Rookies Ready To Break Out and WR Trade Targets: Engel Eye

Scott Engel's fantasy football rookie breakouts and WR trade targets. He looks at recent fantasy performances and trends and tells us what is for real.

After five weeks of fantasy football results in 2021, we have now adjusted expectations on many players. We will be looking for increased output from guys like Cooper Kupp and Dawson Knox on a regular basis. You may have come to grips with decreased production from players such as Allen Robinson and Miles Sanders.

There are still nine weeks of regular-season matchups remaining in the fantasy football season though, and many more player trends will emerge. So we must remain ahead of the possible ups and downs to keep our edge on the competition. If you started strong, constant roster and lineup adjustments will be needed to maintain your pace. If your fantasy team has a losing record, don’t give up yet. Two years ago I started 1-6 in my most important league and reset my approach to focus on one singular week at a time. I never lost again on the way to winning it all.

There is still much work to be done, so sharpen your focus and concentrate on succeeding in the shorter term, especially now that the bye weeks have arrived on the schedule. In my article today, I will try and help you move forward and sharpen your fantasy focus by focusing on emerging rookies and potential trade candidates.

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 Ready to Break Out

Javonte Williams is starting to show some possible signs of busting out for more production soon. In Week 5, he tore off an impressive 49-yard run against the Steelers. This week, he faces the Raiders’ 25^th-ranked run defense, which is allowing 134.4 rushing yards per game. The Raiders matchup will be an opportunity for the rookie to build on the brief, yet impressive glimpse of upside we saw last week. As with Michael Carter, Williams may also be on the verge of a performance that will stir increased fantasy optimism. Yes, he is splitting carries with Melvin Gordon, but Williams is certainly capable of making the most of his touches to boost his appeal in the near future.

Javonte Williams is a tackle-breaking machine pic.twitter.com/LFgo0zaw6P

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) October 6, 2021

The Jets will hopefully use the bye week to figure out how to get more production out of Michael Carter. The promising rookie will likely do much better work if the Jets can draw up more ways to get him into space to make significant plays. The play-calling has been lacking in creativity so far this year, but now the Jets have a week to plan how to get one of their most dynamic players loose in an effort to challenge defenses more. Don’t cut Carter, because he has yet to unlock his potential and is also on a bye week. There could be a breakout performance coming soon.

Wide Receivers to Trade For

This may be a good time to trade for either of the Seahawks' top two WRs. Even though DK Metcalf caught a TD pass from Geno Smith in Week 5, some fantasy players may now be concerned about his production, and also could feel similarly about Tyler Lockett with Russell Wilson out for a few weeks. We may see fewer big plays downfield now with Smith at QB, but Metcalf is becoming more capable of beating defenders at all levels of the defense, and Lockett might make more high-percentage grabs working with Smith.

Both WRs can remain viable options and you will get more of their upside for your playoff push when Wilson returns. I would lower their values a bit for now, yet I would take a chance on some lowered expectations in the short term for a nice payoff later in the year.

Keenan Allen has one TD catch this season and has 161 receiving yards in the last three games. You can bet that Justin Herbert wants to get Allen going again and keep his confidence up. This is a good time to trade for Allen, as the track record strongly suggests better times ahead, especially with how well his QB is playing.

Keenan Allen has 10 red zone targets. He has 1 TD. Mike Williams has 8 targets with 4 TD’s. The TD’s are coming for Keenan Allen. He is a great buy low if people are thinking Williams has totally leap-frogged him.

— Rob (@RobFFAddict) October 13, 2021

More Running Back Observations

Khalil Herbert led the Bears in rushing attempts (18) and yards (75) in Week 5. He displayed good strength at the point of attack and looked shifty in short space. Chicago should continue to employ a timeshare at RB while David Montgomery is out. Damien Williams is historically not durable and the Bears must be careful to not overwork him. Both Chicago RBs can be considered as flex plays. Williams has more upside, but Herbert looked like a potentially steady performer in his first shot at an expanded role.

Khalil Herbert loves those cutback lanes... Packers LBs - can't overrun/fast flow this week pic.twitter.com/PFjL4xx1Rm

— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) October 13, 2021

In certain instances when a starting running back goes down, it may take a pair of backups to replace him. That should be the case in Kansas City, where Darrel Williams will likely be the lead ball-carrier while Clyde Edwards-Helaire is out, with Jerick McKinnon projected to operate in a complementary role. Williams should be good for some TD opportunities and decent rushing production. McKinnon has rarely lived up to fantasy expectations and is strictly a depth add.

Miles Sanders played on a season-high 75 percent of the snaps in Week 5. Tampa Bay has allowed the most receptions (42) to running backs this year, so it will be interesting to see if Sanders gets more involved in the passing game this week or if Kenneth Gainwell’s role increases again. Despite the matchup, keep both Philadelphia RBs reserved for now unless you simply do not have a better option. Sanders’ usage in Week 5 was encouraging, though, and could possibly point to better times ahead in terms of touches.

Leonard Fournette is the fantasy RB15 after five weeks. He played 62 percent of the snaps last week while Ronald Jones logged just 14 percent of the snaps. The Tampa Bay backfield has often been a source of confusion, but Fournette has scored 37-plus fantasy points in the past two weeks and is quality flex play for now.

More Angles From Engel

I was impressed with the Colts offense on Monday and the performance does brighten the outlook of the passing game for now. Carson Wentz showed his better form, and you have to like the upcoming schedule that features matchups with the Texans, 49ers, Titans, Jets, and Jaguars. Michael Pittman Jr. will frequently provide a respectable statistical floor, and upside at times.

It will be interesting to see if Parris Campbell can emerge as the deeper threat he has always been billed as. He should be added if available for his potential if Indianapolis starts to utilize Campbell more as a downfield playmaker. T.Y. Hilton is reportedly not quite close to returning yet, so the opportunity is there for Campbell to elevate his play. Mo Alie-Cox is also worth a flier if you need TE help in a deeper league. Wentz can be a quality replacement for Fantasy leaguers who need to replace Russell Wilson.

UPDATE: Hilton has returned to practice, and if he is back in action soon, that could possibly be a positive for Campbell, as Hilton can command extra defensive attention at WR. Hilton's most productive days are likely behind him, yet he can also still be another quality target for Wentz.

Star QB check: Aaron Rodgers is QB15 right now. He passed for a season-high 344 yards this past week but still scored below 20 fantasy points for the third time this year. Joe Burrow is QB19. He has scored 20 fantasy points just once with one 300-yard game. Both QBs have been outscored by Daniel Jones, Sam Darnold, Kirk Cousins and Derek Carr. If your team is not winning, either Rodgers or Burrow may be hindering your output and should not be considered as regular starters right now.

Jaylen Waddle has scored fewer than nine fantasy points in three of his past four games, but he should be able to re-emerge in the next two weeks. Getting Waddle back into the offensive flow in a significant way can help Miami end a four-game losing streak with matchups vs. the Jaguars and Falcons next.

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