Rookies

JC Johnson’s 2022 NFL Mock Draft

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JC Johnson's 2022 NFL Mock Draft

by JC Johnson

 

I’m going to preface this by saying I didn’t add any potential trades into the mix because it would become far too chaotic.

 

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Aidan Hutchinson, Edge, Michigan

When Jacksonville tagged Cam Robinson this week I was perplexed to say the least. I think Evan Neal is probably the safest prospect in this class in that we know he’s going to be a 10 year starter and play at a high level. Just take a look at his combine photo. With them tagging Robinson, I believe that means they want to beef up their DL and this class is loaded with those prospects. Hence selecting Hutchinson at #1. After a highly productive senior season that saw coach Harbaugh get over that hump, Hutchinson has done plenty to warrant #1 overall pick discussion.

2. Detroit Lions: Malik Willis, QB, Liberty

This is where the mock gets spicier than usual. The Goff experiment in Detroit has run its course. He won’t be the guy to make them competitive, to be fair neither did Matthew Stafford outside of one playoff appearance. I think Holmes and Dan Campbell have a vision for this team. They’ve built the OL to be a top 10 unit in football, they’ve got good backs in Swift and Jamaal Williams, they’ve got playmakers in TJ Hockenson and Amon-Ra St. Brown. They need a QB that can pull it all together. Willis has a very unique skill set and he can come into this season and not have to worry about playing. Let him sit for a year. Add another weapon in a deep WR class in this draft and another in 2023 and that offense is completely revamped, retooled, and ready to compete just as the Rodgers era in Green Bay is coming to an end.

3. Houston Texans: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Texans dealt Laremy Tunsil before the draft. The LT has expressed his displeasure with the organization and very well could be on the move. That would set up the Texans to not only accrue more draft capital to rebuild a depleted roster, but also adequately replace him with Evan Neal. The 6’7 337lb behemoth was carved out of marble. He’s as can’t miss as they come. An easy pick to make.

4. New York Jets: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon 

The popular pick is Ikem Ekwonu here but Robert Saleh comes from an organization that loves DL from Oregon. I wouldn’t be surprised if he watches thibodeaux’s tape and all of those warm fuzzy feelings come rushing back to him. KT also fills a hole in the jets defensive scheme and with him on one side and a healthy Lawson on the other, the AFC East would be on notice.

5. New York Giants: Derek Stingley, CB, LSU

Bradberry will be out of town soon. Sauce Gardner is the hot name now at the corner position but before Gardner received national acclaim, stingley was the 18 year old wunderkind starting in the SEC locking up Ceedee Lamb in the 2019 CFP for the eventual National Champion LSU Tigers. I think people are getting ahead of themselves. It happens every year that a prospect is so good that people suffer from prospect fatigue and want to talk about a new player. Stingley is just that guy though. Don’t think too much.

6. Carolina Panthers: Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State

This is one of the easier picks to make thus far. Want to help out the passing game? Establish a good run game. This guy is a road grader. He throws bodies around and will immediately impact the Carolina offense.

7. New York Giants: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State

Cross is an extremely polished, and smooth prospect, he perfectly fills in for a giants OL that can use help keeping the edge. He probably slots in as their RT but with most premier pass rushers moving over to that side of the ball, he’s a guy ready made for battle.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame

Hamilton is the #2 prospect on my board. He’s a complete unicorn at the position and when you have as many holes as Atlanta does you take the best player. People want to give them a WR here and there’s a lot of good ones. When you have the chance to draft a unicorn you take it though. Just like they did with another Kyle last season. These are building block players for a franchise.

9. Seattle Seahawks: Travon Walker, Edge, Georgia

The first player of the vaunted Georgia defense comes off the board. Seattle is looking to add speed, athleticism, youth and impact to their defense and they can do all of that in one selection with Travon Walker, 6’4 270 and he ran 4.51. That is a big big man moving.

10. New York Jets: Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa

Penning is the fourth OT off the board, the Jets were in a similar situation when they selected Mekhi Becton. Penning is a far superior athlete that plays with a mean streak. He may not be ready made like Cross, Ekky, or Neal, but he’s a good player at a position they need help at. Douglas builds through the trenches and they continue to do so with this pick.

11. Washington Commanders: Drake London, WR, USC

When you go out and Carson Wentz you are essentially making the bet that if he fails, you’re out of a job. Ron Rivera and company need to do whatever it takes to make Wentz successful. That means giving him weapons to work with. We saw him have pretty good rapport with Michael Pittman and that is a very similar player to Drake London. London profiles as the big body contested catch receiver to let Terry Mclaurin take the top off and Curtis Samuel to be worked in as the gadget player they want to use him as in Scott Turner’s offense.

12. Minnesota Vikings: Sauce Gardner, CB, Cincinnati 

With Peterson probably not returning to the fold, the best corner on the roster is Kris Boyd. This is an easy pick for a new front office that is going to look to acquire the best talent available. Sauce is just that. Don’t think just pick.

13. Cleveland Browns: Jermaine Johnson Jr, EDGE, Florida State

For a team that just acquired Amari Cooper, WR isn’t going to be the pick here. Instead, with Clowney’s return uncertain, they go with the best player on their board and allow Johnson to pin his ears back on the opposite side of Garrett and get to the QB.

14. Baltimore Ravens: Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa

I know the Ravens fans will freak out when this pick isn’t one of Sauce or Stingley but they’re both too good to be here at 14. Honestly, Linderbaum is my #3 overall player on my board. He’s too good to be here too. The Ravens have a need at center with Bozeman hitting free agency and Linderbaum is just an unbelievable player. He gets out in front and pulls from the center position and will only add depth to an already potent rushing attack when Dobbins and Edwards return.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Andrew Booth Jr, CB, Clemson

This corner class is stacked and adding Booth to pair with Slay is too enticing to pass up on. He’s an instant playmaker at the NFL level.

16. Philadelphia Eagles: David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan

An incredible value on an edge rusher the Eagles are getting Ojabo here. Speed off the edge is how I would describe him. He may need to work on run defense but this guy can get to the QB.

17. Los Angeles Chargers: Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia

This is the easiest pick in the entire draft so far. Simply put Davis is an absolute freak. At 6’6 341 and a 4.78 40 time, I’m not sure the NFL has ever seen someone this big with that athleticism since probably Larry Allen. He immediately fixes the run defense and will clog up the middle for Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack.

18. New Orleans Saints: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt

What do you do for a QB with small hands? Put him in a dome and let him play in a division with another dome and warm weather. Pickett can operate fairly well in this timing offense of that NOLA operates and will be able to step in day 1 and play. 

19. Philadelphia Eagles: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas

The Eagles need to give Hurts more playmakers if they want to truly see what he is. Devonta Smith is great and Dallas Goedert is no slouch, but their next best option is Quez Watkins. Burks is lightning in the bottle and can do a lot with very little if you get him the ball. He’s the perfect asset for a QB that struggles to push the ball to intermediate and deep routes.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Zion Johnson, OL, Boston College

The Steelers need offensive line help. I think Johnson’s skillset will entice them as a guy who can play multiple positions and allow them to move Kendrick Green over to RG where he was more successful during the latter part of 2021.

