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Welcome back to the Rookie Report! We're starting to get deep enough into the season to have a better idea of who most of these rookies are...at least the ones that have been starting the whole year. Zeke Elliott and Sterling Shepard have been weekly fantasy starters. Will Fuller has been good, but a boom-or-bust proposition, and Tajae Sharpe and Michael Thomas have been weekly borderline producers. Thomas is coming off his best game of the season, and Sharpe his worst, but both have been worthy of flex consideration each week. Dak Prescott and Carson Wentz have proven themselves as capable fantasy QB2s, and even streamer QB1s some weeks, but not all of the rookies have been as lucky. Several others have been biding their time and waiting for their opportunity. Will that opportunity come this week? Let's dive into the week 4 matchups and discuss...

Rookies to Start:

RB Ezekiel Elliott, DAL (Wk. 4: @SF): With the volume Elliott is getting right now, you can't sit him. He got 30 carries in an easy win against the Bears, and while it was frustrating to see him get vultured at the goal line by Dak, Alf, and Dunbar, that won't happen every week. There should be a correction there this week. I would actually fade Zeke in DFS this week though. The 49ers have some drastic home-road splits going back to last season. The Niners allowed 15.4 fantasy points per game at home to RBs in '15 (ESPN standard scoring), which would have been the 18th-most if they did that over the whole season, but they allowed 27.4 per game on the road. That number was 6 points per game worse than the WORST RB defense in the league. They allowed at least 18 in all 8 road games. That split has carried over to 2016. SF gave up just 4 points to the Rams' backs in week one at Levi's Stadium, and 19 per game in weeks 2 and 3 on the road. This game is in San Francisco, so expectations for Zeke should be tempered a little bit. He's still a safe starter in season-long leagues.

RB Jordan Howard, CHI (Wk. 4: vs. Det.): Despite the signing of Joique Bell this week, look for Jordan Howard to be the clear lead back for the Bears. The Lions have allowed just 12 points per game to opposing RBs, but that is mainly because they've kept running backs out of the end zone. They've ranked just 27th in Football Outsiders' run defense DVOA, which measures defensive efficiency. Howard really increased his value by showing what he could do as a receiver. Many people thought he would not be a factor as a pass catcher after recording just 11 catches last year at Indiana, but he has 6 catches in the past 2 games. The volume he should see combined with the plus matchup should make Howard a low-end RB2 this week.

TE Hunter Henry, SD (Wk. 4: vs. NO): It was reported this week that Antonio Gates wasn't close to playing last week in Indy, which means there is a good chance he'll miss week 4 as well. If he sits, Henry should be a great option. Most people will only remember that he fumbled away the Chargers' last chance to win that game, but he was having a fantastic day before that happened. The Saints have actually limited tight ends so far believe it or not, but the list they've faced is hardly inspiring (Walford, Tye, Donnell, Tamme). I expect the Chargers to get Henry involved, and think he'll have a great shot at 60+ yards and a possible TD as long as Gates is out. He's a great streaming option if you're still waiting on Zach Ertz or Tyler Eifert.

Borderline Rookies:

QB Dak Prescott, DAL (Wk. 4: @SF): This looks like a juicy matchup on paper, but the 49ers home-road splits apply to quarterbacks as well. They allowed 12.9 points per game to QBs at home in '15 (would have been 4th-fewest), and 19.4 on the road (would have been 4th-most). They didn't allow more than 17 points to any QB they faced in San Francisco. Again, the splits have carried over to '16. Case Keenum put up just 2 points in week one. I don't expect Dak to be shut down quite that badly, but I'd think of him more as a mid-level QB2 rather than a QB1 streamer. There is still upside against a bad 49ers team.

RB Dwayne Washington, DET (Wk. 4: @Chi.): Dwayne should definitely see more work this week after Theo Riddick fell flat on his face in his chance at lead back duties. Riddick managed just 9 yards on 10 carries. Washington managed 38 yards on the same number of carries. Head coach Jim Caldwell blamed the o-line for Riddick's struggles, but Washington was clearly the better between-the-tackles runner. The Lions would be wise to give him more of an opportunity. Riddick should maintain his passing-back role. The Bears rank 26th in run defense DVOA, and allow 20 RB points per game. The increased workload against that machup should put Washington squarely on the flex radar. He'll be better in standard leagues than PPR, and Riddick will be the opposite, but Washington will be more likely to hit paydirt.

WR Sterling Shepard, NYG (Wk. 4: @Min.): Shepard has been fantastic through the first 3 games, with a TD or 100 yards in each contest, but the Vikings are the best defense the Giants have faced yet...especially with Xavier Rhodes back in action. Expectations for this week should be a little lower with Shepard. On the plus side, Vikings' slot corner Captain Munnerlyn did struggle to contain Ted Ginn and Corey Brown in week 3, allowing 6 catches for 87 yards on 7 targets thrown his way. Shepard is a borderline WR3 this week.

WR Michael Thomas, NO (Wk. 4: @SD): I would expect Willie Snead to return this week, and while this offense can support 3 pass catchers, the emergence of Coby Fleener in week 3 could hurt Thomas's upside. If Snead is back, Thomas is more of a flex option than a locked in starter. If Snead sits again, Thomas should be a solid WR3 play.

WR Will Fuller, HOU (Wk. 4: vs. Ten.): The Titans' defense has been better than expected, and Fuller had a shaky week 3 performance against New England. Tennessee has allowed just 41 yards per game to WR2s despite 9.4 targets per game in their direction. There is still upside here, but this is just a reminder that there is some boom-or-bust to Fuller's weekly outlook.

WR Tajae Sharpe, TEN (Wk. 4: @Hou.): The reason that I have Sharpe listed as a borderline option this week is because you can't entirely write off any team's WR1, but I would lean towards sitting Sharpe this week. The Texans have allowed the 4th-fewest WR fantasy points through the first 3 weeks, and Sharpe has been inconsistent in his own right. He could go for 80 yards and a TD, or he could go for less than 40 yards. I'd feel better if I had a safer option.

Rookies to Sit:

QB Cody Kessler, CLE (Wk. 4: @ Was.): Kessler was surprisingly sharp last week, and this week he'll face a Washington team that is likely to be without their number 2 corner Bashaud Breeland and slot corner DeAngelo Hall. They will still have Josh Norman, however, and he will likely follow around Terrelle Pryor. If Pryor is taken away, it will severely limit what Kessler is able to do through the air. It would be really hard to trust Kessler as a QB2 unless you were desperate.

