Dynasty Rookie Report Card: CJ Stroud and Jaleel McLaughlin
Each week throughout the 2023 NFL season, I’ll cover two rookies in the Rookie Report Card and will generally write about the most prominent performers from that particular week. I’ll discuss how well he’s lived up to expectations at the NFL level, and then I’ll grade the player in three categories: their performance to date, rookie season potential, and long-term upside.
First, I wanted to provide some updates on previously covered rookies because both last week’s players crushed it again in week four. De’Von Achane finished as the RB4 overall in PPR leagues, and Michael Wilson improved upon his week three performance by scoring two touchdowns, finishing as the WR6 overall. After down week three, Puka Nacua was back at it, scoring his first touchdown and finishing as the WR4 overall. The rookies are showing up in the early portion of the 2023 season, and we have two more standouts to get to today!
CJ Stroud, QB HOU
Week 4 stats: 306 passing yards, two passing touchdowns; 25.84 fantasy points, QB10 on the week.
Stroud played three seasons at Ohio State. He was a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist and one of the most productive quarterbacks in school history.
Stroud became the starting quarterback in 2021 and led the Buckeyes to a 10-2 record, including a Rose Bowl victory. He threw for 4,435 yards and 44 touchdowns against six interceptions and was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. As a junior in 2022, Stroud’s numbers took a slight dip, throwing for 3638 yards and 41 touchdowns, along with six interceptions. He led the Buckeyes to an 11-2 record and to the Peach Bowl, where they lost by one point to the eventual National Champions, Georgia.
Stroud finished his collegiate career with 8,123 passing yards, 85 touchdowns, and only 12 interceptions. He holds numerous Ohio State records, including most passing yards in a single game (573) and most passing touchdowns in a single game (6), which he did twice in 2021 and again in 2022.
He describes himself as a “ball placement” specialist, and it shows on the field with near-perfect balls to Nico Collins in week four, sparking his receiver’s breakout game. He wins with incredible accuracy. Hitting receivers in stride, not staring down receivers, and directing downfield receivers where he wants them to go when the play breaks down are skills savvy veterans possess and rookies generally lack. Stroud was doing those things in college.
Stroud is incredibly smart with the football. He makes excellent decisions because he goes through progressions well and reads the entire field before choosing his throw, and he’s able to do it quickly, which has made his transition to the Texans’ poor offensive line smoother. Doesn’t stare down receivers
The only thing genuinely holding Stroud back from becoming an elite fantasy option is his lack of rushing production. There was some hope after the Georgia game when he ran 12 times for 34 yards, picking up critical first downs. We haven’t seen that part of his game emerge consistently, but that doesn’t mean he can’t do it. I wouldn’t expect him to put up 50+ rushing yards per game suddenly. That said, what he is doing as a passer is truly remarkable. He is second amongst all rookie quarterbacks in history with 1,212 passing yards through his first four games. That beats the likes of Andrew Luck, Justin Herbert, Joe Burrow, Peyton Manning, and every other rookie quarterback not named Cam Newton.
We are currently collecting October data, so I expect him to rise from his QB16 (132 overall) ADP. I’ve moved him to QB10 overall in my rankings, just behind Anthony Richardson and Tua Tagovailoa and just ahead of Kyler Murray.
Jaleel McLaughlin, RB DEN
Week 4 stats: Seven carries for 72 yards, three receptions on three targets for 32 yards, and one touchdown; 19.4 PPR points, RB10 on the week.
Mclaughlin is a name most people probably haven’t heard before. He was only on my radar because of Cecil Lammey over at Footballguys, who works in Denver sports media. He turned me on to the undrafted rookie during Broncos training camp. He indicated that McLaughlin might not be fantasy-relevant but would be involved as a playmaker in specific schemes and would absolutely take touches away from Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine. I’d say he is fantasy-relevant now and for the foreseeable future, considering Williams suffered a hip flexor injury in week four. Let’s get to know McLaughlin.
McLaughlin played division two football for Notre Dame College in 2018-2019 before transferring to FCS school Youngstown State University in 2020. He finished his collegiate career with 8,166 rushing yards, 79 rushing touchdowns, and 9,060 all-purpose yards, all of which are NCAA records.
As a freshman at Notre Dame College in 2018, McLaughlin rushed for 2,421 yards, which broke the NCAA DII single-season rushing record. He also scored 19 touchdowns and was named a first-team All-American. In 2019, McLaughlin rushed for 2,316 yards, which broke his own NCAA DII single-season rushing record. He also scored 33 touchdowns and was named a first-team All-American for the second time in his career.
2020 was his first year at Youngstown State, and it was shortened due to the pandemic, but in 2021, McLaughlin rushed for 1,139 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was named first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) and third-team All-American.
In his senior season, 2022, McLaughlin rushed for 1,588 yards and 13 touchdowns. He averaged over seven yards per carry and was named first-team All-MVFC for the second time in his career.
In week two of his rookie season, Mclaughlin scored a touchdown on his only carry and has steadily increased his workload. He was the leading rusher and receiver out of the backfield in week four. In the first quarter against the Bears, Maclaughlin took a short pass behind the line of scrimmage for 18 yards and a touchdown. In the third quarter, he sparked the Broncos’ comeback with a 31-yard run where he showed elusiveness and the ability to get to top speed quickly.
While undersized at 5’8, 192, McLaughlin was a prolific rusher in college, and with opportunity, he can make a fantasy impact until Williams returns from injury. Mclaughlin went undrafted in September mock drafts, but I’m guessing he will be selected in October, and we will start getting some data on how dynasty managers value him.
Creator and Co-host of Dynasty Game night, the fantasy football game show.
Creator and host of the Zookeeper Stories podcast.
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