Analysis

1/4/22

5 min read

Week 17 Rookie Report: Rashawn Slater Continues Exceptional Season

Week 17 Rookie Report: Rashawn Slater Continues Exceptional Season
Dec 12, 2021; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Rashawn Slater (70) in the second half against the New York Giants at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Stock Up Offensive Players

QB: Mac Jones -  After a couple of down weeks, Jones finally returned to his play from earlier in the season. He was 22/30, 227 yards, 3/0, with a passer rating of 128.1, and a grade of 89.9. 

RB: Najee Harris - While Rhamondre Stevenson had a great game on Sunday, his performance was topped by Harris on Monday night, who won and lost a number of fantasy football championships. He rushed for 188 yards on 28 carries and a TD, as he finished with a grade of 87.7.

WR: Amon-Ra St. Brown - No rookie has been as hot as St. Brown, who is making his fifth straight stock-up appearance this week. St. Brown did it all on Sunday, as he had 2 carries for 23 yards and a TD, as well as 8 catches for 111 yards and a TD, good for a grade of 88.4.

WR: Ja’Marr Chase - Chase has all but locked up the OROY at this point and it would be hard to make an argument against him after Sunday’s performance. Chase took over the game, catching 11 balls for 266 yards and 3 TDs, finishing the day with a grade of 91.3.

OL: Alijah Vera-Tucker - Vera-Tucker led the Jets rushing attack on Sunday that ran for 150 yards against the Bucs. He also allowed just 2 pressures in pass protection, as he earned a grade of 90.0.

OL: Rashawn Slater - Slater has been great all season and was superb on Sunday. He was flawless in the run game and did not allow one single pressure in pass protection, finishing with a grade of 94.8. 

Stock Down Offensive Players 

QB: Trevor Lawrence - Bill Belichick continues to dominate rookie QBs and Lawrence was his latest victim. In a matchup with the tough Patriots defense, Lawrence struggled with little help around him. He was 17/27, 193 yards, 1 TD to 3 Ints, with a passer rating of 57.1, and a grade of 41.9.

RB: Javonte Williams - Williams has been great all season but was not able to produce much on Sunday. He had 14 carries for just 30 yards and caught just 1 pass for 2 yards, good for a grade of 66.8.

WR: Jaylen Waddle - While Waddle was not bad on Sunday, he has been a high volume target all season but did not get very involved. He had just 3 catches for 47 yards on 7 targets, 2 of which he dropped. He finished with a grade of 50.8.

OL: Jaylen Mayfield - While Mayfield has improved a lot throughout the season, he still struggled on Sunday. He blocked well in the run game but allowed a sack and 6 pressures in the pass game, finishing with a grade of 50.1.

OL: James Hudson - Hudson had his hands full with the likely DPOY favorite, T.J. Watt, as he allowed 6 pressures and 3 sacks on Monday night. He finished with a grade of 48.7.

Stock Up Defensive Players

DL: Gregory Rousseau - Rousseau has been pretty disruptive all season and proved it on Sunday, when he had 3 pressures and a sack, finishing with a grade of 79.6.

DL: Alim McNeil - McNeil is not a stat-sheet stuffer but was very solid in the trenches on Sunday. He had one pressure in the pass rush and was credited for a TFL and 2 defensive run stops. He finished with a grade of 75.8.

LB: Micah Parsons - While the red-hot Cowboys may have lost on Sunday, Parsons stayed hot, as he continued to do what he has done all season. He had 5 tackles, 2 TFLs, a QBH, and allowed 3 catches for just 8 yards. He finished with a grade of 91.3.

DB: Jevon Holland - Holland has been not only one of the best rookie safeties but one of the league’s best safeties. He had 7 tackles and allowed just one catch, including a forced incompletion. He finished with a grade of 74.7. 

DB: Elijah Molden - Molden, who has been inconsistent all year, really stepped it up on Sunday and was very solid in coverage. He allowed just one catch for 14 yards and forced an incompletion, good for a grade of 74.2. 

Stock Down Defensive Players

DL: Jordan Smith - Smith who was a very intriguing draft prospect this past spring made his debut on Sunday, in which he did not perform well. He was not able to generate any pressure in the pass rush and missed a tackle in the run game, as he finished with a grade of just 27.6.

DL: William Bradley-King - The former seventh-round draft selection appeared in just his second game of the season and it did not go very well. He was quiet in the run game and generated just one pressure in the pass rush, as he finished with a grade of just 30.0.

DL: Adetokunbo Ogundeji - Ogundeji has not struggled this year but he has not been great. He was not very disruptive in the pass or run games, as he generated just one pressure. He finished with a grade of just 36.9.

DB: Tyson Campbell - Campbell has been of the best rookie defenders, especially in the second half of the season. However, he struggled on Sunday, when he allowed 6 catches for 69 yards and 2 TDs, which earned him a grade of just 28.3.

DB: Camryn Bynum - Bynum, who has played pretty well since first appearing full time in Week 8, did not play very well on Sunday night. He struggled both against the run and in coverage, as he finished with a grade of just 29.6.

Week 18 Matchups

Going into Week 18, there are some noteworthy matchups of rookies that will be worth keeping an eye on. 

Ja’Marr Chase VS Greg Newsome - Newsome has played well this year but will have his hands full with the OROY favorite Ja’Marr Chase, who will be looking to make one more big splash before heading to the playoffs. 

Kwity Paye VS Walker Little - Little is coming off his best season as a pro and will look to continue that play into Sunday. Paye had 2 sacks in Week 17 and will want to finish the regular season strong.

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