QB Jacoby Brissett, NE (Wk. 4: vs. Buf.): Jimmy Garoppolo should be back this week and would undoubtedly start if he is. If Brissett did get the nod, he would be a bottom-barrel QB2 option.

RBs DeAndre Washington & Jalen Richard, OAK (Wk. 4: @Bal.): Washington has been more effective than Richard in each of the past 2 weeks, but they're part of a full blown 3-way timeshare with Latavius Murray, and facing a tough matchup this week. The Ravens rank 3rd in run defense DVOA, and they've allowed just under 30 receiving yards per game to running backs. This is not the week to bet on either of these backs turning their limited touches into a productive day.

RB Derrick Henry, TEN (Wk. 4: @Hou.): The Texans have been just a middle of the road defense against running backs, but DeMarco Murray has cemented himself as the RB1 in Tennessee for the time being. Henry was out-touched 21-10 by Murray in week 3, and if that holds this week, I'd expect the Heisman winner to put up the typical 40 yards or so he's been putting up. It doesn't help that Murray is dominating the passing game work.

RB Josh Ferguson, IND (Wk. 4: @SD): Ferguson came up empty in a decent spot last week as Robert Turbin was a bigger part of the mix than expected. Turbin punched in a short TD, while Ferguson tallied just 4 touches and 31 yards. He's not involved enough to play at this point.

WR Tyler Boyd, CIN (Wk. 4: vs. Mia.): Boyd is still playing behind Brandon LaFell, and he faces a defense this week that has allowed 104 receiving yards per game to WR1s, and just 87 receiving yards per game to all other wide receivers. AJ Green should be a great option this week. Tyler Boyd...not so much.

WR Malcolm Mitchell, NE (Wk. 4: vs. Buf.): Mitchell seemed to have a pretty decent rapport with Jimmy Garoppolo the first two weeks, but still put up just 3 catches for 48 yards in those games...and Gronk didn't play in either game. With Gronk back (and presumably not a decoy this time), there just won't be enough volume for Mitchell to be a fantasy factor this week.

TE Austin Hooper, ATL (Wk. 4: vs. Car.): The Panthers have given up 28 fantasy points to TEs over the past 2 weeks, but 13 of them came on one long TD pass to Vance McDonald. Also, it'll be Tamme and not Hooper who would have the best shot at producing. Hooper followed his 3-84 line from week 2 with a zero target game in week 3.

Rookies on Byes: QB Carson Wentz, PHI, RB Wendell Smallwood, PHI - Just a quick aside on Smallwood...although he's on a bye this week, he makes for an interesting waiver wire pickup in deeper leagues. He played great last week after Ryan Mathews left with an injury, and the team will continue to keep Smallwood involved even when Mathews is healthy. The committee will obviously make him tough to predict most weeks, but we've already seen the upside.

Deep League Sleepers, Stashes, and Cheap DFS Options:

RB Kenyan Drake, MIA (Wk. 4: @Cin.): Arian Foster will be out again in week 4, and while the Dolphins insist they will stick with a 4-man rotation at RB, I like Drake's chances of the being the best performer of the group. He saw the most touches of the group in week 3 with 11 (the rest of the group totaled 16 touches), and he produced 48 yards with them. He's known as a passing game specialist, and the Bengals are 27th in pass defense DVOA on throws to running backs. There is an opportunity for Drake to make an impact despite the crowded backfield mix.

RB Paul Perkins, NYG (Wk. 4: @Min.): Perkins is mostly a stash for now. Rashad Jennings is still uncertain for this week, but so is the rest of the Giants' backfield. Orleans Darkwa is likely the guy who will get the early down work if Jennings sits, but the injury to Shane Vereen opens up the receiving back role. The only two realistic options to fill it are Bobby Rainey and Perkins. Most experts are expecting Rainey to take over in the short term, but Perkins was an effective receiver out of the backfield at UCLA, and head coach Bob McAdoo spoke this week about the rookie being 'ready to step up.' I expect him to get a shot to make an impact this week, and if he produces he'll earn a bigger role moving forward.

WR Josh Doctson, WAS (Wk. 4: vs. Cle.): Doctson sat out last week with an Achilles injury, but it sounded like it was up in the air whether or not he would play until the last minute. The Browns have given up 2 TDs to wide receivers each week this season, and Doctson was targeted in the end zone 3 times in week 2. If that happens again, I'd expect him to cash in at least one of them. He'll have a solid shot at his first career TD if he plays.

WR Ricardo Louis, CLE (Wk. 4: @Was.): Louis is a DFS punt play option this week. His speed makes him a big play waiting to happen, and Washington's banged up secondary will be focused on Terrelle Pryor. As I mentioned in the Cody Kessler breakdown, I'd expect Josh Norman to shadow Pryor whenever possible. Louis appears to have earned a role in 3-wide sets while Corey Coleman and Josh Gordon are out, and he caught 3 passes for 40 yards last week. Washington has allowed 14 pass plays of 20 or more yards this season, tied for 3rd-most in the league. With his big play ability, there will be an opportunity for Louis to have a big day out of nowhere.

That's all I've got for this week. Hopefully it helps you make some tough calls with your lineups. Keep a close eye on the injury report and make sure you don't end up starting a guy who doesn't suit up, or benching a guy who starts because of an injury to a teammate. If you have any questions, praise, or complaints, 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! Hopefully, you survived the injury carnage in week 2 and managed to dodge some underperforming studs to come up with a W. I feel like week 2 is an unpredictable one every year, and this year was no different with several unexpected game outcomes, and several unexpected faces atop the fantasy scoring leaders. Week 2 was definitely a good one for the rookie crop, as the high real-life draft picks really asserted themselves in fantasy.

At running back, first round rookie Ezekiel Elliott managed to top 80 yards and score a TD. If you were disappointed with that week 2 output, keep in mind that in standard leagues he out-produced all but one RB with a top-10 ADP on any of the top fantasy league sites (David Johnson was that one). Not to be outdone by the top running back, the top WRs had a big week as well. Every WR not named Laquon Treadwell that was drafted in the first 2 rounds of the NFL draft outscored each of Allen Robinson, AJ Green, Antonio Brown, TY Hilton, and Sammy Watkins in standard scoring in week 2. That list of rookies is: Will Fuller, Josh Doctson, Corey Coleman, Sterling Shepard, Michael Thomas and Tyler Boyd. And on to the QB position...although Jared Goff and Paxton Lynch aren't playing yet, number 2 overall pick Carson Wentz lead his Eagles to another victory and outscored top QBs Russell Wilson, Andrew Luck and Eli Manning along the way this week.

