Welcome to the Rookie Report series. This will be a recurring series that highlights fantasy-relevant rookies, how they performed in the prior weeks, and what that means for the future. Let’s dive in!
ROOKIE(S) OF THE WEEK
Brandon Aubrey (K) - Dallas Cowboys
When the dust from Week 14 settled only one name stood atop the Rookie scoring leaders – Brandon Aubrey. The 28-year-old rookie kicker registered four field goals on four attempts, making three of 50 yards or more. Aubrey now holds the NFL record for most consecutive field goals made without a miss for a rookie kicker (30). He also knocked home all three of his extra points, finishing with 24.4 fantasy points as the number one overall rookie in Week 14.
Zay Flowers (WR) - Baltimore Ravens
I would hate to think about what this Ravens offense would look like without Zay Flowers. Lamar Jackson is still an elite QB but he desperately needed a WR1 and they may have found one. Flowers had his 2nd WR1 game of the season in Week 14 that included the game tying TD and 2-point conversion. The Ravens trust him in big situations and for good reason. There’s still a lot of room to grow.
ROOKIE STANDOUTS
Jayden Reed (WR) - Green Bay Packers
Jayden Reed had a hilariously effective PPR slash line, catching eight of his career-high 10 targets but gaining only 27 yards in the process. Reed supplemented his low receiving totals with 38 rushing yards on four attempts and his second rushing touchdown of the season. The Packers rookie has established himself as a promising dual threat hybrid with incredible open-field abilities. Reed’s 20.5 PPR Points and WR6 finish marks the highest output of fantasy production by the rookie this season.
Bijan Robinson (RB) - Atlanta Falcons
Bijan Robinson found the endzone for his fourth rushing touchdown of the season, taking his 10 carries for 34 yards and the aforementioned score. Robinson also added excellent receiving production for his managers, collecting five of seven targets for 54 yards.
Chase Brown (RB) - Cincinnati Bengals
Chase Brown had a signature breakout performance in Week 14, finishing as the RB10 with 19.5 PPR Points. The Bengals rookie managed just 25 yards on eight carries but corralled all three of his targets for 80 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown catch.
TOP ROOKIE PERFORMANCES
K C.J. Brandon Aubrey: 24.4 Points - K1
WR Jayden Reed: 20.5 Points - WR6
WR Zay Flowers: 20.0 Points - WR8
RB Bijan Robinson: 19.8 Points - RB9
RB Chase Brown: 19.5 Points - RB10
WR Rashee Rice: 17.2 Points - WR13
RB Tyjae Spears: 16.8 Points - RB13
RB Jahmyr Gibbs: 16.2 Points - RB15
TE Davis Allen: 15.0 Points - TE6
WR Puka Nacua: 14.0 Points - WR19
RB De’Von Achane: 12.1 Points - RB24
TE Tucker Kraft: 10.4 Points - TE12
ROOKIE DISAPPOINTMENTS
Josh Downs (WR) - Indianapolis Colts
Josh Downs was seemingly taking over as a high-upside option alongside Michael Pittman Jr as the rookie posted several sensational performances from Week 5 through Week 8. During that stretch, Downs was averaging 16.3 PPR PPG with six or more targets in each contest. He has scored a combined 27.9 Points over the last five games. He caught all three of his targets against the Bengals, tallying 32 yards on his opportunities. Unfortunately, that culminated in a WR55 outing, his fifth consecutive showing outside of the top 45 wide receivers in PPR scoring.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR) - Seattle Seahawks
The collegiate sensation has yet to find his rhythm on an NFL field despite showing several highlight-worthy flashes. Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the Seahawks with seven targets after DK Metcalf was ejected for a scuffle with 49ers linebacker Fred Warner. The rookie wideout tallied a mere four receptions for 25 yards with his team-leading opportunity share.
Dalton Kincaid (TE) - Buffalo Bills
Kincaid saw respectable target totals in Week 14, earning eight targets with five receptions. The rookie only managed 21 total yards on the day and could potentially be facing further regression now that Dawson Knox is back in the lineup.
C.J. Stroud (QB) - Houston Texans
Playoffs on the line, and this is the performance you got?! Give credit to the Jets defense, namely their elite secondary. Add on Stroud’s concussion and you have a recipe for disaster. He's still well on track to win Offensive Rookie of the Year and even make the playoffs, but this is bad timing for this kind of performance.
REMEDIAL ROOKIE PERFORMANCES
TE Dalton Kincaid: 7.1 Points - TE23
QB Bryce Young: 6.5 Points - QB26
WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba: 6.5 Points - WR51
WR Josh Downs: 6.2 Points - WR55
QB Aiden O’Connell: 6.0 Points - QB27
RB Zach Charbonnet: 5.8 Points - RB44
WR Jordan Addison: 4.7 Points - WR66
TE Sam LaPorta: 4.7 Points - TE31
QB C.J. Stroud: 2.6 Points - QB30
HEATING UP
Quentin Johnston (WR) - Los Angeles Chargers
All Quentin Johnston needed to find relevance was significant injuries to Mike Williams, Josh Palmer, Gerald Everett, Keenan Allen, and apparently even his quarterback, Justin Herbert. The Chargers have no choice but to lean on their poorly developed rookie as the team suffers through a laundry list of injury designations. The big-bodied wideout put up a career-best 12.1 PPR Points in Week 14 and may finally be seeing enough field time to maintain low-end flex numbers.
NAMES TO WATCH
Davis Allen (TE) - Los Angeles Rams
Davis Allen was thrust into a starting role after Tyler Higbee (neck) and backup Hunter Long (knee) were forced out of action in the Rams Week 14 overtime loss to the Ravens. Allen finished the day with four receptions for 50 yards and one touchdown and could benefit from continued looks if the depth chart remains banged up.
BIG ROOKIE MOMENTS
Chase Brown Hits Mach Speed
Per NextGen Statistics, Brown reached a top speed of 22.05 MPH on his 54-yard catch and run to the endzone. Brown’s 22.05 MPH is the second-fastest speed recorded by a ball carrier this season – DK Metcalf hit 22.23 MPH against the Cowboys in Week 13.
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By Matt Ward and Themi Michalakis
For a second straight season, I am betting against Mahomes.