Tag: Caleb Huntley

Caleb Huntley, Tyler Allgeier credit offensive line for success

Caleb Huntley and Tyler Allgeier credited the Falcons’ offensive line for Sunday’s big rushing performance.

In the week leading up to the Falcons’ Week 4 game against the Browns, running back Cordarrelle Patterson missed two days of practice with a knee injury.

While Patterson did ultimately end up playing, he received just nine carries on the day. His lack of touches created an opportunity for the team’s other running backs to shine on Sunday, and that’s just what they did. Tyler Allgeier and Caleb Huntley each carried the ball 10 times in Week 4, combining for 140 rushing yards.

Allgeier led the way with 84 yards, while Huntley added 56 yards and a touchdown. After the game, Allgeier noted he couldn’t have done it without the help of his teammates.

“Couldn’t do it without the offensive line, receivers blocking. That’s a 1/11th in an all 11 team,” said Allgeier after Sunday’s 23-20 win. “We just fed off each other.”

Huntley, who the team plans to sign to the 53-man roster, also credited the offensive line for the successful ground attack.

“They were blowing them boys off the ball,” said Huntley. “Shoot, I can go eat away with this one. It was just a whole lot of space and took advantage of it.”

The former Ball State standout also credited head coach Arthur Smith.

“We all come in every day, put our best foot forward. We got a great coach behind us who just critiques us on the little things and make us be a good group.”

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Tunnel Vision of Week 4

Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks Pass-Rush TD
 Jared Goff 378-1 4
 Geno Smith 320-49 3
Russell Wilson 237-29 3
Josh Allen 213-70 2
Tom Brady 385 3
Running Backs Yards TD
Josh Jacobs 144 rush
5-31 catch		 2
Austin Ekeler 60 rush
6-49 catch		 3
Rashaad Penny 151 rush
1-6 catch		 2
Miles Sanders 134 rush
2-22 catch		 2
Jamaal Williams 108 rush
1-3 catch		 2
Wide Receivers Yards TD
Justin Jefferson 10-147 1
Tyreek Hill 10-160 0
Tee Higgins 7-124 1
DK Metcalf 7-149 0
CeeDee Lamb 6-97 1
Tight Ends Yards TD
T.J. Hockerson 8-179 2
Mo Alie-Cox 6-85 2
Gerald Everett 5-61 1
Zach Ertz 6-47 1
Travis Kelce 9-92 1
Placekickers XP FG
Greg Joseph 1 5
Daniel Carlson 2 4
Brett Maher 1 4
Mike Badgley 0 4
Jason Meyers 6 2
Defense Sack – TO TD
Eagles 3-5 0
Giants 5-3 0
Cardinals 2-3 0
Seahawks 1-2 1
Raiders 3-1 1

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB Daniel Jones (NYG) – Ankle
QB Tyrod Taylor (NYG) – Concussion
QB Mitchell Trubisky (PIT) – “Picketted”
QB Brian Hoyer (NE) – Head
RB Javonte Williams (DEN) – Knee
RB Jonathan Taylor (IND) – Ankle
WR Cephus Quintez (DET) – Foot
WR Treylon Burks (TEN) – Foot
WR Laviska Shenault (CAR) – Hamstring
WR Kenny Golladay (NYG) – Knee
WR Isaiah McKenzie (BUF) – Head
WR Jamison Crowder (BUF) – Ankle
TE Jonnu Smith (NE) – Ankle
TE Cameron Brate (TB) – Concussion

Chasing Ambulances

Giants QB – Both Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor were knocked out of the win over the Bears, but Jones returned to finish the game. The Giants play in London this week, so they won’t be in their normal routine. There are no other quarterbacks on the active roster, so if either (or both) end up missing the London game, they’ll need to activate Davis Webb from the practice squad or look on the free agent market.

QB Brian Hoyer (NE) – He was already replacing Mac Jones (ankle)  and Hoyer left with a possible concussion. That meant that the rookie Bailey Zappe saw his first playing time. It’s too early to know the status of either Jones or Hoyer, but chances are the Patriots will look to add a quarterback at least to their practice squad.

RB Javonte Williams (DEN) –  The Broncos rusher will have an MRI today after being carted from the field with a right knee injury. There is a concern that it is serious and he may miss many weeks. If he is out for any games, Melvin Gordon will become the primary back and Mike Boone would figure in. Gordon lost a fumble in the game and Boone saw three rushes for 20 yards.

RB Jonathan Taylor (IND) – Injured his ankle in the fourth quarter of the loss to the Titans. He limped off and later said he tweaked his ankle. Problem is that the Colts play the Broncos on Thursday and now both teams may be without their best running back.  If Taylor misses time, Nyheim Hines will see expanded use and Deon Jackson is the only other running back on the active roster. Jackson’s only action has been two carries for a net three-yard loss in Week 2. They have D’vonte Price on the practice squad as well. Hines is the only safe bet for more fantasy value.

