Ultimate Fantasy Rookie Performances to Follow: Week 14

Jameson Williams was supposed to be the best wide receiver in the 2022 draft. Unfortunately, Williams tore his ACL in the national championship in January. Most of the time, teams want an immediate return for their first round draft pick, and with such a substantial injury, it would be a while before WIlliams could deliver. The Detroit Lions took him 12th overall as the fourth receiver off the board, betting on potential. This week, Williams caught his first pass in the NFL, a 41 yard touchdown.

Fantasy point best of the week countdown for rookies with their scores safely tucked away in a pair of parentheses.

5. Dameon Pierce (11.8)

If it weren’t for a “mild high ankle sprain,” Pierce would have (probably) had another touchdown and the Texans would have pulled off the insane win. Injuries are unfortunately a part of the sport though. Before getting hurt, Pierce had 78 yards and a touchdown (and a dreaded -2 point fumble). Fantasy managers may not get a chance to use him again this season. Another good rookie running back gone too soon (this season).

4. Isiah Pacheco (12.3)

Isiah Pacheco is fine. 12.3 points is a decent, not great, number this season. 70 yards rushing and 3 catches for 23 yards. The problem with Pacheco will be that he’s on a high powered offense that has left the RBs behind the last two years. Like Clyde Edwards-Helaire before him, he’s been more hype than stats. Add to the fact that this week his fellow RB Jerick McKinnon exploded for 7 catches, 112 yards and 2 touchdowns, it may be harder for Pacheco to get on the field. Will he put up good numbers? Maybe. Do you trust putting him in your lineup? Only if you have to.

3. Garrett Wilson (13.8)

FINALLY. A JET. Not his best outing but the weather was disgusting and Mike White was playing through a nasty rib injury. Still enough points to make the countdown this week though with some of the heavy hitters on bye. He had 6 catches for 78 yards. 

2. Zonovan Knight (15.7)

Another one! Bad weather makes catching a football tricky. It also makes it hard to keep up with someone running. Knight carried the ball 17 times for 71 yards and a touchdown. He also caught 2 passes for 6 yards. Jets are going to have an interesting situation in their running back room next year.*

*Not really. Breece Hall is King. Zonovan is a solid back up or trade piece though.

1. Brock Purdy

Who bet that Mr. Irrelevant 2022 would dominate the NFL’s GOAT in a head to head match up? San Francisco was doing so well, Fox scrambled to change the game of the week to the more competitive and less relevant Panthers/Seahawks game. Purdy went 16/21 for 185 yards and 2 touchdowns and had 2 rushes for 3 yards and another touchdown then sat out the fourth quarter. This was all against a supposedly stout defense. If only he had started earlier in the season, we could have all enjoyed an actual rookie QB competition.

(I did a purdy good job of avoiding Purdy puns.  Wait. OHHHHHH NOOOOO. I HATE MYSELF)  

Numbers are fine but pictures are better.

To the astute follower of this countdown (all of you), the numbers may have seemed a little low this week. Olave, Watson, Dotson, Robinson, London and Allgeier were all on bye, so there was a little less competition than usual.

Thanks for reading, friends! I wish you all luck in your playoffs. Sadly I’m watching from the sidelines in everything except #SFB12.

@MeLlamoMoron

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