RADIO
The NFL regular season is off to an entertaining start in 2023. The incredible finishes in the Dolphins-Chargers and Bills-Jets matchups proved that the league is already in mid-season form when it comes to captivating viewers. Even more importantly for our purposes, the fantasy football season is back in full swing. There were certainly no shortages of disappointing underperformances or surprising breakouts.
Rookies also made positive first impressions across the country. Atlanta's first-round running back Bijan Robinson looked excellent with 83 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. Rams WR Puka Nacua, a late-round draft pick this offseason, had a shockingly great game. Other rookies, including Anthony Richardson, Zay Flowers, and Roschon Johnson, also had promising starts to their careers.
Whether you're a redraft manager or a dynasty manager, being ahead of the curve with rookie players is vital to your team's success. For that reason, each week I will be breaking down which rookies you should be watching out for. This column will be split into two parts: one pertaining to players most relevant in redraft leagues, and the other for rookies particularly worth watching in dynasty formats.
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NFL Rookies to Watch in Fantasy Football Redraft Leagues
Puka Nacua (WR, LAR)
Puka Nacua was a largely unheralded draft prospect out of BYU this spring. After transferring to the Cougars from Washington in 2021, Nacua had two decent final collegiate seasons. In 21 games with BYU, he caught 91 passes for 1,430 yards and 11 touchdowns. Nacua also added 357 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground. He ran just a 4.57-second hand-timed 40-yard dash at his pro day, and he possesses just an 18th-percentile catch radius. Nacua's profile still impressed the Rams enough to make him a fifth-round draft selection.
With Cooper Kupp dealing with a hamstring injury, Nacua had an opportunity to be a big participant in his first NFL game. He took full advantage, catching 10 passes on 15 targets for 119 yards. He made some great plays throughout the game and finished as the week's WR9. Nacua didn't only look like someone who should have been drafted much earlier; he also became a prized waiver wire option in fantasy football heading into Week 2.
Nacua had the most targets of any receiver last week, the second-highest target share, and the seventh-most yards per route run. He and the Rams will be facing the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. Nacua did appear on this week's injury report with an oblique injury, but he is still expected to play. Assuming he does, Nacua will be looking to match his suddenly lofty expectations. Watch to see if he can help the Rams succeed against a tough 49ers defense.
Tank Dell (WR, HOU)
Tank Dell had an extremely productive college career with the Houston Cougars. In 2021, Dell caught 90 passes for 1,329 yards and 12 touchdowns. He followed that up in 2022 with 109 grabs for 1,398 yards and 17 touchdowns. He's a small receiver at 5'8" and 165 pounds, but his production, explosiveness, and playmaking ability led the Texans to draft him in the third round.
In the preseason, Dell impressed observers with his route-running prowess and electric playstyle. Dell caught five passes for 65 yards against the Patriots in his preseason debut, contributing to some moderate expectations for the regular season. He ultimately ended up seeing just four targets from quarterback C.J. Stroud last Sunday, which he turned into three catches for 34 yards.
Dell may be able to put forth a more noteworthy performance this week versus Indianapolis. Teammate Noah Brown out-snapped Dell last week in Baltimore, but Brown was placed on IR with a groin injury this week. This development will free up more opportunities for Dell to get involved. The Colts also had a poor showing defensively against receivers last week, permitting Calvin Ridley and Zay Jones to both have quality days. Keep an eye on Dell as a potential target for next week's waiver claims.
Luke Musgrave (TE, GB)
The 2023 draft class was loaded with talent at the tight end position. While Dalton Kincaid, Sam LaPorta, and Michael Mayer got the most attention, Luke Musgrave was quietly a second-round pick from Oregon State. Musgrave is an excellent athlete; he ran a 4.61-second 40-yard dash at 6'6" and 253 pounds. His polished route-running technique also contributed to his high draft slot.
Musgrave had a strong training camp that earned him praise. In Week 1, he caught three of his four targets for 50 yards. His game featured a long 37-yard reception that should have been a walk-in touchdown had he not lost his footing. Musgrave's 72 air yards ranked first among all tight ends, and his yards per route run and yards per target both came in third at his position. Needless to say, Musgrave had a very promising start to his rookie campaign.