It was a so-so week for the less-heralded rookies. Dak Prescott had another reasonable outing, as did Derrick Henry and Devontae Booker, despite not really putting up starting-caliber stat lines. Tajae Sharpe came back to earth a bit, as did Raiders' back Jalen Richard as DeAndre Washington asserted himself. Kenyan Drake and Dwayne Washington each found the end zone, and Austin Hooper used a 44-yard catch to help himself top 80 yards for the week. That's enough of a look at last week though...let's dig into the week 3 matchups:

Rookies to Start:

RB Ezekiel Elliott, DAL (Wk. 3: vs. Chi.): Don't let the fumbles last week scare you. Zeke's workload isn't going anywhere, and he will eventually hit his stride. The Bears have looked improved against the run this year, but they are far from a shutdown run defense and will play without Danny Trevathan, Lamarr Houston and Eddie Goldman this week. Elliott has a great chance to turn in a top-10 RB performance this week, and should be in the lineup.

WR Will Fuller, HOU (Wk. 3: @NE): Fuller hasn't given us a reason to not play him yet. He topped 100 yards for the 2nd straight game in week 2, and this week gets a defense that has ranked 28th in Football Outsiders' pass defense DVOA stat through the first 2 games, and have allowed 385 total receiving yards to WR1s & 2s in those games. I'd feel confident firing up Fuller again this week.

WR Sterling Shepard, NYG (Wk. 3: vs. Was.): Shepard showed what he's capable of in week 2 with a line of 8-117 on 8 targets. Washington has ranked 20th so far in pass DVOA, and Shepard plays the majority of his snaps in the slot, which means he should avoid both Josh Norman and Bashaud Breeland. ESPN beat writers have reported that Norman will follow Odell in this one. Shepard should have every opportunity to follow up last week's gem with another nice day. He should be a decent WR3 option once again.

WR Tajae Sharpe, TEN (Wk. 3: vs. Oak.): This should be a great spot for a nice game from Sharpe. The Raiders rank 31st in pass defense DVOA, and have allowed 133 yards per game to the opposing WR1s. The two they faced were Brandin Cooks and Julio Jones, and while Tajae isn't nearly on that level, he should still find success in this one. He should finish as a solid WR3 in PPR leagues and more of a fringe WR3 in standard leagues.

Borderline Rookies:

QB Carson Wentz, PHI (Wk. 3: vs. Pit.): This should be Wentz's first loss of the year, but it doesn't mean he can't have a productive day. Pittsburgh has been impressive so far, allowing just 1 passing TD vs. 2 picks in the first two games while playing from comfortably ahead in one of them. They have however given up boatloads of passing yards...347 per game through the first 2 contests. It should be a real test for Carson, but given the poise he's shown, I like his chances of approaching 300 yards and flirting with a top-15 QB day, maybe even exceeding it with a little TD luck. He's a decent QB2 option, but would take a lot of guts to play in most 1-QB leagues.

QB Dak Prescott, DAL (Wk. 3: vs. Chi.): The Bears haven't impressed on defense so far, but they haven't given up huge games to QBs. They're just 19th in pass defense DVOA, but they've only allowed 210 yards and 1.5 TDs passing per game to Wentz and Brock Osweiler. It was nice to see Dak forge a connection with Dez Bryant, and I doubt the Bears have anyone who can contain Dez this week, but the conservative gameplan will keep Dak a borderline QB2 for now.

RB Derrick Henry, TEN (Wk. 3: vs. Oak.): The Raiders are a miserable 28^th in run DVOA, and Henry may be closing the gap in playing time with DeMarco Murray. Murray out-snapped Henry 50-21 in week one, but that split was down to 41-31 in week 2. Both backs were effective on the ground against Detroit, and they are likely to continue getting Henry involved. The volume is capped for Henry, so you’re hoping for a TD if you play him, but he should find another 40-50 yards on the ground if he sees a similar snap count this week. With all of the attrition at running back, I’ve heard of worse guys that are actually in some starting lineups.

WR Michael Thomas, NO (Wk. 3: vs. Atl.): I've got a hunch that Thomas will have a strong showing in week 3. New Orleans should get the passing game back on track as they go back home to the Superdome to face a bad Atlanta D, and I like Thomas's chances of finding the end zone. With each failed passing target to Coby Fleener, the Saints become more and more likely to stop targeting him so much and spread those looks to Thomas, Cooks, and Snead. Thomas has shown a nice floor, topping 50 yards in each of the past 2 weeks, and I like his chances of having his best day yet.

WR Corey Coleman, CLE (Wk. 3: @Mia.): Coleman put on a show in week 2 with Josh McCown at the helm, but he’s going to be hard to trust with Cody Kessler under center. The matchup is a good one, with Miami ranking 21^st in pass DVOA on throws to the other team’s WR1. His explosive playmaking ability gives him a chance to make something happen, and I wouldn’t fault you for taking a shot on Coleman, but his floor is LOW this week. Proceed with caution. Editor's note: Coleman suffered a broken hand at practice today and, as Rotoworld says, "Coleman needs his hand to catch footballs". Don't expect him in the lineup anytime soon.

Rookies to Sit:

QB Jacoby Brissett, NE (Wk. 3: vs. Hou.): The Texans have allowed the 2nd-fewest QB points through the first 2 weeks (just 7 points per game allowed). They also rank 4th in pass DVOA. While the Pats will do everything they can to come up with a game plan that Brissett can succeed with, I can't imagine it's one that will help him pile up fantasy points in a tough matchup. Playing on a short week, and possibly without Gronk, I'd be hard pressed to predict a top-25 QB performance from Brissett. The Pats should be hoping that Garoppolo manages to give it a go.

RB Devontae Booker, DEN (Wk. 3: @Cin.): Booker worked as the change of pace back to CJ Anderson last week and he did have some success, but the sledding will be tougher in Cincy. The Colts are 31st in run DVOA through two weeks, the game script was positive for Denver, and Booker managed to be just the RB37 in standard scoring. The game script likely won't be as positive this week, and Cincinnati is 18th in run DVOA. It's not great, but it isn't 31st either. Avoid Booker this week.

RB Dwayne Washington, DET (Wk. 3: @GB): With the news that Ameer Abdullah has been placed on IR, Washington’s stock is rising quickly. He and Theo Riddick will split the backfield work going forward, and Washington is likely to field the goal line work. He’s going to have some nice weeks along the way, but I don’t feel confident that this will be one of them. GB has allowed just 81 RB rushing yards on 44 carries in the first two weeks, and they rank first in run DVOA. There’s always a shot at a goal line score, but Washington might need 2 TDs to break double-digit points in this one.