21. New England Patriots: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah

Lloyd is a Belichick kind of player. He’s smart, big at 6’3 225 in the make of a Donta Hightower and he's an instinctive player who can read underneath passing lanes as well as zone scheme run assignments.

22. Las Vegas Raiders: Perrion Winfrey, DT, Oklahoma

The popular pick here is a WR to replace Henry Ruggs but the best DT on the roster is Kendal Vickers at the present moment. This WR class is deep, but Perrion Winfrey has repeatedly stolen the show in the pre draft process from the senior bowl to the combine interviews. He’s got the charisma of a leader and the play on the field to back up a 1st round selection. He hasn’t been a 1st in a lot of mocks, I expect that to change as the draft gets closer.

23. Arizona Cardinals: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

I think Garrett Wilson is the best WR in this class. He’s fast, runs every route in the tree and can jump out of the gym. He’s such an upgrade over Christian Kirk it’s almost laughable.

24. Dallas Cowboys: Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia

The rich get richer. The 3rd member of the Georgia defense goes in round 1. This isn’t the sexiest name of the first round but he’s a good football player. The Cowboys can use him to beef up the interior.

25. Buffalo Bills: Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington

The idea of giving the Bills another WR is enticing but they need to play better defense if they want to advance in the playoffs. McDuffie can lock down the other side of Tre'davious White when he returns from injury.

26. Tennessee Titans: Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida

With Caleb Farley already injured and having suffered multiple injuries before reaching the NFL, the Titans need to double down at the position. Elam is great in press, physical and has incredible tape against Jameson Williams in this class.

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss

I love Corral’s moxie. In a mock where there aren’t any trades this is the best landing spot I could pick for him. He’s got weapons galore on the perimeter and has the arm to air it out in Bruce Arians system. He’s also athletic enough to run the ball when he gets in some sticky situations which he most likely will with Ali Marpet unexpectedly retiring this off-season.

28. Green Bay Packers: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio Sate

I’m doing it, I’m giving Rodgers his first 1st round WR. My head and history says give them Nakobe Dean but my heart tells me that if the Packers are going to shell out 50 mill a season for a guy, they should probably do whatever they have to do to make him happy and successful.

29. Miami Dolphins: Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia

Dean plays with incredible instinct and speed. People are a little concerned about his size but in today’s NFL you need a MLB that can cover the TE and slot if called upon. Gone are the days where these guys weigh 240 and are slamming into fullbacks in the hole. I think he’s an incredible value at 29.

30. Kansas City Chiefs: Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama

Sometimes, people just want to watch the world burn. What do you give to the guy who has everything? Speed. More speed. This would make the chiefs offense go nuclear. I think it’s possible he slips with the ACL injury and to team philosophy with other WRs going before him that have demonstrated an ability to do different things. 

31. Cincinnati Bengals: Kenyon Green, OG, Texas A&M

We know what the Bengals need to do. Every single pick of theirs should go into keeping Joe Burrow alive.

32. Detroit Lions: George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue

It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he went higher than this. People are concerned about his athleticism and the rumor mill is saying he didn’t interview well. I believe he’s too talented to be here at 32 but sometimes, good people get nice things.

Question the Rankings

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Question the Rankings

by Kevyn Godwin

 

Every season we start the same cycle. We look at rankings, read a few articles, then draft our teams. Often ending that cycle by blaming the rankings guy for your performance. Better yet, we bully the rankings before we do any research ourselves as if we need to be spoon-fed the key to a championship but hate everything that’s put on our plate. I simply ask why.

 

Question The Rankings

First, you should question the rankings. How are they put together? Does it only show the top 10? Is there a statistical trend?

When looking for positional rankings, you always want to look for a list based on your league size. For example, in a 12 team league, the top 12 WR become WR1. Then 13-24 are WR2.  You use this method to know where a player should be drafted and how strong your roster is.

The next part is stats. Do the rankings look at how the player actually finished last year vs this year’s projection? Take Stefan Diggs. Statistically finished In the top three for 2020 and  9th best WR in 2021. If a rankings list has him outside of the top 12 for 2022, do they explain the reason for projecting a continued drop vs a bounce back?

 

Question The Source

Everyone can write, and we all have opinions we want heard. But is the source of your rankings giving you unbiased information or just another way to package his agenda?

We as the reader and fantasy player have to take into consideration that the person making the rankings also have fantasy teams. They probably have favorite teams and players too. In the rankings, does it pass the eye test? Is there an out-of-place player because that’s the writer's hometown hero? On the opposite end, is a player left off the rankings because he busted the writer's championship hopes.

They could also be downplaying a player as a strategy for trade. Rank a player low just so they can trade less to get them on their own team.

 

Question Yourself

Just as we know a writer can have bias, so do we as a reader looking at the rankings. We need to ask ourselves the same questions. Do you disagree with a ranking just because your favorite player is too low? Did you take CMC two years in a row just to be disappointed? So now you have the 10th RB overall. Who is on your trade list that you wanna get cheap this year? I bet you told your buddy that he stinks and is a bust at some point to drop his value.

 

The Answer

It's simple but overlooked. Question everything! Ask yourself, is this source reputable? Do I see an agenda within their work? Are there others that use this source for rankings?

Am I reviewing the rankings with an open mind? Do I check my own rankings against stats before judging others? Is the way I rank players line up with proper tiers?

Finally, the best advice I can give is to do the work! Look at multiple rankings. Review multiple sources. Make sure the historical stats meet your upcoming seasons' expectations. Know ahead of time that not all rankings are created equal, so you need to do the research to level the playing field.

Rookie Report: Class of 2021 Year Summary and 2022 season Outlook

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Rookie Report: Class of 2021 Year Summary and 2022 season Outlook

By Steve Uetz

For the purposes of this season-long article series, I will take you through how all the fantasy-relevant rookies from the 2021 class are performing on a week-to-week basis. I will break down their weekly statistics and offensive role regarding their real-life development and fantasy football outlook.

The last time we reviewed the rookies’ weekly progress it was after week 16 and A TON has transpired across the NFL since then. Follow along as we review how the rookies performed as the regular season has concluded and ponder the players’ outlook for 2022.

 

Trevor Lawrence, QB Jacksonville Jaguars

In week 17 Lawrence and the Jaguars were demoralized by suffering a 40-point loss on the road against the New England Patriots. Lawrence completed 17 of 27 passing attempts for 193 yards with 1 TD, and 3 INTs. He gained 16 yards rushing and took 2 sacks.

After struggling against the Patriots, Lawrence ended his rookie season with a BANG! He led the Jags to an upset victory over the Colts which caused a seismic shift in the AFC playoff landscape. Lawrence had one of his best games of the season as he completed 23 of 32 pass attempts for 223 yards, 2 TDs, with 17 yards rushing while taking 1 sack.

Reflecting on the rookie of the former number 1 pick from 2021, Lawrence had a mostly forgettable season. Despite the mighty struggles, Lawrence clearly is the franchise QB and realistically has nowhere to go but up as a professional player and fantasy asset. The Jaguars recently made a fantastic head coach hire in Doug Pederson who should be instrumental in boosting Lawrence’s professional development! However, us football fans are patiently waiting to see two things from the Jaguars; 1) how Jacksonville approaches the 2022 draft, and 2) the return of a healthy DJ Chark. Entering his sophomore season Lawrence has QB2 upside but may unfortunately be a slow burn to stardom since the Jaguars have a massive task of a continued roster rebuild.