Green Bay will take on the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2. Atlanta yielded the second-most fantasy points to tight ends last week, although Week 1 was a down week for the position overall. Still, Hayden Hurst was able to put forth a quality performance against the Falcons, and Musgrave will be hoping to do the same. Check out how Musgrave produces; he could further his rapport with quarterback Jordan Love and establish himself as a quality fantasy option.
NFL Rookies to Watch in Fantasy Football Dynasty Leagues
Roschon Johnson (RB, CHI)
Roschon Johnson was never able to emerge as the top running back during his college career at Texas. In his freshman year, he gained 649 rushing yards and seven rushing scores alongside Keaontay Ingram. For the remainder of his time in Austin, Johnson had to contend with Bijan Robinson's ascent into stardom. Nonetheless, Johnson's powerful running, excellent blocking skills, and valuable receiving ability helped him become a fourth-round draft choice.
Now with the Chicago Bears, Johnson is a backup option behind Khalil Herbert and D'Onta Foreman. While he did see more snaps last week than either Herbert or Foreman, a lot of Johnson's work came when the game's outcome was no longer in doubt. Still, Johnson accomplished quite a bit with his 12 opportunities. He turned five carries into 20 yards and a touchdown, and he caught six of seven targets for 35 yards. Johnson's 1.46 fantasy points per opportunity ranked third among running backs.
This week, Chicago will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The key thing to monitor in this game will be Johnson's workload compared to Herbert's and Foreman's. Will Johnson's solid showing in his debut result in an expanded early-game role this week? Johnson is someone to consider trading for in dynasty leagues; his stock will rise significantly if he manages to take over the backfield, and he may make progress down that path this Sunday.
Tyjae Spears (RB, TEN)
At Tulane, Tyjae Spears flashed his potential early on. He gained 325 scrimmage yards on just 37 touches in five games in 2019 as a freshman for the Green Wave. The following year he averaged 7.8 yards per touch, and in 2021, he picked up 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns on 148 touches. His monstrous 1,837-yard, 21-touchdown campaign in his final season with Tulane was his most impressive. Spears capped it off with a dominant 219-yard, four-TD showing in an upset victory over USC in the Cotton Bowl.
Spears fell to the third round due to his injury history. He tore his right ACL in high school in 2015, and he tore it again in 2020. Reports that he no longer had an ACL in his right knee swirled around draft time, but the Titans still chose to take a chance on his talent. His blend of power, agility, and patience made him an intriguing prospect, and Spears showed off his 91st-percentile burst on a great run in the preseason.
Spears carried the ball three times last Sunday, gaining 27 yards on those attempts. He also got four targets from quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Spears will be hoping to steal even more opportunities from starter Derrick Henry this weekend versus the Chargers. This rookie has the talent to make a lot of noise with a larger role, so seeing how the Titans utilize him behind Henry will be vital in assessing his outlook for fantasy managers.
Kayshon Boutte (WR, NE)
Kayshon Boutte had a great start to his LSU career in 2020. In 10 games, Boutte caught 45 passes for 735 yards and five scores. In just six games in 2021, Boutte made 38 catches for 508 yards and nine touchdowns. A nine-catch, 148-yard, three-TD performance versus UCLA showed the dominance he was capable of. Sadly, his 2022 season was marred by inconsistency after he returned from ankle surgery. His production fell significantly, as did his draft stock. Boutte wound up being drafted in the sixth round by New England.
Boutte had to fight to make the roster as a low draft choice, but in Week 1 he actually had a real role for the Patriots. With starting wideout DeVante Parker inactive with a knee ailment, Boutte ran 37 routes, 14th-most among receivers across the league. However, he only was targeted four times, and he failed to complete any catches. A possible game-saving grab late in the fourth quarter was overturned, as Boutte failed to get both of his feet down in bounds.
Parker is questionable to participate in this week's Sunday night game versus Miami. These early season opportunities for Boutte with Parker sidelined are pivotal. It is easy to see him gaining some momentum with a fine performance. However, it is equally easy to envision him squandering his chances and falling into obscurity. Make sure to observe how Boutte fares this week.
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