RBs Jalen Richard & DeAndre Washington, OAK (Wk. 3: @Ten.): The Raiders' backfield timeshare is hurting the upside for both of the backups so far. After a huge week one from Jalen Richard, it was Washington who flashed in week 2, putting up 52 yards on just 7 touches. Head coach Jack Del Rio said that all of their backs are going to play, so this situation isn't getting clarity anytime soon. Until one of these two emerges as the clear number 2 back, both will hard to trust in your lineup. They'll have a nice game here or there, but good luck guessing when it happens. The worst part is that it's likely only a matter of time before they start hurting Latavius Murray's output.

RB Kenyan Drake, MIA (Wk. 3: vs. Cle.): Despite Arian Foster being a long shot to play this week, Jay Ajayi being perpetually in the doghouse, and the game script setting up to be very positive for the run game, I still would avoid Drake. Drake saw just 4 touches to Ajayi’s 9 in week 2, and I would expect Damien Williams or Isaiah Pead to see some work as well this week. If there is any Dolphins’ back worth playing this week, it’s Ajayi. Drake may push for double-digit touches, but I wouldn’t feel good with him in my starting lineup.

WR Josh Doctson, WAS (Wk. 3: @NYG): There were some promising signs for Doctson in week 2. He was targeted 5 times, including 3 in the red zone, and he did put up 57 yards on the week. He did only make one catch, and the matchup with the Giants is a tough one. No matter which corner he squares off with, it will be a challenge for Doctson to get going, especially considering he still is playing behind Garcon, D-Jax and Crowder.

WR Tyler Boyd, CIN (Wk. 3: vs. Den.): Wide receivers not named Kelvin Benjamin have totaled 10-112-0 against the Broncos in the first two weeks. Denver is quickly proving that they are once again an opponent to avoid playing your WRs against, and Boyd's draw of slot corner Chris Harris Jr. should make things tougher on him. He'll be lucky to approach 50 yards.

WR Leonte Carroo, MIA (Wk. 3: vs. Cle.): With DeVante Parker back in action in week 2, Carroo was relegated to the bench again, playing just 3 offensive snaps. No reason to consider him this week.

TE Austin Hooper, ATL (Wk. 3: @NO): Be careful here...don't fall in love with Hooper's week 2 output and think he's going to be a breakout star. He's still clearly behind Jacob Tamme on the depth chart, which puts him behind Julio Jones, Mohammed Sanu, Tamme, Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman in the pecking order for targets. He may eventually have a larger role, but for now, he's best left out of lineups, even in plus matchups.

Deep League Sleepers, Stashes, and Cheap DFS Options:

QB Cody Kessler, CLE (Wk. 3: @Mia.): You're probably laughing as you read this name as a 'sleeper,' and you're probably right to...but the situation could be worse for the rookie. He gets a pretty solid matchup against a team that just gave up 326 yards and 3 TDs to the combination of Jimmy Garropolo and Jacoby Brissett, and he does have some weapons to work with. He's nothing more than a shoot-the-moon DFS tournament play, but he could have a better fantasy day than most expect.

RB Josh Ferguson, IND (Wk. 3: vs. SD): Ferguson saw 5 targets in week 2, catching them all, and with Donte Moncrief out 4-6 weeks, the Colts may look to involve Ferguson more in the passing game in the short term. The opponent this week, the Chargers, did allow 153 RB receiving yards in week one. Ferguson has some sneaky upside as a cheap DFS play or as a flex option in really deep PPR leagues.

RB Jordan Howard, CHI (Wk. 3: @Dal.): If Jeremy Langford continues to struggle with his efficiency, it's just a matter of time before the Bears start giving Howard a bigger share of the workload to see what he can do. Howard had almost as many rushing yards on 3 carries on Monday as Langford had on 11 (22 yards to 28). Howard is more of a stash option than a guy to play this week, but if Langford gets off to a slow start against Dallas, who is 27th in run DVOA so far, Howard may see some extended work in this plus matchup.

RB Kenneth Farrow, SD (Wk. 3: @Ind.): Farrow is only a stash option at this point, but he's a name to know in San Diego. The undrafted rookie is the number 2 back behind Melvin Gordon now with Both Danny Woodhead and Branden Oliver out for the season. Farrow isn't much of a pass catcher, so the Dexter McCluster signing won't affect his role much...he'll be the backup to Gordon for early down work. Farrow ran for 2,000 yards and 26 TDs over his final 2 years at Houston and received Pro Football Focus's 4th-highest overall grade of any RB in the 2016 rookie crop. He's worth a flier in really deep leagues for now.

WR Jalin Marshall, NYJ (Wk. 3: @KC): Jalin Marshall is only on the radar for this week, and only because the rest of the Jets' WRs are dealing with injuries. It looks likely that Eric Decker and Quincy Enunwa will be able to play this week, but Brandon Marshall has been playing coy about his status. If B-Marsh is able to go, forget all about Jalin Marshall for now. If Brandon sits, Marshall could be in play. Enunwa and Decker have split time in the slot for the Jets, so Marshall would likely play on the outside, and Kansas City has struggled with perimeter receivers Will Fuller, DeAndre Hopkins and Tyrell Williams through two weeks. Marshall hauled in 3 passes for 45 yards last week filling in as guys went out hurt, and he could see more action this week. He's a DFS tournament punt play and also an option in deep leagues that include return yards. He's got 160 total return yards through 2 games.

That's all I've got for this week. Hopefully, it helps with the tough lineup decisions and you either continue a strong start or get things back on the rails this week. Feel free to hit me up on twitter if you have any questions, or just want to yell at me about any of this and tell me I'm wrong (@Shawn_Foss). With all of the injuries this week, make sure to keep an eye on the status updates on players throughout the week so you know who's in and out. As always: Good luck, trust your gut, and have fun. It's just a game.

