Throughout the season, the Rookie Report Card has covered some of the biggest rookies and not only looked at their performances to date – but also their long-term upside. Now that the regular season has wrapped up and dynasty managers are looking towards the future, we have an opportunity to take one last look at the 2022 season and assess the rookies - a final report card if you will.
We covered 38 rookies throughout the season, including 11 running backs. Let’s put a bow on the season by taking one more look at those ball carriers’ first shot handling the ball on Sundays, as well as a quick glimpse into their futures in part one of two of the running back Rookie Report Card.
Tyler Allgeier, RB ATL
2022 Stats: 210 carries, 1,35 yards (4.9 YPC), three touchdowns, 16 receptions, 139 yards, one touchdown
Regular Season Rookie Report Card: Week Eight
I’ve never been a very big fan of Tyler Allgeier. To me, he’s always appeared to be a rotational tailback with some upside as a short-yardage specialist, going back to his days at BYU, but the rookie had a spectacular finish to his first season in the league.
Allgeier had three RB1 finishes over the final week of the season, posting RB8 numbers (22.6 fantasy points) in week 15, RB12 numbers (15.7) in week 16 and another RB12 finish (16.5) in week 17 in PPR setups. In fact, he was the RB12 over that stretch in fantasy.
Nevertheless, his surge at the end of 2022 feels like his ultimate fantasy upside. There’s a good chance the 1,035 rushing yards and 159.4 fantasy points he posted as a rookie are career highs. The D+ grade for “rest of rookie season potential” I gave him back in week eight may have been a little off. As it turns out, he reached the C grade I gave him for “long-term upside” a little sooner than expected.
I still feel like he’s a player with good vision, who get’s what’s blocked and can break the occasional tackle, but lacks the explosiveness to be a long-term factor at this level. I expect the Falcons to replace Allgeier as their primary runner this off-season and urge dynasty managers to sell him before it happens. Currently going for a second-round rookie pick on the trade market, I’d be thrilled to see that offer in my inbox.
James Cook, RB BUF
Dan –
I think the assessment of McKinnon and Pacheco is a bit off. They play different roles in the offense. McKinnon is also a free agent so it is to be seen what impact he has on Pacheco’s longer term value. Not saying Pacheco should be considered a top RB by any means, just that your justification of his long term value may be for the wrong reasons.
