![Justin Herbert has the most touchdown throws ever by a rookie. [Image Source: Flickr | Fanspeak]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2020/12/29/660x290/b_502x220x82/justin-herbert-has-the-most-touchdown-throws-ever-by-a-rookie-image-source-flickr-fanspeak_2562982.jpg "Justin Herbert has the most touchdown throws ever by a rookie. [Image Source: Flickr | Fanspeak]")
After looking at the top fantasy performers who were mostly unowned for the first 15 weeks of the season, let’s do something different after Week 16. Since most fantasy leagues ended after Monday Night Football, let’s instead highlight the best fantasy performers of the season who mostly went undrafted.
In order to see who was eligible, Fantasy Pros was used as it takes the average draft positions of players by looking at three different sources. The player could make the list if his average draft position was higher than 180 (180 players are selected in a 10 player, 18 round league). One quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, and one tight end are highlighted as being the best of those who mostly went undrafted.
Honorable mentions include:
QB - Derek Carr (Raiders)
RB - J.D. McKissic (Football Team), Nyheim Hines (Colts), Myles Gaskin (Dolphins)
WR - Corey Davis (Titans), Tee Higgins (Bengals), Chase Claypool (Steelers)
TE - Logan Thomas (Football Team), Dalton Schultz (Cowboys)
QB - Justin Herbert (14 G, 4,034 passing yards, 28 passing touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 1 fumble lost, 225 rushing yards, 4 rushing touchdowns)
Selected sixth overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, Herbert set a new rookie record on Sunday with his 26th touchdown pass. He has thrown for 4,034 yards which place him 340 yards (a number he has surpassed twice) behind Andrew Luck’s rookie record of 4,374.
Justin Herbert just threw his 28th TD pass, passing Baker Mayfield for the most by a rookie in NFL history. pic.twitter.com/xAdyRPXC5A
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 27, 2020
RB - James Robinson (14 G, 1,070 rushing yards, 7 rushing touchdowns, 49 receptions, 344 receiving yards, 3 receiving touchdowns, 1 2-pt conversion)
Despite missing Week 16 with an ankle injury, Robinson is third in the NFL with his 1,070 rushing yards. An undrafted rookie, he would need 35 yards on the ground in Week 17 according to CBS Sports to break Dominic Rhodes’ record by an undrafted rookie of 1,104 rushing yards which he set in 2001.
I don't usually care about the Pro Bowl much, but it's absolutely ridiculous that Josh Jacobs made it over James Robinson. And that Evan Engram made it over Robert Tonyan.
— JJ Zachariason (@LateRoundQB) December 22, 2020
RB - Mike Davis (15 G, 642 rushing yards, 6 rushing touchdowns, 59 receptions, 373 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns)
Christian McCaffrey, the first overall pick in many fantasy leagues, missed much of the year with injury opening the door for Davis. He’s done a lot of damage in the passing game (especially in the beginning of the season) as his 59 receptions are the third-most by a running back.
1K the angry way 😤 pic.twitter.com/OQcovBJCbb
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) December 27, 2020
WR - Cole Beasley, Bills (15 G, 82 receptions, 967 receiving yards, 4 receiving touchdowns, 20 passing yards, 1 passing touchdown)
Now in his 10th NFL season, Beasley sits just 33 yards away from the first 1,000-yard receiving year of his career. He has five games of over 100 yards this year, and his 82 receptions place him in a tie for 17th-most in the league.
Most slot catches:
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) December 23, 2020
🔹 Cole Beasley - 75
🔹 JuJu Smith-Schuster - 68
🔹 Tyler Boyd - 68
🔹 CeeDee Lamb - 62 pic.twitter.com/01hD9Kglfi
WR - Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers (12 G, 60 receptions, 748 receiving yards, 5 receiving touchdowns, 77 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns)
While Week 16 was unfortunately a dud for the 25th-overall pick in 2020, Aiyuk was one of the league’s most-productive in his six outings from Week 7 to Week 15. During that stretch, he caught 45 passes for 568 yards and four scores.
Brandon Aiyuk: 100 rec. yards or a TD in 9 of 10 games since Week 3 pic.twitter.com/lHA1lRVXDM
— PFF (@PFF) December 21, 2020
TE - Robert Tonyan, Packers (15 G, 50 receptions, 568 receiving yards, 10 receiving touchdowns)
In his first two seasons (2018-19), Tonyan only totaled 14 receptions for 177 yards. He has become one of Aaron Rodgers’ favorite targets in 2020 especially once near the end zone as Tonyan’s 10 touchdown catches are second-most at the position only behind Travis Kelce’s 11.
I’m alleging Pro Bowl voting fraud. Robert Tonyan should’ve been the starter for NFC at the T.E position, but to not make it at all , is “UTTERLY RIDICULOUS”🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) December 22, 2020