Zach Wilson, QB New York Jets

In week 17 Wilson and the Jets tough battle against the Buccaneers has become a complete afterthought due to Antonio Brown’s mid game meltdown where he stripped off his jersey and ran off the field. Tom Brady did that thing he always does and led his team to a comeback victory. The Jets held a 14-point lead in the middle of the 3rd quarter but were unable to tame Brady and Antonio Brown-less Buccaneers. Wilson’s performance was encouraging as he didn’t commit any turnovers and only took 1 sack as he completed 19 of 33 pass attempts for 234 yards and 1 TD.

Week 18 was a more reflective outing of how the Wilson and the Jets’ season was. Wilson was bested by the tough Buffalo defense as he took 8 sacks losing 79 yards. Wilson was held under 100 passing yards as he completed only 7 of 20 pass attempts totaling 87 yards with 1 TD.

After a mostly brutal season for Wilson and Jets there is reason to be excited for the future of the offense since Wilson is paired up with the dynamic duo in WR Elijah Moore and RB Michael Carter. Wilson will head into his sophomore season as no more than a back-end QB2 as he figures to be a dynasty hold. You likely won’t get a good enough return if you are trying to sell now and he isn’t much of a buy candidate unless you are a die-hard Jets fan that is numb to the perpetual suffering that the franchise brings you.

Trey Lance, QB San Francisco 49ers

Lance got the start in week 17 and tallied a win for a solid 20-point fantasy outing. Lance filled in for the temporarily injured but endlessly handsome Jimmy Garoppolo, as the 49ers faced the struggling Texans. It was a perfect opportunity for the veteran to rest and for the rookie to get some substantial experience facing a relatively weaker opponent. Lance performed well as he completed 16 of 23 passing attempts for 249 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, as he gained 31 yards on 8 rushing attempts and took 1 sack.

For the 2022 redraft season, Lance should be given the starting job as Garoppolo’s play making limitations were on full display in the 49ers impressive playoff run. With Lance as the starter, the mid-1st round Super-Flex rookie draft ADP from the previous year will be rewarded as he will hold QB1 upside for the foreseeable future. Lance will be a popular late round QB target for your redraft leagues, like Patrick Mahomes entering his sophomore season.

Justin Fields, QB Chicago Bears

Fields did not play in the final three games of the season. This is disappointing because he had put together two solid fantasy starts in a row leading up to his extended absence. The Chicago Bears will look very different in 2022 as they recently hired a new Head Coach in Matt Eberflus and General Manager in Ryan Poles. The Nagy and Pace era finally comes to end leaving Chicagoans in an optimistic and refreshed state of fandom.

For the 2022 redraft season, Justin Fields will be an interesting late round QB option with QB1 upside similar to Jalen Hurts entering his sophomore season. For dynasty, Fields certainly has QB1 upside with his juicy rushing floor but may be valued as a low QB1 to high QB2 range for the next 2-3 seasons.

Mac Jones, QB New England Patriots

In the week 17 annihilation of the Jaguars Mac Jones gave a stellar turnover-less performance. He completed 22 of 30 pass attempts for 227 yards, 3 TDs, and added 12 yards on the ground. With the guaranteed playoff spot secured, the Patriots lost to the Dolphins in week 18 as Jones regressed with two turnovers. He completed 20 of 30 passing attempts for 261 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT. Jones gained 4 rushing yards, took 2 sacks, and lost a fumble.

Jones finished the season as a mid QB2 but more importantly led the Patriots back to the playoffs after missing out in the previous season. All season long Jones was a safe and solid floor play as he could manage games playing with a strong defense. Long time Patriots Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels was hired as the Head Coach for the Las Vegas Raiders. It is a tough loss for the organization, but I question the overall impact it will have on Jones specifically. Despite the low fantasy ceiling, Jones is a clear franchise caliber QB which is appealing for Super-Flex dynasty leagues. Jones is a dynasty hold as a steady QB2 option.

Davis Mills, QB Houston Texans

Mills and the Texans had a rough outing against the Trey Lance led 49ers in week 17. Mills completed 21 of 31 passes for 163 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT, while taking 3 sacks. After the tough loss on the road, the Texans gave a more competitive and turnover-less effort at home against the division rival Tennessee Titans. Mills bounced back from previous week as he completed 23 of 33 pass attempts for 301 yards, 3 TDs, with 12 yards rushing while taking 2 sacks. Mills was mostly underwhelming but certainly flashed at times; this two-week sample is a microcosm of Mills’ rookie season which is comparable to a nausea-inducing roller-coaster ride that is best to avoid.

The Texans are a bit of a mess right now. They just unjustifiably fired David Culley, the one-year rental and made scapegoat head coach. They are dealing with a franchise QB crossroads as they continue to handle the Deshaun Watson saga and figure out if David Mills is the long-term option. They currently hold the 3rd overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft which feels too soon to target one of the top QB prospects in this upcoming class. Even if Mills going into his sophomore season as the starter, he has low-end QB2-to QB3 upside making him a hold in Super-Flex dynasty leagues.

 

Najee Harris, RB Pittsburgh Steelers

Harris ended the fantasy season in incredible fashion. The Steelers faced the Browns on Monday Night football which was believed to be Roethlisberger’s last home game in Pittsburgh. Not only did the Steelers win but Harris halted the Brown late game surge with a game-sealing 37-yard TD run in the final minute. Harris gained 188 yards on 28 rushing attempts and caught all three of his targets for 18 yards. 31 touches and over 200 yards from scrimmage is what fantasy football dreams are made of.

In week 18 during the rainy and sloppy contest in Baltimore, Harris struggled with efficiency in the battle for a potential playoff spot. Harris gained only 28 yards on 11 carries but caught all four of his targets for 27 yards.

Harris literally had a phenomenal rookie season as he compiled 381 total touches for an average of 22.4 touches per game. This total was the second most all time touches for a rookie running back, behind only the elite LaDainian Tomlinson (398 total touches in 2001). Harris will return in his sophomore year as a clear RB1 option even with lingering questions of quarterback contingency as the Steelers search for the replacement of the recently retired Ben Roethlisberger.

 

Javonte Williams, RB Denver Broncos

Javonte Williams’ season ended on a surprisingly down note. After setting the fantasy football world ablaze with passion in the several weeks prior, he finished the year being severely outperformed by veteran Melvin Gordon. Over weeks 17 and 18, Gordon doubled Williams’ yardage production with three less offensive touches (Williams 29 – Gordon 26).

I remain bullish on Williams going into his sophomore season where I believe he will be a reliable RB2 option. I recognize that his maximal range of outcomes could be as high as a low RB1, but legitimate questions remain about the identity and quality of the Denver offense. Will Williams continue to split time with Gordon? Who will be the QB and will the QB play improve? With new coaches in town, Head Coach Nathaniel Hackett and Offensive Coordinator Justin Outten, Denver’s offense could use a fresh start with their impressive core of weapons who in large part disappointed in 2021.

