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Welcome back to the Rookie Report! We’ve made it to the final week bye week of the season. Hopefully you’re in good playoff position heading into this week. Week 11 had some exciting new developments, including the continued breakout of Deebo Samuel and the debut of N’Keal Harry, but let’s not live in the past. Let’s look at what to expect from week 12…

Rookies to Start:

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

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

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

Borderline Rookies: 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rookies to Sit: 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Deep League Sleepers, Stashes, and Cheap DFS Options: 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rookies to Start:

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

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

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

Borderline Rookies:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rookies to Sit:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Deep League Sleepers, Stashes and Cheap DFS Options:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rookies to Start:

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

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

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

Borderline Rookies:

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

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

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

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

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

Rookies to Sit:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Deep League Sleepers, Stashes, and Cheap DFS Options:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Welcome back to the Rookie Report! Week 8 brought us the coming-out party for David Montgomery, touchdowns for Miles Sanders & Devin Singletary, multiple touchdowns for DK Metcalf and Darius Slayton, and another sparkling Gardner Minshew performance. Week 9 has already brought us the benching of Andy Dalton for rookie Ryan Finley and the games haven’t even started yet. Finley may be worth a speculative add in 2QB leagues despite the Bengals being on a bye in week 9. I expect him to be more of a game manager type in the same vein as Dalton, but he will have some weapons to work with. Dalton was the QB18 on the year and hasn’t had AJ Green on the field for a single snap. Green is expected to return after the bye. We’re approaching the home stretch of the fantasy regular season and hitting some of the biggest bye weeks of the year. Hopefully, you’ve got the depth to withstand the byes, but if not, there are certainly some rookies who might help you survive. Let’s dive into the week 9 outlook.

Rookies to Start:

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

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

Borderline Rookies:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rookies to Sit:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Deep League Sleepers, Stashes, and Cheap DFS Options:

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

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

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

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

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

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

That’s all I’ve got for this week. Hopefully, it helps you with the toughest decisions you have this week involving the rookies. Keep a close eye on the injury report throughout the week and make sure everyone in your lineups is good to go, and don’t forget that the Jaguars/Texans game this week is at 8:30 AM CT in London, so if you have any players on those teams make sure you are on top of setting your lineup. If you have any specific questions or just want to yell at me about what is written above, feel free to hit me up on twitter and let me know (@Shawn_Foss). As always: Good luck, trust your gut and have fun. It’s just a game.