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 Martin Emerson, CB, Browns
This week’s IDP rookie recap starts off with cornerback Martin Emerson of the Cleveland Browns. This makes his fourth appearance on the list this year and the third straight week. He started his third straight game and played 52 defensive snaps (98%). Emerson recorded nine tackles, six being solos, and two PBUs, which equated to 26.3 fantasy points for the week. The Browns lost starter Denzel Ward to a concussion in week five and he hasn’t returned yet. Emerson has stepped into the starting role and has played excellent as Ward’s replacement. As long as Ward is out Emerson is a quality weekly start. Even when Ward returns, I expect Emerson to have a significant role. At the midpoint of the season, Emerson has 36 tackles, 32 being solos, one TFL, one sack, one QB hit, and six PBUs.
#2 Jaquan Brisker, S, Bears
This week, the second highest-scoring IDP rookie was the Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker. This makes his seventh appearance of the year for Brisker on this list. He played 58 defensive snaps (100%) and 5 special team snaps (17%). Brisker registered nine tackles, seven being solos, one TFL, one sack, and one QB hit. That would add up to 25 fantasy points for the week. Brisker is fourth on the team in tackles and is averaging 6.375 per game, but with Roquan Smith gone I can see those numbers trending up. At the halfway point of the season, he has 51 tackles, 37 solos, four TFLs, three sacks, three QB hits, one fumble recovery, one interception, and one PBU. Brisker is a super-talented player and gives Chicago one of the best safety duos in the NFL.
#3 Malcolm Rodriguez, LB, Lions
The next highest-scoring rookie of the week was Detroit Lions linebacker, Malcolm Rodriguez. For Rodriguez, this makes his fifth appearance of the year on this list. He made his seventh start for the Lions and played 46 defensive snaps (68%) and three special team snaps (12%). He tallied seven tackles, five solos, one TFL, one sack, one QB hit, one fumble recovery, and one PBU. That box score would equal 23 fantasy points for the week. Rodriguez has been very efficient and supports a 7.4% missed tackle rate. He has been everything the Lions and fantasy managers hoped that he would be. A great plug-and-play as an LB3 option.
#4 Tomon Fox, OLB, Giants
Up next on the IDP rookie recap is New York Giants rookie outside linebacker Tomon Fox. This is his first appearance on this list and not one that we expected to see. He played just 27 defensive snaps (42%) and 17 special team snaps (57%). His box score for the week consisted of eight tackles, six being solos, and two TFLs. For the week that equated to 19 fantasy points. That type of performance will definitely get him more looks from the coaching staff. He’s played 40% of the defensive snaps on multiple occasions, but this was by far his best output. For fantasy purposes, I need to see more from Fox before I am willing to commit a roster spot for him.
#5 Jalen Pitre, S, Texans
At number five on the IDP Rookie Recap, we have Houston Texans rookie safety Jalen Pitre. This makes the fifth appearance on this list for Pitre this season and he’s been one of the most consistent rookies this season. He made his eighth straight start and played 56 defensive snaps (86%). Pitre recorded nine tackles, with seven of them being solos. He scored 17.8 fantasy points for the week. Pitre has been a solid starting option for fantasy managers and is leading all IDP rookies with just over 143 fantasy points so far this season. Pitre has been sensational this season and is a weekly must-start.
#6 Alontae Taylor, CB, Saints
Next on the IDP rookie recap this week is New Orleans Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor. Taylor makes his first appearance on this list with a 17.3 fantasy point break out game. He played 58 defensive snaps (100%) and tallied three tackles, all solos, and three PBUs. Taylor missed a few games earlier this season but now that he’s healthy, he gives the Saints another option in their secondary to work with. They have struggled to find starting quality at cornerback, but they hope Taylor can help fix that.
#7 Kader Kohou, CB, Dolphins
At number seven, we have our third cornerback of the week Kader Kohou of the Miami Dolphins. This is his 5th appearance on the IDP Rookie Recap this season. Kohou made his fourth start of the year and played 57 defensive snaps (95%). He produced six tackles, five were solos and one TFL. That stat line would add up to a 17.1 fantasy point week for fantasy managers. Kohou was not a popular name before the season started but has everyone’s attention now. He’s a good defensive back streaming option and a quality starting option in position-specific leagues.