 

Elijah Mitchell, RB San Francisco 49ers

After missing three straight weeks Mitchell returned to the lineup in week 17 and continued right where he left off prior to the injury. In the winning effort against the Texans, Mitchell gained 119 rushing yards on 21 attempts and caught both of his targets for 11 yards and hist first receiving TD of the season! In week 18 he handled another 21 rushing attempts as he gained 85 yards for another strong display of rushing efficiency.

Mitchell churned out an impressive rookie season and arguably brought the largest return on investment from rookie draft season. There is no reason to think that the 49ers won’t roll with Mitchell as the teams’ RB1 after how he performed week in and week out. Going into his sophomore season Mitchell should be valued as an RB2.

 

Michael Carter, RB New York Jets

After performing well against Jacksonville in week 16, Carter disappointed to close out the season. In the wild week 17 matchup against the Buccaneers, Carter gained 54 yards on 3 rushing attempts including one run for 55 yards and caught his only target for 9 yards. This was unfortunate if you were relying on him for your championship week but it wasn’t a great matchup in the first place. Then in week 18 he struggled with rushing efficiency like he did early in the season as he gained 19 yards on 9 rushing attempts and was unable to haul in any of his three targets.

Carter finished as an RB3 and did most of his damage as a pass-catcher which was a promising aspect of his college profile. For his sophomore season, Carter should be regarded as Flex play or as a backend RB2 caliber player. I imagine that he will be a popular ZeroRB target for redraft leagues in 2022. He should continue to thrive in a passing game that will often be playing from behind.

Chuba Hubbard, RB Carolina Panthers

Hubbard closed out the season as the lead RB in a Christian McCaffrey-less offense against two tough defenses. In week 17 he gained 55 yards and 1 TD on 17 carries and caught 3 of his 4 targets for 13 yards against the Saints. In week 18 he improved his rushing efficiency and gained 48 yards on 9 carries and caught both of his targets for 8 yards and 1 TD!

Hubbard and the Panthers went through a rocky season where much of the offensive potential went unrealized with the shocking failed Joe Brady experiment. Joe Brady was fired as the Carolina OC and has since landed back on his feet as the QB coach for the Buffalo Bills. Hubbard most struggled with efficiency in his rookie year and needed a major workload to be confidently placed in your starting lineups. For his sophomore season I think he should be valued as a priority handcuff to McCaffrey and will be usable as a deep league Flex play in the case of McCaffrey to miss time again.

 

Jaret Paterson, RB Washington Commanders

Paterson was one of my favorite college prospects entering the 2021 season. I loved his landing spot and was thrilled that not only did he make the team but was able to contribute to fantasy teams when it mattered the most. In week 17, Antonio Gibson was ruled Out leaving the workload in Paterson’s hand for the fantasy championship. Paterson delivered for fantasy managers as he handled 17 touches for nearly 100 total yards and a TD. He gained 57 yards and 1 TD on 12 rushing and caught all five of his targets for 41 yards.

In week 18, with Antonio Gibson back in the lineup Paterson gained 21 yards on 6 rushing attempts and caught both of his targets for 14 yards. Entering his sophomore season he is presumably the clear handcuff to target and will be an excellent late round RB target for redraft leagues and an important acquisition on teams with Gibson rostered.

 

Kenneth Gainwell, RB Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles have used RBBC for the last several years; wisely for real life football but annoyingly for fantasy purposes. Kenneth Gainwell’s random but mostly minimal usage was disappointing since he had a knack for making big plays with the opportunities he was given. In week 17 he gained 4 yards on only 1 rushing attempt, but in week 18 he totaled 16 touches. Gainwell demonstrated explosiveness with multiple chunk gains for a total of 78 yards and 1 TD on 12 rushing attempts. He also caught 4 of 7 targets for 9 yards.

Entering his sophomore season, he will remain an intriguing player but may be hard to trust in a starting lineup unless there is clear and consistent opportunity like what transpired in the week 18 matchup. At this point I imagine he will be an RB I will be targeting in the late rounds of Best Ball leagues in 2022.

 

Rhamondre Stevenson, RB New England Patriots

In week 17 Stevenson heavily contributed to the Patriots 40 point beat down of the Jaguars. Stevenson gained 107 yards and 2 TDs on 19 rushing attempts while playing the role of clock-eating punisher. With New England being already guaranteed playoff berth in week 18, Stevenson only handled 5 total touches; he gained 34 yards on 4 rushing attempts and caught one of two targets for 2 yards.

Entering his sophomore season Stevenson will be primarily backing up Damien Harris. With the combination of playing with a strong defense and Mac Jones under center, the New England rushing game will be an attractive position group to target. Patriots running backs usually come at a cheaper price and are annoying to deal with; however, Stevenson is a very interesting player because of his potential ceiling. All things considered; I think he is a lottery ticket worth gambling on. He will be one of my favorite late-round Best Ball RB targets in 2022.

 

Ja’Marr Chase, WR Cincinnati Bengals

Chase ended the fantasy season in one of the most epic and glorious ways imaginable. He exploded in week 17 (during FF championship week) catching 11 of 12 targets for 266 receiving yards and 3 TDs! The 266 receiving yards broke the single game rookie receiving record! On a pure professional level he mightily contributed to the Bengals wild success as they earned the title of AFC North division champs in their week 17 win over Kansas City.

With the Bengals already being playoff bound, Chase only played in part of the week 18 contest as caught 2 of 4 targets for 26 yards. That yardage total was good enough to set not just the Bengals rookie single season receiving record, but the Bengals franchise single season receiving record! Leading up to the Bengals appearance in the Super Bowl, Ja’Marr also broke the rookie record for postseason receiving yards! (*swoon*)

His dominance from the LSU national championship run with Burrow didn’t let up all after taking the 2020 season off. Chase is an absolute stud and is a clear cut WR1 option until proven otherwise.

 

Jaylen Waddle, WR Miami Dolphins

Waddle, the PPR machine, closed out the season with two consecutive seven target games. In week 17 he 3 of 7 targets for 47 yards and in week 18 he caught 5 of 7 targets for 27 yards and 1 TD. Waddle concluded his rookie season as WR2 that eclipsed 1000 receiving yards and totaled 104 receptions on 141 targets!

His outlook is bright and should be considered a low end WR1 to a high end WR2 for the 2-3-year window. The Dolphins now continue their search for a new head coach as Brian Flores was surprisingly relieved of his duties. I’m am really excited about Waddle’s outlook and am looking forward to more future penguin ‘waddle’ TD celebrations!

 

DeVonta Smith, WR Philadelphia Eagles

Smith ended his season with two consecutive three-catch games as the Eagles earned a spot in the playoffs. In the week 17 win against Washington Smith caught 3 of 6 targets for 54 yards and in the week 18 shellacking against the Cowboys he caught 3 of 4 targets for 41 yards with Gardener Minshew under center.

Smith quietly finished the season as a WR3 coming up just 84 yards short of a 1000-yard season. He only eclipsed 100 receiving yards twice and ended the year with 5 TDs. Smith’s 916 receiving yards was good enough to give him the Eagles single season rookie receiving record. For his sophomore season I think he should realistically be valued as a WR3 option with WR2 upside. His rookie season brought a decent return on investment from rookie draft season, but not quite as good as the likes of Ja’Marr Chase or Jaylen Waddle. The future looks very bright for Smith!