Welcome back to the Rookie Report! Week one was full of surprises, just like it always is. Raise your hand if you expected Jack Doyle to be the TE1...Or Dez Bryant scoring less than a point...Or the Lions having not one, but two top-10 RBs. Put your hands down. None of you called those things. As you know, we focus on the rookies here, so lets quickly discuss some of the surprises of the first week among the rookie crop:

Carson Wentz was a huge shock to me. Granted, he was playing against the Browns, who could be really bad, but I didn't expect a guy coming in from an FCS school with less than 40 preseason snaps under his belt to be able to come in and command an NFL offense with the kind of poise Wentz showed. I still think some growing pains are coming for Wentz, but right now I think the Rams are kicking themselves for taking Goff over him. Will Fuller showed that drops will continue to be a problem for him (he dropped an easy 87-yard TD), but he also showed that it might not matter, posting the 7th-most WR points of the week on a ridiculous 11 targets. He saw more looks than DeAndre Hopkins did. Ezekiel Elliott's much-hyped debut underwhelmed, but he salvaged his day with a touchdown. Also finding his way into the end zone was Sterling Shepard, who only saw 4 targets but certainly made the most of them. Tajae Sharpe impressed and appears to be the clear WR1 in Tennessee, and Corey Coleman also topped 60 yards on Sunday thanks in part to a 58-yard grab in triple coverage.

While it's fun to reminisce about week one, we're here to take a look ahead and see what to do with the rookies for week two. To save some time, here's a quick look at some rookies who shouldn't be owned in most redraft leagues...

Rookies not worth a redraft roster spot:

QB Jared Goff, STL -Unless you're in a 2 QB league or one with 14+ teams, there's no reason to own Goff.

RB Rob Kelley, WAS - The reports of a timeshare with Matt Jones were greatly exaggerated.

RB C.J. Prosise, SEA - Thomas Rawls and Christine Michael combined for 7 targets to CJ's 1. While his role will eventually grow, that's a bad sign for the 'receiving back.'

RB Josh Ferguson, IND - He split backup reps with Robert Turbin and recorded just 3 touches in week one.

WR Laquon Treadwell, MIN - He's clearly behind Adam Thielen for WR3 duties at this point. There's no telling when he'll get on the field.

TE Hunter Henry, SD - Henry may be utilized a bit more with the Keenan Allen injury, but not enough to be a fantasy factor this year w/o a Gates injury.

TE Tyler Higbee, LA - Higee seems to have a big role in the offense, but it's a miserable offense. He was targeted 4 times in the opener, and caught just 1 ball for 2 yards, and looked terrible in the process.

Others to avoid:

RB Wendell Smallwood, PHI; RB Tyler Ervin, HOU; WR Pharoh Cooper, LA; WR Chris Moore, BAL; WR Tyreek Hill, KC; WR Braxton Miller, HOU; TE Austin Hooper, ATL

Now that we have that out of the way, let's dive in and talk about the relevant rookies...

Rookies to Start:

RB Ezekiel Elliott, DAL (Wk. 2: @Was.): While I'm sure you were a little frustrated with Zeke in week one if you started him, he's in line for a bounce-back game in week 2. Washington ranked 22nd in the league in Football Outsiders' run defense DVOA stat in 2015, and were the worst in the league in week one after getting shredded by DeAngelo Williams on Monday night. Elliott should remain the focal point of the offense this week, and I think 80+ yards and a TD are a reasonable expectation, with the opportunity for more.

WR Sterling Shepard, NYG (Wk. 2: vs. NO): Shepard's target count left something to be desired in week one, but his performance did not. I'll chalk the target count up to the Cowboys painfully slow pace of play last Sunday. Things should move much more crisply with the Saints coming to town in week 2. New Orleans was historically bad as a pass defense last season, and they picked up where they left off last week against Oakland. Add in the fact that promising young corner Delvin Breaux was lost for the season, and the Saints pass D might be worse than last year. Shepard should be a safe WR3 in a game that figures to be a shootout, though maybe not as high scoring as the 52-49 contest last year.

WR Will Fuller, HOU (Wk. 2: vs. KC): Fuller might still be a weekly boom-or-bust proposition, but you can't ignore his week one target share, which really carries over from a strong preseason. Whether he draws Phillip Gaines or Marcus Peters, his speed will cause them problems. I expect Osweiler will still give him a few downfield looks, and I expect he'll convert a few into catches. He's an upside WR3 this week.

Borderline Rookies:

QB Carson Wentz, PHI (Wk. 2: @Chi.): Wentz should make for a decent streaming option in 2QB leagues this week, even if the Chicago defense is at least a little better than the one Wentz faced on Sunday. I'm still not sure if I underestimated Wentz or overestimated Cleveland in week one. The Bears are improved on defense from 2015, but they didn't really show that last week. Wentz will eventually take some lumps, but I'd expect him in the range of 220-250 yards passing and at least one TD this week.

QB Dak Prescott, DAL (Wk. 2: @Was.): Dak is in a similar spot to the one he was in last week, facing a defense that was unimpressive in 2015, but I'd like to see Dallas allow Prescott to let it loose a bit more this week. The week one gameplan was pretty vanilla, and Prescott wasn't able to use his legs the way he did in the preseason. I get that you don't want Dak to get hurt and be stuck with the Sanchize starting, but it doesn't make sense to me to make Dak the starter after he shows how dynamic he can be in the preseason, and then call plays that won't let him be dynamic. Improvement from Zeke should help Dak this week, as should Washington's defensive scheme if they don't change what they did in week one. Josh Norman played exclusively at left corner last week, and rarely ended up covering Antonio Brown. If Norman is deployed the same way again, look for Dez to move all around the formation to get some manufactured mismatches away from Norman. Dak is again a borderline QB2 option. If things go his way, he could push close to a top-12 performance this week.

WR Tajae Sharpe, TEN (Wk. 2: @Det.): There is no question that Sharpe is the number one receiver for the Titans, as evidenced by the week one snap counts. Sharpe was on the field for 64 of the Titans' 69 offensive snaps. No other receiver played more than 37. The only problem...the Titans' game plan is supposed to be a low-volume passing attack. They threw 41 passes last week, which is definitely more than they wanted to throw, and Sharpe was still just the WR38 for the week in standard scoring. The running backs and Delanie Walker are the priorities in this offense, and until that changes, Sharpe is going to be on the WR3/4 borderline every week. He'll be more of a steady WR3 in PPR. For what it's worth, the Lions offense is humming and the Titans should be playing from behind and throwing more than they want to again.

WR Michael Thomas, NO (Wk. 2: @NYG): The G-Men appeared to be improved from last year on the defensive side in week one, so the upside for Thomas may be limited, but he showed great efficiency last Sunday with 6 catches on 6 targets, and Drew Brees threw 7 TDs against the Giants a year ago. While the matchup with Dominique Rogers-Cromartie or Janoris Jenkins on the outside isn't appealing, there is some sneaky upside this week. He could be a high-risk, high-reward WR3/flex guy in this matchup.

