Quarter two of the NFL season is where the rookie haze burns off. Some of these first-year players are settling in as real fantasy starters while others look more like stashes for 2026. Roles have clarified, usage tells the truth, and the splash plays finally match the tape. The injuries hurt, the bye weeks tested depth, but we learned who can help right now. Ive got the grades.
Heres the rookie report card on whos passed and whos failed from Weeks 5-9.
Dart has been everything you could have hoped for and more. What started as a stream-level quarterback play has turned into a full-on fantasy football tank. Since Week 5, Dart ranks third in the NFL in total fantasy points scored at the quarterback position, trailing only Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes. Hes averaging 22.9 points per game since becoming the starter, top five in the league, and hes doing it without Malik Nabers and after losing Cam Skattebo.
If the NFL Draft were held again today, Dart would be the No. 1 overall pick. Since taking over as the starter, he hasnt finished outside the top 16 quarterbacks in any week. Hes scored a rushing touchdown in five of his last six games and has kept turnovers to a minimum. His only down performance came in his second career start, on the road against the Saints, and even then, the flashes of poise and confidence were evident and he still finished with 17.6 fantasy points.
Brian Daboll has leaned into Darts dual-threat skill set, using him the way he once used a certain quarterback up in Buffalo. The Giants offense looks completely different with Dart under center confident, physical and creative. Hes doing all this on a roster that still lacks a true No. 1 receiver (until Nabers returns next season), has an average offensive line and a defense that hasnt held up its end. Q2 has solidified Dart as the most impressive offensive rookie in the NFL, a fantasy football star, and a real-life cornerstone for the Giants future.
This one is bittersweet. Skattebo’s second quarter is an A, and it doubles as his final grade because his rookie season ended in Week 8 against the Eagles on a play that came right after he punched in a touchdown. The injury doesnt erase how good he was. Even counting Week 9 scoring, he finished eighth among running backs in half-PPR with 67.8 total points, and he performed like the RB8 at just under 17 points per game. Thats exactly the player we thought we could get out of Arizona State. Is he the fastest? No. The biggest or strongest? No. But nobody runs angrier. He brought juice to the Giants offense every snap finishing runs, churning out tough yards between the tackles, catching the ball when called on, setting a tone the team needed.
Skattebo was more than a role player. He was a heartbeat guy. The energy was contagious, the style was perfect for how Daboll wants to play, and he gave Dart a reliable outlet when the passing game got tight. New York absolutely hit a home run taking him in Round 4, right alongside what they did in Round 1 with Dart and Abdul Carter. Its a shame we wont see the full rookie arc, but the box is checked. He proved it.
Now its about healing up and picking up where he left off in 2026. As long as the leg heals clean, theres every reason to believe he returns to being a fantasy star. Final grade for the rookie season Skattebo gets an A.
Jeanty continues to be exactly what the Raiders drafted him to be: a steady, physical, every-down running back. After earning a B in the first quarter of the season, he holds that same grade through quarter two. Hes averaged 12.6 half-PPR points per game since Week 5, good for RB18 over that stretch, and hes done it while handling more than 80% of the running back touches in Las Vegas. The workload has been there, the efficiency has been fine, and while the ceiling hasnt exploded yet, hes been reliable week in and week out.
Jeanty had a bye in Week 8, but across his four games in this stretch, hes found the end zone twice and crossed the 100-total-yard mark once. Hes producing, even if it doesnt always feel flashy. The expectations for Jeanty heading into the season might have been a bit lofty its easy to forget how rare it is for a rookie running back to come in and immediately dominate touches and scoring opportunities but hes doing just about everything you can ask.
The Raiders offense hasnt helped. With Brock Bowers sidelined for all of October, defenses keyed in on Jeanty, forcing Geno Smith to make plays he simply wasnt making. Getting Bowers back changes everything, opens up the field and should help Jeanty find more scoring chances moving forward. Through two quarters, hes shown he belongs as a volume-driven, plug-and-play fantasy starter a low-end RB1 with solid weekly value.
