2012 Fantasy Football, Week 8 Rookie Report: Ryan Broyles Relevant In Detroit
If you are taken a little later in the draft, it will likely take a while to break into the starting line-up. For some rookies, an injury to a veteran player provides the opportunity for playing time and there are a few guys in that situation this year. Particularly in deeper leagues, some rookies who have seen a jump in playing time recently will have fantasy value.
Ryan Broyles | WR | Detroit: Nate Burleson was lost for the season on Monday night and the second-round pick out of Oklahoma looks like his replacement. Broyles did not play in Detroit’s first two games and did not have a catch in the first three games he played in, but then had three catches for 51 yards and a touchdown against the Bears on Monday.
Vick Ballard | RB | Indianapolis: In his second start last week, the fifth-round pick out of Mississippi State provided some points for his fantasy owners with 20 carries for 84 yards. Unfortunately, Luck took the touchdown runs, but Ballard did enough to remain the starter for as long as Donald Brown is out, which appears to be at least one more week. Another big day from Ballard at Tennessee could keep Ballard in the line-up even when Brown returns.
Daryl Richardson | RB | St. Louis: The next-to-last pick in the entire 2012 draft out of Abilene Christian has become a key part of St. Louis’ running game as Steven Jackson continues to battle injuries. Jackson is playing, so Richardson’s fantasy value is not high right now, but he does have 55 carries in seven games and is averaging more than five yards per carry. The Rams will continue to use him behind Jackson, but if Jackson’s injuries flare up again, Richardson is a legitimate fantasy running back.
Chris Rainey | RB | Pittsburgh: With Rashard Mendenhall and Isaac Redman both injured last week, the fifth-round pick out of Florida got his first career touchdown. Mendenhall and Redman could be back this week and Jonathan Dwyer got most of the work in their place, so Rainey is not somebody to pick up, but instead to keep an eye on.
Chris Givens | WR | St. Louis: The first pick of the fourth round out of Wake Forest has seen more playing time since Danny Amendola was injured and he is providing a big-play presence for the Rams. He has at least three catches in both of his last two games and is averaging at least 24 yards per catch in his last four games. He has 10 catches for 270 yards and one touchdown on the season and gets to face New England’s weak secondary this week.
Written by Steve Mims exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com. Follow Steve on Twitter @nwsportscards
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