RADIO
Every week, this column will spotlight the first-year players who are ripe for a breakout performance. Oftentimes, rookies can provide some of the most value as under-the-radar options.
Last week, three first-round rookie receivers made huge marks on their games. Cincinnati's Ja'Marr Chase, Miami's Jaylen Waddle, and Philadelphia's DeVonta Smith combined for 15 receptions, 233 yards, and three touchdowns. Also notably, all three of them helped their teams to wins. Evidently, first-year players can make huge impacts early in their careers.
For dynasty leagues, this column should help identify ideal trade targets and prized stashes. For redraft managers, this column could provide the edge necessary for a championship run. Many of the players highlighted this week are fairly well-known, but as the season progresses, deeper sleepers will be described.
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The Poised Passer
Mac Jones (QB, NE)
While Jones' Patriots may have lost to the Dolphins last Sunday, the Alabama product performed quite well in his debut. Completing 29 of 39 passes for 281 yards and a touchdown, Jones achieved a solid passer rating of 102.6. That was likely no fluke, given that his college QBR was an astronomical 96.1. Now, in his second game, he will be facing the New York Jets, a team with fellow rookie Zach Wilson at the helm. The Jets surrendered 234 passing yards and two total touchdowns to Panthers QB Sam Darnold last week - in the first half. Jones has a very favorable matchup, and he could be set to improve on his already solid performance from Week 1. While Jones is not fantasy-relevant in one-QB redraft leagues at the moment, he could be by the end of the season. This game could demonstrate Jones' potential for fantasy managers.
The Sixth-Round Gem
Elijah Mitchell (RB, SF)
Raheem Mostert entered the season as San Francisco's lead back. That lasted two carries before Mostert suffered a season-ending knee injury. Now, sixth-round rookie Elijah Mitchell is the presumptive starter for the 49ers. After Mostert exited the game, Mitchell toted the ball 19 times for 104 yards and a score.
Elijah Mitchell takes it straight to the house 🏠 pic.twitter.com/zkf8mz7vOt
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) September 12, 2021
The rookie from Louisiana's stellar game came after his rookie teammate Trey Sermon was a surprising healthy scratch. While Sermon should factor into the gameplan this week against Philadelphia, as should fellow back JaMycal Hasty, the expectation is that Mitchell will lead the backfield. With many leagues seeing Mitchell go for hefty FAAB prices this week, the hype train is getting rolling for sure. The Eagles shut down Atlanta's Mike Davis last Sunday; let's see if they can do the same with Mitchell.
The Talented Backup
Kenneth Gainwell (RB, PHI)
Gainwell had a solid role behind starter Miles Sanders last week. The rookie out of Memphis had nine carries for 37 yards and a touchdown as well as two receptions for six yards against Atlanta. Given that Gainwell was taken in the fifth round of the 2021 draft, 11 touches in his debut is rather impressive. It certainly appears that he has beaten out Boston Scott for the backup spot behind Sanders. We can expect Gainwell to receive even more work in the passing game in the future; his 13.8 percent target share at Memphis came in at the 91st percentile for running backs. Gainwell's matchup this week against San Francisco is a great opportunity for him to demonstrate his receiving prowess, given that the 49ers let both D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams catch eight passes last week.
The Small Speedster
Rondale Moore (WR, ARI)
Moore, a second-round pick out of Purdue, had a solid debut against Tennessee in Week 1. The young wideout caught four of five targets for 68 yards, helping the Cardinals to a dominant 38-13 victory. Moore has an impressive amount of speed, as he demonstrated at his pro day when he ran a 4.32 40-yard dash. However, he is also only five-foot-seven, so his role on the offense will always be somewhat limited by his small stature. Nonetheless, it looks as though the Arizona offense will be at or near the top of the league after quarterback Kyler Murray amassed five touchdowns last week, so Moore will have plenty of opportunities to score fantasy points. Due to this, he could be a solid waiver wire target depending on your league and your roster construction. The Minnesota defense got burned by a rookie receiver in Ja'Marr Chase last week; could Moore make it two games in a row?
The Preseason Standout
Terrace Marshall Jr. (WR, CAR)
Out of the five rookies being analyzed in this column this week, Marshall had the quietest debut performance. The second-round pick out of LSU caught just three passes for 26 yards in Carolina's win over the Jets. However, Marshall did have six targets, two of which were in the red zone. Moreover, Marshall was among the preseason's top performers, snagging nine passes for 181 yards and a score in three games. The fact that Marshall saw more targets last week than teammate Robby Anderson is encouraging, and it ensures that he maintains viability as a back-of-the-bench stash on your fantasy team. The Panthers have a tough matchup against the Saints on tap this weekend, but Marshall will be looking to impress in a way that he did not against New York.
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