It is hard to feel safe starting a rookie, especially in week 1. There are too many question marks. Will they pick up the playbook? What is their talent level compared to their teammates and opponents? Will they be eased in or heavily relied on immediately?, Etcetera, etcetera… Well, I am here to put your mind at ease and show you who the truly reliable assets are from this 2021 rookie class. Because believe it or not, there ARE some studs from this class who will produce right away and throughout this season.
DeVonta Smith, WR – PHI
After his performance his senior year at Alabama, Smith was named the Heisman Trophy winner. That campaign made it clear that he was poised to become an NFL team’s number one receiver. In April, the Eagles drafted him tenth overall to do exactly that, be their number one receiver. Combined with the fact that Smith has previous playing experience with starting quarterback Jalen Hurts, made this pick a no-brainer for them.
New HC Nick Sirianni is known around the league as the “wide receiver whisperer”, having played the position in college and coached the position for the majority of his career. He is also Philadelphia’s new play-caller. He will make Smith, Jalen Hurts’ first read on the majority of pass plays.
Now if you are in fear of Jalen Hurts’ mediocre performance as a pocket passer carrying over to this year, have none. He has had an entire offseason to practice and develop with the first-team offense. Their offensive line, which was reduced to second and third stringers last year, is now healthy once again. And this supporting cast of Raegor, Ertz, Goedert, Sanders, and Watkins, will provide other significant threats that will attract attention allowing for man-to-man coverage opportunities for Smith.
To top it all off, he may have his best opportunity to produce all season during this very tasty matchup in week 1 against Atlanta. The Falcons defense gave up the most fantasy points among all 32 NFL teams last year to opposing fantasy wide receivers. With no real upgrades or major additions to that defense in the offseason, we cannot expect them to improve in this area of the field.
I don’t care that the new number one wide receiver for this team is a rookie, he is proven, has strong draft capital, and his athletic profile is solid. Give me all the DeVonta Smith this week and probably rest of season!
Players I would start him over:
Rondale Moore, WR – AZ
Throughout the preseason we saw Kliff Kingsbury design several plays specifically to get the ball to Moore in some clever way to take advantage of his dynamic running style and abilities as a ball carrier. This will continue into the regular season. There is no one else on this team that can do what Moore can do, therefore all of those targets on those designed plays will go to him, no one else. It’s almost as if he has his own section of the playbook.
Rondale was also drafted in the second round (49th) to be the Cardinals’ new WR2 to DeAndre Hopkins’ WR1. Christian Kirk has been with the team for three years and still has yet to prove himself as an established option. AJ Green is also coming off one of/ if not the worst season of his career and was signed for dirt cheap. Again, Rondale is the WR2 here. And because of that, he will also accumulate targets whenever Kyler Murray works through his progressions past Hopkins. Combined with the designed targets, he is starting to look like he might have a modest workload ahead of him this season… and he hasn’t even stepped on the field yet.
Now let’s talk matchup… in Week 1 the Cardinals face the Titans. Because both of these teams sport such high-powered offenses, the implied point total of this game is one of the highest of this week with an over/under of 54 (according to Ceasars Sportsbook). And with a spread of only -3 in favor of the Titans, this is looking like it will be a shoot-out. I want to roster as many players as I can from this game, especially the young rookie.
Players I would start him over:
Elijah Moore, WR – NYJ
Injuries. There here in full effect and they are destroying backfields and receiving corps left and right. One of those receiving corps that has already been destroyed by injuries pre-week 1 is the New York Jets’. Jamison Crowder, their starting slot receiver, is still on the reserve/COVID list and will not be off of it until sometime after Sunday’s game. As a result, Moore is now the starting slot receiver…. And maybe more. That all depends on the health of his other fellow Jets receiver, Keelan Cole. Cole is currently dealing with a knee injury and is a game-time decision at this moment. Even if he does go, I’m not sure he will be able to perform to the best of his ability. Elijah can fill in for Keelan too if need be. He has experience and skill running routes not just from the slot but the outside Z receiver position as well.
In other words, the Jets NEED Elijah to step up immediately. Corey Davis cannot do this all on his own, especially with a rookie quarterback throwing them the ball. Wilson will need good chemistry with as many options available to him as possible.
Fortunately, that is something Zach Wilson has shown to have with Moore this preseason, chemistry. During training camp, local beat writers raved about the connection between the two on the practice field. Now that he is back from his injury and fully healthy, I fully expect them to take the next step and produce on Sundays. Starting with This Sunday!
Players I would start him over:
- Zach Moss
- Sammy Watkins
- Sterling Shepard
- Cole Beasley
The lesson to learn here is to accept when a player for his talent and opportunity presented to him. The fact that a guy is a rookie should not discourage you from starting said player. You’ll just end up getting in your own way and start the wrong guy. Don’t get in your own way, do the right thing, trust a rookie in week 1.
And if you have any questions about these gentlemen or any other players in the league, you can follow me on Twitter @ParkerJamesFF and ask me anything. Thank you for reading and good luck during this 2021 fantasy season! It looks like it’s shaping up to be a great one!
