OK, three weeks in and the Browns beat the Jets, who beat the Lions Week 1. But, those Lions manhandled the Patriots last weekend. How about the 0-3 Raiders, the 3-0 Chiefs and the dangerous Bucs, who could not squeeze past the 0-1-1 Steelers Monday night.
Right? None of this makes any sense at all, so let’s cut to the chase and take a look at some of the names who did jump out at me through all the Sunday madness.
Let’s start with those Browns. Nick Chubb, a second-round selection from Georgia, has been getting some goal line tries with seven thus far for 41 yards (5.9 average). Obviously, this is not a large resume of work, but on this changing team — and the Browns will be a lot better by season’s end in my view — Chubb should see some increased work as the team spends more time in the red zone.
Another rookie in a year that seems flush with hot young tight ends is the Broncos Jake Butt, thus far the recipient of eight tosses for 85 yards on 12 total targets this season. Clearly the younger players with suggestive surnames — “chubb” and “butt” this week — are the vogue place to be. And, both players could be carving up what might be a nice season, let alone career.
Another TE rook who had a noticeable game is the Eagles Dallas Goedardt, who took some of the pressure off both Zach Ertz and Carson Wentz, bagging seven catches for 73 yards and a score. Goedardt did catch one in the season opener, but the Eagles do have their two tight end sets and Goedardt is surely worth tracking for now and adding as appropriate. For, as Jesse James can attest, the NFL can be feast or famine.
The Packers might have taken it in the snoot on Sunday, but third-year WR Geronimo Allison had his very own coming out party, with just a pair of receptions out of four targets but good for 76 yards and a score. That makes a pair of TDs for Allison, giving him 13 catches on 18 targets for 209 yards thus far. That puts the Illinois alum on a pace for 1,000-yard season, so don’t let him slip by just yet.
I have fallen into the doldrums of low expectations for the Raiders this year. Front office is a mess, IMHO, and Jon Gruden just is not the guy for this team no matter what we like or say. And, I was heartened to see what a big game Jordy Nelson had Sunday, with 173 yards on six catches with a score. Nelson has nabbed 11 of 16 targets for 229 yards thus far, and with David Carr and the Raiders playing from behind — which I expect — I see the ball spread around amongst Amari Cooper and Nelson, with some Martavis Bryant and a taste of Seth Roberts. Nelson, at 33, is long in the tooth but is also a veteran receiver who had a large chunk of 2017 off due to injury. Meaning a solid year could be out there for him.
On the other side of the line last Sunday was the Dolphins Jakeem Grant who turned in his biggest NFL day with nine receptions, 135 yards, and a pair of scores against the Raiders. That comprises nearly half the third-year wide receiver’s totals since signing, with 22 receptions for 335 yards and four TDs.
Jimmy Garappolo might not have had the short leash of Tyrod Taylor or Sam Bradford, but he is out for the year with a torn ACL, and if you are in a Super Flex league, you need three signal callers. Which means if you rostered Taylor, Bradford, or Garappolo, the FAAB sweepstakes for the Niners’ C.J. Beathard just skyrocketed. And now — just before the byes commence — is the time to be aggressive. If you need another QB, Beathard is as good as it will get.
Finally, Tyler Boyd, another third-year player, put up a huge Sunday for Andy Dalton et al. Boyd, a former second-round pick, added six receptions for a total of 15 for the season, with 132 yards and a score. On the year he has 249 yards on 21 targets and a pair of scores. Boyd appears to be earning an increased role and is surely worth adding, “bye and bye.”
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