A birdie once told me that it wasn't a great idea to rely on rookies to make an immediate impact for your fantasy football team. While they are usually nice additions in keeper leagues, first-year players tend to struggle initially, or so this birdie told me.
Well, Mr. you couldn't be more wrong during the 2012 NFL season. Rookie' quarterbacks and running backs have had a tremendous amount of success as reliable players this season. Let's take a gander at the top performers thus far this season.
Robert Griffin III, Quarterback, Washington Redskins
RGIII is still the No. 1 overall fantasy player and has played one less game than his counterparts. That is simply amazing. More over, he has thrown 22 touchdowns compared to four interceptions and is on pace to tally over 4,500 total yards this season. At some point we are going to have to start discussing whether he is a potential No. 1 overall pick option heading into the 2013 season.
As it is, RGIII will help whoever owns him down the stretch and into the fantasy playoffs. In fact, he could single-handily win you a week here and there.
Andrew Luck, Quarterback, Indianapolis Colts
Luck is now currently on pace to shatter Cam Newton's single-season passing mark for rookie quarterbacks, just broke last season. His come from behind performance against the Detroit Lions on Sunday might not have been a thing of beauty (three interceptions), but he did accumulate nearly 400 passing yards, four touchdowns and 29 fantasy points.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft must face the Houston Texans in two of his remaining four games, but as of right now Luck is the seventh ranked fantasy quarterback through Week 12.
Russell Wilson, Quarterback, Seattle Seahawks
This third-round pick has been simply amazing recently. Wilson has not thrown an interception since a Week 8 loss to the Detroit Lions and has compiled nine touchdowns in the four-game span since then. Wilson now ranks 16th overall among fantasy quarterbacks this season and is averaging over 20 fantasy points in his last five games.
Unfortunately for Wilson, he must go up against two top 10 pass defenses in his final four games in the form of the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers. I am not too entirely sure we can expect this type of production moving forward.
Brandon Weeden, Quarterback, Cleveland Browns
It might be too little too late for the Browns, but they have won three consecutive games for the first time since they finished up 2009 with a string of four straight victories. It seems that Cleveland's young core on the offensive side of the ball is really getting it together as of late
Most notably Weeden, who is on pace for nearly 3,800 yards and 20 touchdown passes. While those are nowhere near QB1 numbers, they do indicate that the Oklahoma State product might be a viable early-round option in dynasty drafts. Time will tell!
Ryan Tannehill, Quarterback, Miami Dolphins
Tannehill hasn't had much to brag about as it relates to his fantasy production. He is 26th among quarterbacks in fantasy points and has put up just seven touchdowns in 12 games. That really isn't going to get it done. With that in mind, it is important to note that the young quarterback does possess a tremendous amount of upside and could be a viable fantasy player for Miami in 2013. I am really interested to see who it decides to surround Tannehill with moving forward.
Doug Martin, Running Back, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The only thing that Martin was missing in his 98-yard performance against the Denver Broncos was an ample amount of touches and a touchdown. He currently ranks third among running backs in fantasy points behind Arian Foster and Adrian Peterson. Not too bad for a rookie that some didn't expect to make a huge contribution in 2012.
Overall, Martin is on pace to tally nearly 2,000 total yards and 13 touchdowns this season. Needless to say, he will be in the top five pick conversation next season.
Trent Richardson, Running Back, Cleveland Browns
Don't look now, but Richardson is all of a sudden a top tier RB1 option as a rookie for Cleveland. He ranks fifth among running backs in fantasy points and is averaging nearly 100 total yards per outing this season. One of Richardson's biggest attributes is being able to make an impact in the passing game. He is on pace to tally nearly 60 receptions, which is huge for a running back in PPR leagues.
Let the conversation begin between Martin and Richardson as the best next-generation fantasy running back. In reality both could go No. 1 overall next season and I wouldn't be too surprised.
Alfred Morris, Running Back, Washington Redskins
Morris, a sixth-round pick in April, is the third rookie running back to have put up RB1 numbers thus far this season. He ranks in the top 10 in both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. In addition, Morris has played one less game than his fellow running backs and will be taking on the New York Giants tonight.
He is, however, averaging less than 10 fantasy points in his last four games. Of course a lot of that has to do with the performance of Robert Griffin III during that span.
Bryce Brown, Running Back, Philadelphia Eagles
Unless the Eagles decide to trade LeSean McCoy in the offseason, which isn't going to happen, Brown is not going to be a solid RB1 option moving forward. He has also fumbled the ball four times in his first two NFL starts. No head coach, especially Andy Reid, is going to put up with that.
All the negativity aside, Brown has been simply dazzling as a fantasy performer in his first two starts as a rookie. He has tallied over 460 yards and four scores against the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys. In the process, Brown is averaging 27 fantasy points per outing during that span. Yeah, that's pretty damn impressive.
Josh Gordon, Wide Receiver, Cleveland Browns
While Gordon won't provide you with much in PPR leagues, he is by far one of the most dynamic young down field threats in the NFL right now. He is averaging nearly 20 yards per reception this season and is coming off his best single-game performance against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. The Baylor product and 2012 Supplemental Draft Pick put up six receptions for 116 yards and a score against that lackluster defense. Expect this youngster's relationship with Brandon Weeden to grow even further during the final four games and into his initial NFL offseason.
T.Y. Hilton, Wide Receiver, Indianapolis Colts
Hilton is going to be a fantasy stud teaming up with Andrew Luck for the foreseeable future. He has that big-play ability that most NFL teams covet. The 2012 third-round pick has put up 100 or more yards in three of his last five games and continues to show us why Indianapolis traded up with the San Francisco 49ers to acquire him in April.
Depending on how Reggie Wayne performs moving forward, we could be looking at Hilton being a bottom feeder WR1 option in 2013. As it is, he is a dynasty stud.
Justin Blackmon, Wide Receiver, Jacksonville Jaguars
The No. 1 wide receiver selected in the 2012 NFL draft is coming off one of his worst performances of the season against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. He recorded just one reception for nine yards in route to tallying less than one fantasy point. In fact, Cecil Shorts seems to be a much more viable fantasy wide receiver this season.
However, the talent is definitely there for Blackmon to be a stud next season. After all, he did put up 12 receptions for nearly 300 yards and two scores in Jacksonville's last two games prior to yesterday.
Chris Givens, Wide Receiver, St. Louis Rams
Finally a young receiver is stepping up for Sam Bradford on the outside. Following his 11 reception performance against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Givens is averaging nearly 75 yards in his last five games. Look for continued progression from the Wake Forest product, especially down the field.