Former UGA football WR Mecole Hardman tweets thoughts on CFP rankings

Former Georgia football wide receiver Mecole Hardman gave his thoughts on the newest CFP rankings and added an interesting twist.

Former Georgia wide receiver Mecole Hardman, now having a sensational rookie season with the Kansas City Chiefs, gave his thoughts on the most recent College Football Playoff rankings Tuesday.

After beating Penn State, the Buckeyes jumped LSU and claimed the No. 1 spot in the rankings. College football fans are split on the committee’s decision, and Hardman is one who disagrees with the order.

Yeah, the OSU win was nice, but LSU has been doing that all season.

Here are Hardman’s thoughts on the rankings.

9 fantasy sleepers for Week 13

Sam Darnold, Benny Snell Jr. and LeSean McCoy highlight the Week 13 list of fantasy sleepers.

In most fantasy football leagues, Week 13 is the final week of the regular season. You might be desperate for a win and need one sleeper to put you over the top.

Or you might already be well set for the playoffs. Even if you are, you should be looking to add as much depth as possible for the postseason.

Either way, Touchdown Wire presents nine fantasy football sleepers for Week 13.

9. Russell Gage, WR, Atlanta Falcons

Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Gage could be a good player to start in the Thanksgiving night game with the Saints. He gradually has taken on a bigger role in the offense because so much defensive attention goes to Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. Gage had eight catches for 76 yards in Sunday’s loss to Tampa Bay. He should play a bigger role going forward.

3 Chiefs among leaders in 2020 Pro Bowl voting

Three Kansas City Chiefs are among the top Pro Bowl vote-getters for their respective position groups.

The Kansas City Chiefs have three players leading the way in the early 2020 Pro Bowl voting, according to an NFL press release.

This one might surprise Chiefs Kingdom a bit, but star quarterback Patrick Mahomes is second among AFC quarterbacks. He’s trailing Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, who leads all players in the balloting with over 145,000 votes. Mahomes has the second-most votes of any player, with 116,325 votes as of Nov. 20. If Mahomes is selected to the Pro Bowl, it would be his second selection in as many years as he’s been the starting QB in Kansas City.

After Mahomes, the Chiefs have two players leading their respective position groups. Tight end Travis Kelce is ahead at his position with 77,148 votes. If Kelce earns the honor, it would be his fifth consecutive selection to the Pro Bowl dating back to the 2015 season.

Finally, Kansas City could actually have a rookie make the Pro Bowl during his first year. Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman leads all players in the return specialist category (18,606 votes). I think Hardman’s performance has been worthy of going in at the wide receiver position, but if he has to sneak in as a return specialist you won’t find many fans complaining. I can recall another receiver on the Kansas City roster making the Pro Bowl early in his career as a return specialist. He turned out to be a great receiver, so things should end up all right for Hardman.

Fan voting for the 2020 Pro Bowl continues through Dec. 12 at NFL.com/ProBowlVote. During the final two weeks of Pro Bowl voting (Nov. 28 through Dec. 12), you’ll also be able to vote on Twitter using the hashtag “#ProBowlVote” plus players’ official Twitter handles or first names and last names.

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NFL great Chad Johnson challenges former UGA receiver to a race

Former Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Johnson challenged Georgia Bulldog NFL rookie Mecole Hardman Jr. to a race via Twitter. Johnson has been retired from the NFL for several seasons, but wants to race arguably the fastest player on the Kansas …

Former Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Johnson challenged Georgia Bulldog NFL rookie Mecole Hardman Jr. to a race via Twitter. Johnson has been retired from the NFL for several seasons, but wants to race arguably the fastest player on the Kansas City Chiefs.

Mecole Hardman Jr. makes NFL players look slow this season. He has been clocked at over 21 miles per hour this season, the sixth fastest speed of any ball-carrier all year:

Chad Johnson is a fast guy, but it’s hard to pick against Mecole Hardman. About the only humans faster than Hardman are track athletes.

Johnson, formerly known as Ochocinco, challenged Hardman via Twitter earlier this week:

A Chad Johnson versus Mecole Hardman Jr. race would be interesting, but is unlikely to happen anytime during the NFL season. I think all Georgia Bulldog fans know who would prevail. Hardman Jr. ran a 4.3 forty at the 2019 NFL Combine before joining the Kansas City Chiefs. Johnson on the other hand ran only a 4.5 back in 2001. It’s hard to imagine that Chad Johnson has gotten that much faster since then.