WR Treylon Burks (TEN) – The rookie was carted from the field and was seen later with a walking cast and crutches. If he misses time, Kyle Phillips should see more work.

WR Kenny Golladay (NYG) – Injured his knee and did not return to the game. The Giants receivers cannot get or remain healthy. The only notable part of their extensive set of injured players is that Saquon Barkley is about the only healthy one. The times they are a’changing.

WR Isaiah McKenzie (BUF) – Was concussed in the win over the Ravens. If he misses any time, the slot would be manned by Jamison Crowder though Khalil Shakir could see some more work. The Bills move their receivers all over the formation, so there’s only minimal fantasy impact from losing the No. 3 wideout. Crowder also hurt his ankle in the game, so it could end up with Shakir seeing the uptick.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

RB Latavius Murray (NO) – The London game served up a double whammy – Alvin Kamara was out, and his fantasy owners that woke up in time could change their starter to his backup, Mark Ingram, which ended up to be the wrong move. The Saints called up Latavius Murray from their practice squad and he ran better (11-57, TD) than did Ingram (10-30). But they are both 32 years old and on the downside of their careers. Success often begets more opportunity. But Kamara is likely to return this week. The Saints host the Seahawks, so there will be opportunities for the backfield.

RB Caleb Huntley (ATL) – The undrafted free agent spent last year on the practice squad but was called up to the active roster and had one carry in Week 2. Cordarrelle Patterson was in and out of the lineup and Huntley was given ten runs that gained 56 yards and his first NFL touchdown. Tyler Allgeier gained 84 yards on his ten carries and Patterson ran for 38 yards on nine rushes with a score but had no receptions. The Falcons went to a three-man committee but the 29 carries were all productive. Allgeier is still the No. 2 back, but Huntley ran well in his first action.

RB Brian Robinson (WAS) – The Commanders’ rookie back is expected to be activated from reserve/NFI list this week, though it is not yet official. He’ll land in a backfield that is getting more crowded. Antonio Gibson has been the primary rusher and J.D. McKissic serves as the third-down back. On Sunday in Dallas, they also used Jonathan Williams for five runs that gained 48 yards. And they weren’t end-of-the-game, mop time runs. He was seeded in the first three quarters. Robinson will likely need time to get into game shape, but he’s a new face for the backfield and should be as talented as any of the other backs. But the Commanders rely on their committee.

TE Mo Alie-Cox (IND) – He led the Colts with six catches for 85 yards and two scores, and yet he totaled just four catches for 44 yards over his first three games combined. And last week, it was the rookie Jelani Woods with two touchdowns. The top tight end in Week 1 was Kylen Granson. Don’t expect Alie-Cox to be turning into an instant fantasy start. Granson caught four passes for 62 yards in that game. Woods gained 33 yards on his lone reception. The Colts had all their passing success with the tight ends versus the Titans.

WR Darnell Mooney (CHI) – He finally showed up with four catches for 94 yards in the Bears’ loss at the Giants. That included a 56-yard catch and run though, and without that catch, he’s back to only 38 yards. The passing yardage (174) was marginally better, but the offense still offers no fantasy relevance when they pass.

QB Zach Wilson (NYJ) – Had his first start of the year and threw for 252 yards and one score with two interceptions. Corey Davis had a season-high five catches for 74 yards and a score but Elijah Moore (3-53) and Garrett Wilson (2-41) didn’t see any boost. Hosting the Jets this week won’t make it any easier.

RB Breece Hall (NYJ) – The Jets rookie rusher was gradually taking more work each week but then jumped to 17 carries for 66 yards and one score, plus two catches for 12 yards as the Jets beat the Steelers. Michael Carter only gained 15 yards on his nine runs and caught the same two passes. Hall is already assuming the primary role.

QB Kenny Pickett – The rookie took over for the second half after Mitchell Trubisky got the hook. Pickett ran for two scores on his six rushes for 15 yards, but he threw 13 passes and none of them hit the ground. Ten went to Steeler receivers and three were intercepted. Notable was fellow rookie George Pickens gaining 102 yards on six carries. The Steelers play in Buffalo next, so Week 5 may not be any prettier.

QB Bailey Zappe (NE) – Brian Hoyer was lost to a concussion, and the seventh-round rookie saw his first NFL action starting at the end of the first quarter. He never rushed and completed 10-of-15 passes for 99 yards and a score to DeVante Parker. The Patriots went to a run-heavy script with 33 total carries, but that may be more the norm while Mac Jones is out. Zappe did help the Pats bring the game into overtime, but there’s no real fantasy value here.

