Week 14 Rookie Report

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! 

Rookies of the Week: 

De’Von Achane (RB) - Miami Dolphins 

The Dolphins offense is special. Tyreek Hill may be an MVP candidate but him, Jaylen Waddle, and the passing attack with Tua Tagovailoa are not the only impressive parts. Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane have made for an insanely high-scoring rushing attack. Mostert is 3rd in rushing yards but leads the league in rushing TDs with 14. Achane has only played in 6 games but he’s 31st in rushing yards and has scored 9 total TDs this year while averaging 9.5 yards per carry - the most of any player with at least 10 rushing attempts. You also have to remember that in his first game back from injury he only got a single carry and he also got just one in his first game of the season. The few full games of Achane that we have seen have led to fireworks. There is no reason to ever bench him. He’s the team’s RB2 and can still finish as the RB1 overall each week. 

Sam LaPorta (TE) - Detroit Lions 

LaPorta has 8 half-PPR TE1 performances as a rookie, and while this isn’t his first time ranking all the way at the top of his position, it is by far his most impressive game. The young TE caught all 9 of his targets for 140 yards and a TD. Facing some of the softest TE defenses for fantasy in the coming weeks, there is still a ton of upside for LaPorta to unlock on a Lions team still fighting for the #1 seed and a coveted bye. LaPorta will be a major part of that, like he has been all season. Ride him to the promised land. 

Top Rookie Performances: 

QB C.J. Stroud: 16.1 Points - QB15 

RB De’Von Achane: 23.8 Points - RB4 

RB Zach Charbonnet: 16.4 Points - RB11 

RB Tyjae Spears: 10.8 Points - RB18 

WR Puka Nacua: 21.9 Points - WR10 

WR Rashee Rice: 10.4 Points - WR26 

WR Jonathan Mingo: 9.9 Points - WR30 

TE Sam LaPorta: 24.5 Points - TE1 

Disappointment of the Week: 

Josh Downs (WR) - Indianapolis Colts 

This makes a second straight week for Josh Downs as the disappointment of the week. Last week was a great matchup where he got 13 targets, but this week's great matchup only saw him draw five. Michael Pittman Jr. was dominating but Alec Pierce has also slowly gotten back into the mix. Pierce only had six targets on the day but caught 3 of them for 100 yards and a score. It’s bad timing for this sudden resurgence of Pierce, who had a solid rookie season himself. The Colts are becoming quite a fun passing offense with Gardner Minshew but it has suddenly become worse for Downs. As teams make their final playoff pushes, this is not what you want to see if you roster him. 

Remedial Rookie Performances: 

QB Will Levis: 11.5 Points - QB18

QB Bryce Young: 8.1 Points - QB22 

RB Jahmyr Gibbs: 5.9 Points - RB30 

WR Jayden Reed: 3.6 Points - WR52 

WR Josh Downs: 2.9 Points - WR62 

WR Marvin Mims Jr: 1.8 Points - WR70 

Heating Up: 

WR Rashee Rice: 

Rice has seen his highest target totals all season over the past two weeks. Not only that but he has led the team in targets in both of his past two games and has combined for 16 receptions and 171 yards. This Chiefs offense has looked pretty bad at times, at least by the lofty standards we hold them to. It’s evident that losing Tyreek Hill, and perhaps more importantly Eric Bieniemy, has left a huge hole that hasn’t been filled just yet. Rice is stepping up to the plate, though, and becoming one of the few reliable targets in this offense. Travis Kelce continues to be a monster TE but he has had some awful finishes compared to what is typical from him. His last 100+ yard and 10+ target game was back in October. It’s impossible to expect a player to put up those numbers all the time but that’s just how great he has been, especially with Mahomes. It has been a gloomy season for KC despite an 8-4 record. Things just feel different but thankfully Rice has become a bright spot who you should be starting quite often. 

Name to Watch: 

WR Xavier Gipson: 

Gipson has been returning kicks for the Jets all year but took a while to get opportunities as a receiver. It wasn’t until Week 9 that the rookie played over 32% of offensive snaps but since then he hasn’t played fewer than 58% of them and has been in the 70’s recently. That hasn’t necessarily resulted in receiving success but he has drawn a couple of targets in each game and has looked like the new Jets WR2. That’s something the team has desperately needed. Corey Davis retired before the season started, Mecole Hardman was traded, and former Packers Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb have not been productive. It’s not great that the Jets need an upgrade at QB, OC, and OL, but Garrett Wilson is an elite talent who has often produced despite a terrible offense. Gipson looks like he could become a productive member after setting career-highs in receiving categories. He caught 5 of 6 targets for 77 yards against a favorable matchup. A good game like this could be just what Gipson needs to continue to get playing time and draw targets despite offensive woes and a season that is all but lost. Keep an eye on his usage as the season comes to a close.