Hello RotoBallers. Today, I will be discussing three NFL rookies and their fantasy football potential for the 2015 season. These players are looking to be statistically on the upswing, and may be en route to showing their potential for the season.
Two of the below rookies are widely available in fantasy football leagues, but that doesn't mean that they can't hold value for fantasy owners.
Those owners in deeper leagues especially may be more interested in these rookies - but regardless of the format, they are all worth mentioning and monitoring.
Will These NFL Rookies Break Out?
Duke Johnson (RB, CLE)
Owned in 50% of Fleaflicker leagues
Duke Johnson had a rough start to the year after a lot of preseason hype. In the first three weeks of the season, he had 23 carries for just 68 yards. However, it seems that the Browns coaches learned something important recently: Johnson can catch the football, very well.
In Week Three, Johnson had six receptions for 32 yards against the Raiders. And in Week Four, he had nine receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown. That's what we call PPR gold. Now that Johnson has finally found his true niche as a running back, expect him to continue producing and to continue moving towards reaching his full fantasy potential this season. He is a talented rookie, with a talented offensive line, and is getting plenty of touches.
Jamison Crowder (WR, WAS)
Owned in 4% of Fleaflicker leagues
Jamison Crowder has received very little love and attention, maybe because he played his college football at Duke? In his first two weeks of play, Crowder received only two targets for just seven yards. In the last two weeks however, Kirk Cousins' trust in Crowder, and therefore Crowder's production, has skyrocketed.
In Week Three, Crowder was targeted six times for six receptions and 45 yards. In Week Four against the Eagles, Crowder was targeted a whopping 12 times - good for seven receptions and 65 yards. Crowder may be small at 5'8'', but if he continues to get this many targets and convert, Kirk Cousins may have a new favorite receiver in Washington.
Sammie Coates (WR, PIT)
Owned in 5% of Fleaflicker leagues
Sammie Coates, out of the University of Auburn, is a little bit more of a diamond buried deep in the rough. Coates has only been in two games, and in the first game he was targeted zero times against the Rams. However, under the tutelage of the new starting quarterback, veteran Mike Vick, Coates saw two targets and one reception for eleven yards.
I know it doesn't sound too exciting - but given that Vick has no established rapport with any of the Pittsburgh starters, and he targeted Coates twice with moderate success in his first start of the season, Sammie Coates could be an interesting name to monitor in deeper leagues. It may be a fantasy long shot, especially with Martavis Bryant expected back in Week 5 - but if you are in a very deep league, you can consider stashing Coates to see if his role continues to expand moving forward.
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