Will Fuller, HOU (Wk. 11: @Oak.): I know, Fuller isn’t exactly an unknown guy…but after putting up just 49 yards in the last 3 games he played and then sitting out 2 with injury, he’s probably off your radar a little. It doesn’t help that his QB Brock Osweiler is a complete bum. Fuller should return this week, and there are some things to like about this matchup. Although the Raiders haven’t allowed a top-20 receiver since week 5, they’ve allowed a league-high 11 pass plays of 40 or more yards in 9 games. Fuller is certainly the most likely Texan to come up with one of those. He’s a very risky boom-or-bust option. His floor is basically zero, but he could make a big impact with just one deep ball.

WR Tajae Sharpe, TEN (Wk. 11: @Ind.): Sharpe is another guy who, like Fuller, isn’t some new name you haven’t heard. He’s been a disappointment for much of the year despite basically being the Titans’ WR1. The Tennessee offense has gotten on a roll lately, and Sharpe’s numbers have finally started to stabilize. He’s had 58 or more yards in 3 of the past 4 games, and scored his first career TD last weekend. Delanie Walker will likely be the focal point this Sunday, but Sharpe is still playing a starter’s snaps and facing a defense that ranks 30^th in pass defense DVOA. He’s actually in play as a WR3 in deep leagues.

That’s all I’ve got for this week. Hopefully it helps you with some of your tougher lineup decisions this week. Keep an eye on the injury report with players like Jeremy Maclin, Jordan Howard, Will Fuller, and others who may affect your lineup. Feel free to hit me up on twitter if you have any specific questions or want to yell at me about anything included above (@Shawn_Foss). As always: Good luck, trust your gut, and have fun. It’s just a game.

Welcome back to the Rookie Report! If you're like me, you're going to need fantasy football to distract you from the nightmare our country brought down on us on election night. We're getting close to the final playoff push, so if you're not mathematically eliminated from contention yet, keep grinding. You might just wind up fighting your way back in. There are a few more byes to get through this week, so fill-ins might be necessary again, and as usual there are a few rookies who may be able to help. Let's dig into this week's matchups:

Rookies to Start:

QB Dak Prescott, DAL (Wk. 10: @Pit.): Dak is fresh off his best career fantasy game last week against Cleveland. The Steelers certainly boast a better defense than the Browns, but they will still struggle to slow down the Cowboys’ rushing attack, which will open things up for Dak to be able to throw the ball once again. Prescott has scored at least 17 fantasy points (all point totals from ESPN standard scoring) in every game after week 1, and he should again be a top-12 option this week, especially with Stafford, Carr, Luck and Tyrod all on bye.

RB Ezekiel Elliott, DAL (Wk. 10: @Pit.): As mentioned above, the Cowboys should be able to run the ball on Pittsburgh. You know what to do with Zeke. The Steelers have allowed the 4th-most RB fantasy points per game despite allowing just 3 points to the Ravens’ backs last weekend. Zeke should be a no-brainer RB1 this week.

RB Jordan Howard, CHI (Wk. 10: @TB): Howard regained his stranglehold on the Bears’ lead back role after shredding the Vikings on Monday Night Football before the bye week. Ka’Deem Carey and Jeremy Langford will probably see a little bit of work, but Howard should see the bulk of it. Tampa Bay has allowed at least 14 fantasy points to opposing RBs in every single game this season. Howard should be a locked-and-loaded RB2 in this plus matchup.

RB Devontae Booker, DEN (Wk. 10: @NO): Booker was less than impressive in a good matchup with the Raiders last weekend, and his backup Kapri Bibbs shined in a limited role. While Bibbs may have earned more work, Booker should still be the lead back and see 60%+ of the RB work. That should be plenty to do damage with against New Orleans. The Saints just got done making DuJuan Harris the RB7 last week, and for the season have allowed the 2^nd-most RB fantasy points per game and rank 25^th in Football Outsiders’ run defense DVOA stat, which measures defensive efficiency. Booker should be well worth a start as a low-end RB2 or high-end flex.

Borderline Rookies:

QB Carson Wentz, PHI (Wk. 10: vs. Atl.): Wentz has struggled mightily of late with just 2 TDs and 5 turnovers in his past 4 starts, but the Falcons just might cure what ails him. The Falcons have allowed the most QB fantasy points per game, and have allowed 24 points or more to the opposing signal-caller in 6 of their 9 games this season. Wentz hasn’t scored more than 12 in any of the past 4 games, but he has a great shot to break out of that funk this week. He should be a high-end QB2.

