Now that week 1 is in the books, we can take a look at how the rookies performed, where they are in line with my predictions, and also highlight some other wide receiver standouts that had a good week.
Samuel Zhang – 23rd overall – Arizona Outlaws
Prediction: around 500 yards and 4 TDs
First up is Samuel Zhang. He is off to a slow start in Arizona but as my initial prediction outlined, he has some fierce competition on that roster. Zhang did get some playing time in week 1. He had 2 receptions totaling 15 yards, 1 drop, and and 1 pass that King Bronko sailed over his head. This performance was good enough for 35th best receiver in week 1. Since this is only week 1, the season projections are going to be extremely skewed but should settle down as the season progresses. Based on this small sample of 1 game, Zhang is on pace for 28 receptions, 210 yards, and 0 TDs.
Jaquan Young – 28th overall – Yeti
Prediction: 250 yards and 2 TDs.
Jaquan is on what is now a struggling Yeti roster. This is good news for the rookie as he should get ample playing time this season. Rookie quarterback Nicholas Pierno was making his first NSFL start as well and it showed. Pierno only passed for 144 yards in the game so that left very little to go around. Young played in a good portion of the game but was only targeted 3 times in what ended up being a close victory for Colorado. Young had 1 reception for 18 yards. This performance coupled with mostly projections has him finishing with 14 catches for 252 yards.
Connor Tanner – 41st overall – Legion
Prediction: 400 yards and 3 TDs
Connor Tanner is our first and potentially only rookie we will discuss that landed in the DSFL. Connor was taken 5th overall by the Tijuana Luchadores in the inaugural DSFL draft. The Luchadores played their first games last evening, ending their double header with a 1-1 record. In the first game, Tanner had a huge impact catches 4 of his 7 targets for a total of 70 yards and 1 TD. In game 2, Tanner had another 4 catches on 6 targets. He finished this game with 48 yards. Through 2 games so far, Tanner has amassed 118 yards and 1 TD. This makes him the #1 TE and 4th overall receiver in the DSFL. At the pace he is playing, he would conclude this season with 826 yards and 7 TDs and likely high draft stock as he declares for the NSFL draft.
Budda Browning – 43rd overall – Phildelphia Liberty
Prediction: about 300 yards and 1 TD
Week 1 saw the Philadelphia Liberty on the losing end of the most lopsided game. Clifford Rove struggled to get anything going through the air. Budda Browning did get some playing time however, and he made the most of it. While Paul DiMirio and Fox North demand the lion’s share of the QBs’s attention, Browning did get targeted 3 time. He reigned in 2 catches for 38 yards. This puts him tied for 21st receiver in the league so far. In what should be a promising season for the Liberty, I don’t expect this offense to stall out like this again. With his 2 receptions, Browning is slated to end the season with 532 yards.
Nate Atasuke – 46th overall – Otters
Prediction: 400 yards and 2 TDs
On the other side of that week 1 blowout were the Orange County Otters and Nate Atasuke. In this game, Otters quarterback Mike Boss threw for 398 yards and 2 TDs. Stellar wide receiving duo Robert Phelps and Bradley Westfield combined for 12 receptions for 245 yards. Rookie Nate Atasuke had to get something, right? Yes, he did. Nate was targeted 8 times and pulled in 7 of them. He finished the game with 64 yards and an average of 9.1 YPC. This lands him in the top 10 for receivers at number 9. Atasuke is poised to have a great rookie season in this high-octane offense. If he is able to continue this trend, he could potentially double my prediction with 800 yards.
Brian Wheat – 47th overall – Baltimore Hawks
Prediction: 300 yards and 2 TDs
Brian Wheat did not get to play in week 1. After talking with head coach Head coach Hendrix, we should expect Wheat to make it into the rotation in the coming weeks. On a roster that relied heavily on another rookie in week 1, Wheat should be able to make an impact this season.
Trey Willie – 10th overall – Baltimore Hawks
Prediction: 700-1000 with 7 TDs
Trey Willie was the top receiver taken in the S3 draft. The Baltimore Hawks surprised a few when they traded up to get him. With the retirement announcement of Matthew Vincent, the Hawks needed Willie to step up and fill Vincent’s shoes quickly. Willie played in the majority of the game and saw himself lined up all over the field. Willie was targeted 8 times and caught 6 of those. He finished with 84 yards and an average of 14 YPC. He also scored the go-ahead TD inside the last 2 minutes of the game to secure the Hawks with their week 1 victory. Willie’s 84 yards lands him at #7 on the receiver top 10 list through week 1. If Willie can replicate this performance all season, we could expect him to finish with 1100+ yards.