WR Corey Coleman, CLE (Wk. 2: vs. Bal.): I'm not sure how the RG3 injury will affect Coleman going forward. Griffin's willingness to throw the deep ball played right into Coleman's wheelhouse, and it's a trait that Josh McCown lacks. McCown connected on just 7-of-25 throws (28%) that traveled more than 20 yards downfield last season. That efficiency will have to be better for Coleman to approach his ceiling. Corey is still the de facto WR1 while Gordon is out, and he'll remain a boom-or-bust option to roll the dice on as a fantasy WR3. The Ravens were 25th in pass defense DVOA last season, so the matchup is a decent one if Coleman can exploit it.

Rookies to Sit:

RB Derrick Henry, TEN (Wk. 2: @Det.): Based on what we've seen from Derrick Henry in college, the 41 receiving yards seem like an outlier for the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. He didn't show much receiving prowess at 'Bama, and while the team has said it's something he can do, I wouldn't expect that kind of receiving output regularly. He should make his money on the ground, especially in the red zone, but in week one he saw just 5 carries total, and picked up just 3 yards on them. That kind of workload won't create strong fantasy days, even if he does hit paydirt. I'd like to see that carry number increase, or a goal line role become clear before I'd consider playing him in fantasy lineups.

RB DeAndre Washington, OAK (Wk. 2: vs. Atl.): Week one was rough for Washington. He was talked up as the complement to Latavius Murray that the Raiders had been lacking last season, but he tallied just 6 touches (only one catch) for 24 total yards, and he was clearly outperformed by the number 3 back. This is a spot where you have to avoid starting Washington until he has a clear role as the receiving back.

WR Tyler Boyd, CIN (Wk. 2: @Pit.): Boyd saw just 3 targets in week one. There will be weeks where he sees more, but we saw what the offense is. It will be funneled through AJ Green and the running backs (and Eifert when he returns). Unless Boyd manages to jump Brandon LaFell on the depth chart, it will be hard to recommend starting him. There just isn't enough upside to justify playing a guy with such a low floor.

WR Malcolm Mitchell, NE (Wk. 2: vs. Mia.): Mitchell is an interesting option this week with the burnable Byron Maxwell and rookie Xavien Howard starting on the outside for Miami, but with Gronk returning, this offense just has too many mouths to feed to expect a big game from Mitchell. At best he's a DFS tournament punt play.

WR Leonte Carroo, MIA (Wk. 2: @NE): I was excited to talk up Carroo as a sleeper for this week until I realized who he would be matched up with all game. Carroo was quiet in week one with just 2 catches for 14 yards, but he was on the field for 45 snaps and squared off with Richard Sherman all day. Sherman praised Carroo's competitiveness after the game. If DeVante Parker is out again, I'd expect a big snap count for Leonte again, but this week he gets Malcolm Butler. Butler was a largely unknown player turned Super Bowl hero two years ago, and he really came into his own as a lockdown corner in '15. That matchup is enough for me to re-think Carroo as a sleeper for this week.

WR Josh Doctson, WAS (Wk. 2: vs. Dal.): You are probably aware not to play Doctson. He didn't get on the field until the game was already out of hand on Monday night. He will certainly work his way up the depth chart at some point, but until he does he needs to stay stashed.

Deep League Sleepers, Stashes, and Cheap DFS Options:

RB Jalen Richard, OAK (Wk. 2: vs. Atl.): Was Richard's 75-yard TD run on his first career carry a fluke? Can he be Antone Smith redux? Is he something more than that? I don't know the answers to these questions yet, but my gut feeling is that he has a chance to be something more. Latavius has been consistently inefficient as a starter and gotten his production on volume alone, and Richard looks like a better pure runner than DeAndre Washington. His running style reminds me of CJ Anderson. If he continues to impress in limited looks over the next few weeks, he'll almost certainly start to cut into Murray's workload, and could overtake him by as early as 2017. He's definitely worth a stash in dynasty if you have the room for him.

RB Dwayne Washington, DET (Wk. 2: vs. Ten.): Washington is another player who is more of a dynasty stash than the guy to play right away. He scored his first career TD in week one but tallied just 1 yard on 2 carries. It appears that his strong preseason helped him beat out Zach Zenner for the big back role that Joique Bell played admirably for the past few years in Detroit. He could be a desperation streamer in TD-only leagues, but dynasty owners are the ones who need to keep an eye on him. He's shown some upside...he ran for 104 yards in the Lions' preseason finale. If his role grows at all, he'll be worth an add.

TE Stephen Anderson, HOU (Wk. 2: vs. KC): Once again, as is the theme with this section today, we have another dynasty stash player...but this one could have value in re-draft leagues before long. Draft twitter was in love with Anderson in the spring and was stunned when he went undrafted. Somehow, he still may end up the Texans' starter before long. Anderson caught 3 passes for 25 yards in the opener and only has to beat out CJ Fiedorowicz and Ryan Griffin to be the top dog. Those two are both better known as blockers than receivers and combined for 3 catches and 23 yards on Sunday. Anderson is oozing with upside and just needs to earn Osweiler's trust to be pushing to be a top-15 TE. He's definitely one to keep an eye on if you are streaming tight ends or have a lackluster starting option.

That's all I've got for this week. Hopefully, it helps you dominate your week 2 matchups. Always make sure to use some common sense and fit the recommendations to your team. Don't just blindly start Sterling Shepard because of where I have him listed if you have 3 top-10 WRs. Also, make sure to keep a close watch on the injury report. With the removal of the 'Probable' designation, it's going to be even harder to tell who's actually going to play and who isn't. If you don't like what you see here (or do), feel free to hit me up on twitter (@Shawn_Foss) and tell me about it. As always...good luck, trust your gut and have fun. It's just a game.

Welcome back to the Rookie Report! It’s been a long offseason, but hopefully you’re ready for the season to kick into gear. If you aren’t familiar with the column, each week I’ll break down the matchups that the relevant fantasy rookies face and tell you which ones you should play, which you should sit, and which ones you should think twice about. Always fit the recommendations to your team, and read the reasoning before blindly starting a player based on the word ‘Start’ in my recommendation.

Week one is always the toughest one to project the rookies. We don’t always know how their skills will translate, we don’t have a track record of usage to go off of, and we have a hard time trusting players like that. Because of that, the list of players to consider for week one is a little shorter than it will be for the rest of the season…so guess what? You get a bonus section this week! Before we get to the matchups for week one, here’s a look at my top 10 fantasy rookies for 2016 season:

Ezekiel Elliot is set to impress1. RB Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys: Zeke is the easy number one option here. He’s the clear cut number one back in the most running back-friendly offense in the league. Darren McFadden ran for nearly 1,100 yards and caught 40 passes for another 328 last year, and he doesn’t have the same talent as Elliott and wasn’t the starter to open the year. I expect Dallas to try and repeat their formula from 2014 when they tried to dominate time of possession by pounding the rock with DeMarco Murray. Murray was the best RB in football that year, and that’s Elliott’s ceiling this year. Thanks to volume and that Cowboys o-line, his floor should still be an RB1.

