Every week I will be checking in on the rookies to give a quick overview of your fantasy and dynasty needs. This should give you a roundup of everything you need to know about the newest additions to your dynasty fantasy football leagues.
Rookie Quarterbacks
Through thirteen weeks, Mac Jones seems to be the best quarterback in the class. However, Justin Fields is improving while Trevor Lawrence has had his ups and downs. Davis Mills has been the most surprising, and Zach Wilson looks the most likely to flop.
Trevor Lawrence (JAC) completed 16 of 28 passes for 145 yards and added 10 rushing yards on four carries. It was another dismal performance from Lawrence, but at least it was against the Rams’ defense, so he has an excuse. Lawrence has just two touchdowns in his last six games. He also has two interceptions in that period. Lawrence threw for seven scores in his first six contests but also had eight picks. To make matters worse, he hasn’t had over 250-yards passing since Week 6.
Zach Wilson (NYJ) completed 23 of 38 pass attempts for 226 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Wilson’s touchdowns have come in bunches. His six scores have occurred in three games (two each). Unfortunately, Wilson has thrown 11 interceptions and has not had over 300 yards passing.
Justin Fields (CHI) did not play (ribs).
Mac Jones (NE) completed two of three passes for 19 yards. The winter conditions in Buffalo kept Jones from throwing the ball at almost any rate as New England ran the ball on nearly every play. Jones had just one attempt entering the fourth quarter.
Davis Mills (HOU) completed six of fourteen passes for 49 yards. He struggled against the Colts front and had similar numbers to the starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Prior to week thirteen, it had been three games since Mills has seen any action.
Trey Lance (SF) did not play.
Kellen Mond (MIN) and Kyle Trask (TB) have not taken a snap.
Rookie Running Backs
Not many surprises have risen out of the rookie running backs aside from Elijah Mitchell and Chuba Hubbard. Najee Harris, Javonte Williams, and Michael Carter lead the group.
Najee Harris (PIT) rushed 21 times for 71 yards while hauling in all five of his targets for 36 yards. Since Harris ran for 105-yards against Detroit in Week 10, he has only 133 yards rushing and just one score. However, the volume continues to be there, and Harris has gone over 20 carries in four of his last six contests. Unfortunately, he has averaged just 3.4 yards during that span.
Elijah Mitchell (SF) carried the ball 22 times for 66 yards and a touchdown and caught all three of his targets for 18 yards. Mitchell struggled against a Seattle defensive front, with his most extensive run being only nine yards. Unfortunately, he left the game with a concussion but returned. Mitchell has carried the rock 74 times in the last three games (27-22-27) and has scored in the previous two contests. Also, he has seen targets going in his direction, catching 13 balls in the last four contests.
Javonte Williams (DEN) rushed 23 times for 102 yards and grabbed six of nine targets for 76 yards and a touchdown. Melvin Gordon (hip) missed Week 13, opening the door for Williams, and he didn’t disappoint. While sharing time with Gordon, Williams has been a solid fantasy contributor and demonstrated against Kansas City that he can be a bell cow.
Michael Carter (NYJ) is on short-term IR due to an ankle injury.
Rhamondre Stevenson (NE) rushed 24 times for 78 yards. Stevenson faced a Buffalo stacked front because Mac Jones only threw three passes. Therefore, Stevenson was not targeted. However, Stevenson demonstrates a mixture of power with athletic ability and should get more playing time after the New England bye week.
Kenneth Gainwell (PHI) carried the ball 12 times for 54 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s 33-18 win over the Jets. He added five receptions for 33 yards. Gainwell backed up Miles Sanders, but Jordan Howard was out, and Boston Scott dealt with sickness. As a result, Gainwell finally was allowed to carry the ball, and he had the most productive game this season. Gainwell demonstrated his capabilities when he scored from 18-yards away by ducking through defenders.
Khalil Herbert (CHI) rushed for 16 yards on four carries while catching his only target for 11 yards. Herbert had his biggest total yardage day since his start in Week 8 against San Francisco. Herbert will continue to be limited while David Montgomery is the starter.
Jaret Patterson (WFT) took one carry for two yards while only playing four snaps. Patterson took a backseat to Wendell Smallwood, but both barely played behind Antonio Gibson (82-percent of snaps).
Trey Sermon (SF) is on IR (ankle).
Larry Rountree (LAC) did not get a carry or touch.
Chris Evans (CIN) did not play due to an ankle injury.
Gary Brightwell (NYG) did not get a carry or touch.
Jermar Jefferson (DET) rushed five times for 18 yards while missing his lone target. Jefferson was expected to get more action due to D’Andre Swift being out, but Jamaal Williams dominated with 18 touches
Deon Jackson (IND) rushed six times for 19 yards and a touchdown. Jackson has only been available during garbage time as he carried the ball six times for 12 yards against Buffalo. Jackson’s first touchdown came from three yards out.
Jake Funk (LAR) is on IR (hamstring) and is out for the season.
Kylin Hill (GB) is on IR (knee) and is out for the season.
Rookie Wide Receivers
There aren’t many wide receivers that have surprised the fantasy landscape. Nico Collins has been a surprise for a third-round selection. Unfortunately for Terrace Marshall, it appears he has been a bust.
Ja’Marr Chase (CIN) secured five of eight targets for 52 yards. Chase has totaled just 204 yards since his 201 yard game against Baltimore in Week 7 with one touchdown. Fortunately, Chase did post a double-digit performance and broke his string of just three receptions in his last back-to-back weeks. Also, Chase has had 10 points or more in 12 of his 13 performances.
