Fantasy ballers: Three rookies ready to outperform Week 10 projections
This week’s players were all top prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft. Two are off to a slow start while one looks to build on last week’s success.
Jahmyr Gibbs (RB) Detroit Lions
Rested and ready after a Week 9 bye, Gibbs is coming off a 152-yard game rushing against the Raiders that saw him score 29.9 fantasy points. The rookie running back had a season-high 26 carries while teammate David Montgomery sat with a rib injury.
Montgomery is expected back this week, but according to Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith, head coach Dan Campbell plans to keep Gibbs in the mix.
“I don’t think, necessarily sitting here talking to you right now, that I see Gibbs getting 65 plays. I don’t see that. But he’s going to get his fair share now.” Campbell said, “I think it’ll be a little bit by committee and make sure we get those guys their touches. Gibbs will get his touches.”
Gibbs has seen 15 targets over the past two games. As long as he remains involved in the passing game, he’ll easily beat his 14.18 fantasy projection against a Chargers team allowing the second-most receptions to running backs in the NFL.
Bijan Robinson (RB) ATLANTA FALCONS
Speaking of shared backfields, Robinson has been out-carried 41-23 by teammate Tyler Allgeier over the past three games, but the two were nearly even last week. You have to think even head coach Arthur Smith is excited by the prospect of Robinson facing the Arizona Cardinals.
Arizona gives up 27.03 fantasy points to running backs, third-most in the league. With the well-traveled Taylor Heinicke now at quarterback for the Falcons and the NFC South still up for grabs, expect Atlanta to lean on its rookie running back and for Robinson to surpass 14.87 fantasy points.
Bryce Young (QB) Carolina Panthers
As the NFL’s 29th-rated passer, 2023 hasn’t been easy for Young. His 14.02 projected fantasy points for Week 10 rank 20th among NFL quarterbacks. However, his next opponent, the Chicago Bears, have the league’s fifth-worst passing defense and allow the most fantasy points per game (21.57) to quarterbacks.
With fellow rookies C.J. Stroud and Will Levis performing well lately, now would be a great time to remind the NFL why he was taken first overall in this year’s draft.
More must-reads: