RADIO
Every week, this column will spotlight the first-year players who are ripe for a breakout performance. Often, rookies can provide some of the most value as under-the-radar options.
Last week, Washington rookie running back Antonio Gibson led his team to victory with a solid performance on the ground. His 128 rushing yards were the most of anyone on Sunday, and he is the highest graded rookie tailback this season according to PFF. Gibson's strong showing reflects the trend of first-year players balling out in 2020. Clyde Edwards-Helaire and James Robinson are key parts of their respective offenses, Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert both look like franchise quarterbacks, and Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb have emerged as quality receiving threats.
This week's article will take a look at five rookies who have not yet broken out as NFL players. All five have great potential for both redraft and dynasty leagues though, so consider them regardless of your league's format. Let's get things started with a pair of former Baylor Bears.
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The Hasty Pickup
JaMycal Hasty (RB, SF)
Hasty was undrafted coming out of college this season, but that hasn't stopped him from seeing the field. With San Francisco suffering repeated injuries at the position, Hasty has begun to see more work. His nine carries last week went for 57 yards against the Patriots, and he could have a larger workload this week. Teammates Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. remain injured, and Tevin Coleman may or may not return. All of this is a recipe for success for Hasty.
The rookie has been pretty efficient on a small sample size so far; his 6.3 yards per carry against New England was only slightly higher than his solid season average of 5.2. His production premium ranks 18th among all running backs, meaning that Hasty has capitalized on the opportunities that he has had. With the Niners running 28.9 times per game, the ninth-most in the league, Hasty will see significant work this week, especially if Coleman sits out. Add in a decent matchup against the Seahawks, and another sound showing is in the cards.
The Bright Spot
Denzel Mims (WR, NYJ)
The New York Jets can't get anything going offensively, which has led to a league-worst 0-7 start. Lost in the misery is the fact that Mims made his debut last week against the Bills. The young wideout provided four catches and 42 yards on his seven targets. These numbers may not be astounding, but his quarterback had just 120 yards passing. Mims appears to have immediately become a key contributor.
Mims is an athletic marvel with a 96th percentile speed score, 90th percentile burst score, and 95th percentile catch radius. He may have a big chance to put his talents on display this week with teammates Jamison Crowder and Breshad Perriman out. The team has a tough matchup against Kansas City on tap, but with a large deficit likely, the team will be passing a lot. Mims can turn these opportunities into a strong performance and kickstart his hype train.
The Anticipated Debut
Tua Tagovailoa (QB, MIA)
Shockingly, the Dolphins benched starter Ryan Fitzpatrick during their bye last week. In steps Tagovailoa, the fifth-overall pick in this year's draft. The Alabama product was in the mix for the first-overall selection before a catastrophic hip injury ended his college career, so we know he has a lot of ability. His QBR in college was at the 99th percentile, and he averaged an excellent 11.3 yards per attempt. All signs point to him continuing his success at the NFL level.
Tua Tagovailoa is potentially the most efficient college Quarterback of all time...
and the Miami Dolphins drafted him. #FinsUp pic.twitter.com/dkZ6X3ognt
— bobby greasy (@soflojesus) July 17, 2020
Tagovailoa will face Aaron Donald and the Los Angeles Rams in his first start, which would be a tough task for any quarterback. The game will be an interesting barometer for how the young passer will fare fantasy-wise going forward. If he turns heads with his poise and accuracy as I expect, he will be a very intriguing fantasy option in all formats.
The Human Joystick
K.J. Hamler (WR, DEN)
Hamler was an all-around weapon at Penn State. He piled up 98 catches, 1,658 receiving yards, and 13 receiving touchdowns in his two-year college career, and he added 87 yards and a touchdown on the ground. A second-round pick in this year's draft, Hamler certainly earned his "Human Joystick" nickname. However, he has yet to gain much traction in the NFL largely due to injuries. That has a chance to change this week against the Chargers.
Los Angeles has yielded the 10th-most passing yards per game this season, so Denver's wideouts will have a decent opportunity to produce. More importantly, Tim Patrick is listed as questionable on the injury report. Should he be sidelined, Hamler could use this vacancy in the team's offense to earn an increased share of targets. We haven't yet seen what Hamler can do with a steady flow of opportunities, so keep an eye out for some demonstrations of his exciting skillset.
The Established Connection
Albert Okwuegbunam (TE, DEN)
Another Denver rookie receiving threat is worth watching this week. Okwuegbunam went to Missouri with Drew Lock, so the two already have a rapport. That connection has led to some decent production; the last two weeks, Okwuegbunam has caught nine of 13 targets for 105 yards. That includes last week when Noah Fant returned from an ankle injury. Clearly "Albert O" will have a distinct role even with Fant in the mix.
Watch: Former #Mizzou tight end Albert Okwuegbunam had a team-high 7 catches for 60 yards in the Broncos loss to the #Chiefs. In two games - Albert O has 9 catches for 105 yards. Not bad for a rookie. pic.twitter.com/34AmGjsnN0
— Andrew Kauffman (@AndrewABC17) October 25, 2020
Okwuegbunam's measurables are absolutely incredible and suggest that his best is yet to come. His 4.49 40-yard dash time at six-foot-six and 258 pounds makes him one of the most athletic tight ends in the league. Okwuegbunam's increasing role and top-tier athleticism should make him a tantalizing fantasy option. If he has another leap in production this week against the Chargers, lookout.
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