Eric Williams
NFL Reporter
A handful of rookie pass-catchers are ending on a excessive word with only a week left within the common season, difficult the spectacular marketing campaign Puka Nacua put collectively for the Los Angeles Rams a 12 months in the past.
Las Vegas Raiders explosive tight finish Brock Bowers already has 108 receptions — essentially the most by a rookie all time — and his 1,444 receiving yards are essentially the most by a rookie tight finish in NFL historical past, passing a mark set by Mike Ditka in 1961. Bowers wants simply 43 extra yards to eclipse Nacua’s document for essentially the most receiving yards by a rookie.
New York Giants receiver Malik Nabers went off in a win over the Indianapolis Colts, ending with seven receptions for 171 yards and two scores. Nabers now has 104 catches for 1,140 receiving yards, changing into simply the fifth rookie in league historical past with a minimum of 100 catches and 1,000 receiving yards, in keeping with FOX Sports activities Analysis.
Georgia product Ladd McConkey led the Los Angeles Chargers with eight receptions for 94 receiving yards and two scores in a playoff-clinching win over the New England Patriots. With that effort, McConkey handed Keenan Allen because the franchise chief in rookie receptions (77) and receiving yards (1,054).
And Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is considered one of 4 rookies within the Tremendous Bowl period to publish greater than 1,100 receiving yards (1,179) and 10 receiving touchdowns (10) in a single season, per FOX Sports activities Analysis. Thomas completed with seven receptions for 91 receiving yards and a rating in Jacksonville’s 20-13 win over the Tennessee Titans.
Whereas these 4 pass-catchers have cooked, the highest receiver chosen within the 2024 draft has had a stable if unspectacular season. Marvin Harrison Jr. has 57 receptions for 822 yards and 7 touchdowns. Whereas Harrison has not set any rookie data, he does have extra receiving yards than Larry Fitzgerald Jr. posted in his rookie 12 months (780) for the Cardinals. And Harrison is near passing his father, Marvin Harrison Sr., who had 836 receiving yards for the 1996 Colts in his rookie season, so there may be cause for hope that the Ohio State product could make a bounce in manufacturing in 12 months 2.
That mentioned, let’s take a more in-depth have a look at who’s scorching and who’s chilly for Week 17.
WHO’S HOT
Drew Lock, QB, Giants
The Missouri product confirmed the tantalizing arm expertise that continues to make quarterback gurus across the league consider they’ll develop the 28-year-old gunslinger right into a reliable franchise quarterback.
In a 45-33 victory over the Colts, which knocked Indianapolis out of the playoff race, Lock completed 17 of 23 for 309 yards, with 4 touchdowns and no interceptions, posting a 155.3 passer ranking.
The win snapped New York’s 10-game dropping streak, but in addition dropped the quarterback-needy Giants out of the highest spot within the NFL Draft to No. 4 heading into the ultimate week. Whereas a victory helps head coach Brian Daboll’s effort to maintain his job, it hurts New York’s capacity to safe a long-term reply at quarterback within the upcoming draft.
Sam Darnold, QB, Vikings
The USC product had considered one of his finest video games of the season when the Vikings wanted it, throwing for 377 yards and three touchdowns in Minnesota’s 27-25 victory over the Inexperienced Bay Packers.
The win retains the Vikings alive within the chase for the No. 1 seed within the NFC. Minnesota faces the Detroit Lions on the highway within the closing week of the common season, with the NFC North division title and No. 1 seed going to the winner.
Darnold now has 35 landing passes this season, passing Brett Favre (2009) for essentially the most by a QB in his first season as a Viking.
Braden Fiske, DT, Rams
The Rams acquired one other excellent efficiency from the rookie defensive deal with out of Florida State. Fiske completed with two sacks and three quarterback hits in L.A.’s win over the Arizona Cardinals.
With assist from different groups across the league, together with Washington’s extra time win over the Atlanta Falcons, the Rams clinched a postseason berth for a second straight 12 months.
Fiske’s eight sacks are essentially the most amongst all rookies this season and tied for the third-most in a season by a Rams rookie, trailing solely Aaron Donald (9.0) and Kobie Turner (9.0).
Bucky Irving, RB, Buccaneers
The rookie speeding chief this season with 1,033 yards, Irving completed with 190 scrimmage yards in Tampa Bay’s runaway win over the visiting Carolina Panthers.
Irving rushed for 113 yards on 20 carries and added one other 77 receiving yards. And he turned the primary Tampa Bay working again to hurry for greater than 1,000 yards since Doug Martin, a.okay.a. the “Muscle Hamster,” in 2015 (1,402).
Ameer Abdullah, RB, Raiders
Do not look now, however the Raiders are driving a two-game successful streak. And with the playoff-bound Chargers possible resting gamers in Week 18, the Raiders have an opportunity to finish the season on a three-game successful streak.
Due to accidents and poor play from frontline backs Zamir White, Alexander Mattison and Honest McCormick, veteran third-down again Abdullah has emerged because the starter in Las Vegas. He had a career-high 115 speeding yards in Sunday’s win over the Saints, the primary Las Vegas working again to eclipse 100 speeding yards this season.
It is also the primary time Abdullah, 31, has rushed for 100 yards in his 10 NFL seasons.
WHO’S COLD
Shane Steichen, head coach, Colts
One other 12 months, one other late-season collapse for Indianapolis. The Colts wanted a win over the Giants to remain within the playoff hunt for the final wild-card spot within the AFC. However as a substitute, Steichen acquired one of many worst performances of the season from his workforce, giving up 45 factors on the highway to one of many worst groups within the league.
Sure, the Colts performed with out beginning quarterback Anthony Richardson because of a again harm. Nevertheless, they’d an skilled veteran guiding the offense in Joe Flacco and scored 33 factors. It was the protection, with all of the missed tackles, that price Indianapolis.
Because of this, the Colts will miss the playoffs for a fifth straight season and have misplaced three of their previous 5 video games.
Jerod Mayo, head coach, Patriots
After transferring on from essentially the most profitable head coach in NFL historical past, this Patriots season was presupposed to be a 12 months of analysis and growth of rookie QB Drake Maye.
Nevertheless, the best way the Patriots have performed down the stretch has some NFL observers questioning if Mayo is the appropriate man for the job past this season. The Patriots have misplaced 5 straight and weren’t aggressive in a lopsided loss to the Chargers.
New England at the moment holds the No. 1 choose within the draft. Whereas Maye has proven indicators of changing into a franchise QB, the workforce round him has regressed, notably the protection led by a defensive head coach.
Mayo may use exhibiting towards the Buffalo Payments within the closing week of the common season to persuade possession that the workforce is headed in the appropriate course.
Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, protecting the Los Angeles Rams for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma Information Tribune. Comply with him on Twitter at @eric_d_williams.
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