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Chiefs believe routine is key to altitude adjustment in Mexico City

The Kansas City Chiefs are sticking to what they know when it comes to preparing for the high-altitude in Mexico City.

The Kansas City Chiefs will look to elevate their game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday.

They’ll be playing 7,200 feet above sea level at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, a difference of nearly 6,300 feet from Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs typically have one high-elevation game per year in Denver, at an altitude of 5,280 feet, so players like quarterback Patrick Mahomes feel prepared to face any challenges that the elevation may present.

“I’m obviously very excited to play in Mexico with the stadium, the history, the people and fan base that’s down there,” Mahomes said. “It’s going to be an amazing atmosphere. The altitude to me is something that’s just part of it. I’m going to trust what Rick (Burkholder) and Coach (Andy) Reid and their plan and the process. I’ve never been affected, knock on wood, never been affected like in Denver or anything like that. I know it’s supposed to be twice as high or whatever, but I’m going to go out there and focus on the game and what I can in order to have success.”

The Chiefs have done their research and they think the disruption in routine is more harmful than any potential benefits of training at a higher elevation. Their opponents, the Los Angeles Chargers, are training in Colorado Springs at the Air Force Academy. Kansas City will instead focus on other types of key preparations that will help as they head into the game.

“Obviously you are going to try to stay hydrated and try to get the right amount of rest but I think that’s stuff you do as the season goes on every single year,” Mahomes said. “As the season goes on, you have to make sure your body is in the best condition because it’s a long season. We’re excited to get to go to a place like that and get to play.”

As long as the Chiefs take the right steps in preparation, they’re confident the altitude won’t present them any problems.

“I just stay hydrated, man,” rookie wide receiver Mecole Hardman said. “The best thing you can do anyways is to stay hydrated and just go out there and play.”

Hardman added that he didn’t feel like the altitude in Denver affected him when the Chiefs played there earlier this season. That’s a sentiment echoed by some of his defensive teammates as well, like second-year defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi.

“The altitude [in Mexico City] — I’m not really worried about that from what I’ve been seeing,” Nnadi said. “A lot of our coaches did a lot of research when it comes to altitude. When we were in Denver we weren’t really that affected by it, so I feel like we should be fine.”

One thing is for certain: The decision-makers put a lot of thought into the choice to stick to their normal routine, and everyone, including the players, believes that it will pay off in the long run.

Chad Johnson wants to race Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman

Who’ve you got in the race? Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman or former Bengals WR Chad Johnson?

Former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson has challenged Kansas City Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman to a friendly race.

Johnson played in the NFL for 11 seasons, spending most of his time with the Bengals. During that time he caught 766 passes for over 11,000 yards and 67 touchdowns. While Johnson hasn’t been in the NFL since the 2012 season, he’s still a very talented athlete.

This isn’t the first time that these two receivers have been mentioned in the same breath. Kansas City offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy compared Hardman to Johnson ahead of the 2019 NFL draft in the debut episode of the team’s documentary series “The Franchise.”

“This kid reminds me of Chad Johnson when he came out,” Bieniemy said.

Bieniemy’s comment drew a response from Johnson — he wanted to test Hardman’s feet and see if the comparison held up. As the NFL season has progressed, Hardman has put his speed on display, owning two of the NFL’s top-10 speeds by a ball carrier for the entire 2019 season, according to the league’s Next Gen Stats.

Now that Johnson has been able to see Hardman play, he wants the opportunity to test his speed one-on-one.

Right now, Hardman is in the midst of a playoff hunt with the Chiefs. That said, Hardman has already responded to Johnson’s challenge, which he humbly accepted.

Whether or not the race will happen remains to be seen. According to Hardman, it’s up to Johnson to decide.

“I don’t know,” Hardman said on Thursday. “That’s up to Chad. That’s up to him. I’m down for it, we can do it. Definitely after the season, but if he wants to race, he can come and get his work.”

If it does happen perhaps they’ll even get Tyreek Hill to join, and hopefully we’ll all have an opportunity to watch.

These 4 Chiefs players deserve their first Pro Bowl appearance in 2020

The Kansas City Chiefs could have several first time Pro Bowl selections in 2020.

Fan voting for the 2020 Pro Bowl is already underway and concludes on Thursday, Dec. 12. You can vote for the best-of-the-best in the NFL as many times as you please over at NFL.com/ProBowlVote. Rosters will be revealed on Tuesday, Dec. 17 live on a special NFL Network show. The 2020 Pro Bowl will take place on Sunday, January 26 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida a week ahead of Super Bowl LIV.