 

Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR Detroit Lions

Few players across the league ended the season as strongly as St. Brown did. He concluded his epic 6-week glory fest with two consecutive 8-catch games. In week 17 St. Brown caught 8 of 11 targets for 111 yards and 1 TD! He also contributed to 23 rushing yards with a TD on 2 rushing attempts. If you rode the St. Brown wave into your fantasy championship you were mightily rewarded! The following week with the win against Green Bay, St. Brown caught 8 of 10 targets for 109 yards and 1 TD, with 12 rushing yards on his lone rushing attempt!

St. Brown finished the year as a low end WR2 which was an extremely pleasant surprise! Entering his sophomore season St. Brown should be valued as a low end WR 2 to high end WR 3. His amazing potential was on display as he finished the season earning double digits targets in six straight games.

 

Rashod Bateman, WR Baltimore Ravens

Bateman had a mostly disappointing rookie season and started the year off injured from training camp. After 5 straight weeks of earning 6 or more targets, his role in the offense was terribly inconsistent. In week 17 he had his highest targeted outing as he caught 7 of 10 targets for 58 yards followed by a week 18 performance where only caught 2 of 4 targets for 22 yards.

Baltimore’s passing game relied heavily on Marquise Brown and Mark Andrews which hurt Bateman’s ROI (Return on investment) from rookie draft ADP and the breakout game we were hoping for never really came to fruition. I still believe in Bateman’s upside; optimism should remain since he will be entering into his second season with a healthy, proper, and full off-season. Entering his sophomore season he should be valued as a WR4 with WR3 upside.

 

Kyle Pitts, TE Atlanta Falcons

Pitts finished the season with two consecutive two-catch performances. In week 17 he caught 2 of 4 targets for 69 yards, including one for 61 yards. In week 18 he caught 2 of 5 targets for only 8 yards. Pitts eclipsed 1000 receiving yards but only hauled in 1 TD over the course of the season. He finished the year as a TE1 (with a mostly erratic Matt Ryan) and will presumably be regarded as such until proven otherwise. Pitts partially lived up to the hype but still did enough to provide a solid return on investment being a top 5 rookie pick.

 

Pat Freiermuth, TE Pittsburgh Steelers

Freiermuth closed out the season with two consecutive 5-catch games. In week 17 he caught 5 of 6 targets for 22 yards and then in week 18 he caught 6 of 9 targets for 53 yards. Freiermuth should be regarded as a low end TE1 option for his sophomore season and likely beyond. Roethlisberger ended his career in Pittsburgh on high note but with clear play-making limitations. Whoever replaces him should serve as an upgrade for the Steelers pass-catching core, Freiermuth included!

 

Best and Worst of the rest of the 2021 Rookie Class

Elijah Moore, WR New York Jets

Moore achieved short lived fantasy stardom as he had seven consecutive weeks with 6 or more targets and was often involved as a rusher during that span. Moore’s potential was quickly realized but was unfortunately placed on IR, ending his season after his highest targeted game which came in week 13. Moore was one of the few bright spots of the Jets offense, I expect that to continue in his sophomore season and beyond. He should be valued as at least a PPR Flex option while holding WR2 upside. My pre-season player comp for Elijah Moore was Antonio Brown; I believe that potential upside can hold true moving forward.

 

Khalil Herbert, RB Chicago Bears

Since David Montgomery returned from injury Herbert only saw minimal work as a backup. It would serve you well to review how Herbert performed when Montgomery was out. Entering his sophomore season, Herbert should be valued as an elite handcuff option to target in either redraft leagues or as a buy low candidate in dynasty. If you have David Montgomery rostered in your league, I would be aggressive in my pursuit to acquire Herbert.

 

Brevin Jordan, TE and Nico Collins, WR Houston Texans

Jordan unfortunately caught one (and his only) target for 9 yards in the final two weeks of the season. Jordan is hold or a stash in deep dynasty TE premium leagues but expectation should remain low until we have a reason to be excited about a Houston pass-catcher besides veteran Brandin Cooks.

Collins remained steadily yet mostly minimally involved in the inconsistent Houston passing attack. In week 17 he caught 2 of 5 targets for 35 yards and in week 18 he caught 3 of 7 targets for 67 yards. Collins is essentially second in line for targets behind the veteran Brandin Cooks but Houston remains a struggling NFL franchise so optimism should be halted until we see clear positive improvements to the offense. A new head coach to start that process wouldn’t hurt either.

Joshua Palmer, WR Los Angeles Chargers

Palmer yo-yoed his way on the stat sheet through the last 5 weeks of the season. Week 17 was the low end of the yo-yo as he caught 3 of 5 targets for 16 yards but then shot up to the top in week 18 as he caught 4 of 9 targets for 45 yards and a TD. I love his situation being paired with the young QB stud Justin Herbert, but one big question remains: “Where will Mike Williams sign?” This will be critical for Palmer’s sophomore season outlook.

 

Kadarius Toney, WR New York Giants

Toney unfortunately did not suit up for the final two games of the season capping off a disappointing rookie campaign. Toney had 4 games where earned 9 or more targets which make him an attractive late round PPR target for 2022 redraft leagues. For dynasty he is a hold as the Giants offense has nowhere to go but after an abysmal display of incompetence. Recently hired Head Coach Brian Daboll will look to quickly turn the offense around. Hopefully Toney’s potential can be realized through Daboll’s system and with a healthier and improved version of Daniel Jones under center.

 

Rondale Moore, WR Arizona Cardinals

Moore unfortunately did not suit up for the final three games of the regular season but did return in the Wild Card playoff matchup where he finished second on the team in catches and targets. Moore displayed versatile usage with 18 rushing attempts over the course of the season, but unfortunately showed more floor than ceiling as a rookie. Entering his sophomore season, Moore remains in a great situation, but questions of his offensive role remain.

 

Trey Sermon, RB San Francisco 49ers and Terrace Marshall, WR Carolina Panthers

These two players unfortunately have a lot in common. They both churned out the worst return on investment from rookie draft season with highly questionable quality of outlook for the 2022 season. The hype train was at full steam going into the season and unfortunately derailed leaving fantasy managers perplexed by their lack of production and involvement in their prospective offenses.

 

Dyami Brown, WR Washington Commanders and Amari Rodgers, WR Green Bay Packers

These two WRs were commonly drafted at the end of the 2nd round of rookie drafts but were mostly completely absent from the plans of their prospective offenses. They currently are both dynasty holds, but could quickly become cut candidates if offensive involvement remains down.

 

Travis Etienne, RB Jacksonville Jaguars

Etienne was unfortunately sidelined for the season from a foot injury that he sustained in the pre-season. He looks to enter the 2022 season fully healthy which will be needed since fellow RB teammate James Robinson suffered an Achilles tear in week 16. If Cam Akers’ rehabilitation is any indication for Robinson, then Robinson should be in line to fully return by the start of the season. Etienne will likely get a jump start in opportunities as Robinson rehabs and should figure to be the featured RB as predicted going into the 2021 season.

Thank you for reading and following this Rookie Report series all season long!

Follow me on Twitter @FantasyLadder for any further fantasy football discussion, questions, or advice!