RB Rob Kelley, WAS (Wk. 10: vs. Min.): Kelley has been named the Washington starting RB for week 10 against Minnesota. He stole Matt Jones’s job ahead of the team’s bye week with a strong performance against the Bengals while Jones sat with an injury. The Vikings have shown some vulnerability vs. the run lately, being shredded by Jordan Howard on Monday Night Football in week 8 and then allowing Theo Riddick to put up 70 yards on 14 carries last week. Despite those two down weeks, the Vikings still rank 9^th in run defense DVOA, and I don’t expect Matt Jones to completely disappear from the rotation. I like the Minnesota run defense to get back on track, but Kelley’s expected volume in a tough matchup will make him a decent flex play option this week. I’d be less excited to run him out as my RB2.

RB Peyton Barber, TB (Wk. 10: vs. Chi.): This outlook hinges on Doug Martin’s status for week 10. Martin feels optimistic that he’ll be able to go, but it’s certainly not definitive. The team is already without Charles Sims, Jacquizz Rodgers and Antone Smith, so there isn’t much else there if Martin is out again. The matchup isn’t a good one this week, as the Bears surprisingly have allowed the 3^rd-fewest RB fantasy points per game, and have held opposing backs to single-digit points in 4 of their past 5. Because of the tough matchup, I’d lean toward avoiding Barber, but you could do worse if you are in a tight spot this week and Martin does in fact sit again.

WR Corey Coleman, CLE (Wk. 10: @Bal.): Coleman’s return to action was less than stellar, but he did see 7 targets as he shook off the rust of a lengthy layoff. He stepped right back into a big role in the offense, and coach Hue Jackson talked about wanting Kessler to throw deep more often and Coleman has averaged 21.4 yards per catch so far. While the Ravens have been solid against the deep ball (they rank 2^nd in pass defense DVOA on deep throws), they’ve still allowed the 3rd-most WR points per game in the league. Coleman is an upside WR3 option this week.

WR Sterling Shepard, NYG (Wk. 10: vs. Cin.): Shepard finally returned to the end zone last week, and his target share has remained consistent (6-8 targets every game since week 1). The Bengals’ defense has limited WR points this year, but they rank just 24^th in pass defense DVOA. Shep remains a viable WR3 option this week, and is actually a pretty good one if Victor Cruz misses this game with an ankle sprain.

WR Will Fuller, HOU (Wk. 10: @Jax.): Fuller has been fighting through a leg injury the past couple weeks, but seems to be on track to play in week 10. He’ll return to boom-or-bust WR3/4 status if he’s a go. The Jaguars have limited big pass plays a little bit. Only 2 teams have allowed fewer passes of 20+ yards than Jacksonville, but the Jags rank a miserable 30^th in pass defense DVOA on deep throws. There is upside here, but if you own Fuller you are well aware of the risk he brings as well.

Rookies to Sit:

QB Cody Kessler, CLE (Wk. 10: @Bal.): Kessler is nothing more than a desperation QB2 option this week. He’s topped 13 points just once in 4 full games, and the Ravens have an above-average pass defense, allowing the 12^th-fewest QB points per game. There are a couple reasons for optimism for Kessler…his receiving corps is back at full strength, and coach Hue Jackson has said he wants Kessler to take more shots downfield. The question is whether or not those deep shots will be successful. Kessler has connected on just 4 of 16 throws that traveled 20+ yards downfield, and as mentioned earlier, the Ravens rank 2^nd in pass defense DVOA on deep throws. I don’t forsee this being the week where he gets the downfield game going.

RB CJ Prosise, SEA (Wk. 10: @NE): There are bright spots to mention for CJ this week. He played more than 50% of the Seahawks’ RB snaps on Monday night, and the Patriots have allowed the 3^rd-most receptions to running backs in the league. Coach Pete Carroll also said he’d like to get him more work going forward. In spite of his increasing playing time, however, Prosise has topped 1 fantasy point just once all year. I would expect Christine Michael to get more work this week than he got on Monday night. You’re really just buying into coachspeak to expect a productive game out of Prosise this week.

RB Derrick Henry, TEN (Wk. 10: vs. GB): Henry seems unlikely to play as he battles through a calf injury suffered in pre-game warmups last weekend. The injury couldn’t have come at a worse time for Henry. He had just had his best game of the season the week before, and seemed poised to take a bigger role in the offense. If he is able to play this week, I expect him to have a very limited role, and the Packers allow the 6^th fewest RB points per game in the league.

