RADIO
Each week, we will look at rookies who have either performed well the previous few weeks or who have a favorable matchup in the upcoming week. These may be high-profile names or under-the-radar depth players; the only thing that matters is that they are first-year pros ready to make a name for themselves.
Hopefully, by the time the season ends, many of them will be household fantasy names and be remembered for their performances in the 2017 season.
Without further ado, here are some NFL rookies to watch in Week 12 of the 2017 season.
Rookies Worth Your Attention
The Stud Youngster
Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints
At the start of the season, who would've thought that Alvin Kamara would be posting 100 yard games consistently as a backup to Mark Ingram and have seven touchdowns to go along with his insane yardage numbers. The Ingram-Kamara backfield has been one of the most dynamic in the last decade and has transformed the team's identity into a ground-and pound unit with significant threats through the air as well. Kamara has been a centerpiece at the team's offensive resurgence, and should be started every week given his consistency to churn up yards as well as touchdowns. In PPR leagues, Kamara and Ingram both are locked-in RB1s, which is unheard of in the fantasy football community. Both are also fantastic options in standard leagues as they have scored a combined 15 touchdowns on the year. Keep Kamara in your lineups and do not for a second think about taking him out - he is truly an electric playmaker.
The One-Week Wonder
Ricky Seals-Jones, TE, Arizona Cardinals
After all the injuries that Cardinals tight ends have suffered in recent weeks, undrafted rookie Ricky Seals-Jones showed up big in his debut to the tune of 54 yards on three receptions to go along with two touchdowns. While this was a fantastic debut for the youngster, it is unlikely that he will continue to repeat these performances unless his rapport with Gabbert continues to translate from practice to the field. Unless you are extremely desperate at tight end, Ricky Seals-Jones should not be considered worthy of a roster spot in most formats and, although his debut was impressive, we'll need to see some more consistency before fantasy owners can give the young tight end the attention he likely feels he deserves.
The Locked-In Starter
NOBODY!
Yes, it is that time in the fantasy season where we run out of new rookies to discuss. I could talk about O.J. Howard's breakout performance or Adam Shaheen's touchdown in the absence of fellow tight end Zach Miller. But, these players do not fit the bill as locked-in starters for the purpose of fantasy football, although they might be locked in as starter for their respective teams. Regardless, some players to keep an eye on who could emerge as late season starters are:
- O.J. Howard, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Adam Shaheen, TE, Chicago Bears
- Harrison Butker, K, Kansas City Chiefs
- Samaje Perine, RB, Washington Redskins
The Under-The-Radar Sleeper (Repeat)
Jamaal Williams, RB, Green Bay Packers
Given the uncertainty of the Packers running back situation following injuries to Ty Montgomery and Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams once again has surfaced in a lottery ticket role after producing 95 yards from scrimmage in last week's game. Although the extent of the injuries to the Packers running backs is unknown, it is safe to say that Williams will figure into the rotation for the foreseeable future as both Montgomery and Jones try to get healthy again. Therefore, Williams may be able to carve himself a more sizable role and potentially take over the backfield if he is able to become an outlet for a team struggling following the loss of quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Keep Williams on your radar; he's a must add from waivers this week.
The One To Stash
Corey Clement, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Regardless of the depth chart in front of him that features Jay Ajayi, LeGarrette Blount, and possibly Wendell Smallwood, rookie running back Corey Clement has continued to make big plays as a part of one of the hottest offenses in football. Clement is usually the back that finishes games when the score is up by a significant margin, which it likely will be for most of the Eagles games for the rest of the season. This garbage time usage has allowed him to make a splash in fantasy points, and there is no reason to think that this may not continue. Clement leads the backfield with six touchdowns and could continue to add to that number as the season progresses, making him an easy roster candidate from thin waiver wires.