There are plenty of Chiefs players deserving of being selected for the first Pro Bowl of their career. Some of these players have been vying for a Pro Bowl selection for several years now, while others look to be rising stars in the NFL game. Below you’ll find four Chiefs players that should be selected for the first time in 2020:

Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

RT Mitchell Schwartz

There’s perhaps no member of the Chiefs more deserving of a trip to the Pro Bowl than veteran right tackle Mitchell Schwartz. He was deserving last season but only received the nod as an alternate. The injuries along the offensive line for Kansas City this season have only magnified how great Schwartz is.

Schwartz has yet to allow a sack on the season and has only had two penalties called on him. His dominance in pass protection isn’t his only asset, though, Schwartz is also a force in the ground game. Some of the best runs of the season in Kansas City have been sprung by Schwartz. Just look to the blocking he did on the 91-yard touchdown run from RB Damien Williams in Week 9.

Before suffering an injury in Week 10, Schwartz had a snap streak of 7,894, spanning the course of seven-and-a-half NFL seasons. He’d never missed a snap in his entire career. Schwartz returned to the game three plays later, proving once again that he’s indestructible and one of the most impressive offensive linemen in football today.

7 waiver wire pickups in fantasy football for Week 11

Target these players on the waiver wire in Week 11.

This NFL season has been more unpredictable than any year I can remember. Constant injuries to big-name players and then even injuries to their backups have provided little room for consistency. When it comes to fantasy football, this has been the dagger for most people who thought they drafted the perfect team.

It goes to show that fantasy football is a gamble. You never really know what a player is going to do week to week and we all know projected points mean less and less each week. However it is Week 11 and for those of you who have not quit your leagues altogether, it may not be too late.

With Green Bay, Tennessee, New York (Giants) and Seattle all on a bye, here are your waiver wire pickups for Week 11 to help you make that playoff push:

(Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

WR James Washington — 18.3% rostered (ESPN)

With the revolving door of quarterbacks in Pittsburgh this season, James Washington has not had the breakout sophomore season everyone predicted. On Sunday against the rams, however, the Oklahoma State product connection finally flourished between Washington and quarterback Mason Rudolph.

Washington finished the day with six catches for 90 yards and a touchdown. As the Steelers keep winning games and having success throwing the ball, look for Washington to be included more and more in this young offense. The Steelers travel to Cleveland to face the Browns on Thursday night.

Georgia football’s top plays of NFL week 10

Georgia Bulldogs made some great plays in the NFL once again this week. With several NFL teams having bye weeks, there were fewer chances for Dawgs to make plays. Matthew Stafford was out for the first time in years, so one of the biggest …

Georgia Bulldogs made some great plays in the NFL once again this week. With several NFL teams having bye weeks, there were fewer chances for Dawgs to make plays. Matthew Stafford was out for the first time in years, so one of the biggest play-makers from UGA didn’t suit up. Still, Jordan Jenkins, Nick Chubb, and Mecole Hardman had game-changing plays for their teams.

The New York Jets won against the Giants in a battle of New York teams. Former UGA linebacker Jordan Jenkins was a standout with two sacks:

Georgia’s Nick Chubb played excellent for the Browns. Many were concerned about the return of Kareem Hunt impacting Chubb’s role in the Cleveland offense, but Chubb managed to power his way to over one hundred yards rushing. Chubb carried Buffalo Bills defenders with him on his best run of the afternoon:

The best play of the week has to go to Mecole Hardman. Although it was in losing effort for the Chiefs, Hardman showed off his 4.3 speed on this insane touchdown:

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Twitter reacts to Chiefs’ WR Mecole Hardman’s 63 yard TD

Mecole Hardman Jr. scores his 5th TD of the Chiefs’ NFL season and twitter reacts to the rookie’s speed.

Mecole Hardman Jr. is starting to become a NFL Sunday household name.

The rookie wide receiver out of Georgia has been making highlight play after highlight play this season for the Kansas City Chiefs and did it yet again this Sunday.

On Sunday, Hardman caught a jump pass from Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and took it to the house for a 63 yard touchdown, leaving defenders in his dust and looking foolish.

WATCH:

Twitter started to buzz over the rookie’s wheels.

Hardman has also been putting in more work than most, showing up hours before games and hours before any other players to catch punts from the Chiefs’ assistant equipment manager.

Hardman has been nothing short of entertaining this year, and with Mahomes back after suffering a dislocated kneecap, the two have the potential to be one of the leagues top QB-WR threats.