WR Michael Thomas, NO (Wk. 10: vs. Den.): I will probably get some flak for this call, but I wouldn’t feel great starting Thomas this week. I know, he’s been on an absolute tear with 60+ yards and/or a TD in 6 straight games, propelling him to top-15 WR status for the season. I also know that Drew Brees is an animal at home, averaging 382 yards and 3 TDs per game in the Superdome this year. Despite those numbers, the Broncos’ defense is stifling against WRs. They allow the fewest points per game to the position, and allow a full FIVE points per game less than the next best team. Look, you might not have a better option than Thomas, and he does get the best matchup of the Saints’ WRs, expecting to match up most with Bradley Roby. There is a chance that Thomas has an ok game. I’m listing him as a player to sit just to stress how concerning the matchup is this week. If you have other decent options, I’d play them.

WR Tajae Sharpe, TEN (Wk. 10: vs. GB): Even against what has been a crumbling Green Bay secondary, Sharpe just doesn’t have the ceiling to warrant a start. He’s had 2 games in the past 3 weeks with 4 catches and just under 60 yards, but they were his best 2 games since week 1. Rishard Matthews and Kendall Wright are both better options this week. Sharpe’s production has been trending in the right direction, but he’s just not to a point where he’s startable yet.

WRs Robby Anderson & Jalin Marshall, NYJ (Wk. 10: vs. LA): Marshall had a solid outing last weekend with a 3-59-1 output in week 9, but he ran just 11 routes in the entire game. Anderson has been playing far more snaps than Marshall, but he appears to be locked in at about 4-40 each week. Their roles will be clouded further with Devin Smith being activated from the PUP list this week. The matchup is actually decent in week 10, as the Rams have been significantly worse vs. WRs on the road than at home (They allow 31 fantasy points per game to the position on the road and 14 per game at home), but it would be really hard for me to rely on any Jets’ receiver not named Brandon Marshall this week.

WR Tyler Boyd, CIN (Wk. 10: @NYG): Boyd has maintained a role in the offense after the return of Tyler Eifert, but he’s still a guy you shouldn’t be starting. He’s reached 5 fantasy points just twice all year, and the Giants rank 10^th in pass defense DVOA.

TE Austin Hooper, ATL (Wk. 10: @Phi.): I liked Hooper last week, and he rewarded you by turning 6 targets into 3-46-1 if you gave him a shot, but I don’t have as rosy an outlook for him this week. As I mentioned last week, Jacob Tamme was leading the league in red zone targets before getting hurt, and Hooper will have a significant role if Tamme is out again. The matchup is much tougher this week though. Philly has given up just 2 TE scores all season, and hasn’t allowed 60 yards to the position in any game this year. There just isn’t a lot of upside for Hooper this week, and you can likely find a better streaming option on the wire.

TE Tyler Higbee, LA (Wk. 10: @NYJ): Don’t get excited about Higbee’s season-high 7 targets or 31 yards last week. He still only caught one of those 7 targets, and has hauled in just 3-of-14 targets on the year. The Jets do allow the 9^th-most TE fantasy points per game, but it’ll be Lance Kendricks who benefits from the matchup, not Higbee.

Deep League Sleepers, Stashes, and Cheap DFS Options:

RB Kenneth Dixon, BAL (Wk. 10: vs. Cle.): Dixon’s increased workload didn’t go quite as planned in week 9. He definitely got more work, tallying 9 touches, but he turned them into just 13 yards against the Steelers. Luckily for him, Terrance West wasn’t much better with 27 yards on 16 touches. The matchup gets much juicier this week. The Browns have allowed 101 RB points in the past 3 games. If Dixon again approaches double-digit touches, he could be a usable flex option.

RB Paul Perkins, NYG (Wk. 10: vs. Cin.): Perkins isn’t quite startable yet, but he has reached the point where he is definitely worth a stash. He finally started to see a bigger share of the work last week, and while he got off to a slow start, he played a big part in salting the game away late. He hasn’t quite overtaken Rashad Jennings yet, but the Bengals rank 22^nd in run defense DVOA and have allowed 24 fantasy points per game to opposing RBs in their past 4 contests. Perkins will get an opportunity to impress in this one, and it could earn him more work going forward.