2. WR Sterling Shepard, New York Giants: Shepard was a phenom at Oklahoma. He’s probably the best route-runner in this draft class and uses his savvy and quickness to get separation consistently. He enters an offense that has been desperate for a number 2 receiver to take pressure off Odell Beckham and they finally found one. It’s a long shot that Victor Cruz ever regains his previous form, so there is a huge role there for Shepard to take. Rueben Randle was awful as a Giant, and he was targeted 90 times last year. During the 2015 season at Oklahoma, the QBs throwing the ball had the equivalent of a 135.9 NFL passer rating when targeting Shepard. Eli is going to get attached to this kid quickly, and I expect him to top 100 targets as a rookie and be a solid WR3 in most fantasy leagues.

3. WR Corey Coleman, Cleveland Browns: Coleman was statistically the most prolific receiver in college in 2015, blowing by defenses in Baylor’s aggressive spread attack to the tune of 1,363 yards and 20 touchdowns. He follows in a line of Baylor WRs that includes Josh Gordon, Kendall Wright and Terrance Williams…and he’s likely to end up as the best one of the group. He gets dropped behind Shepard for this year because the Browns’ offense remains suspect, and Josh Gordon will return before long and take a large share of his targets. I expect Coleman to have similar target numbers to Shepard (maybe even more of them), but expect that Shep will be more efficient with his chances due to playing in a more efficient offense.

4. RB Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans: Henry was a bruiser in college, but there were a lot of concerns about his workload as a junior (395 carries) and his lack of agility, but he has put most of those concerns to bed with a torrid preseason. He has been terrorizing opposing defenses with 216 yards and 3 scores on 6.35 yards per carry in the exhibition season. In my opinion, his impressive camp has earned him a share of the workload this season despite the team acquiring DeMarco Murray, and he can be a touchdown machine if the Titans give him that chance. He should be drafted as an RB 3 or with the upside to become a strong RB2 if his role increases.

5. RB DeAndre Washington, Oakland Raiders: While Washington’s role to open the season seems larger than Derrick Henry’s, he lacks the same top-end upside. Washington will open the season as the team’s passing down back, which likely has him ticketed for 50-60 catches and a few TDs, but if he can’t steal some of Latavius Murray’s early down work, he won’t be much more than a weekly flex consideration. Washington ran for nearly 1,500 yards last year at Texas Tech, but their Air Raid offense is known for lining up 4+ wide receivers often, which creates some pretty soft fronts for the RB to run through. I’m yet to be convinced that he will run inside as effectively against NFL defenses. As I mentioned, he’s a weekly flex consideration, and should be drafted as such.

6. WR Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints: Thomas isn’t the flashiest wideout who was drafted this year, be he may have landed in the best situation (at least as long as Drew Brees is around). He seemed ticketed to play the ‘Big Slot’ role as a rookie, but reports have him playing on the outside in 3-WR sets. Still, with Coby Fleener’s struggles in camp he should see a nice target share in a very efficient passing offense. He replaces Marques Colston, who even through his decline averaged 60-788-4.7 over the past 3 years. Those numbers would have been good enough for WR37 last year, ahead of Donte Moncrief, Tyler Lockett, Marvin Jones and Alshon Jeffrey. Thomas should be in that ballpark. He will certainly have some usable weeks this year, and should be drafted as a WR4, or really good number 5.

7. WR Tajae Sharpe, Tennessee Titans: It was widely believed that the Titans were listing Sharpe ahead of Dorial Green-Beckham on the depth chart as a motivational tactic for the gifted 2^nd year WR…but it turns out they were more than willing to stick with Sharpe if DGB didn’t get his act together. Green-Beckham has been shipped off to Philly, and Sharped looks locked in as a starter alongside Rishard Matthews. It’ll be an up and down year for both Titans WRs. The offense will certainly want to focus on the run game with Murray and Henry, and when it’s working there will be some rough weeks due to low volume, but Sharpe caught 196 passes for 2,600 yards over the past 2 years at UMass. He’ll make the opportunities count when he gets them. He should be drafted shortly after Thomas.

8. WR Will Fuller, Houston Texans: I’m not a big believer in Fuller. I think the dropsies that he showed last year in college will re-surface in the NFL, but hey, that happened to Kelvin Benjamin in his rookie year and he still produced as a top fantasy target. Fuller’s speed is legit. He can take the top off the defense, and he has DeAndre Hopkins on the opposite side of the field to draw coverage away. Fuller will be boom-or-bust, and while I like my fantasy players to have a bit more consistency, there will be some strong games that can help your team, especially in DFS and best-ball formats.

9. WR Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals: Boyd was ultra-productive at Pitt, but a lot of experts question if he has the speed to separate from NFL defenders. His year one outlook is hurt by the fact that the Bengals are likely to be more run-heavy after losing their number 2 and 3 WRs (and missing their TE to start the year). It’s also hurt by the fact that he hasn’t passed Brandon LaFell on the depth chart yet. While he has an immediate role, it’s possible that someone not ranked in this top-10 moves ahead of him if injury strikes or if they move into a starting role (Treadwell, Doctson, Leonte Carroo, Malcolm Mitchell, etc.).

10. QB Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys: The Dak Attack appears to be for real, and he is opening the year as the starting QB of an offense that is set up for success. Dak will be asked to hand off to Zeke, and occasionally throw to Dez Bryant and Jason Witten to keep the sticks moving. They won’t put too much on his plate too soon, but he’s passed every test so far this preseason. He completed 78% of his throws and threw for 5 TDs, 0 INTs, and also ran for 2 scores. The rushing upside makes him playable in 2-QB leagues when the matchup is right. I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing that with Carson Wentz just yet. Jerry Jones has left open the possibility that Dak remains the starter once Romo returns if he plays well, so this might be a guy who starts all year. I think I’d still be afraid to draft him in a 10-team, 1-QB league even as a backup, but I’d be fine with it in deeper leagues. He has a solid shot to be a top-20 QB

Honorable Mention: K Roberto Aguayo, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: I wouldn’t feel right putting a kicker in the top-10 rookies, but he is one of the best college kickers of all-time, was drafted in the 2^nd round, and appears to be past his scuffles from early in camp. The offense there is improving, and Aguayo should have plenty of chances to put up points this season. He’s likely to finish in the top half of the league in fantasy points for kickers.

