2021 NFL ROOKIES

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

JOSH PALMER
WR, LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

Josh Palmer caught 3-of-5 targets for 26 yards in the Chargers' preseason finale against the Seahawks.

One of Palmer's missed connections was a third down drop, but one of his catches was a ridiculous tip/concentration job that resulted in some nice YAC. Palmer has been in the mix for the Bolts' No. 3 job, but Jalen Guyton sat out tonight as Palmer and Tyron Johnson played. It's possible that the Bolts just wanted rookie Palmer to get some extra reps heading into Week 1. He is definitely a name to file away in re-draft, especially considering Mike Williams' injury history.

Aug 29, 2021, 12:39 AM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

D'WAYNE ESKRIDGE
WR, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

D'Wayne Eskridge made his preseason debut in Saturday's finale against the Chargers, catching a 19-yard pass and adding a nine-yard rush.

Eskridge was able to get on the exhibition field 11 days after coming off the PUP list with his toe injury. His rush came on a fly sweep, which is the kind of way Eskridge will have to get involved behind All-Pro types DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Eskridge should contribute some big plays as a rookie, but it is hard to see enough volume materializing to make him a re-draft consideration.

Aug 29, 2021, 12:07 AM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

SETH WILLIAMS
WR, UNSIGNED FREE AGENT

Broncos waived WR Seth Williams.

Williams was the 219th overall pick in this year's draft but was unable to crack a top-heavy receiver depth chart in Denver. The rookie has a solid blend of size and speed and figures to draw some interest on the waiver wire.

Aug 30, 2021, 8:44 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

IHMIR SMITH-MARSETTE
WR, MINNESOTA VIKINGS

WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette won the Vikings' punt and kick returner job.

The Vikings released Ameer Abdullah Tuesday, who had been a core piece of their special teams unit. The Athletic's Arif Hasan reports that the Vikings felt comfortable moving on from Abdullah because of how "electric" Smith-Marsette has been as a punt and kick returner. Hasan notes that Smith-Marsette still has more to learn as a wide receiver, but the fifth round rookie looks like a lock to be active on game days, with minimal competition at the No. 3 wide receiver spot.
SOURCE: The Athletic

Sep 1, 2021, 9:54 AM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

CHUBA HUBBARD
RB, CAROLINA PANTHERS

Rookie RB Chuba Hubbard is one of three running backs on the Panthers' initial 53-man roster.

Carolina waived RB Rodney Smith and released RB Reggie Bonnafon to get to 53, leaving Hubbard as the clear-cut No. 2 back behind Christian McCaffrey. An All-American as a sophomore at Oklahoma State -- rushing for 2,084 yards and 21 touchdowns -- Hubbard carved out the backup role with a strong preseason in which he rushed for 139 yards on 26 carries. Hubbard displayed the burst and big-play ability he showed at Oklahoma State. He should be rostered in every 12-team league as a potential top-12 back should CMC once again struggle with injuries in 2021. The Athletic's Joe Person said there's almost no scenario where Hubbard would split backfield work with McCaffrey. Carolina "didn’t make McCaffrey the highest-paid running back in league history to have him alternate series with Chuba Hubbard or Spencer Brown," he said. "He’s going to be on the field for nearly every offensive snap when the score’s close, and probably when it’s not."
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SOURCE: Joe Person on Twitter

Aug 31, 2021, 8:45 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

SAGE SURRATT
WR, UNSIGNED FREE AGENT

Lions released WR Sage Surratt.

Surratt was productive at Wake Forest but went undrafted after running a 4.7 40. Given the Detroit's barren wide receiver depth chart, his release is not a promising sign for his NFL career. The Lions also waived/released WR Geronimo Allison, K Randy Bullock,CB Corn Elder, K Zane Gonzalez, CB Nickell Robey-Coleman, LB Tavante Beckett, LB Rashod Berry, S Jalen Elliott, DT Bruce Hector, G Tommy Kraemer, TE Alize Mack, WR Javon McKinley, RB Dedrick Mills, T Darrin Paulo, RB Craig Reynolds, LB Jahlani Tavai, TE Brock Wright, DE Jashon Cornell.

Aug 31, 2021, 8:13 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

CORNELL POWELL
WR, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Chiefs waived WR Cornell Powell.