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Monangai used quarter two to make a name for himself. The Bears were on bye in Week 5, then over Weeks 6-9 he stacked two top-12 finishes and showed why the drumbeat was steady all offseason. He has been the RB21 in half PPR over that four-game stretch at 11.3 points per game with 45 total half PPR points, good for RB25 in the Q2 window. The headline was Week 9. With DAndre Swift out, Monangai finished as the third-highest scoring back, ripping 198 total yards on 26 rush attempts with 3 receptions. He also cleared 16 points in Week 7 against New Orleans, which was the first signal the role was growing.
Monangai handled about 50% of the Bears running back touches in quarter two, a share that ranks 28th league-wide and higher than several rookie backs weve tracked. Hes a tackle-breaking machine who finishes runs with violence, and the Ben Johnsons version of David Montgomery comp that floated all summer looks more real by the snap. The seventh-round pick out of Rutgers didnt put the ball on the ground in college and plays like hes got something to prove every carry.
The most important part is what comes next. Swift getting healthy shouldnt put this genie back in the bottle. Monangai earned a real piece of this backfield with how he ran in October and early November. He should settle in as a weekly flex with room to spike when game scripts tilt his way. Momentum is pointing up for the next stretch.
This one is tricky because the surface looks great while the usage tells a different story. In half PPR for Weeks 5 -9, RJ Harvey is the RB22 on a per-game basis and sits 17th in total half PPR points with 53.4. That makes him a weekly RB2 in twelve-team leagues. Hes doing that while ranking 55th in rush attempts over the same stretch. You read that right top 24 in fantasy output while not even top 50 in carries.
How is he pulling it off? Touchdowns and passing-game work. Harvey has scored in three straight and has five total touchdowns in this five-week window. Hes topped 51 scrimmage yards only once, yet Denver continues to dial him up through the air. Hes handled just 18% of the Broncos RB rush attempts and 26% of RB touches, but hes seen 15 targets and looks dangerous when they flex him as a true receiving weapon. The role is narrow, the production has been loud.
Context matters. J.K. Dobbins is running well, which caps Harveys rushing volume, but this offense is above average with a second-year quarterback who stresses defenses, and Sean Payton is finding ways to leverage Harvey in the red area. While Harvey gets a B- for Q2, the hope for Q3 is steady usage growth in the passing game and maybe a few more schemed touches between the tackles. If that happens, he can hold RB2 value without needing to live on touchdowns.
This one feels harsh because the flashes were real. Weeks 7-8 were exactly what you want from a rookie back carving out a role. Against Seattle he turned 10 carries into steady chain-movers and added three catches for 35 yards with a touchdown. The next week versus San Francisco he stacked volume and juice with 11 carries and four grabs for 111 total yards. Thats a decent two-week run. The bookends were the problem. Week 5 against Baltimore he barely factored in a game Houston controlled, then Week 9 at Denver the offense cratered after C.J. Stroud left and Marks never got rolling.
Zoom out and the usage is quietly workable. In Q2 he logged 38 rush attempts with 13 targets and played roughly 47% of the snaps. His RB rush share sat around 40% with a 42% RB touch share. That signals the staff trusts him as a real part of the plan when game script cooperates. The offensive line hasnt helped and the whole unit has been choppy, but the role is there.
He lands on a C for the quarter because the highs didnt fully balance the lows, yet Im encouraged. Unlike some rookies living off touchdowns, Marks path is usage driven. If Houston stabilizes with Stroud healthy and the line holds up, his receiving involvement and touch share can make him a weekly flex. Keep betting on the role growing rather than chasing short-term box scores.
I cant think of a more frustrating rookie right now. The talent pops the second he gets the ball, yet the usage has been all over the place. For Q2 he averaged 4.9 half PPR points per game. He had a start without Rhamondre Stevenson and the opportunity was there: 14 carries for 55 yards at 3.9 a tote with 6 targets, 4 receptions, 32 yards, no scores. Then New England turns around and hands Terrell Jennings 11 carries for 35 yards and a touchdown in the same game.
This isnt just about last week either. Since Week 5 weve seen low volume output from Henderson. The Browns game in Week 8 showed the explosiveness we expected, the kind of burst that makes you think the job will naturally tilt his way. Instead the Patriots keep slicing the backfield multiple ways with Jennings and Stevenson when healthy.