Alright, on to week one…

Rookies to Start:

RB Ezekiel Elliott, DAL (Wk. 1: vs. NYG): You have to start Zeke this week. If you drafted him, it was in the first two rounds, and you didn’t do it to sit him. His only competition for carries is from Alfred Morris, and the Giants allowed 19 fantasy points per game to opposing backs last year. The Cowboys are going to get back to their ball control formula from 2014, when they ran the ball on 49.64% of their offensive plays. With the workload expected for Elliott, he’s an RB1 play this week.

Borderline Rookies:

Can Dak succeed in Dallas?QB Dak Prescott, DAL (Wk. 1: vs. NYG): The Giants allowed the 2^nd most quarterback fantasy points in the league last year and  their pass defense ranked just 28^th in Football Outsider’s DVOA stat which measures defensive efficiency. Dak likely won’t have to throw a lot, but his rushing ability gives him a higher floor, and he has a shot at a strong QB2 day. I wouldn’t consider him in anything but the deepest of 1-QB leagues though. This is more for 2QB formats.

WR Sterling Shepard, NYG (Wk. 1: @Dal.): Shepard should get fed the ball if the defense doubles up on Odell Beckham. The Cowboys were 30^th in DVOA vs. #1 WRs last year, and 10^th vs. #2’s, so Beckham has a plus matchup, but there should be enough to go around for Shep. 70-80 yards out of Sterling would be a success in week 1.

WR Corey Coleman, CLE (Wk. 1: @Phi.): The Eagles were shredded by WRs in 2015 to the tune of almost 2,900 yards and 24 TDs (25.9 fantasy points allowed per game), but they upgraded the secondary this offseason. Both of their starting safties got grades of over 80 from Pro Football Focus in 2015(0-100 scale), so they should do a good job of limiting big plays, which are Coleman’s specialty. The Browns will look to get him involved, but 5-60 sounds about right for this week.

Rookies to Sit:

QB Carson Wentz, PHI (Wk. 1: vs. Cle.): The matchup looks good on paper, but don’t be fooled. Wentz isn’t ready yet. He will play in one of the slowest offenses in the league. Head Coach Doug Pederson’s Kansas City offense ran just 57.4 plays per game last year at home, 2^nd fewest in the NFL. That’s still about 20 more snaps than Carson Wentz has played against better than FCS-level competition. I’d expect a run-heavy attack and some growing pains for the rookie QB along the way. If everything goes right for him, he might be a low-end QB2. The upside just isn’t there this week (or probably for the next few weeks).

RB Derrick Henry, TEN (Wk. 1: vs. Min.): I’m a huge fan of Derrick Henry’s season-long potential to steal a big chunk of DeMarco Murray’s workload and become a TD machine, but week one might not be his best opportunity. The Vikings allowed just 5 RB rushing scores in ’15, and the 8^th-fewest fantasy in the league to opposing running backs. Their defense should be stronger this year as their young core gains experience. He would have to find the end zone to have a usable day.

RB Rob Kelley, WAS (Wk. 1: vs. Pit): Kelley had a strong preseason, prompting one beat writer to project a 60-40 split of early down work with Matt Jones this season. He will likely have some big weeks, especially if Jones spends any time banged up this year, but week one is not an ideal matchup to make an impact. The Steelers are very vulnerable on the back end of the D, but they allowed the 2^nd-fewest running back fantasy points a season ago. Kelley’s a stash for now in deeper leagues.

WR Michael Thomas, NO (Wk. 1: vs. Oak.): Thomas will have an opportunity to make an impact in week one if reports of Coby Fleener’s camp struggles are to be believed, but I’d be hard pressed to start him against Oakland’s ascending defense. It sounds like Thomas will line up outside in 3-WR sets,  which means Willie Snead will square off with the weak link of the Raiders’ secondary, DJ Hayden. Thomas should still be 3^rd in the pecking order for targets, and I’d have a hard time pulling the trigger on him this week.

WR Tyler Boyd, CIN (Wk. 1: @NYJ): Boyd has some upside this week, but like Thomas I’m just not comfortable making the call to put him in this week. AJ Green will likely get the Revis Island treatment, and it may be tough sledding to run against the Jets’ front, but they certainly will try to establish the run and Boyd is still running behind Brandon LaFell on the depth chart. I’m not sure he sees enough volume to be start-able.

WR Laquon Treadwell, MIN (Wk. 1: @Ten.): After failing to beat out Stefon Diggs and Charles Johnson for a starting role, Treadwell won’t be playable in fantasy in the early part of the season. The Vikings are just too run-heavy for their WR3 to be of value in the lineup.

WR Josh Doctson, WAS (Wk. 1: vs. Pit.): Much like Treadwell, Doctson is yet to carve out a role with the first-team offense. His struggles, however, have been related more to health than on-field performance. He’s going to work his way into the rotation sooner than later, but it likely won’t happen in week one.

Deep League Sleepers and Cheap DFS Plays:

RB DeAndre Washington, OAK (Wk. 1: @NO): The Saints allowed a league-high 910 receiving yards to opposing backs last season and 7 receiving TDs (tied for league-high). They also allowed the 3^rd most fantasy points to the position. While Latavius will be the lead back, Washington figures to have a prominent role in the passing game right away. He could make a decent flex-play in PPR leagues this week.

WR Will Fuller, HOU (Wk. 1: vs. Chi.): Fuller is a boom-or-bust punt play for DFS tourneys this week. His hands are an issue, but the Texans are likely to take a couple shots downfield against a suspect Bears defense. Fuller will have a chance to make a big play or two, and should cost the minimum on most DFS sites.

WR Tajae Sharpe, TEN (Wk. 1: vs. Min.): Like Fuller, Sharpe is more of a punt play in DFS tournaments. The Vikings were strong against WR1s in 2015, but they struggled vs. WR2s, ranking 25^th in DVOA on passes to the number 2 wide receiver. If we assume Rishard Matthews is the number one, that makes Sharpe the de facto number 2. Delanie Walker will undoubtedly lead the team in targets in this one, but Sharpe will cost just the minimum in DFS and has some upside for a respectable day.

That’s all I’ve got for this week. If there are any rookies not listed above, I wouldn’t recommend playing them this week. Now it’s time to sit back, put your feet up, and enjoy some NFL football that means something for the first time in 7 months. As always: Good luck, trust your gut, and have fun. It’s just a game.