CJ Stroud, Puka Nacua, Sam LaPorta, and Tyjae Spears? Week 13 saw some great games from familiar faces and a few surprises. We are almost done with bye weeks, and many teams will start throwing veterans on the injured reserve to give rookies a shot.
QUARTERBACKS
We are far from the weeks when we had eight rookies starting. Just three suited up in week 13.
CJ Stroud, Texans
Week 13: 16-27, 274 yards, 1 TD | 11 yards
2023: 265-418, 3540 yards, 20 TDs, 5 INTs | 143 yards, 3 TDs
Tank Dell is gone for the year with a broken leg, but the Texans are right in the mix for the playoffs. It’s not out of the question that Stroud gets to 5,000 yards. It’s boring writing about him; he’s so good.
Will Levis, Titans
Week 13: 16-33, 224 yards, 1 TD | 5 yards
2023: 107-185, 1266 yards, 7 TDs, 2 INTs | 17 yards
I know people love Anthony Richardson, but Levis is working his way into my QB2 of this class. Tennessee will be in a position to draft a QB but Levis is playing well enough that he might secure the job long term. If so, I like his upside more than Richardson only because I don’t trust Richardson will ever be healthy enough to count on. Levis isn’t in a place where I would be targeting him, but if you have him, I’d stay put.
The Rest of Week 13
- Bryce Young, Panthers – 15-31, 178 yards, 1 INT
RUNNING BACKS
We are finally starting to see some depth in the running back room. Spears showed up in week 13, De’Von Achane is back, and Chase Brown finally got his chance. I wasn’t a huge fan of Spears or Achane, but I think I was wrong. I was a huge fan of Brown, and I think I will be vindicated after an extremely slow start.
Tyjae Spears, Titans
Week 13: 16 carries, 75 yards | 4 catches, 13 yards
2023: 65 carries, 309 yards, 1 TD | 33 catches, 192 yards
It remains to be seen if Spears can be a primary back, but at the very least, he’s a competent change of pace. In Week 13, Spears saw the most carries and the most yards in a game of his young career.
De’Von Achane, Dolphins
Week 13: 17 carries, 73 yards, 2 TDs | 3 catches, 30 yards
2023: 55 carries, 533 yards, 7 TDs | 12 catches, 106 yards, 2 TDs
Achane was my biggest mistake in this draft. I assumed he was too small and would get injured too often. It might not matter when if healthy, he can make the impact he did this week. Miami was the perfect landing spot, and they will get the most out of him. He has only played in six of Miami’s 12 games, but he had 100 scrimmage yards in four of the six.
Chase Brown, Bengals
Week 13: 9 carries, 61 yards
2023: 11 carries, 67 yards | 3 catches, 7 yards
This was the game I have been waiting for. Brown was my RB4 in this class after seeing his landing spot. That was a bit over the top after seeing what Achane can be, but I don’t think it will be far off. The Bengals were waiting for a compliment and hopeful replacement for Joe Mixon, and Brown flashed that in Week 13. He had nine carries, but that was on just 11 snaps. His snaps and usage will rise as he runs much quicker than Mixon.
The Rest of Week 13
- Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions – 8 carries, 60 yards | 1 catch, -6 yards
- Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks – 19 carries, 60 yards, 1 TD | 1 catch, 39 yards
- Bijan Robinson, Falcons – 18 carries, 53 yards | 3 catches, 26 yards
- Chris Rodriguez, Commanders – 7 carries, 29 yards
- Jaleel McLaughlin, Broncos – 4 carries, 15 yards | 2 catches, 6 yards
WIDE RECEIVERS
Dell was having such a fun year. It’s a shame that it ended prematurely. Nacua is back on top with a fresh face from the Jets.
Puka Nacua, Rams
Week 13: 4 catches, 105 yards, 1 TD
2023: 77 catches, 1029 yards, 4 TDs
I am still not a believer. Nacua is productive and doing all the right things, but I am not blown away by his game. The list of rookie WRs who catch 1000 yards and bust isn’t great, but I don’t see him being much more than a WR2 for the rest of his career.
Xavier Gipson, Jets
Week 13: 5 catches, 77 yards
2023: 10 catches, 144 yards
Gipson had been mostly a return man until his breakout this week. He’s had just 17 targets on the season, six of which came in week 13. If your league counts return yards, he might make an impact.
Jonathan Mingo, Panthers
Week 13: 6 catches, 69 yards
2023: 34 catches, 355 yards
Mingo is inching closer to an every-week starter. His coaching and quarterback play both could be greatly improved next season. As it stands, he has some of the biggest untapped upside in this rookie class.
Rashee Rice, Chiefs
Week 13: 8 catches, 64 yards
2023: 52 catches, 591 yards, 5 TDs
Rice might be my biggest surprise of the year. I assumed he would be a stable WR2 or 3 in the Chiefs offense, but he is running away with the lead role. I worry he will always be a bit limited, but I’d gamble in an offense with Patrick Mahomes.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks
Week 13: 7 catches, 62 yards
2023: 45 catches, 468 yards, 2 TDs
Smith-Njigba has been about what you would expect from an offense that features Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, and a desire to run the ball. Expectations might have been too high for some in his rookie year, but he is likely to blow up when he becomes the focal point of the offense.
The Rest of Week 13
- Parker Washington, Jaguars – 6 catches, 61 yards, 1 TD
- Quentin Johnston, Chargers – 5 catches, 52 yards
- Dontayvion Wicks, Packers – 3 catches, 43 yards
- AT Perry, Saints – 1 catch, 30 yards
- Cedric Tillman, Browns – 2 catches, 20 yards
- Jayden Reed, Packers – 4 catches, 16 yards
- Malik Heath, Packers – 1 catch, 15 yards
- Josh Downs, Colts – 3 catches, 14 yards
- Josh Palmer, Bucs – 2 catches, 12 yards
- Jake Bobo, Seahawks – 1 catch, 9 yards
- Marvin Mims, Broncos – 1 catch, 5 yards
TIGHT ENDS
Sam LaPorta is arguably TE1 in startup drafts at this point and Tucker Kraft is a weapon now that Will Musgrave is on IR.
Sam LaPorta, Lions
Week 13: 9 catches, 140 yards, 1 TD
2023: 64 catches, 678 yards, 6 TDs
LaPorta just keeps getting better. At just 22, amongst tight ends, he is fourth in yards and catches, third in average fantasy points per game, and tied for the lead in touchdowns.
Tucker Kraft, Packers
Week 13: 3 catches, 37 yards
2023: 8 catches, 90 yards, 1 TD
Kraft was a disappointment up until two weeks ago. Now he is becoming a weapon. It’s unlikely Musgrave returns before the end of the fantasy season and Kraft might be a flyer for playoff teams in tight end trouble.
The Rest of Week 13
- Julian Hill, Dolphins – 2 catches, 23 yards
- Elijah Higgins-Cardinals – 1 catch, 21 yards
- Josh Whyle, Titans – 1 catch, 16 yards
- Luke Schoonmaker, Cowboys – 1 catch, 12 yards
- Will Mallory, Colts – 2 catches, 4 yards
- Ben Sims, Packers – 1 catch, 1 yard, 1 TD
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