In nearly every game, Henry Ruggs III is going to be the fastest player on the field by a large margin. The Raiders are going to love having that advantage as it should lead to a ton of explosive plays throughout the season.
However, that won’t be the case on Sunday as he will be matched up against Donte Jackson of the Carolina Panthers. At the NFL Combine, Jackson ran an incredible 4.32 40-yard dash and somehow looks even faster on the football field.
In a recent article by Pro Football Focus, the meeting between Ruggs and Jackson was named one of the top matchups to watch over the weekend. Take a look at PFF’s thoughts on two of the fastest players in the league and how they match up with one another in Week 1:
You want speed? You get exactly that with this matchup. Jackson is now the Panthers’ top option at cornerback after the Giants signed James Bradberry in free agency, and he also happens to be one of the fastest players in the league .
Ruggs is certainly a threat to capitalize on those big-play opportunities. He clocked in with 4.27 speed at the 2020 NFL combine and averaged at least 15 yards per reception in each of the past three seasons with Alabama. It will be interesting to see whether he entices Derek Carr to push the ball downfield more than he has in years past.
On top of being one of the fastest players in the NFL, Jackson has developed into one of the best young cornerbacks in the league. Ruggs will certainly have his hands full and if he can make a few big plays, the Raiders should have no problem scoring on offense. Keep an eye on this matchup Sunday as the winner could indicate who takes this Week 1 contest.
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