Fantasy Football Rookies to Watch in Week 17

January 2, 2021

Intriguing fantasy football rookies who can be sneaky stashes and sleepers in Week 17. Hayden Epinette looks at promising prospects at QB, RB, WR, and TE to assess their values.

The majority of fantasy seasons have now ended. Champions have been crowned, and runners-up have shed tears. Whether Alvin Kamara led you to a title or not, your season surely provided some memories, both good and bad, that will add to your overall experience of fantasy football.

For others, though, the season is not yet over. Week 17 is championship weekend in some leagues, and those managers are still desperately fighting for the crown. I'm here for you 17-week warriors. You have not yet tapped out of the season, so I won't either. If you want to find a sleeper to add to your team for your final push, this may be the article for you. Rookies can often be overlooked, so don't pass up an opportunity when one presents itself.

Even if your year has now ended, you can still benefit from this column as well. Preparation for 2021 is important, both for redraft and dynasty managers. While this article takes a look at five rookies to watch this week, these guys could make a statement for the future too. Some of the players below are well-known, but most have yet to make their mark in the NFL. Get ahead of the curve by reading on.

The Productive Passer

Jalen Hurts (QB, PHI)

There were a lot of questions surrounding Jalen Hurts when he entered the league. Would he be able to adjust to NFL defenses? Was his production at Oklahoma a product of their system? What were the Eagles thinking by taking him in the second round?

Well, Hurts has delivered so far, and he has made the doubters ease up. Sure, he has turned the ball over a lot, but don't miss all of the good that he has done. Hurts has made nine money throws this year in just three starts. For comparison, Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes has averaged 2.6 per game this year, so Hurts has been dropping some dimes in key situations. Hurts also has an average depth of target of 9.9 yards, which is at the 96th percentile. He's been firing deep passes, such as this one to DeSean Jackson last week:

JALEN HURTS ? DESEAN JACKSON ARE YOU SERIOUS pic.twitter.com/0Y9c2nKhCq

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) December 27, 2020

Keep in mind that he has elite rushing production for a quarterback also. Hurts has 323 rushing yards on the year, which is eighth-most among QBs. Again, he has only started three games. This dual-threat ability makes him a very intriguing fantasy option both for this week and beyond. The Eagles may not be playing for much this week, but watch to see if Hurts puts up another big performance to spoil Washington's season.

The Carolina Crusher

Marquez Callaway (WR, NO)

Callaway has flown under the radar this year, possibly because he's dealt with some injuries. He returned to the lineup last week, though, and he had three catches on four targets for 26 yards. This production isn't amazing, but he did play 42 of the team's offensive snaps. That was the most of all receivers on New Orleans, even over veteran option Emmanuel Sanders. Sure, teammates Michael Thomas and Tre'Quan Smith are injured, but that just helps Callaway's ability to get on the field. Alvin Kamara is now likely out after testing positive for COVID-19, which only boosts Callaway's viability even further.

In Callaway's first game against Carolina, he put up eight grabs on ten targets for 75 yards. Now, Kamara is absent as he takes on the Panthers again. The Saints are still playing for a shot at a first-round bye, so they'll be pushing all game to get a win. Expect Callaway to be a big part of their offense this week, and watch him this Sunday to see just how well he does. He may have a low floor, but his ceiling is higher than most are giving him credit for. Consider Callaway an interesting sleeper this week.

The Injury Insurance

Darrynton Evans (RB, TEN)

Titans running back Derrick Henry has been a monster this year. He's been the focal point of their offense, and he has performed particularly well in the back half of the season. He has a shot to reach 2,000 yards, but with Tennessee likely heading to the playoffs, will they want to risk an injury? If the Titans get a lead early, don't be shocked if Evans starts to get some work. The rookie from Appalachian State played just six snaps last week in a blowout loss to Green Bay, but he had 10 touches for 57 scrimmage yards the week before.

Evans has shown promise as both a rusher and a receiver. Out of his 14 carries on the season, 12 have been for positive yardage, good for a solid 86 percent success rate. His two catches have also been turned into 27 yards and a score. Of course, this is low usage, but who knows what he could do with a larger workload? In college, at least, he put his 4.41 speed to good use, piling up 2,884 rushing yards in four years. If Evans gets work on Sunday and performs well, he could cement himself as the team's number two back over Jeremy McNichols and Khari Blasingame. It's for that reason that Evans is a rookie to watch.

The Agile Option

Adam Trautman (TE, NO)

I've already written a little bit about how the Saints offense is reeling with injuries and illnesses right now. Besides Callaway, Trautman could be another key beneficiary. He set a career-high last week with 45 yards, albeit just on two catches. It was also his second-best fantasy showing of his young career. On the season, he has caught 14 of 15 targets, proving himself to be a dependable target for Drew Brees so far. With Thomas, Kamara, and Smith all (likely) out, that could loom large in a game that has meaningful implications for New Orleans.

Adam Trautman route running: ?

pic.twitter.com/2ulE1O9o5w

— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 22, 2020

Trautman also has potential for the future as well. Sean Payton has had multiple excellent tight ends in his years in New Orleans, including Jimmy Graham and Jared Cook. Trautman has the tools to be the next. He has a 95th percentile agility score, showing that he is an athletic receiving threat. That has shown up in the stat sheet; his average of 7.9 yards after the catch ranks in the 93rd percentile for tight ends. Keep an eye on Trautman versus Carolina on Sunday, not just for this season but for future ones as well. Fantasy managers in both redraft and dynasty leagues should have him on their radars for 2021.

The Gritty Stand-In

Austin Mack (WR, NYG)

The Giants have a crucial game this Sunday versus the Cowboys. If they win, they keep their hopes of winning the NFC East alive. Unfortunately for them, wide receiver Golden Tate is unlikely to be at their disposal due to a calf injury. His absence would open the door for a guy like Austin Mack to have a solid performance. Mack was an undrafted free agent coming out of Ohio State, and his work ethic has gotten him onto an NFL roster. His determination and effort have been applauded by those within the organization, but they have yet to consistently translate to on-field production.

There was one game, though, where Mack showed out. Back in Week Nine, he put up four catches for 72 yards in a win over Washington. That game came with Tate absent, so watch to see if he can replicate that showing this week against Dallas. He does have Dante Pettis to contend with now; in fact, Pettis out-snapped Mack last week 29 to 20. Mack has been available for Daniel Jones for longer, though, so he may get more targets than Pettis with the division title on the line. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on this deep sleeper.

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