Each week I will recap the top 14 highest-scoring rookies from the previous week. I use 14 as I feel that’s the best average league size of teams The scoring will be based on our IDP Nation Listener League II settings. If you want to look at the scoring used you can use this link to see our scoring system.
#1 Jalen Pitre, S, Texans
This is Pitre’s second appearance on the IDP rookie recap and his first as the top-scoring rookie. His 37.3 fantasy points last week versus the Chicago Bears are the most by any IDP rookie this season so far. He played 63 defensive snaps (100%) and recorded eight tackles, five being solos, with two TFLs, one sack, one QB hit, two interceptions, returned for 22 yards, two PBUs, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. As you can see he filled the stat box in nearly every category. Through the first three weeks of the season, he’s been red hot and an early IDP fantasy rookie contender. Insert him in your lineups and let him work.
#2 Roger McCreary, CB, Titans
For the second straight week, McCreary has come in at #2 on the IDP rookie recap list. Last week versus the Las Vegas Raiders, he played 70 defensive snaps (100%) and produced ten tackles, with nine being solos, and one PBU. That would equal 29.1 fantasy points, which was just 1.2 behind his total the week before last. McCreary has been one of the few bright spots for the Titans' defense and they will need him to step up again this week against the Indianapolis Colts, especially if strong safety Amani Hooker is out. Through the first three games of the season, McCreary is tied with free safety Kevin Byard for the team lead in tackles (23). A must-start in all leagues.
#3 Derion Kendrick, CB, Rams
This is the Rams rookie corner’s first appearance on the IDP Rookie recap. Kendrick saw his first action of the season in a start against the Arizona Cardinals and didn’t disappoint. He played 75 defensive snaps (90%) and tallied nine total tackles, all of them being solos stops, with one PBU. Kendrick scored 27.8 fantasy points for the week and will get to face the Dallas Cowboys and backup QB Cooper Rush this Sunday. It’s a potentially good matchup for Kendrick, as the Rams will likely play with a lead and force the Cowboys to throw more. In position-specific leagues, he’s a decent option to pick up and play.
#4 Jaylen Watson, CB, Chiefs
This is the third cornerback in a row on this week’s IDP rookie recap and the second appearance for Watson. The Chiefs' rookie corner got his second start last week versus the Indianapolis Colts and had another big performance. He played 59 defensive snaps (83%) and registered seven tackles, six being solo stops, with one TFL, and one PBU. Watson scored 22.8 fantasy points for the past week. With La’Jarius Sneed on the opposite side, Kansas City has one of the best young cornerback duos in the league. With the way, Watson has been playing to start the season he’s worth starting in all leagues, but especially position-specific leagues.
#5 Devin Lloyd, LB, Jaguars
Lloyd is the first rookie to make the IDP rookie recap in all three weeks so far. This past week versus the Indianapolis Colts he scored his most fantasy points to date with 21. He played 61 defensive snaps (100%) and recorded seven tackles, five were solos, with one interception, and three PBUs. It marked the second straight week that Lloyd had one interception and three PBUs. Known for his tackling and being able to rush the passer, it’s been his coverage skills that have been standing out the most so far. As long as he’s playing this well, you have to have him in your starting lineups each week.
#6 Otito Ogbonnia, DT, Chargers
Ogbonnia is the second newcomer this week to the IDP rookie recap. While he only played 36 defensive snaps (47%) versus the Jacksonville Jaguars, he made a big impact as a defensive tackle. Ogbonnia scored 18.5 fantasy points (defensive tackle premium in place) on a box score consisting of five tackles, all solos, and one TFL. Kudos to you if you had him in your starting lineup last week. I can’t justify starting a backup DT, especially a rookie, but he’s worth putting on your watchlist to see how he does going forward. He’s currently fourth on the depth chart behind Austin Johnson, Sebastian Joseph-Day, and Jerry Tillery.
#7 Tariq Woolen, CB, Seahawks
Making his debut Woolen is the fourth cornerback to make this week’s IDP rookie recap so far. In his third start of the season, Woolen had his best game to date against the Atlanta Falcons. He played 57 defensive snaps (100%) and produced 16.6 fantasy points on a box score of four tackles, three solos, one interception returned for seven yards, and a PBU. As long as he continues to maintain a starting role, Woolen is a viable option in position-specific leagues.