Powell – a fifth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft – turns 24 in October. He had a productive final season at Clemson, amassing 882 yards and seven scores on 53 catches, but this move doesn't bode well for his career prospects.
SOURCE: Mike Clay on Twitter

Aug 31, 2021, 4:51 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

AARON ROBINSON
DB, NEW YORK GIANTS

Giants third-round rookie CB Aaron Robinson will stay on the PUP list and miss the first six games of his rookie season.

Robinson is still recovering following core muscle surgery. The UCF product has been practicing (and, if you believe beat reports, looking good doing so), but it appears the team isn't confident enough in where he's at to take him off the PUP list. He'll be out for at least the first six games of 2021.
SOURCE: Art Stapleton on Twitter

Aug 31, 2021, 3:50 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

CHRISTIAN DARRISAW
T, MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Vikings LT Christian Darrisaw (core muscle surgery) has been ruled out for Week 1.

Darrisaw, the No. 23 overall pick, has had multiple setbacks after offseason surgery. He hasn't practice since early August and remains out indefinitely. The Vikings will start Rashod Hill at left tackle until Darrisaw returns.

Sep 10, 2021, 6:42 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

TREY LANCE
QB, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Trey Lance (finger) has been removed from the Week 1 injury report and will play against the Lions on Sunday.

Lance practiced on a limited basis on Friday, but the fact that he isn't listed on the injury report means he should be good to go. San Francisco brass never seemed overly concerned about Lance's injury, but it's nice to see him officially back. Jimmy Garoppolo will get the start, but Lance could mix in a little bit as we saw in the 49ers' preseason finale.
SOURCE: Matt Barrows on Twitter

Sep 10, 2021, 4:57 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

ZACH WILSON
QB, NEW YORK JETS

Zach Wilson completed 15 of 21 passes for 149 yards, a touchdown, and an interception when not facing pressure in Week 1 against Carolina.

No QB was pressured more often than Wilson in Week 1. The Jets offensive line was overwhelmed time and again against a middling Panthers front seven. But when Wilson was kept clean in the pocket, he (mostly) picked apart the Carolina secondary -- enough to turn around a dreadful first half performance in his debut. T Mekhi Becton possibly missing extended time with an MCL injury won't help matters for Wilson. He gets the Patriots in Week 2.

Sep 13, 2021, 10:07 AM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

KYLE PITTS
TE, ATLANTA FALCONS

Kyle Pitts ran 23 routes from the slot and 14 routes split out wide in Week 1 against the Eagles.

Pitts nabbed four of eight targets for 31 yards and had an 11-yard reception called back on offensive pass interference. While his meager output was disappointing, Pitts' Week 1 usage was spectacular news for those who drafted him this summer. The rookie ran a route on 90 percent of Matt Ryan's drop backs. His 31 pass routes were the eighth most among tight ends on Sunday. Fantasy managers shouldn't panic as Pitts heads into a Week 2 matchup against Tampa. The Bucs gave up nine catches to Dallas tight ends in Week 1.
SOURCE: Adam Levitan on Twitter

Sep 13, 2021, 9:59 AM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

JUSTIN FIELDS
QB, CHICAGO BEARS

Justin Fields completed 2-of-2 passes for 10 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions, adding a three-yard touchdown run on his only carry in the Bears' Week 1 loss to the Rams.

Bears coach Matt Nagy insisted all offseason that Andy Dalton would start in Week 1, and he made good on that promise on Sunday night. However, Fields came in for the occasional snap here and there, and the rookie looked good when given the opportunity. He had a short touchdown run late in the third quarter, flashing the 4.44 wheels that make him so intriguing to fantasy players. He's not a viable option until he's named the starter, but tonight's performance was indubitably encouraging.

Sep 12, 2021, 11:56 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

ANTHONY SCHWARTZ
WR, CLEVELAND BROWNS

Anthony Schwartz caught 3-of-5 targets for a nice 69 receiving yards in Week 1 against the Chiefs.