WR Tyreek Hill, KC (Wk. 10: @Car.): Although he had a down game last week with Nick Foles starting, Hill has proven to have a consistent role in the Kansas City offense. It looks likely that Jeremy Maclin will miss this week’s game, and that should mean in increase in targets for Hill. The Panthers’ secondary has predictably fallen apart after losing Josh Norman, Bene Benwikere and Charles Tillman and replacing them with a bunch of rookies. Carolina is allowing the 6th-most WR points per game, and ranks just 30^th in pass defense DVOA on short throws, which are in Hill’s wheelhouse. Hill ranks just 92nd amongst WRs in air yards per target. He also has been targeted on 20% of the snaps he’s played, and he should certainly play more of them with Maclin out. Hill is a great cheap DFS option this week, and could be a solid flex in deep leagues.

WR Roger Lewis Jr., NYG (Wk. 10: vs. Cin.): Lewis could have some value this week if Victor Cruz does indeed sit out against Cincy. The Giants run more 3-WR sets than anyone, with 3 different WRs playing over 85% of the possible snaps this year. I would expect that to continue even if Cruz sits. Lewis has already scored 2 TDs on just 6 targets this season, and he would be thrust into a nearly every down role if Cruz is out. He’s probably a better option as a cheap DFS tournament play than for season-long leagues, but he’s got upside to have a surprising game this week.

That's all I've got for this week. Hopefully, it helps you with the tough lineup decisions this week. Keep an eye on the injury report and make sure you don't play anybody who's not suiting up. If you have any specific questions or want to yell at me about anything included above, feel free to reach out via twitter and let me know (@Shawn_Foss). As always: Good luck, trust your gut, and have fun. It's just a game.

Welcome back to the Rookie Report! Hopefully the byes weren't an issue for you in week 8, but chances are if they weren't they likely are this week with another 6 teams off. There have been a lot of injuries piling up too, so you may be digging a little deep to find fill-ins to get by. Guys like Jacquizz Rodgers, Cordarrelle Patterson, Jamison Crowder, and Devontae Booker have proven useful in recent weeks, and believe me...there will be more unexpected contributors before the season is out. Let's take a look at this week's rookie matchups, and see if there might be a few of them who could fit that bill in week 9...

Rookies to Start:

QB Dak Prescott, DAL (Wk. 9: @Cle.): Dak's been rolling and faces one of the best matchups he'll see all year. The Jets were the first team all season to throw for fewer than 2 TDs against the Browns, and Dak has scored at least 17 points (all scores are ESPN standard scoring) every week after the opener. Dak should be a low-end QB1 at worst in a great matchup.

RB Ezekiel Elliott, DAL (Wk. 9: @Cle.): Zeke didn't quite extend his streak of 130-yard rushing performances to 5 in week 8, but he tallied 158 yards from scrimmage and now has 14 or more points in 5 straight. The Browns have allowed 75 fantasy points in the past 2 weeks to opposing RBs. Start-sit decisions don't get much easier than this one. Fire up Zeke as an RB1 again.

RB Devontae Booker, DEN (Wk. 9: @Oak.): Booker failed to hit his ceiling in a plus matchup with the Chargers last weekend, but he was still the RB16 on the week. The matchup is good again in week 9. The Raiders rank 25th in Football Outsiders' run defense DVOA stat which measures defensive efficiency and have allowed the 11th-most fantasy points to opposing RBs. Booker is likely to be at least a top-16 RB again. You should feel comfortable starting him this week.

WR Michael Thomas, NO (Wk. 9: @SF): Thomas has been on a really nice roll of late. He put up his lowest fantasy output of the past 5 weeks in week 8, but that still meant a 6-63 line against the stingy Seahawks' secondary. He also led the Saints WRs in snaps played for the 2nd time this year. The 49ers aren't nearly as stingy vs WRs. San Francisco has allowed multiple WR touchdowns in each of their last 4 games, and Thomas's recent usage likely puts his floor right around that line he put up a week ago. With so many top WRs out on bye this week, that makes Thomas an upside WR3.

Borderline Rookies:

QB Carson Wentz, PHI (Wk. 9: @NYG): The Giants have been solid against quarterbacks, allowing the 7th-fewest QB points per game, and Wentz is coming off of 3 straight down games. With all that said, Wentz's short passing game might pay off this week and help him to a bounce-back game. Wentz has the fewest average air yards per pass attempt in the league according to Football Outsiders, and the Giants are allowing 132.4 yards after catch per game, the 8th-most in the NFL. It's still not a great matchup, but not as bleak as it might appear. With just 26 active QBs this week, Wentz should be a low-end QB2.

