Daily Fantasy Football 2015: DraftKings' Rookie Stock Report for Week 8
We've reached the halfway point of the 2015 NFL season, and there have been both positive and negative rookie surprises so far this season. Every season brings a fair share of surprise prospects, but so far, there have been a few rookie skill players who have quickly made their mark at the NFL level.
Players such as Todd Gurley and Amari Cooper have played to their potential so far in 2015, but a few first-round picks have gravely underachieved this season. It's common to see rookies take time to adapt to the NFL level, but it's still a frustrating element of fantasy football.
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Here are three rookies to consider and three players to ignore when selecting your daily fantasy football lineup for Week 8.
Stock Up
Charcandrick West, RB, Kansas City Chiefs ($4,700)
West has beautifully filled the void of running back Jamaal Charles after he suffered a season-ending leg injury in Week 5. He had the first breakout game of his career last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, running for a career-high 110 yards and a touchdown.
The former Abilene Christian star has demonstrated great efficiency despite his inexperience at the NFL level. He is averaging 4.4 yards per carry in 2015 and is clearly fit to be the No. 1 running back option over veteran Knile Davis. Davis has recorded just 42 yards on 17 carries this season and has struggled in his limited playing time.
West and the Chiefs have a favorable matchup on Sunday against a Detroit Lions defense that has had its fair share of problems stopping the run. The Lions rank 24th in the NFL in rushing defense and their struggles should continue against West. He is a brilliant fantasy running back option this week with a reasonable asking price.
Todd Gurley, RB, St. Louis Rams ($6,300)
Gurley has proved to the NFL world that he has fully recovered from his knee injury, and he is making opposing defenses pay the price. He ranks 12th in the NFL with 442 rushing yards and two touchdowns and has a great matchup against a struggling San Francisco defense on Sunday.
Gurley’s rare combination of power and speed is similar to Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch. He is averaging 6.0 yards per carry mostly due to his large sum of carries with the Rams. Gurley has also shown to be a threat in the passing game, averaging 7.9 yards per catch this season.
Gurley is a must-start in Week 8 against a 49ers defense that has allowed the second-most yards per game in the NFL this season. He is a valuable running back option this week, and fantasy owners should continue to rely on him while he’s performing at a high level.
Stefon Diggs, WR, Minnesota Vikings ($4,800)
Diggs has been a steal for the Vikings this season after being the team’s fifth-round pick at this year’s NFL draft. He has recorded at least nine targets over his past three games and has 324 receiving yards over that span.
Diggs has been the most reliable target for quarterback Teddy Bridgewater as of late, and this trend should continue against a Chicago Bears defense that lacks secondary depth. What makes Diggs especially valuable has been his versatility to line up on the outside as well as in the slot, which could present the Bears with a plethora of issues defensively on Sunday.
Diggs has arguably proved to be the second-best rookie wide receiver behind Amari Cooper, and he is a rising star in the NFL. Diggs also has a reasonable value, which makes him a steal in daily fantasy football.
Stock Down
Amari Cooper, WR, Oakland Raiders ($6,700)
Cooper is finally starting to reach his full potential, as the Raiders have been on fire the past few weeks. He exploded against the San Diego Chargers last week with five receptions for 133 yards and one touchdown.
Cooper has been the main target for quarterback Derek Carr this season with 50 targets through just six games played in 2015. His elite route-running ability and his physicality have resulted in an impressive average of 15.7 yards per catch this season.
Though they have performed extremely well as of late, Cooper and the Raiders face an unfavorable road matchup against the New York Jets. All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis will more than likely match up against Cooper for the entirety of the game, which doesn’t suit well for the former Alabama standout. The Jets as a team rank 3rd in passing defense so far in 2015, allowing opposing quarterbacks to record a combined 54.8 completion percentage.
Cooper has proven to be a reliable fantasy football option this season, but his matchup with the Jets doesn’t give him starter status. There are plenty of better and cheaper options to select from in Week 8.
Jameis Winston, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($5,200)
After being the No. 1 overall selection in this year’s NFL draft, Winston has been a solid fantasy quarterback option in 2015. He has had his fair share of rookie mistakes but has recorded an impressive 85.7 quarterback rating.
While the Tampa Bay defense hasn’t been impressive under head coach Lovie Smith, the offense has shown great promise. Winston, along with receivers Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson, have set an identity for the team going forward.
However, Winston isn’t a solid fantasy pickup this week as he will face a surprising Atlanta Falcons team on Sunday. The Falcons have played extremely well under defensive-minded head coach Dan Quinn, owning the eighth-best passing defense in the NFL. Atlanta also has athletic pass-rushers such as Vic Beasley and Justin Durant, who could give Winston fits on Sunday.
Winston is still young in his development as an NFL starting quarterback and shouldn’t be viewed as a high-end fantasy quarterback option this week. It’s best to stick with a veteran option in Week 8.
Melvin Gordon, RB, San Diego Chargers ($4,000)
Gordon has struggled to adapt to life in the NFL after a record-breaking season last year at Wisconsin. He has averaged just 3.9 yards per carry in 2015 and hasn’t had a lot of opportunities to demonstrate his skills due to a pass-first Chargers offense.
Gordon has proven to be a poor fantasy running back option due to his lack of carries combined with his absence of production. He has recorded just 328 yards with zero touchdowns through seven games played. To make matters worse, Gordon faces a Baltimore Ravens defense on Sunday that has stifled opposing running backs with the ninth-best rushing defense this season.
Gordon shouldn’t be considered a legitimate fantasy football option until he can develop consistency in the Chargers offense. He doesn’t lack talent but will more than likely have limited opportunities to showcase his skills going forward, so it’s best to stay away from Gordon in the meantime.
All fantasy values are courtesy of DraftKings. All statistics are from ESPN.com and NFL.com unless otherwise noted.
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Follow Curtis on Twitter: @CalhounCurtis
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