#8 Ahmad Gardner, CB, Jets
This is the fifth cornerback on this week’s IDP rookie recap and Gardner is the second player to make it all three weeks. Gardner made his third start of the year versus the Cincinnati Bengals and played 68 defensive snaps (100%). He would register four tackles, two were solos, one TFL, and two PBUs, which would be good for 16 fantasy points. One of the top cornerbacks of this draft class has been allowing a 76.9% completion rate (10 of 13) so far this season and opposing QBs will continue to target him as long as that rate is that high. For fantasy purposes that is a good thing, a super talented player that gets a ton of attention.
#9 Malcolm Rodriguez, LB, Lions
Rodriguez is the third player on the IDP rookie recap to have made it all three weeks so far. The Lions rookie has been damn solid so far, as he’s had at least six tackles in all three games and eight tackles in each of the last two games. Last week versus the Minnesota Vikings, Rodriguez played 55 defensive snaps (76%) and scored 15 fantasy points. He tallied eight tackles and seven of those were solo stops. He’ll get to face the Seattle Seahawks this Sunday and as long as he’s starting for Detroit, you have to have him in your lineups.
#10 Kader Kohou, CB, Dolphins
This is the second appearance for Kohou in the IDP rookie recap. Kohou has gotten better each week and earned the first start of his career in last week’s matchup versus the Buffalo Bills. He played 70 defensive snaps (76%) and recorded six tackles with four being solos for a total of 13.5 fantasy points. After week one I told you to put him on your watch list and now he looks to be worth considering in leagues that require you to start cornerbacks. Kohou would be a good taxi squad stash as of now.
#11 Jermaine Johnson, DE, Jets
The second New York Jets rookie to make this week's IDP rookie recap is defensive end Jermaine Johnson, who makes his first appearance. He played just 20 defensive snaps (29%) but had his best game to date with four tackles, all solos, and one TFL. He scored 13 fantasy points in last week's game versus the Cincinnati Bengals. The Jets have been bringing him along slowly, but he’ll get more reps as the season goes on. I said he was one of the top three pass rushers (behind Hutchinson and Thibodeaux) in this draft class and I still do. Just be patient and his time will come.
#12 Jaquan Brisker, SS, Bears
At number 12 we have our fourth IDP rookie, Jaquan Brisker, to make all three IDP rookie recaps this season. Last week versus the Minnesota Vikings, Brisker played 59 defensive snaps (100%) and registered six tackles, four were solo stops for 12.5 fantasy points. He has been everything the Bears had hoped he would be so far. This Sunday he gets to face the New York Giants and should have a good game. Playing next to veteran Eddie Jackson, Brisker has given Chicago a formidable safety duo. Brisker is a must-start in leagues that have deep lineups and is worth starting in all leagues.
#13 Logan Hall, DE, Buccaneers
We have another newcomer to the list week in defensive end Logan Hall. The Buccaneer rookie had his best performance as a pro against the Green bay Packers last week. He played 27 defensive snaps (44%) and totaled one tackle, a solo, one TFL, one sack, and three QB hits. Hall scored 12.5 fantasy points last week. Tampa Bay is trying to get younger up front defensively and drafted Hall to be a part of that movement. If you can play him as a defensive tackle in your leagues, that bumps his value up a little more. I am not starting him right now, but I have added him to my watch list.
#14 Drake Jackson, DE, 49ers
We get to our last rookie on the IDP rookie recap and we have another newcomer in San Francisco rookie Drake Jackson. Playing in a backup role for the 49ers, he played 22 defensive snaps (30%), his highest so far, and recorded one tackle, a solo, one TFL, one sack, and two QB hits which were good enough for 11.5 fantasy points. Jackson is a rookie I really liked coming out of USC and felt he landed in a great spot with the 49ers. I have him stashed in a few dynasty leagues and will be patient until his time comes. Playing opposite of star Nick Bosa makes life a lot easier and Jackson is pretty good himself.
This was an interesting and informative week three list. Cornerbacks were the dominant position on the list as they made up six of the 14 players (42.8%). Linebackers and safeties were tied for second with a 21.4% (3 of 14) share of the list. While defensive ends and defensive tackles closed out the list with one each, (7.12%) share. The New York Jets were the only team to have multiple players on the list and we had five newcomers which was a 35.7% share of the list this week. Trends and statistics of lists can be useful tools for tracking and seeing the trends.
Thanks for reading my article. I am a member of the FSWA (Fantasy Sports Writers of America). Follow me on Twitter at @HollywoodTitan, on Facebook on my IDPNation page, on Reddit in the fantasy football IDP sub — I’m user KingTitan1 — and tune in each week and listen to IDP Nation and Devy IDP Grind, the podcasts that I co-host, on several different platforms. Feel free to email or dm me with any questions that you have, as I’m always glad to help fellow IDPers. #IDPNation #IDP #IDPDevy.