RB Peyton Barber, TB (Wk. 9: vs. Atl.): Jacquizz Rodgers is questionable this week, and with the game being on Thursday, he seems more and more unlikely to play. Head coach Dirk Koetter has already said he sees the team using a committee approach against the Falcons, and that means Barber and Antone Smith are likely to split the work. There is some risk here with Barber since he was out-snapped and out-touched by Smith last week, but I'd expect Barber to get a good chunk of the early down work. Atlanta has been vulnerable against the run, ranking 21st in run defense DVOA and allowing 23 points per game to opposing backs if you throw out their 2 outlier games (One vs GB where FB Aaron Ripkowski led the team in backfield snaps, and one vs Carolina where they dominated the game and time of possession). As I mentioned, there's risk here without knowing the work split with Smith, but there is RB2 upside.

WR Sterling Shepard, NYG (Wk. 9: vs. Phi.): With a lot of top WRs on bye this week, Shep is at least in consideration as a deep-league WR3. His production was less than stellar in the few weeks before the Giants' bye, but he's seen 7 or 8 targets in each of the past 7 games and the Giants had the bye week to get their passing game straightened out. This is more of a hunch than anything, but I like the Giants to get it together this week and for Shepard to have his best game since week 3. I still wouldn't recommend him as anything more than a WR3 in deeper leagues.

TE Austin Hooper, ATL (Wk. 9: @TB): I'd probably prefer to start Hooper over fellow borderline rookie TE Hunter Henry this week despite having a tougher matchup. The Bucs have been stingy to the position, allowing fewer than 7 fantasy points to the position in 5 of their 7 games and ranking 5th in pass defense DVOA on throws to opposing TEs. They are coming off allowing 6-67-1 to the Oakland Raiders' TEs, however, and Hooper is likely to see more targets than Henry as the Falcons’ clear lead TE with Jacob Tamme out. It also helps Hooper that Tamme was leading all tight ends in red zone targets. Hooper should have a decent shot at finding the end zone. He's a low-end TE1 in 12- or 14-team leagues this week.

TE Hunter Henry, SD (Wk. 9: vs. Ten.): Henry is a streaming option this week rather than a locked-in TE1. Antonio Gates seems to be back to full strength, running nearly twice as many routes as Henry in week 8. Henry has just 3 catches in the past 2 weeks, but there is a little upside with a soft matchup against the Titans on tap. Travis Benjamin is likely to miss the game, which could get the Chargers into more 2-TE sets and get Henry more snaps. Tennessee has allowed the 9th-most points per game to opposing TEs, so any increase in snaps and routes should give Henry some upside. Like Hooper, he's on the radar as a low-end streamer in 12- and 14-team leagues or deeper.

Rookies to Sit:

QB Cody Kessler, CLE (Wk. 9: vs. Dal.): As I mentioned earlier with Wentz, there are only 26 QBs playing this week, so pretty much all of them should be considered in 2QB leagues, but the matchup isn't great for Kessler and he's coming off an injury. The Cowboys have allowed just 11 or 12 fantasy points to 3 of the past 4 QBs they've faced. Cody may get a boost from the return of Corey Coleman, but I would avoid rolling with him unless you are desperate in a 2-QB league. There is still an outside shot Josh McCown gets the start.

RB Dwayne Washington, DET (Wk. 9: @Min.): Washington should return this week after seeming to be due back last week, but Minnesota probably isn't the best matchup to try him out in. The Vikings had their worst game of the season vs. running backs last Monday against the Bears and Jordan Howard, but I don't expect a repeat this weekend. Washington's role still isn't fully defined after Theo Riddick operated as the clear lead back in week 8. It's best to take a wait-and-see approach with Washington in this one.

RB Don Jackson, GB (Wk. 9: vs. Ind.): Even with surprise RB fill-ins Ty Montgomery and Randall Cobb both out with injury last week, Jackson couldn't manage to play ahead of FB Aaron Ripkowski. Knile Davis was cut this week, but Jackson is best left on the wire despite a plus matchup with the Colts. Look for Montgomery to operate as the lead RB again this week.

RBs DeAndre Washington & Jalen Richard, OAK (Wk. 9: vs. Den.): The split between the two of the backup role continues to sap the usefulness of both backs. With Latavius back on the field, neither one is seeing enough work to be startable. Steer clear of both.