Top 10 Receiver list for week 1:
Robert Phelps – Otters - led the week with 123 yards
Bradley Westfield – Otters - had 122 yards of his own and 2 TDs making him a fantasy juggernaut
Dustin Evans – Outlaws - had 116 yards
Josh Garden – Wraiths - finished with 115 and a TD
Damien West – Wraiths - added 96 yards of his own
Alexandre LeClair – Legion – 93 yards
Trey Willie – Hawks – 84 yards and 1 TD
Cooper Christmas – Hawks – 69 yards
Nate Atasuke – 64 yards
Stormblessed – Legion – 61 yards
Honorable mention:
Paul DiMirio – Liberty - #11 on receiver list through week 1 and was the #1 TE
GRADED
Samuel Zhang – 23rd overall – Arizona Outlaws
Prediction: around 500 yards and 4 TDs
First up is Samuel Zhang. He is off to a slow start in Arizona but as my initial prediction outlined, he has some fierce competition on that roster. Zhang did get some playing time in week 1. He had 2 receptions totaling 15 yards, 1 drop, and and 1 pass that King Bronko sailed over his head. This performance was good enough for 35th best receiver in week 1. Since this is only week 1, the season projections are going to be extremely skewed but should settle down as the season progresses. Based on this small sample of 1 game, Zhang is on pace for 28 receptions, 210 yards, and 0 TDs.
Jaquan Young – 28th overall – Yeti
Prediction: 250 yards and 2 TDs.
Jaquan is on what is now a struggling Yeti roster. This is good news for the rookie as he should get ample playing time this season. Rookie quarterback Nicholas Pierno was making his first NSFL start as well and it showed. Pierno only passed for 144 yards in the game so that left very little to go around. Young played in a good portion of the game but was only targeted 3 times in what ended up being a close victory for Colorado. Young had 1 reception for 18 yards. This performance coupled with mostly projections has him finishing with 14 catches for 252 yards.
Connor Tanner – 41st overall – Legion
Prediction: 400 yards and 3 TDs
Connor Tanner is our first and potentially only rookie we will discuss that landed in the DSFL. Connor was taken 5th overall by the Tijuana Luchadores in the inaugural DSFL draft. The Luchadores played their first games last evening, ending their double header with a 1-1 record. In the first game, Tanner had a huge impact catches 4 of his 7 targets for a total of 70 yards and 1 TD. In game 2, Tanner had another 4 catches on 6 targets. He finished this game with 48 yards. Through 2 games so far, Tanner has amassed 118 yards and 1 TD. This makes him the #1 TE and 4th overall receiver in the DSFL. At the pace he is playing, he would conclude this season with 826 yards and 7 TDs and likely high draft stock as he declares for the NSFL draft.
Budda Browning – 43rd overall – Phildelphia Liberty
Prediction: about 300 yards and 1 TD
Week 1 saw the Philadelphia Liberty on the losing end of the most lopsided game. Clifford Rove struggled to get anything going through the air. Budda Browning did get some playing time however, and he made the most of it. While Paul DiMirio and Fox North demand the lion’s share of the QBs’s attention, Browning did get targeted 3 time. He reigned in 2 catches for 38 yards. This puts him tied for 21st receiver in the league so far. In what should be a promising season for the Liberty, I don’t expect this offense to stall out like this again. With his 2 receptions, Browning is slated to end the season with 532 yards.
Nate Atasuke – 46th overall – Otters
Prediction: 400 yards and 2 TDs
On the other side of that week 1 blowout were the Orange County Otters and Nate Atasuke. In this game, Otters quarterback Mike Boss threw for 398 yards and 2 TDs. Stellar wide receiving duo Robert Phelps and Bradley Westfield combined for 12 receptions for 245 yards. Rookie Nate Atasuke had to get something, right? Yes, he did. Nate was targeted 8 times and pulled in 7 of them. He finished the game with 64 yards and an average of 9.1 YPC. This lands him in the top 10 for receivers at number 9. Atasuke is poised to have a great rookie season in this high-octane offense. If he is able to continue this trend, he could potentially double my prediction with 800 yards.
Brian Wheat – 47th overall – Baltimore Hawks
Prediction: 300 yards and 2 TDs
Brian Wheat did not get to play in week 1. After talking with head coach Head coach Hendrix, we should expect Wheat to make it into the rotation in the coming weeks. On a roster that relied heavily on another rookie in week 1, Wheat should be able to make an impact this season.
Trey Willie – 10th overall – Baltimore Hawks
Prediction: 700-1000 with 7 TDs
Trey Willie was the top receiver taken in the S3 draft. The Baltimore Hawks surprised a few when they traded up to get him. With the retirement announcement of Matthew Vincent, the Hawks needed Willie to step up and fill Vincent’s shoes quickly. Willie played in the majority of the game and saw himself lined up all over the field. Willie was targeted 8 times and caught 6 of those. He finished with 84 yards and an average of 14 YPC. He also scored the go-ahead TD inside the last 2 minutes of the game to secure the Hawks with their week 1 victory. Willie’s 84 yards lands him at #7 on the receiver top 10 list through week 1. If Willie can replicate this performance all season, we could expect him to finish with 1100+ yards.
Top 10 Receiver list for week 1:
Robert Phelps – Otters - led the week with 123 yards
Bradley Westfield – Otters - had 122 yards of his own and 2 TDs making him a fantasy juggernaut
Dustin Evans – Outlaws - had 116 yards
Josh Garden – Wraiths - finished with 115 and a TD
Damien West – Wraiths - added 96 yards of his own
Alexandre LeClair – Legion – 93 yards
Trey Willie – Hawks – 84 yards and 1 TD
Cooper Christmas – Hawks – 69 yards
Nate Atasuke – 64 yards
Stormblessed – Legion – 61 yards
Honorable mention:
Paul DiMirio – Liberty - #11 on receiver list through week 1 and was the #1 TE
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