Week 11 brings a rookie receiver rising in Chicago, a mile high opportunity at running back in Denver, a New England need for speed and more. Five rookies, five paths to touches this week so you can move first and gain an edge in this week’s rookie report.
RJ Harvey, RB, Broncos
This is exactly why you draft rookies in the summer. There is a real chance JK Dobbins misses Week 11 after the injury he suffered on Thursday night against the Raiders, and reports say the Broncos are even considering IR. If that happens RJ Harvey steps into the kind of window that can swing a matchup. We know the passing work has already flowed his way while the rushing has been dominated by Dobbins. The raw attempts tell the story for Denver backs so far: JK Dobbins 153, RJ Harvey 50, Tyler Badie 2, Jaleel McLaughlin 1. I am not projecting a monster workload if Dobbins sits, but I do expect Harvey to lead this backfield in opportunities.
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The matchup is no layup. Kansas City is a strong defense, fourth in points allowed, and it is coming off a bye week. This is not the spot to promise a breakout line. It is the spot to bet on a talented rookie taking the lead role in a good offense when the door opens. Harvey’s receiving usage matters here. When the run game stalls against a front like this, the easy buttons are screens and quick outlets to the back. Those are efficient fantasy touches that add up without needing 25 carries. If Denver moves the ball, Harvey also has a path to high-value touches in tight. One short field, one goal-line look, and the day flips.
Ray’s Rookie Read: I am not chasing hope. I am chasing role plus timing. If Dobbins misses, treat Harvey like a high end RB2 or RB3 with touchdown upside against Kansas City. You do not need to overthink it at this stage of the season.
Tez Johnson, WR, Buccaneers
This is what a steady role looks like when a rookie earns trust. Tampa Bay lost to New England, but Tez Johnson made his touches count with 5 targets, 4 receptions for 42 yards and 2 touchdowns. Since his role expanded with injuries in the WR room, he has cleared 40 receiving yards in each of his last 5 games, scored 4 touchdowns over that stretch and topped 5 targets in 3 of those outings. That is bankable involvement tied to a quarterback who will let it rip.
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The pecking order is clear. Emeka Egbuka is the alpha and he showed it with a 13-target, 115-yard day. The shift that matters for us is the second option. Sterling Shepard saw little work against the Patriots with 3 catches for 20 yards and 1 rush. Johnson is operating as the field stretcher and motion piece who also gets schemed red-zone looks. With no Chris Godwin in sight and Bucky Irving’s status for Week 11 up in the air, Tampa Bay needs explosive plays. Johnson is a dangerous playmaker, which pairs well with Baker Mayfield’s aggressive mindset.
The matchup with Buffalo is gettable. Like Burden, Johnson does not need 10 targets to pay off when his touches come with leverage. One vertical shot or one red-zone concept and he is in your lineup’s scoring column. The floor is not guaranteed because he is still the No. 2 behind Egbuka, but the usage breadcrumbs are strong enough to treat him like a weekly streamer while the target tree stays condensed.
Ray’s Rookie Read: In play as a streaming flex with touchdown upside for Week 11. Keep rolling him while the role holds and the injuries keep the door open.
Luther Burden III, WR, Bears
This dynamic second-round pick fought through a summer hamstring issue which limited his early production and opportunity, then saw his workload climb after the Week 5 bye. Rome Odunze is the WR1 in Chicago. That is not up for debate either. The story with Burden is efficiency on limited work and a role that looks ready to grow.
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Burden has 16 receptions on 18 targets for 222 yards. He owns a 27.1% route rate, yet his 2.78 yards per route run leads this group. Stack him against Olamide Zaccheaus and it pops even more. Burden has almost equaled Zaccheaus’ receiving yards on almost 50% as many routes and not even half as many targets. Zaccheaus is second on the team in targets, but Burden is doing more with less. That is the efficiency you stash before the volume catches up.
Context helps. DJ Moore has been a little banged up in games. Chicago lives in negative game scripts often, which invites more three-receiver sets and more chances for a playmaker who can win downfield and after the catch. Caleb Williams has flashed his big-play ability following the bye. Burden is not just a gadget player. He can threaten vertically, uncover on timing routes and give Chicago a different flavor in the intermediate windows.
The schedule look tough on paper, but volume can come if Chicago is chasing points because of that defense. You do not need 10 targets for Burden to matter. You need a bump in routes. The efficiency says he can cash those quickly once the snap share climbs.
Ray’s Rookie Read: Priority stash, available in over 90% of leagues. Boom bust WR4 with spike week juice down the stretch if the route rate ticks toward full time.
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Kyle Williams, WR, Patriots
This one is a radar add. Kyle Williams had his welcome to the league moment in Week 10 at Tampa Bay. On New England’s third possession, he scored the first touchdown of the game for New England on a one-play shot that used his speed to rip across the field. He finished with 2 targets, 1 catch for 72 yards and a touchdown. The number that pops even more is the GPS. Williams hit 21.78 miles per hour, one of the fastest ball carriers of the week, with TreVeyon Henderson topping out at 22 miles per hour. That confirms what the tape says. Williams brings game breaking speed this receiver room does not have.
I am not selling a full-time role yet. He is not a refined player and you cannot depend on weekly volume. But in an offense led by an MVP caliber quarterback who excels off play action, the deep crossers and drags that highlight Williams’ speed are exactly the kinds of concepts that can flip a matchup with one touch. We already heard Mike Vrabel say he wants to see a little more of Williams. If Kayshon Boutte misses more time, the runway for snaps widens. That is the contingency you care about for Week 11.
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You do not force him into lineups. You add him if you have room and you let the role tell you when to move him into your lineup. If New England schemes him two or three designed shots a game, he turns into a Tez Johnson style home run swing who can pay off on limited volume.
Ray’s Rookie Read: Monitor Boutte. If he sits, stash Williams now as a speed specialist with weekly boom potential. Not a start in Week 11 unless you are chasing upside in deeper formats.
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Jackson Hawes, TE, Bills
This one is a deep-league swing that makes sense for some of you. Jackson Hawes has 8 receptions for 113 yards and 2 touchdowns this season. Dalton Kincaid is considered week-to-week with a hamstring injury he picked up in the loss to Miami. Kincaid has been one of Josh Allen’s top targets with 29 catches for 448 yards and a team-high 4 touchdowns. The Bills now have to redistribute those looks. Khalil Shakir actually leads the team with 457 yards. Projected starting tight end Dawson Knox has 155 yards on 18 targets with 12 receptions and a touchdown.
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This is not a turn the offense over to Hawes situation at all. He came in known for blocking and physicality, but Buffalo has shown they will throw him the ball in scoring areas. That matters when you are hunting for cheap points at tight end. With Kincaid hurt, the Bills can lean on two tight end sets with Knox and mix Hawes into play action near the goal line. One end-zone target can make your week at this position.
Tampa Bay is up next. Buffalo needs to get right after Sunday’s loss, and condensed red-zone usage is how a rookie like Hawes sneaks into the box score. I am not telling you to start him in standard formats. If Kincaid misses multiple weeks, Hawes can move into the streamer mix with the reigning MVP at quarterback. You are betting on role by the goal line plus a few schemed shots to keep defenses honest.
Ray’s Rookie Read: Monitor the injury report. With Kincaid likely out, Hawes is a touchdown-chasing streamer in deep leagues.
