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, we saw Arizona's rookie wideout Rondale Moore go off for seven receptions, 114 yards, and a touchdown. Moore joined fellow rookies Ja'Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle, and DeVonta Smith by having a very impressive beginning to his career. Moore's performance demonstrates that rookies, even those from outside the first round, can be valuable contributors immediately.
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. Most of the players in this article were high draft picks, but as the season progresses, more diamonds in the rough will be highlighted.
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The Prepared Passer
Justin Fields (QB, CHI)
After veteran quarterback Andy Dalton suffered a knee injury last week against Cincinnati, rookie Justin Fields entered the game and completed six of 13 passes for 60 yards and an interception. Now, Fields will be the starter this Sunday against Cleveland. While his stats were shaky last Sunday, Fields did have a deep pass dropped by star wideout Allen Robinson. Nonetheless, Fields will need to perform better against a Browns defense that surrendered a solid passing day to Houston's Tyrod Taylor last game before he, too, got hurt. Also of interest in this game is that Fields is returning to Ohio, the state where he dominated in college, to make his first start. Fields should not be started this week in fantasy outside of two-QB leagues, but how he plays will be indicative of his value for the remainder of the season. Make sure to catch this talented rookie's starting debut.
The Elusive Weapon
Michael Carter (RB, NYJ)
A fourth-round pick out of North Carolina, Carter had a quiet Week One against Carolina, totaling just five touches and 20 scrimmage yards. The rookie saw a more significant workload last week, however, with 11 carries for 59 yards and two receptions for 29 more yards. Carter's 98th percentile agility was on full display, as he evaded a number of New England defenders on a nifty pass play in the third quarter.
Michael Carter breaking all the tackles. #TakeFlight
📺: #NEvsNYJ on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/gbemrhnZUe— NFL (@NFL) September 19, 2021
This Sunday, Carter will face a stout Denver run defense that has yielded a mere 87 rushing yards to RBs through two weeks. While the matchup may be unfavorable, his increase in workload against New England was encouraging. Last week, Carter had 13 touches to teammate Ty Johnson's 12. Watch this weekend's game to see if Carter's volume continues to grow in relation to Johnson's.
The Improving Wideout
Elijah Moore (WR, NYJ)
Like Carter, Elijah Moore is a rookie trying to perform for a woefully poor Jets squad. In the season opener, Moore managed just one reception for negative three yards on four targets. Last week, though, Moore put up four receptions for 47 yards on eight targets, a noticeable improvement. While the Jets may be hapless, the second-round pick from Ole Miss is someone to keep an eye on for fantasy purposes. This week will be tough for him; PFF gives his matchup advantage at just a 10.6 out of 100, enough for a "poor" grade. Regardless, his increase in targets last week suggests that Moore is in the mix with Braxton Berrios and Corey Davis to be quarterback Zach Wilson's top target. With New York likely to be trailing a lot this season, that could be a lucrative role for Moore. Check out Moore's usage this Sunday to get a better read on the situation.
The Impressive Leaper
Dyami Brown (WR, WAS)
Brown, a third-round pick from North Carolina, has had a slow start to his NFL career. The rookie has caught just four passes for 32 yards through two weeks. On the bright side, though, his better game of the two was last Thursday against the Giants. Collecting three passes for 34 yards, Brown also made an excellent leaping grab over the middle that was featured in the highlight reel.
GET UP Dyami Brown 🔥@UNCFootball
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 17, 2021
It is unlikely that Brown has his breakout performance this week, given that Buffalo's pass defense has been among the league's best so far this season. A continued increase in target volume would be promising for the future, however. Moreover, Washington is likely to be trailing for a decent portion of this matchup, so Brown could get some extra work in given a favorable game script. Scouting out Brown would be a useful exercise before he becomes a hot commodity on the waiver wire.
The Slot Sleeper
Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR, DET)
Typically, not much is expected of fourth-round rookie wideouts like St. Brown. When the rookie is on a team without a clear top wide receiver, though, there's an opportunity to seize a solid role and surprise audiences. Thus far, Detroit's top receiving options have been running backs D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams and tight end T.J. Hockenson. St. Brown, who has played 75 percent of his snaps from the slot, is tied for the second-most targets among Lions wide receivers, however. While the rookie out of USC has just five catches through two weeks, it is undeniable that surpassing Quintez Cephus in the pecking order is possible for him. If he plays well against Baltimore on Sunday, he would be on his way to accomplishing that, opening the door to an underrated amount of volume in a pass-heavy offense; Detroit has thrown a league-leading average of 46.5 passes per game.
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