WR Romeo Doubs (GB) – Everyone’s favorite sleeper wideout last summer  showed up in Week 3 with eight catches for 73 yards and a score at the Buccaneers. On Sunday versus the Patriots, he was thrown a team-high eight targets. He also dropped what could have been a winning catch and avoided overtime. But Aaron Rodgers looked for Doubs and Allen Lazard far more than any other receivers.

RB Melvin Gordon (DEN) – With Javonte Williams feared to have a severe knee injury, Gordon is thrust into the No. 2 role by default. Mike Boone is the only other running back on the active roster. Devine Ozigbo is on the practice squad but all represent a significant step down from Williams. Boone has only been a bit player for his four years in Minnesota and Denver but Gordon has fumbled three times this year, including the one that was returned for a 68-yard touchdown for the Raiders. The Broncos have one of the top-ranked schedule strengths for running backs, so there will be some value from this backfield without Williams. Gordon is the first choice, and currently Boone is the only other option.

WR Chris Godwin (TB) – Returned from his hamstring injury and tied with Mike Evans for a team-high ten targets. He caught seven for 59 yards while Julio Jones only managed one catch. Godwin did leave the game after an apparent injury to his mid-section but returned later. His presence was a boost for the Buccaneers’ passing effort and he immediately returned to being the No. 2 passing target.

Huddle player of the week

TE T.J. Hockenson (DET)  –   The Detroit tight end was stuck at sub-40-yard performances through three weeks, but the Lions were without both starting wideouts Amon-Ra St. Brown and DJ Chark. Hockenson responded with the franchise record for a tight end – eight receptions for 179 yards and two touchdowns on his 12 targets.

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry

Comedy Yards TDs Tragedy Yards TDs
QB Jared Goff 378 4 QB Tua Tagovailoa 110 0
RB Caleb Huntley 56 1 RB Javonte Williams 27 0
RB Rex Burkhead 39 1 RB Jonathan Taylor 42 0
WR Jamal Agnew 50 2 WR Jaylen Waddle 39 0
WR Josh Reynolds 81 1 WR Diontae Johnson 11 0
WR George Pickens 102 0 WR Michael Pittman 31 0
TE Mo Alie-Cox 85 2 TE Dalton Schultz nope 0
PK Greg Joseph 1 XP   5 FG PK Will Lutz 2  XP 1 FG
Huddle Fantasy Points = 139 Huddle Fantasy Points = 23

Now get back to work…

Watch: Falcons RB Caleb Huntley scores first career touchdown

Falcons running back Caleb Huntley’s five-yard touchdown gave the team a 17-13 lead over the Browns in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game.

Falcons running back Caleb Huntley’s five-yard touchdown gave the team a 17-13 lead over the Browns in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game.

Huntley, an undrafted free agent who spent last season on the practice squad, has 10 carries for 56 yards and a touchdown. Watch his five-yard touchdown below, as shared by the team’s Twitter account.

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Falcons elevate RB Caleb Huntley from practice squad

The #Falcons elevated RB Caleb Huntley from the practice squad for Sunday’s game against the Browns.

The Atlanta Falcons listed running back Cordarrelle Patterson as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns, and while we expect to see Patterson out there, the team has elevated RB Caleb Huntley from the practice squad.

Huntley, a former undrafted free agent out of Ball State, was previously elevated for Atlanta’s Week 2 matchup in Los Angeles. Despite having just one career carry for three yards, Huntley gives the team some insurance in case Patterson’s knee keeps him out Sunday.

In Week 3, Patterson won NFC Player of the Week honors for his 141-yard rushing performance during the Falcons’ win over the Seahawks.

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Caleb Huntley among 17 players signed to reserve/future contracts

On Monday, the Falcons signed 17 players, including running back Caleb Huntley, to reserve/future contracts.

The Atlanta Falcons may have ended the season with an ugly loss to the rival New Orleans Saints, but life goes on in the NFL and the team is already making moves for next year.

On Monday, the Falcons signed 17 players, including running back Caleb Huntley, to reserve/future contracts.

Meet Caleb Huntley, Ball State’s bruising RB prospect

Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Ball State running back prospect Caleb Huntley

When Caleb Huntley comes running at you, good luck. It’s going to be quite a challenge to bring him down.

With two 1,000-yard seasons to his name and 2,902 yards in 33 games for Ball State, Huntley hopes to carry on his production to the NFL level. He can project as a short-yardage back at the NFL level due to his powerful running style and decisiveness in between the tackles, but he has flashed enough juice to take on a bigger role if necessary.