Schwartz was surprisingly used over Donovan Peoples-Jones as Odell Beckham's (knee, out) replacement, tying David Njoku and Jarvis Landry for a team-high share in targets (5). Schwartz, who averaged 9.0 YAC per reception and 10.7 YPC on 11 rushes at Auburn last year, did average 23 yards per catch in his role as the team's second wideout, though it's unclear if he'll move behind DPJ when Beckham is (eventually) available. Schwartz has a real chance to provide FLEX value if Beckham is again ruled out in Week 2 against the Texans.

Sep 12, 2021, 11:56 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

D'WAYNE ESKRIDGE
WR, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Dee Eskridge recorded two carries for 22 yards in Seattle's 28-16 Week 1 win over the Colts.

Eskridge recorded three touches, his first resulting in a 13-yard gain on a sweep. Even so, a majority of Russell Wilson's 23 pass attempts were unsurprisingly filtered to Tyler Lockett (5) and D.K. Metcalf (5). Eskridge isn't a factor in fantasy at this moment given his limited role in a honed target tree.

Sep 12, 2021, 10:54 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

MAC JONES
QB, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Mac Jones completed 28-of-39 passes for 281 yards and a touchdown in the Patriots' 17-16, Week 1 loss to the Dolphins.

It was a solid debut for Jones against an elite defense, as he counteracted the Dolphins' pressure by getting the ball out quickly. That was what coach Bill Belichick wanted to see. What BB did not want to see was Jones' fifth play from scrimmage, where he panicked trying to spin out of a sack and turfed the ball for a fumble. The Patriots managed to recover for a nine-yard loss. Thankfully, that moment was the exception and not the rule for a 23-year-old who looked plenty poised making the jump from the SEC West to AFC East. Jones gets an easier test in Week 2 against the Jets, though Gang Green's defensive line is not to be trifled with. With his weapons still sorting themselves out, Jones is a low-ceiling superflex option.

Sep 12, 2021, 7:41 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

DEVONTA SMITH
WR, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

DeVonta Smith caught 6-of-8 targets for 71 yards and a touchdown in Philadelphia's Week 1 win over the Falcons.

The touchdown was a nice little loft ball by Jalen Hurts with a rub concept to open Smith up by veteran Zach Ertz. Smith showcased the skill that made him the Heisman Trophy winner and cashed on the WR3/4 line, taking the team lead in targets. The volume should be there to support a WR3 role in Week 2 against San Francisco, at least as long as Hurts is able to stay in the pocket against that front seven.

Sep 12, 2021, 6:52 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

KENNETH GAINWELL
RB, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Kenneth Gainwell rushed nine times for 37 yards and a touchdown in Philadelphia's Week 1 win over Atlanta, adding two catches for six additional yards.

Rumored to be a Miles Sanders-Boston Scott split, Gainwell stole the show from Scott with 25 snaps on Sunday and had another touchdown taken away via an illegible downfield penalty on Lane Johnson. Gainwell absorbs all of Scott's value and figures in to the RB3/FLEX picture in good matchups going forward. Next week against San Francisco probably isn't one of them just yet, though Gainwell was pretty impressive.

Sep 12, 2021, 6:29 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

DYAMI BROWN
WR, WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM

Dyami Brown caught 1-of-4 targets for -2 yards in Washington's 20-16 Week 1 loss to the Chargers.

Brown -- a dominant deep threat at North Carolina -- lined up opposite Terry McLaurin for most of the game and tied McLaurin with four targets on a day that saw Washington QBs attempt just 21 passes. The rookie's usage was encouraging considering the circumstances. Fantasy managers should be patient with Brown, though he won't be a fantasy starter in Week 2 against the Giants.

Sep 12, 2021, 6:00 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

RONDALE MOORE
WR, ARIZONA CARDINALS

Rondale Moore caught 4-of-5 targets for 68 yards in the Cardinals' Week 1 win over the Titans.

Moore was decisively out-snapped by dead-legged veteran A.J. Green but easily out-produced him, doubling up AJG in catches and more than doubling him in yardage. Moore's biggest gain (29 yards) came on a quick screen, the kind of play where he can be lethal. Moore was also blatantly interfered with on a 3rd-and-goal target, but the ref swallowed the whistle. We saw nothing today to slow the Moore hype train or change the Green narrative. We would rather be rostering the rookie in re-draft.

Sep 12, 2021, 5:59 PM ET