As I’ve written many times on this site, rookies are important dynasty pieces to keep tabs on, even after rookie drafts have commenced. They are volatile assets that can be improperly valued very easily. The same can be said of college prospects, where even more variables needs to be considered in order to see the forest through the trees. A keen dynasty player is always aware of the incoming college talent. Intermittently this season, I’ll be checking in on these young dynasty and developmental assets to keep you updated on recent developments, both on and off the field.
It was an up-and-down week for NFL rookies, which should be the norm for what is generally considered an underwhelming crop of talent. The top rookies of tomorrow, however, have been on full display over college football’s first two weeks, including two blue-chip prospects making impressive returns from serious injuries. First, let’s check in on the rookies.
The rookies
Ezekiel Elliott averaged a putrid 2.6 yards per attempt in his NFL debut, parlaying 20 attempts into just 51 yards and a red-zone touchdown, adding one reception for one yard. While this would initially seem concerning, there are a few factors to consider, not the least of which was the presence of a fourth-round rookie quarterback who averaged 5.0 yards per attempt, easily the lowest mark of any signal caller who saw Week 1 snaps. This allowed the Giants defense to stack the box and, despite Dallas’ strengths on the offensive line, consistently get penetration into the backfield, as evidenced by the fact that 42 of Elliott’s 51 yards (82.4 percent) came after contact with a defender. The former Buckeye should still sit firmly atop dynasty rookie rankings.
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