Week 3 NFL Rookies to Watch
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Cleveland Browns WR Corey Coleman was the breakout rookie of Week 2. He caught five of eight targets and went for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Alas, Coleman suffered the same fate as so many prized Browns' possessions before him, and he'll play his third NFL game with a third quarterback.
** UPDATE ** Coleman suffered his own injury in Wednesday's practice, as he broke his hand.
New England Patriots QB Jacoby Brissett is playing Thursday, against the Houston Texans and isn't included among the rookies to watch in the main DFS slate.
This feature focuses on the rookies who have yet to completely break out and are in ideal spots for their Week 3 matchup:
Quarterback
Cody Kessler, Browns (at Dolphins)
Kessler, a third-round pick in the 2016 draft, is only an option in two-QB leagues. Little is known of his own talents, but he has upside in a favorable matchup down in Miami. He has some weapons in the passing game with TE Gary Barnidge and WR Terrelle Pryor.
Cleveland will likely be trailing for much of the game, with the Dolphins opening as 10-point favorites. The Browns will likely try to lean on RB Isaiah Crowell for as long as they can, but he faces a tough rush defense, and Kessler will likely have to open it up in the second half.
Minimally priced, Kessler offers GPP appeal. This game has a projected total of 41 1/2 points, but with two suspect defenses, it could open up.
Running Back
Dwayne Washington, Lions (at Packers)
The injury to RB Ameer Abdullah forces pass-catching RB Theo Riddick into the top spot on the Lions' depth chart. He's likely to lead the backfield in snaps, but his 11 carries in Week 2 were easily a career high. He'll be reserved principally for passing downs.
Washington fits the mold of a big-body back, a role for which he beat out RB Zach Zenner. The Lions have worked out veteran RB Joique Bell, but Riddick and Washington are expected to handle Sunday's duties.
Washington has an extremely low floor in a pass-heavy Lions offense, but he will receive goal-line carries, and he could break off a big run. He comes in just above the minimum salary and could be used as an RB2 in GPPs.
Jalen Richard, Raiders (at Titans)
Richard has outsnapped fellow rookie DeAndre Washington through two weeks, ranking second in the Raiders backfield behind RB Latavius Murray. He has gained 101 rushing yards on nine attempts and added 21 receiving yards on three receptions hauling in all of his targets.
While Murray has played well, head coach Jack Del Rio insists the Raiders running backs will continue splitting time. It caps the upside of each back, with only Murray warranting a spot in season-long leagues.
In a nice matchup against the Titans, Richard can be used in GPPs. Oakland opened their season with a road win in New Orleans, tempering hesitation as they play once again in a different time zone from their own.
Jordan Howard, Bears (at Cowboys)
Howard played just 11 offensive snaps in a Week 2 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, compared to the 31 snaps played by starter Jeremy Langford. Even if Langford remains an inefficient workhorse, Howard should absorb some of RB Ka'Deem Carey's 10 snaps.
Langford is averaging just three yards per carry through two games. Howard has received just three carries, but he has already racked up 22 yards on the ground while adding two receptions for nine yards. If Langford doesn't improve, this could become a more even timeshare. Capitalize on Howard's low salary and ownership while it lasts.
Wide Receiver
Tajae Sharpe, Titans (vs. Raiders)
Sharpe continues to dominate the snap count for Titans wide receivers, playing 100 percent of the offensive snaps thus far. He didn't have the same type of production in Week 2, as his targets dropped from 11 in Week 1 to seven. He still caught four of them but finished with just 33 yards and no TDs.
The Raiders have allowed more yards of total offense than any other team in the league, and they have FootballOutsiders' worst-ranked pass defense. They're allowing 9.2 targets and 133 yards to No. 1 receivers.
Eli Rogers, Steelers (at Eagles)
Rogers ranks second in snaps played by Steelers wide receivers thus far, trailing only Antonio Brown. The Eagles rank as FootballOutsiders' No. 1 pass defense. Still, the Steelers opened as road favorites against their state rivals.
He saw just three targets in a rain-soaked Week 2 affair, down from the seven he saw in Week 1. The decreased usage led to a significant drop in salary, making him a solid contrarian play despite a potentially low-scoring game.
Rogers will match up against Eagles CB Ron Brooks in three-wide sets. Brooks has a ProFootballFocus grade of just 55.6 through the first two weeks.
Tyler Boyd, Bengals (vs. Broncos)
Boyd was heavily targeted in a rainy Week 2. Neither QB Andy Dalton nor WR A.J. Green played up to their usual standard, likely making this a one-off performance from Boyd. He's closing the gap on WR Brandon LaFell, but with Green likely going back to the target hog in the offense, Boyd needs to be faded against the Broncos' vaunted pass defense.
Tight End
Hunter Henry, Chargers (at Colts)
Henry actually outsnapped Antonio Gates in Week 2. It was likely a decision to rest the veteran, as the Chargers were in control for essentially the entire game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Expect Henry to spend more time on the bench in Week 3, in a significantly closer game on the road against the Indianapolis Colts. This isn't the spot to look for a coming breakout.