Rookie Report 2021 – Week 16

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Rookie Report 2021 – Week 16

By Steve Uetz

For the purposes of this season-long article series, I will take you through how all the fantasy-relevant rookies from the 2021 class are performing on a week-to-week basis. I will break down their weekly statistics and offensive role regarding their real-life development and fantasy football outlook.

As I took a look back on the 16th week of NFL action, I gave each of the most notable rookies a report card grade for their efforts.

Trevor Lawrence: C

Lawrence earned a C in week 16 because not only the Jaguars lose, but he failed to register a touchdown for the fourth consecutive week. Lawrence completed 26 of 39 passing attempts for 280 yards, took 1 sack and lost 1 fumble. However, he did gain 37 rushing yards on 6 attempts. Not a good game, but not a terrible one either. We are still looking forward to next season and the new head coach search.

Zach Wilson: B+

Wilson led the Jets to a victory over the Jaguars as the top two picks of the 2021 NFL draft squared off. Wilson really shined in the rushing game as he gained 91 yards on rushing attempts; including a 52-yard touchdown run! You love to see the rushing potential come to fruition like this! In the passing game Wilson played it mostly safe but didn’t commit any turnovers as he completed 14 of 22 passing attempts for 102 yards, 1 TD, and took 1 sack.

Mac Jones: D

Jones earned a D in week 16 since he was unable to secure a victory at home against a division rival with what was arguably his worst performance of the season. Jones completed 14 of 32 passing attempts for 145 yards, 2 INTs, and took 1 sack. Despite the tough opponent in the Buffalo Bills successfully seeking revenge from the matchup from three weeks prior, Jones had his best rushing game of the season as he gained 33 yards on 6 attempts. Jones and the Patriots are still in good position for playoff berth, but this was an untimely step back for the young franchise QB.

Davis Mills: A

Mills had a fantastic game as he continues to try to convince the Texans to build around him in the 2022 draft. In the upset victory over the Chargers, Mills (without his top pass-catching weapon in Brandin Cooks) completed 21 of 27 passing attempts for 254 yards, 2 TDs, and took 1 sack. He was able to get fellow rookies WR Nico Collins and TE Brevin Jordan involved as Collins hauled in 3 of 4 targets for 33 yards and 1 TD and Jordan caught all 4 targets for 56 yards.



Najee Harris: B+

Harris once again handled a studly workload as he totaled 24 touches in the lobsided loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Harris gained 93 yards on 19 rushing attempts and caught 5 of 7 targets for 17 yards. Harris is now only 16 rushing yards shy of a 1000-yard season; follow the volume with Harris!

Javonte Williams: C

Williams disappointed in the losing effort against the Raiders as he totaled only 20 yards on 9 touches. He gained 12 yards and a TD on 7 carries and caught both of his targets for 8 yards. The TD saved his day for fantasy, but confidence in him is now a bit shaken for your fantasy football championship as the Broncos offense has struggled mightily with replacement starting QB Drew Lock under center.

Michael Carter: B+

Michael Carter returned to old form in this winning effort against the lowly Jaguars. The only problem is that it came off an abysmal week 15 performance, so coming into this week it would have been hard to trust him in your starting lineup. Carter totaled 18 touches; he gained 118 yards on 16 rushing attempts and caught 2 of 3 targets for 6 yards.

Ja’Marr Chase: A

Joe Burrow was prolific as he exposed the already banged up Ravens secondary to further their quest for not only the playoffs but winning the AFC North. Ja’Marr Chase played a major role in Burrow’s big day as he had another impressively productive game to his glorious rookie season. Chase finished second on the team in targets, receptions, and receiving yards. Chase caught 7 of 10 targets for 125 yards!

Jaylen Waddle: A+

Waddle dominated in the Monday Night Football victory over the New Orleans Saints. Waddle boasted a 46% (!!) target share as he caught 10 of 12 targets for 92 yards and 1 TD! The Dolphins have now won 7 straight games after a brutal straight to the season, and are now surprisingly competing for a playoff spot.

DeVonta Smith: A

In week 16 Smith bounced back as he led the Eagles in targets, receptions, and receiving yards. He caught 5 of 7 targets for 80 yards and a TD! It would be prudent of the Eagles to keep Smith involved as they make their push to be Wild Card playoff team.

Rashod Bateman: B

Bateman had a solid outing as he played more of an ancillary role in the Ravens passing attack. Veteran and new to the Ravens, 3rd string QB Josh Johnson made the start and connected with Bateman for an early TD. Bateman caught 4 of 5 targets for 26 yards and a TD! His targets, receptions, and yards were all good enough for 4th on the team.

Amon-Ra St. Brown: A+

Another A+ for Amon-Ra; say that 5 times fast! St. Brown dominated in the passing game and was implemented as rusher twice as he gained 19 yards. St. Brown caught 9 of 11 targets for 91 yards and a TD! Even with Jared Goff ruled Out and Tim Boyle as the starting quarterback, St. Brown still had an impressive game!

Joshua Palmer: A

Palmer found the endzone again as he had an uptick in opportunity with veteran Mike Williams being ruled Out. Palmer caught 5 of 6 targets for 43 yards and 1 TD. This was a similar stat line compared to when veteran Keenan Allen missed the week 14 contest as Palmar caught 5 of 7 targets for 66 yards and a TD. Palmer should be stashed in every dynasty league as Mike Williams could be playing for a new contract potentially on a new team.

Kyle Pitts: A

Pitts had a strong outing in the winning effort against the Detroit Lions as he led the team in targets, receptions, and receiving yards. Pitts caught all 6 of his targets for 102 yards, including one catch for 35 yards!

Bring on week 17!

 

Follow me on Twitter @FantasyLadder for any further fantasy football discussion, questions, or advice!

 

Rookie Report 2021 – Week 14 and 15

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Rookie Report 2021 – Week 14 and 15

By Steve Uetz

For the purposes of this season-long article series, I will take you through how all the fantasy-relevant rookies from the 2021 class are performing on a week-to-week basis. I will break down their weekly statistics and offensive role regarding their real-life development and fantasy football outlook.

As I took a look back on the 14th and 15th weeks of NFL action, I gave each of the most notable rookies a report card grade for their efforts.

 

 

Trevor Lawrence: D

Lawrence led the Jaguars to two more losses over week 14 and 15. During that span he averaged 215.5 passing yards, didn’t score a single touchdown, threw for 4 INTs (all in week 14), and averaged taking 3 sacks per game.

The only positive aspect of Lawrence’s rookie season outlook is the firing of head coach Urban Meyer. Meyer’s coaching tenure with the Jaguars was one of the worst, if not the worst, in NFL history. I am still confident that Lawrences’ future is bright, but the head coach vacancy will make for an extremely intriguing NFL off-season story line.

 

Zach Wilson: D

Wilson led the Jets to two more losses over weeks 14 and 15. During that span he had an equal amount of TDs scored and turnovers committed (1 each) with 9 sacks taken. His rushing ability has been the lone bright spot as he had 4 rushing attempts in both weeks: week 14 – 4 attempts/33 yards, week 15 – 4 attempts/12 yards/1 TD.

