PlayerProfiler is home to award winning dynasty rankings and tools. Our Dynasty Deluxe package includes complete Dynasty Rankings, Rookie Rankings, Trade Analyzer, Draft Planner, Mock Drafts, and more. Check it out. Below, Joel Ybarra highlights top NFL rookie performances from Week 13 of NFL action.
The key to winning your fantasy football league is drafting studs early, but also hitting on some late round values. Often, late round picks that are the biggest risers from their preseason ADPs are rookies. Since that is true, it is possible to build a team mixed with top-notch veterans and young players that are all productive now. We have several candidates this season for rookies who are already centerpieces and premium producers for their NFL franchises and fantasy teams as well. Let’s take a look at some rookies who have solidified themselves as high-value, high-production assets in real life and fantasy.
Rookie Performance of the Week
Bucky Irving | RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
25-152-1 rushing, 3/3-33 receiving
Bucky Irving just had the Rookie Performance of the Week in Week 12, but he upped his game in Week 13. He had a Saquon Barkley-like workload Sunday versus the Panthers, and he continues to be one of the most efficient running backs in the league. Irving is at No. 4 among qualified RBs with 5.5 yards per carry on the season behind only Barkley, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Derrick Henry. The former Oregon Duck has gradually increased his workload to take control of the Bucs’ backfield over Rachaad White. That is not going to change if Irving keeps up the efficiency. He has gained 6.24 yards per carry and 9.25 yards per reception in his last three games. The Bucs are contending, and Bucky is a large part of their offensive success.
Other Notable Rookie Performances
Brock Bowers | TE, Las Vegas Raiders
10/14-140-1 receiving
With Travis Kelce in the twilight of his career, Brock Bowers has solidified himself as the premier tight end in the NFL. He came into the league as one of the best tight end prospects in recent memory and needed no ramp-up, paying off on his top 15 draft capital immediately. Many thought the landing spot in Las Vegas odd, but one can only image where the Raiders’ offense would be without Bowers this season. Alongside Jakobi Meyers, the rookie tight end is one of the Raiders’ only serious offensive weapons and is already the most potent receiving threat in the league at his position.
Marvin Harrison Jr. | WR, Arizona Cardinals
5/12-60-1 receiving
Marvin Harrison Jr. drafters are bemoaning his lack of production, but Harrison Jr. has seven TDs – tied for No. 3 among wide receivers. He is also No. 7 with a 36.7-percent WR Dominator Rating (percentage of team’s TDs and receiving yardage).
Kyler Murray continues to look to Harrison Jr. where it counts – deep down the field (13.7 ADOT, No. 12) and for TD production.
Malik Nabers | WR, New York Giants
8/13-69 receiving
Malik Nabers is a fixture on the Rookie Report. Brian Daboll, and whoever is under center for the Giants, know where their bread is buttered. Nabers is No. 3 in the NFL in targets this season, having played only 10 games, two fewer than league leaders CeeDee Lamb and Garrett Wilson. The problem (like Lamb and Wilson) is Nabers’ upside is neutered in the Giants’ offense. Despite the astronomical target numbers, Nabers has not finished inside the top 12 WRs since Week 4 and has only one top 24 finish (WR24 in Week 9) since then.
Caleb Williams | QB, Chicago Bears
20/39-3 passing, 4-39 rushing
Caleb Williams has a new lease on life since Shane Waldron and Matt Eberflus have been fired, and Thomas Brown has been inserted as interim head coach. The rookie QB is playing like it, throwing for an average of 298 yards and 2.5 touchdowns the past two games and having the Bears in position to knock off the top two teams (Lions and Vikings) in the NFC North. Williams looks freed up to make the most of his strengths: his athleticism and creative play-making ability.
Brian Thomas Jr. | WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
4/10-76-1 receiving
There is little doubt Brian Thomas Jr. is an elite receiving weapon and touchdown-scorer. He has six TDs on the season, including one Sunday versus the Texans. He was also wide open down the middle twice with both Trevor Lawrence and Mac Jones missing him, or Thomas would have a league-winning day.
Jayden Daniels | QB, Washington Commanders
25/30-206-3 passing, 9-34-1 rushing
Jayden Daniels had another one of his characteristic efficient passing games Sunday with an 83.3-percent completion percentage and three touchdowns. He accounted for a fourth touchdown rushing, to go along with 34 yards rushing.
The Commanders made easy work of the Titans, 42-19. This is the type of performance we became accustomed to at the beginning of the season from Daniels. The rookie was again in command Sunday with an impressive performance.
Ladd McConkey | WR, Los Angeles Chargers
9/12-117 receiving
Ladd McConkey has solidified himself as Justin Herbert‘s top pass catcher the last three games, earning 27 targets and 323 yards receiving over that span. The rookie WR has averaged 15.4 yards per reception during that period, and 2.57 YPRR on the season – No. 9 among all WRs.
Drake Maye | QB, New England Patriots
24/30-238-1 passing, 5-59 rushing
Drake Maye has put together some impressive games directing the New England offense and made some impressive throws, but his real value is in his rushing. He is averaging 41.6 yards rushing per game, including one game when he played only 30-percent of the snaps. He is averaging 9.1 yards per carry, by far the highest among all rushers with at least 30 carries. Kyler Murray and Taysom Hill are down at 7.8 and 7.1 YPC, respectively.
Ray Davis | RB, Buffalo Bills
11-63-1 rushing, 1/1-4 receiving
Ray Davis had an efficient performance running in the snow, in Buffalo, Sunday night versus the 49ers.
Buffalo running backs rushed the ball 30 times probably due to the effectiveness of the ground game in the weather conditions. With that being said, Davis remains one of the highest upside handcuffs in case James Cook misses time.
Key Usage Notes
Jonathon Brooks | RB, Carolina Panthers – 6-18 rushing, 3/3-23 receiving (seven routes)
Blake Corum | RB, Los Angeles Rams – 8-42 rushing
See all Joel’s PlayerProfiler articles here, including The Rookie Report from every week of the NFL season.
