RADIO
Each week, we will look at rookies who have either performed well the previous few weeks or who have a favorable matchup in the upcoming week. These may be high-profile names or under-the-radar depth players; the only thing that matters is that they are first-year pros ready to make a name for themselves.
Hopefully, by the time the season ends, many of them will be household fantasy names and be remembered for their performances in the 2017 season.
Without further ado, here are some NFL rookies to watch in Week 15 of the 2017 season.
Editor's Note: Discover RotoBaller’s top Fantasy Football Sleepers to gain an edge in your drafts. Our free who to draft tool and expert picks spotlight undervalued players, breakout candidates, and late-round gems for all league formats.
Rookies Worth Your Attention
The Stud Youngster
Kareem Hunt, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
After starting the season off hot, Kareem Hunt has struggled in recent weeks to produce from both a touchdown and yardage performance. However, in last week's matchup against the Oakland Raiders, Hunt rushed for 116 yards to go along with 22 receiving yards as well, cementing his spot as one of the league's top running backs this season after a series of mediocre performances. With the Chiefs finally able to pull off a win comes the idea that they will hope to continue these performances. This should mean a heavier workload for Hunt and can be seen by fantasy owners as an increase in their assurance that he will produce on a weekly basis. Keep Hunt in your lineups; he is guaranteed to get the workload at a time in the season that it is most necessary and in a position that has a high scarcity of quality options.
The One-Week Wonder
DeShone Kizer, QB, Cleveland Browns
Although the Cleveland Browns season has slowly been going down the drain, quarterback DeShone Kizer has emerged as a late season option due to his relatively clean play as well as rushing floor. However, don't let his recent performances fool you into thinking he is a reliable streaming candidate this late in the fantasy season. Kizer has shown that he does not produce reliable numbers week-in and week-out as a result of his high interception totals and lack of consistency in finding the endzone with his legs or through the air. Keep Kizer on waivers; he plays two very stringy defenses in the Ravens and Bears and should find it difficult to have success in the i final weeks of the season.
The Locked-In Starter
Dede Westbrook, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Each week that Westbrook has played, his numbers have gone up substantially. His last week saw him produce 81 yards as well as a touchdown on five receptions. Westbrook has been heavily targeted by quarterback Blake Bortles in recent weeks, making him a viable fantasy commodity in all formats. While it is a bit of a reach to say that Westbrook is a locked-in starter for the fantasy playoffs, he doesn't fit into any of the other columns given that many fantasy owners have already snapped him up off waivers and have been using him due to his explosive involvement this late in the season. If Westbrook is available in your league, pick him up immediately. He could be a league winner this season and has a decent floor due to the high volume of targets that he has received in recent weeks.
The Under-The-Radar Sleeper
Adam Shaheen, TE, Chicago Bears
Those desperate for a tight end this late in the season should find it difficult to find a reliable one on waivers; however, if you need an upside play in the playoffs with relatively easy matchups, rookie tight end Adam Shaheen could provide for you this season. Shaheen has had two solid performances mixed in with two duds, making him a rather unreliable option at the position. However, with games against the Lions and Browns coming up, he is worth a start if there are no available options for you at the position on waivers. Shaheen could end up producing big numbers given his increase in involvement with the offense - keep him on your radars come Championship Week.
The One To Stash
Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams
A very popular stash candidate all season, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp has produced at a very high level in recent weeks, with two 100 yard performances and a floor of 60 yards in each of the last four weeks. This good run has been capped by his 118 yard and touchdown performance last week. However, there is little reason to think that Kupp will stop producing at this level given his heavy involvement in a high-scoring offense late in the season. Kupp is most likely owned in your league, but if you can pick him up, play him. If you already have him, he could be worth a starting spot for the last few weeks of the fantasy season as the Rams wide receiver has proven his production in all formats this year.