While the rushing is encouraging it still isn’t enough to lift his fantasy points floor much as his passing game continues to be abysmal. Week 14 he totaled 202 passing yards and in week 15 he totaled 170 yards.

 

Justin Fields: B+

Fields led the Bears to two more losses over week 14 and 15. Why does Fields earn a B+? He earns it because of his passing and rushing production despite the losses. In Week 14 he threw for 224 passing yards, with 2 TD and 2 INTs, he unfortunately lost a fumble and took 2 sacks, BUT gained 74 rushing yards on 9 carries, In Week 15 he threw for 285 passing yards, 1 TD, he gained 35 rushing yards on 7 carries, but unfortunately lost a fumble and took 3 sacks.

He averaged 20 fantasy points per game over those two weeks; he is becoming a weekly floor play because of his rushing ability. He is looking to be the next cheat code fantasy quarterback asset in the mold of Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray.

 

Mac Jones: B

Jones and the Patriots got some well-deserved rest with the late week 14 bye week but returned to action with a loss in week 15. Jones earned a grade of a B here as he continues to have good but not great outings. Jones threw for 299 yards completing 26 of 45 pass attempts with 2 TDs and 2 INTs. He gained 12 rushing yards and took 1 sack in the loss to the Colts. The Patriots remain in prime position to earn a spot in the postseason which will cement Jones as the franchise QB for the Patriots which is very valuable for his future fantasy prospects.

 

Davis Mills: C+

In week 13 Mills took over for veteran Tyrod Taylor as he was benched for performing poorly. Mills was declared the starter for the remainder of the season by Texans head coach David Culley. Over the last 2 weeks Mills tallied one win and one loss.

In the loss against the Seahawks threw for 331 passing yards with 1 TD which was good enough for a 20-point fantasy performance. In week 15 he led the Texans to their second win of the season against the lowly Jaguars as he threw for 209 passing yards, 2 TDs, and 1 INT.

Mills is essentially playing for the opportunity to continue as the Texans starter in 2022. The question remains if his performances will be good enough to convince the team to avoid drafting a QB with their prime draft position in the 2022 draft.

 

Najee Harris: B+

Harris is having a phenomenal rookie season as expected but faced a bit of a rollercoaster of fantasy output over the last two weeks. In week 14 he boasted his best fantasy performance of the season followed by his worst in week 15.

He remains involved in the Steelers’ passing game as he averaged 4 targets per game and continues to handle an elite rushing workload except for week 15 where he only handled 12 carries. That 12 carry 18-yard week 15 performance was painful to endure but it is obvious that was an outlier in a negative sense.

You should have full confidence in Harris for the rest of the season!

 

Javonte Williams: A

Williams continued his hot streak as the Broncos had a dominant victory over the lowly Lions in week 14. He handled 16 total touches; he gained 73 yards with a TD on 15 carries and caught 1 of 2 targets for a 10-yard TD.

 

His workload was maintained in week 15 as the Broncos fell to the Bengals. In Week 15 he handled 19 total touches gaining 72 yards on 15 carries (4.8 yards per carry) and caught all four of his targets for 9 yards.

Williams is a must start RB option for the rest of the season and is becoming everything we had hoped for as a rising star!

 

Michael Carter: F

Michael Carter was designated to return from IR in week 15, so I considered him a full-go for your starting lineup if he was officially declared active. Carter was active for gameday and veteran RB teammate Ty Johnson was a surprise inactive, so I had high hopes for Carter.

Carter disappointed with an 8 carry 18-yard performance. What was even worse was that the Jets scored two rushing TDs from inside the 5-yard line; one was scored by QB Zach Wilson and the other was scored by veteran wide receiver Braxton Berrios.

What made matters worse was that Carter typically makes his fantasy day through the passing game, but he only caught 1 of 2 targets for 2 yards. Week 15 was a brutal week of injuries, covid outbreaks and abysmal statistical performances; Carter was unfortunately in good company for week 15.

 

Rhamondre Stevenson: D

Stevenson and the Patriots were finally on Bye in week 14 but returned to action in week 15 with a loss against the Colts. Stevenson earned the grade of a D for week 15 since his game from a fantasy perspective was a massive let down. Fellow Patriot RB Damien Harris was ruled Out for the contest which gave Stevenson the opportunity to be the lead back. In this game the Patriots were playing from behind for most of the game and Stevenson unfortunately only gained 40 yards on 11 total touches.

 

Chuba Hubbard: C

In week 13 the Panthers were on Bye but leading up to the Bye week RB stud Christian McCaffrey was placed on season-ending IR giving rookie Chuba Hubbard the presumed lead back responsibilities. In week 14, Hubbard score a TD to save his fantasy day but overall inefficient as he gained 33 yards on 10 carries (including one rushing attempt that resulted in a 17-yard gain) without any receiving targets. Hubbard disappointed in a good matchup but then was expectedly bad in week 15 against the Buffalo Bills. He totaled 9 touched with improved rushing efficiency as he gained 40 yards on 8 carries and caught his only target for 1 yard.

 

 

Ja’Marr Chase: B

Similar to Najee Harris, weeks 14 to 15 was rollercoaster of output. In week 14 Chase has another strong outing as he caught 5 of 7 targets for 77 yards and 2 TDs and gained 6 yards on his lone rushing attempt. In week 15, Chase only caught 1 of his 4 targets for a pathetic 3 yards.

Despite the week 15 let down, it is beyond clear that Chase is rising superstar and the number pass-catching target for the Bengals. Chase should be cemented as a WR1-high WR2 option for the rest of the season and beyond!

 

DeVonta Smith: C

In week 14 Smith and the Eagles finally enjoyed some rest while on the bye week but returned to action in week 15 against the Washington Football. In the Eagles victory, Smith underwhelmed with a 3 catch (on 5 targets) 40-yard performance with an impressive toe-tapping sideline reception. Smith is the clear WR1 in Philadelphia, and should be considered a strong Flex option for the rest of season despite the inconsistent fantasy output.

 

Rashod Bateman: C

Bateman must’ve found himself on the same rollercoaster ride as Ja’Marr Chase as he had a strong week 14 outing followed by a disappointing week 15 outing. In week 14, Bateman caught 7 of 8 targets for 103-yard effort.

Unfortunately, in week 15 with Lamar Jackson unable to suit up, backup QB Tyler Huntley only targeted Bateman twice as he only had one 5-yard catch. Bateman is tricky to trust for your fantasy playoff matchups, but you should be encouraged by the big picture.

 

Amon-Ra St. Brown: A+

St. Brown stays hot from his week 13 breakout performance with two consecutive 8-catch games in which he earned 10+ targets.

In Week 14 he totaled 8 catches on 12 targets for 73 yards in the tough loss to the Broncos which was followed by a Detroit upset victory against the Cardinals where he totaled 8 catches on 11 targets for 90 yards and 1 TD with 5 rushing yards!

I suggest you ride the wave and enjoy what the production coming from St. Brown while you can!

 

Kyle Pitts: B+

Pitts displayed consistent and solid (for Tight Ends) production in consecutive weeks. In week 14 he caught 5 of 6 targets for 61 yards and in week 15 caught 4 of 7 targets for 77 yards! With the current state of the Tight End position, Pitts was already locked in as a starter, but confidence is on the rise after his continued display of consistent production.