Draft Wire had the chance to speak with Huntley on his preparation for the NFL Draft, his experience at the College Gridiron Showcase, how fatherhood has molded him as a person, and more.

JI: You’re a powerful runner, but you’re still a great athlete coming out of the backfield. How do you work on continuing to add muscle onto your frame without sacrificing your speed?

CH: Honestly, I don’t know. I couldn’t answer that because I’ve always been able to run pretty well, so even when I gained weight – when I got to 230 [pounds] this past season – my speed didn’t really decrease from the year before, and my coaches could see that. I really don’t know what point my speed would decrease if I gained weight.

JI: You made the tough decision to opt out of the MAC title game this year. What went into that decision?

CH: Ultimately, I had to sit back and do some thinking, but a lot of people don’t know that in the second game of the season that we had at Eastern Michigan, I took a hit, actually catching a pass. But it was super delayed, so it was set up [easily] for the defender to make his hit on me. He hit me in an awkward position, and my rib fractured. I didn’t really know until after the game, but after the game, I was walking home from the stadium, and it was super cold, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I knew something was going on, like my rib was fractured or broken because I had hurt my ribs at camp that year, and it didn’t feel anything like that.

Fast forward, I played another game at NIU, and it was just miserable playing in that game. I mean, I had a pretty decent game, but I just felt like it was a bad game because I wasn’t able to do the things I could normally do running the ball, and I felt like every time I was hitting the turf, my ribs were popping out. It was just bad, so I decided to get a second opinion. The first opinion I got, the doctors said they didn’t see anything. Then, I went again and got a second one, and that’s when they found a fracture. I kept trying to battle through it for a couple weeks. I tried to practice, I even got a ribcage made for myself, but nothing was working. I just made the decision to opt out. I had to weigh my options. I have a son, as well, so I had to make sure I was doing the best thing for me.

Syndication: Muncie

JI: How is the progress with your ribs coming along?

CH: Yeah, I feel like it’s completely healed now. It really took about two weeks after I got [treatment] to feel pretty good. Now, I feel better than I did playing football at the beginning of the season.

JI: You mentioned your son, and he had surgery during your 2020 season. How did you balance such a crucial time as a parent with such an important season in your journey to the pros?

CH: When he was born, he had a condition where his soft spot in his head, it closed up prematurely. [The surgery was to] recreate soft spots in his head so when he got older, his brain would have room to grow. That’s what they did, and it’s a common procedure. I wasn’t super worried, but as a father, you never want to see your little guy go through pain of any type, so that was something I was worried about during preparation for games. He actually got surgery before my first game at Miami of Ohio, so I just wanted to make sure I had a great game on his behalf, and I ended up having a pretty good game.

But caring for him, it was tough, because there was stuff we couldn’t do. We couldn’t wash his head, and he had to wear a scarf around his head for a while, but now he’s doing a whole lot better. He’s back to normal. I feel like he’s advanced for his age; he’s doing a lot of stuff on his own right now that I’ve never seen a 7-month-old baby do, so I’m just waiting for him to grow.

JI: How has fatherhood molded you as a person?

CH: As a person, it made me grow up faster. I was already mature for my age, but having him has made me grow even more. Before I had him, I used to go out occasionally. I used to chill and kick it with my teammates or friends, but once he was born, I shut all that down because I knew that what I had wanted to do didn’t really matter no more, and it was all about him. It shifted my focus to being a provider and to put him in a better position than I was when I was growing up.

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

JI: You recently had the chance to participate in the College Gridiron Showcase. How was that experience?

CH: It was just a good experience, talking to scouts and being able to showcase some abilities that people didn’t think I had. I feel like it was a good feeling for me as a player, and learning about the process and the game at the next level.

JI: Between the Showcase and your collegiate play, who’s the toughest defender you’ve gone up against?

CH: There was a defensive tackle that played for Illinois my freshman year, he smacked me pretty good, I ain’t gonna lie [laughs]. He broke my facemask, and that was like my “welcome to college” moment. That was probably the toughest defender I faced.

JI: You mentioned that you tend to stay in now that you have a son. How else do you like to spend your free time outside of football?

CH: Outside of football, I’m a real big family person. Honestly, I just like to cook or watch TV or go fishing. Just some laid-back stuff. I’m a pretty laid-back person.

JI: Let’s say I’m an NFL general manager. What would I be getting if I drafted you to my team?

CH: Just an all-around good dude. A good teammate, a person who’s going to challenge every person on the team I’m going against because of the way that I practice. I practice the same way that I play in a game. All I know is full speed, for real. They say iron sharpens iron, so you bring the same practice habits to the game, that creates winning football. I can bring that to the team and also contribute wherever they need me to contribute and just be a team player guy.

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