Ultimate Fantasy Rookie Performances to Follow: Week 8

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(This will make sense momentarily).

As always, rankings are based on last week’s fantasy points in a points per reception league, with the points in parenthesis.

5. Breece Hall (13.2)

In the arms of the angel

Fly away from here

From this dark cold football field

And the injuries that you fear

You are pulled from the football field

Of your silent reverie

You’re in the arms of the angel (probably Dr James Andrews)

-Nathan Janasik loosely quoting Sarah McLachlan

The worst possible thing happened for my regular readers last weekend. Breece Hall, our steady, unchanging, expected hero of the column, tore his ACL and will miss the rest of the season. Easily the Rookie of the Year so far, his campaign will end after seven games. Luckily for fantasy managers, he ran the ball 4 times for 72 yards and a touchdown before getting bit by the injury bug. Interestingly enough, he nearly made it to halftime and the Jets decided to just not run the ball. He is droppable in any redraft league (unless you want to put him in an IR slot for the memories). If you play dynasty, you may want to try to buy him cheap for the future. I know I am. Thank you for your service, Breece Hall, even though I know you’ll never read this.

4. Dameon Pierce (15.7)

Dameon Pierce pulled off the bubble wrap from last week’s bye and rumbled for 92 yards on 20 attempts. He also caught all 4 of his targets for 25 yards. Pierce has easily taken control of this backfield and should have steady production. It’s too bad his offensive line ranks in the bottom half of the league.

3. Chris Olave (17.6)

Who would have guessed a Thursday night game between the New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals would be a shoot out? Andy Dalton threw the ball 47 times and a whopping 29.8% (14) of his passes went Olave’s way. Olave had 7 catches for 106 yards. Clearly the favorite target in the passing game, Olave will continue to be WR1 in New Orleans.

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2. George Pickens (18.1)

Fans watching the Sunday Night Football game got a treat. Pickens’s touchdown catch was downright incredible. This week, Pickens had 6 catches for 61 yards and a touchdown. The problem with Pickens is his lack of utilization. On Sunday, he was 4th in targets for Kenny Pickett’s gloved throwing hands. Although Pickens led the team in week 4 against the Jets,*  he has typically been the bottom of the pecking order for targets. Hopefully he becomes the guy moving forward, but he’s only a flex play for now.

*for the record, never in my life did I expect to talk about the Jets so much when I started writing about the NFL.

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1. Kenneth Walker III (28.8)

You know what they say. When God tears an ACL, a new champion rises to the top of the Ultimate Fantasy Rookie Performances to Follow. After his running mate Rashaad Penny’s injury in week 5 against New Orleans, Walker has taken off. Every week, he has gotten more fantasy points than the last. If his power continues to grow at this rate, he will be out producing whole fantasy teams by week 11.

Realistically, we’re near the top of his range of possibilities, but it’s still impressive. 23 rushes led to 168 yards and 2 touchdowns. Managers would like to see him catch a few passesballs to help with his floor, but everyone should be happy with a week like this. Long live the new rookie RB king!**

**Sorry Breece. RIP buddy.

Now it’s time for everyone’s favorite part!  VISUALIZATION OF DATA!

Total Points

I know I got a little weird with the article this week. If you like it let me know! If you hate it, let me know! Either way, see you next week unless I get fired!

Love, 

@MeLlamoMoron

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