 

Pat Freiermuth: B

Freiermuth continues to be a delight given the state of the Tight End position across the league. In week 14 he caught 2 of 3 targets for 32 yards and 1 TD. Freiermuth was very close to having a second TD in that wild comeback effort against the Vikings in Thursday Night football showdown! He was in position to catch a TD as the 4th quarter clock was winding down but was understandably unable to haul in the pass through the heavy defensive traffic and contact in the end-zone.

 

In week 15 he caught all 4 of his targets for 37 yards but unfortunately left the contest early due to suffering a concussion. This will leave him questionable for week 16; it would be best to seek out a backup plan in anticipation of his absence. However, if he is active on gameday I would feel confident with him as a borderline TE1 option.

 

Bring on week 16!

Follow me on Twitter @FantasyLadder for any further fantasy football discussion, questions, or advice!

Rookie Report 2021 – Week 13

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Rookie Report 2021 – Week 13

By Steve Uetz

For the purposes of this season-long article series, I will take you through how all the fantasy-relevant rookies from the 2021 class are performing on a week-to-week basis. I will break down their weekly statistics and offensive role regarding their real-life development and fantasy football outlook.

Let’s look at how the most notable players from the 2021 rookie class fared in the 13th week of NFL action!

 

Breakout Performances of Week 13

RB Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos     

Williams was gifted an amazing opportunity to shine as veteran RB teammate Melvin Gordon was ruled inactive. Williams handled an astounding 29 touches; he gained 102 yards on 23 carries and caught 6 of 9 (!) targets for 76 yards and a TD! He finally got the massive workload we were all hoping for, and he looked fantastic! What is especially encouraging was his role in the passing game. However, this uptick was primarily a function of the negative game script that benefited the passing game. Gordon is on track to return in week 14, most likely in a limited role. There is immense optimism for Williams for the rest of the season and beyond since he delivered in a gigantic way.

WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions

St. Brown had a glorious breakout game as he not only led the Lions in catches, targets, and receiving yards but also caught the Game-Winning TD for Detroit’s’ first win of the season! St. Brown caught 10 (!) of 12 (!!) targets for 86 yards and the game-winning TD! I’m genuinely happy for the Lions and their fan base for being able to secure their first win of the Dan Campbell era. I hope the Lions offense can build off this performance to hopefully make St. Brown more than a deep league flex option.

 

 

QB Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

Lawrence and the Jaguars had a brutal outing against the defensively stout Los Angeles Rams. Lawrence completed 16 of 28 pass attempts or 145 yards without a TD or a turnover, he took 2 sacks and gained 10 yards rushing. We are still looking forward to next season and how the Jaguars build around Lawrence. Lawrence’s disappointing rookie season makes him nearly unstartable in Super Flex leagues.

QB Zach Wilson, New York Jets

Wilson started strong against the Philadelphia Eagles as he led the Jets to 3 TD scoring drives on their first 3 possessions. Unfortunately, the Jets did not score a single point in the 2nd half and eventually lost the contest as Minshew Mania took over. Wilson completed 23 of 38 pass attempts for 226 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, took 2 sacks, but did score a rushing TD! This was a  mostly encouraging performance and you love to see him get fellow rookie Elijah Moore heavily involved in the passing attack!

 

RB Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers

Harris handled another monster workload in the winning effort against the Ravens. He handled 26 touches and gained 107 total yards. He handled 21 carries for 71 yards and caught all 5 of his targets for 36 yards. Harris remains a must-start as he is one of the rare heavy-volume RB1 options.

RB Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers

Mitchell was inefficient but handled another massive workload in the losing effort against the Seahawks. He gained 66 yards on 22 carries with a TD and caught all 3 of his targets for 18 yards. Mitchell’s impressive rookie campaign may come to a brief half as he is questionable for week 14. If healthy, Mitchell is lock for starting lineup for the rest of the season as the 49ers hold one of the most favorable set of matchups for the fantasy football playoffs.

RB Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots (and QB Mac Jones)

Stevenson led the Patriots in rushing attempts in the bizarre Monday Night Football contest against the Bills. Strong and frigid temperatures paved the way for the Patriots to create a game plan that only included a total of 3 pass attempts. Quarterback Mac Jones completed 2 of the 3 pass attempts for 19 yards. Stevenson ended up with a massive 24 carry game since RB teammate Damien Harris exited the game early with a hamstring injury. Stevenson gained 78 yards on his 24 carries. Stevenson, Jones, and the Patriots finally enter the bye week in week 14.

 

RB Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles

Gainwell had an awesome game but it seemingly came out of nowhere. It was a strong matchup against the Jets, sure, but he totaled an unexpected 17 touches! Gainwell handled 12 carries for 54 yards and 1 TD, and caught all 5 of his targets for 33 yards! Gainwell and the Eagles will finally enter the Bye week in week 14.

 

WR Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins

Waddle’s dominant rookie season continued with another solid effort as he led the team with catches and receiving yards. He caught 9 of 11 (!) targets for 90 yards in easy win against the injury riddled New York Giants. Waddle and the Dolphins will finally enter the bye week in week 14 but will return to action against the Jets in week 15.

WR Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

Chase had another disappointing outing as the Bengals struggled in a loss to the Chargers. Chase is a stud but his stat line didn’t reflect that in this contest. He caught 5 of 8 targets for 52 yards. This isn’t bad at all, however what it is is just an unfortunate step back from the potential that he demonstrated during the early half of the season. He remains a must-start option for the remainder of the season.

WR DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles

Unfortunately, Smith essentially repeated last weeks’ underwhelmed performance with another 2 catch 4 target outing for only 15 receiving yards. Game script got away from needing to rely on the passing game as the Eagles turned to their successful rushing attack against the lowly Jets. The Eagles will finally head into the bye week in week 14.

WR Elijah Moore, New York Jets

The Elijah Moore breakout continued with another big game against the Eagles. Moore led the Jets in catches, targets, and receiving yards! He caught 6 of 12 (!!) targets for 77 yards and a TD, and gained 9 yards on his lone rushing attempt. He is consistently getting limited work in the running game, which is a fantastic sign that the Jets recognize his play-making potential. Moore is questionable for week 14, but his future holds immense optimism!

 

TE Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons

Pitts’ involvement remained steady, but his TD drought (first and only TD came in week 5) further continued in the loss against the Buccaneers. Pitts caught 4 of 7 targets for 48 yards. The TE position has become a dumpster fire, but Pitts remains TE1 option for the rest of the season. If he is on your roster, I believe it would be difficult to shy away from starting him.

TE Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers

Freiermuth didn’t score a touchdown in this contest as he continued the league-wide tradition of being a mediocre performing TE in the 2021 season. He caught 3 of 4 targets for 26 yards. Due to the current state that is the TE position, Freiermuth can still be trusted an utilized as a TE1 option for this season and holds legitimate future TE1 upside.

Looking Ahead to Week 14

Week 14 and beyond will give us another opportunity to see Carolina Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard in an extended role with Christian McCaffery being out for the season. Hubbard will serve as the lead RB in a prime matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

Bring on Week 14!

Follow me on Twitter @FantasyLadder for any further fantasy football discussion, questions, or advice!