Hendersons routes and touches havent spiked the way they should because of this committee approach. Im being generous with the C- because it isnt all on him. When he gets daylight, he looks incredibly good, and I still believe the right usage can unlock him. But right now hes a low-volume satellite with sporadic opportunities, which leaves fantasy managers stuck guessing. The hope for Q3 is simple manufacture space touches and let him work. Until then, hes a hard player to trust.
Clevelands rookie tight end has been one of the most quietly reliable fantasy options at the position this season. Through Weeks 5-9, Fannin ranks as the TE12 in half PPR scoring per game (10.5 points), nearly identical to teammate David Njoku. On a team defined by erratic quarterback play, Fannin has been a stabilizing force in the passing game. Hes earned consistent volume already sitting at 51 targets for 352 yards on the year and he continues to carve out meaningful red zone work.
While the Browns offensive inconsistency caps his ceiling, Fannins floor has proven to be as steady as they come. He commanded over 20% of the teams targets in Q2, showing that hes not just a complementary piece but a legitimate passing game weapon. His big game in Week 8 against the Patriots eight catches for 62 yards and a touchdown underscores how valuable he can be when given opportunities.
Fannins blend of size, hands and route fluidity make him an easy set-and-forget fantasy option, particularly in tight end-premium or deeper leagues. Even in a clunky offense led by Dillon Gabriel, Fannin is proving matchup-proof as a high-floor option. Solid, dependable and ascending.
There were only going to be a select few A+ grades on this report card. You had to be at the head of the class, and few rookies not named Jaxson Dart were more on top of their game than Gadsden. After going undrafted in nearly every fantasy league, most of you scooped him off waivers, and hes been a league winner through Q2. On a per game basis, he sits as the TE6 in half PPR, averaging 12.3 points. Hes functioning as a primary wide receiver while delivering tight end eligibility lining up outside, sliding into motion, winning as a matchup piece all over the formation.
The usage backs it up. He owns roughly a 16% team target share, right in line with Jake Ferguson and T.J. Hockenson, just a tick behind Tyler Warren. He has produced true spike weeks already including an overall TE1 finish and hes been a double-digit scorer at a position where that’s an advantage every single week.
This rookie tight end class is outstanding, and Gadsden looks like one of the crown jewels. Hes a unique weapon for this offense, a weekly fixture in lineups, and a player I expect to keep rolling in Q3. If you found him early on waivers or paid up as he started taking off, thats fantasy football find of the year material. He absolutely earned an A+.
Honestly McMillan’s grade says less about him and more about the situation around him. The usage has been everything you could ask for from a rookie wideout hes 11th in the NFL in total targets, seventh in routes run and top 10 in red-zone targets on the season. The opportunity is there in every possible way. Hes commanding an eighth-ranked target share among all receivers in that same span and functioning like a true alpha wideout in terms of deployment.
The issue is that the Carolina offense just isnt good enough right now to fully capitalize on that workload. McMillan sits 28th in half PPR points per game at 10.3 for Q2, which is more a reflection of quarterback play and play-calling than his talent or performance. Hes had flashes including a multi-touchdown game and he continues to be consistent with his route participation and separation metrics, but the offense has limited his fantasy ceiling.
If you look beyond the raw production, McMillans doing everything right. Hes getting open, earning targets and playing every snap like a WR1. The only thing missing is efficiency and scoring consistency both things that come with a functioning passing attack. Right now hes more of a low-end WR2 or high-end WR3 who could easily spike with a single good game from Bryce Young. For Q3, McMillans grade might rise if the quarterback play does, but until then, hes a very good player trapped in bad circumstances.
Quarter two was a tease. We got the blowup against the Rams 8 catches, 101 yards, 1 touchdown on 14 targets with Brian Thomas Jr. sidelined and it looked like the breakout was finally here. The other two games in this window, he was more gadget than featured piece, motion snaps and quick hitters that never turned into a stable role. After the Week 8 bye we were set to find out if Hunter could be that dude for Jacksonville, then the knee injury prior to Week 9 sent him to injured reserve and shut the door.
Its disappointing because the flashes were real. He won downfield, he separated, he looked like the player managers drafted. We just didnt get the sample we needed to grade him fairly. For now its incomplete. Well see in if theres anything to revisit later in the year, but the hope is simple get healthy and come back to a defined role, not a package.
Your breakdown of the topic is so well thought out.