Jaylen Waddle (MIA) recorded nine receptions on 11 targets for 90 yards. Waddle continues to break out with DeVante Parker on the mend. Also, Waddle has double-digit performances in his previous eight games for the fifth time. Waddle now has four receptions of 20 yards or more in his last four games.
De’Vonta Smith (PHI) recorded two receptions on four targets for 15 yards. Gardner Minshew only threw 25 times, so Smith was limited in opportunities. Unfortunately, Dallas Goedert and Kenneth Gainwell saw more targets than Smith, who has just 12 receptions in the last four games and 37 receiving yards in the previous two games.
Elijah Moore (NYJ) recorded six receptions on 12 targets for 77 yards and a touchdown. Moore led the team in targets in week thirteen and is second on the team in targets this season. Also, Moore scored for the fifth time this season, with all his scores in the last five games. Moore has double-digit targets in two of his previous three contests. As for fantasy points, Moore has had five double-digit performances over the previous six games.
Rashod Bateman (BAL) was held without a catch on one target but was involved in 42% of his snaps. Unfortunately, it marked the fewest targets since Week 6 and his second week with four or fewer targets.
Rondale Moore (ARI) recorded one catch on two targets for eight yards, three carries for two yards, three kick returns for 71 yards, and one punt return for no yards. Murray only threw 15 times, so Moore’s opportunities were limited after getting 11 in Week 11.
Dee Eskridge (SEA) caught all three of his targets for 35 yards and a touchdown and had as many targets as Freddie Swain. However, Eskridge was more efficient and scored. In the previous two games, Eskridge has brought in five of his six targets for 45 receiving yards.
Terrace Marshall (CAR) a healthy scratch. Marshall has been a bust for a second-round selection as he has totaled just 14 receptions for 116 yards and zero touchdowns. Also, Marshall’s last reception came in Week 6.
Dyami Brown (WAS) caught his only target for six yards on just six snaps. Brown is a third-round selection whose playing time is being reduced weekly.
Kadarius Toney (NYG) has been inactive for two weeks due to injury (quadriceps/oblique).
Josh Palmer (LAC) missed his only target. Palmer has successfully brought in at least one reception in the last seven weeks but just barely missed out against Cincinnati when the ball slipped off his hands.
Dez Fitzpatrick (TEN) was on a bye week.
Anthony Schwartz (CLE) remains in the concussion protocol after the concussion he suffered in Week 10. The Browns had a bye week.
Demetric Felton (CLE) bye week.
Michael Strachan (IND) did not play.
Nico Collins (HOU) missed his lone target. For the first time, Collins did not catch a pass this season. Also, Collins has averaged a little more than four targets per game over the last six games. Collins will continue to backup Brandin Cooks as the second receiver on the team on a putrid offense, but his future is promising.
Amari Rodgers (GB) was on a bye week.
Jaelon Darden (TB) was ruled out due to a concussion in Week 12 against the Colts.
Ihmir Smith-Marsette (MIN) was inactive in Week 13 against the Lions.
Shi Smith (CAR) did not receive a target.
Frank Darby (ATL) did not receive a target.
Ben Skowronek (LAR) caught one of his two targets for 35 yards while playing 16 snaps. Skowronek received playing time due to Odell Beckham hurt with a hip injury. With Cooper Kupp, OBJ, Van Jefferson getting the majority of the time, Skowronek has established himself as the fourth receiver.
Dax Milne (WFT) did not play in Week 13.
Tylan Wallace (BAL) did not receive a target.
Marquez Stevenson (BUF), Simi Fehoko (DAL), and Tre Nixon (NE) do not have a reception.
Tutu Atwell (LAR) was placed on IR.
Rookie Tight Ends
It’s a surprise to see two tight ends do well in their rookie season. Most expected Kyle Pitts to break the mold, and he hasn’t. Pat Freirmuth is the surprise stud of the group.
Kyle Pitts (ATL) brought in four of seven targets for 48 yards. Pitts was second on the team behind Russell Gage in receptions, yards, and targets. Pitts has not topped 50 yards in three straight games and hasn’t scored since Week 5. The good news is that Pitts continues to get the ball thrown his as he has not had less than five targets in any game.
Pat Freiermuth (PIT) brought in three of four targets for 26 yards and caught a two-point conversion. Unfortunately, Freiermuth broke his two-game consecutive streak of double-digit performances. Freiermuth was on the field for 73 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. Since Week 6, Freiermuth has had at least four targets, and he’s caught 32 of 44 targets for 253 yards and five touchdowns during that span.
Tommy Tremble (CAR) had a bye week.
Kylen Granson (IND) has had three straight weeks of two targets. Granson brought in one of those for six yards.
Noah Gray (KC) did not receive a target.
John Bates (WFT) caught three of four targets for 42 yards. Bates may now be back as the starter because Logan Thomas (knee) is out for the season. Unless Ricky Seals-Jones can return, Bates will see most of the snaps he did in Week 11 against Carolina (99-percent).
Brevin Jordan (HOU) was targeted four times and caught two passes for seven yards. Jordan now has five straight games with at least two targets and has scored twice in that time. Jordan has only been active for the five games and leads the Texans in red zone targets.
Tre’ McKitty (LAC) did not receive a target.
Hunter Long (MIA) caught his only target for eight yards. Long made his first catch of the season on his second target of the year.
Matt Bushman (LV), Zach Davidson (MIN), and Sammis Reyes (WFT) do not have a reception.
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