RB CJ Prosise, SEA (Wk. 9: vs. Buf.): Prosise made good on my 'Sleeper' prediction last week, cashing in for 103 scrimmage yards on just 8 touches. I wouldn't expect him to duplicate that production this week against the Bills if the workload stays the same. The Bills are a little stingier than New Orleans. It'll be interesting to see if his passing down role continues once Thomas Rawls finally returns.

RB Paul Perkins, NYG (Wk. 9: vs. Phi.): Much like their passing game, the Giants need to get their run game fixed as well. While giving Paul Perkins more work could help, there's no evidence that they'll do it anytime soon. It's worth watching to see if there is any change to the work split, but not worth putting Perkins in any lineups.

WR Ricardo Louis, CLE (Wk. 9: vs. Dal.): Louis is only worth consideration if Corey Coleman is still out this week, or if Pryor surprisingly sits with his hamstring issue, and only as a desperation WR4 even in that case. He's averaging 5.6 targets per game over his past 6 games, but he's failed to catch even 50% of them and has topped 40 yards just once. His volume will drop if Coleman returns and Pryor plays.

WR Tajae Sharpe, TEN (Wk. 9: @SD): Sharpe just can't seem to put any production together despite a prominent role in the offense. He's seen 5.8 targets per game for the season but is putting up just 5.7 yards per target. Until one or both of those numbers come up, there is no reason to consider starting Sharpe.

Rookies on Byes: RB Jordan Howard, CHI, RB Rob Kelley, WAS, RB Tyler Ervin, HOU, WR Will Fuller, HOU, WR Tyler Boyd, CIN, WR Malcolm Mitchell, NE

Deep League Sleepers, Stashes, and Cheap DFS Options:

RB Derrick Henry, TEN (Wk. 9: @SD): Henry finally got some extended run last week due to an injury to DeMarco Murray, and he produced in a big way. Henry finished as the RB7 for the week. Murry is still dealing with the toe injury he suffered, but he seems likely to play. Still, he may cede some extra work to Henry as he plays through it against a Chargers team allowing the 6th-most RB fantasy points per game. I'd have a hard time starting Derrick in any season long leagues, but he'd be an interesting cheaper option in DFS tournaments. His price has spiked a little this week with the thin slate and his strong game last week, but there is upside if the Titans give him an extended role again.

WR Corey Coleman, CLE (Wk. 9: vs. Dal.): Coleman looks likely to finally return this week. It’ll be hard to trust him in season-long leagues coming off such a long layoff. The Cowboys allow the 20th-most WR points per game and don’t give up the deep ball, allowing just 2 passes of 40+ yards on the year. With that said, it’s a hand injury that has kept Corey out, so his conditioning should be fine. Terrelle Pryor has been dealing with a hamstring tweak in practice this week as well. Coleman should be close to an every down player, and he’d be a great cheap DFS option and a desperation WR3 option in deeper leagues.

WR Tyreek Hill, KC (Wk. 9: vs. Jax.): It’s hard to call a guy coming off a 5-98-1 line last week and 2 straight double-digit point games a sleeper, but Hill fits that bill this week. He’s more of a gadget player than a regular starter, but he should factor into the short passing game more heavily if Spencer Ware is unable to play. Nick Foles is getting the start Sunday, so there is also the 2^nd-string connection between Hill and Foles that can help him as well. We’ve already seen that be a factor for Cameron Meredith and Brian Hoyer as well as Geno Smith and Charone Peake to a lesser extent. 2^nd string QBs tend to have a better rapport with 2^nd string WRs who they throw to in practice. 4 of Hill’s week 8 catches, 88 of his yards, and the one TD were thrown by Foles. Add in that the Jaguars rank 28^th in pass defense DVOA on throws to WRs that aren’t the opposing #1 or #2, and Hill could have another nice game this week.

WR Robby Anderson, NYJ (Wk. 9: @Mia.): The Dolphins have allowed 22 or more WR points in 6 of their 7 games so far, and Anderson has been playing more snaps than Quincy Enunwa of late. He’s seen 6 targets twice in the past 3 weeks. I think he’s due for a breakout game, and I have a hunch it comes this week. He’s only an option in the deepest of leagues since he’s shown a floor of about 3-30, but I like him to have possibly his best game of the season.

That's all I've got for this week. Hopefully, it helps you navigate some of the tougher lineup decisions this week. Keep a close eye on the injury report throughout the week and make sure all of your guys are active on game day. If you want to yell at me about this info or have any specific questions, feel free to hit me up on twitter (@Shawn_Foss). As always...good luck, trust your gut, and have fun. It's just a game.