#8 Kerby Joseph, S, Lions
This is the second appearance and the second straight for Joseph on this list this season. Since taking over as a starter for the Lions, he has played extremely well and played 100% of the defensive snaps in three of those four starts. Over the last two weeks, Joseph has recorded 11 tackles, eight being solos, with two forced fumbles, and one PBU. He scored 16.8 fantasy points last week on a box score of six tackles, five solos, and one forced fumble. Joseph has played really well alongside Deshon Elliott and so far that looks to continue. He’s a really good taxi squad stash in dynasty leagues and a decent bye-week fill-in.
#9 Coby Bryant, CB, Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks rookie cornerback, Coby Bryant, appears on this list for the fifth time this season. Before the season no one would have thought that would be the case. Bryant has played so well this season that Seattle has now given him a starting role. He started his third game last week and played 47 of the defensive snaps (72%) and four special team snaps (13%). For the game, he produced five tackles, all solos, and one TFL. When added up that equaled out to a 15.8 fantasy week. The Seahawk coaching staff really likes Bryant and fellow rookie Tariq Woolen, as they try to recreate the Legion of Boom days. Bryant is a solid streaming option for the rest of the season.
#10 Michael Clemons, DE, Jets
Coming in at number ten on this week's IDP Rookie Recap we have the second newcomer in Jets rookie defensive end Michael Clemons. He played 14 defensive snaps (18%) and 16 special team snaps (57%) last week and registered three tackles, all solos, one TFL, one sack, and one QB hit. That stat line would equate to a 15.5 fantasy point week. Clemons is not someone that I am looking to roster unless it’s in super deep dynasty leagues. His snap count is totally dependent on the depth chart ahead of him, as the Jets have dealt with injuries.
#11 Zyon McCollum, CB, Buccaneers
As we start the back end of the IDP Rookie Recap list, at number eleven we get our third newcomer of the week. This is the first appearance for Tampa bay Buccaneers cornerback Zyon McCollum. He started gaining some buzz after a terrific showing at the combine and the Bucs liked what they saw. Last week McCollum got his second straight start for Tampa Bay and had his best game of the year. He played 76 defensive snaps (100%) and 13 special team snaps (42%) while tallying five tackles, four solos, and one PBU. McCollum is a long, tall, and fast corner who can match up with just about any receiver. He’s an excellent dynasty option.
#12 Derion Kendrick, CB, Rams
At number twelve we have Los Angles Rams rookie cornerback, Derion Kendrick, who is making his second appearance on this list. He made his fifth start of the season last week and played 53 defensive snaps (100%). Kendrick recorded six tackles, with five being solos, which added up to 15.1 fantasy points. The Rams are known for trading away draft picks, so when they do use one they like to get those players on the field as much as possible to see what they have. Kendrick is locked in as a starter as of now and that makes him a decent streaming option for fantasy managers.
#13 Isaiah Thomas, DE, Browns
The Cleveland Browns have all sorts of issues with injuries this season and at defensive end in particular. Rookie Isaiah Thomas who is making his first appearance on this list has been mainly a backup this season. He played just 18 defensive snaps (34%) but made the most of those opportunities. Thomas produced three tackles, one solo, one TFL, one sack, and one PBU. He would score 15 fantasy points for the week, but I have to guess no one had him in their lineups. Like Clemons above, Thomas is not someone that I am looking to add to my rosters at this time.
#14 Jack Jones, CB, Patriots
We finish up the IDP rookie recap with New England Patriots rookie cornerback, Jack Jones. This is Jones's third appearance on this list and he is a Bill Bellicheck favorite. Jones has only made one start but is playing 59% of the defensive snaps this season. Last week he played 49 defensive snaps (83%) and four special team snaps (14%). Jones registered five tackles, all solos, which added up to 13.8 fantasy points. Considering how much Bellicheck trusts in the rookie enough to give him high reps makes him a decent fantasy option.
This was an interesting and informative week one list. Cornerbacks were the dominant position on the list as they made up seven of the 14 players (50%). Safeties were next three of the 14 players (21.4%). 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.
