As we do after each week of NFL action, let’s take a look at the players who excelled in fantasy despite mainly being unowned.
To be eligible to be included, the player must have been owned in less than 25 percent of ESPN fantasy football leagues. One quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, and one tight end will be highlighted every week.
QB - Teddy Bridgewater, Broncos (16.9%) - 334 passing yards, 3 passing touchdowns, 3 interceptions, 9 rushing yards, 1 fumble lost
The four turnovers look ugly on Bridgewater’s ledger, but he threw two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to still give him a productive fantasy outing. It ended up being his third-highest passing yardage total in 55 career starts, and it also was the third time he threw for at least three scores.
Teddy Bridgewater: I point the thumb at myself after losing to Raiders. https://t.co/f6HYkSPiDP
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) October 18, 2021
RB - Chris Evans, Bengals (2.0%) - 18 rushing yards, 3 receptions, 49 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
With Samaje Perine on the Covid-19 list, Evans moved to second on Cincinnati’s running back depth chart. A sixth-round rookie, Evans received his first four carries and his first NFL touchdown on a 24-yard reception to start the scoring in the Bengals’ Week 6 win.
First (of many) career TD for #Bengals RB Chris Evans. Can’t cover him with a linebacker. Bengals stole Evans in the sixth round.
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) October 17, 2021
RB - Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots (12.2%) - 23 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 3 receptions, 39 receiving yards
Both running backs here are rookies that scored their first NFL touchdown in Week 6. Stevenson was taken in the fourth round out of Oklahoma and now has 19 touches in his last two outings for New England.
Rhamondre Stevenson's first NFL TD gives the @Patriots the lead! #ForeverNE
— NFL (@NFL) October 17, 2021
📺: #DALvsNE on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/8YryhwYSNk
WR - Donovan Peoples-Jones, Browns (1.2%) - 4 receptions, 101 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns
According to Pro Football Reference, Peoples-Jones was actually on the field between 59-80% of Cleveland’s offensive snaps from Weeks 1-4, but he only totaled four catches for 57 yards. Receiving a similar amount of playing time in Weeks 5-6, he had nine receptions for 171 yards (also his first two touchdowns of the year in Week 6).
Nothing was stopping Donovan Peoples-Jones from getting into the end zone 😳
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) October 17, 2021
(via @Browns) pic.twitter.com/BLI6zqRzcb
WR - K.J. Osborn, Vikings (8.3%) - 6 receptions, 78 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
After not catching a pass as a rookie in 2020, Osborn entered fantasy radars with a productive first two games of 2021 before slowing down. Week 6 was another productive week, though, including a 27-yard touchdown in overtime to bring the Vikings to .500.
VIKINGS WIN 🎉
— KJ Osborn (@KJ_Osborn) October 17, 2021
TE - O.J. Howard, Buccaneers (1.7%) - 6 receptions, 49 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
Unable to take advantage of being thrust into a more significant role in Weeks 4-5 with Rob Gronkowski out, Howard finally made some noise on Thursday night. He scored the first touchdown of the game in Tampa Bay’s win, which was his first score since October 4, 2020.
"Excuse me I'll have that back" 🤣
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 15, 2021
After OJ Howard spiked the ball, he went to the stands to get it. pic.twitter.com/iQj3udjcJW
