Tag: NFL Rookies

Vikings switch back to rookie Jaren Hall at quarterback

Vikings switch back to fifth-round rookie Jaren Hall at quarterback for their critical Week 17 matchup with the Packers

There will be another rookie signal-caller starting under center in Week 17. The Minnesota Vikings announced Jaren Hall will take over as the starter in Sunday night’s key matchup with the Green Bay Packers.

Hall bumps Nick Mullens out of the starting gig a week after Mullens threw four interceptions in the Vikings’ home loss to the Detroit Lions. It will be Hall’s second career start, and hopefully goes better than his first one.

After filling in relief of Kirk Cousins in the first meeting with the Packers after Cousins tore his Achilles during the game action, Hall got the start in Week 9 against the Atlanta Falcons. The fifth-rounder from BYU lasted just 11 plays before suffering a concussion and has not played since.

It’s a critical game for both teams. The winner will improve to 8-8 and stay alive for a wild card spot in the NFC, while the loser drops to 7-9.

Aidan O’Connell leads Raiders over Chiefs to stay in the playoff hunt

Rookie QB Aidan O’Connell leads Raiders over Chiefs to improbably stay in the AFC playoff hunt

The Las Vegas Raiders have found renewed life with the combination of rookie interim head coach Antonio Pierce and rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell. The duo have now thrown themselves back into the playoff chase by trouncing their fierce rival in Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.

While O’Connell was not necessarily the conduit for their offense’s success, having only thrown for 62 yards on 21 attempts, he did not turn over the football and managed the offense like a veteran. The Raiders ultimately leaned on their heavy run game, churning up over 160 yards on the ground and chewed up the clock against the Chiefs.

The O’Connell era is proving to be one of success in the face of adversity of a new head coach and new offensive system. While this performance wasn’t his best, it followed a performance in which O’Connell showed plenty of promise with four passing touchdowns.  It’s a good sign that O’Connell is progressing, and he could ultimately be the long-term answer at the position should they ultimately make it into the playoff race.

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Detroit Lions rookies show up big in win over Denver

Detroit Lions rookies Sam LaPorta and Jahmyr Gibbs show up big in win over Denver

The Detroit Lions had high expectations coming into the season after how they finished the 2022 campaign, and they have clearly built on those successes this year with some help from potentially the best rookie class of the 2023 NFL draft.

Heading into a game against a Denver Broncos team that had won six out of their last seven games it was looking like Detroit could be set up for a tough match. Instead, Detroit’s pair of rookies dominated on offense and ended up leading a blowout win over the comeback Broncos.

Both Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta experienced career days on the afternoon where the Lions’ offense looks absolutely unstoppable. Gibbs managed to put together over 100 scrimmage yards and a pair of touchdowns, looking every bit of the explosive runner that Detroit thought they were getting when they took the running back with the 12th overall.

LaPorta was a big part of an excellent day for Jared Goff who ultimately tossed five touchdowns. LaPorta was responsible for three of those end zone visits, and also compiled 56 yards in the air. This puts LaPorta tied for fourth in the league for touchdown passes on the year with nine.

Both of these rookies are really coming into their own in this Ben Johnson lead offense, and they will undoubtedly be key pieces in the Lions’ playoff run. If this offense can keep humming behind them perhaps a Super Bowl visit could be in the cards for Detroit.

Ranking the Week 13 rookie quarterback performances

There were fewer rookie QBs taking snaps in Week 13. Here’s how they stacked up

Another week down, another week to evaluate the performances of the multiple rookie starting quarterbacks in the league. We once again saw a mixed bag from all the rookies.

Let’s take a look at each rookie and rank their Week 13 performances from best to worst:

Rookie tight end class is off to a flying start

Not every TE has started fast, but a quartet of highly-drafted TEs are making huge marks as rookies

Tight end is typically one of the most difficult positions for players to transition from college to the NFL. From the increased receiving responsibilities to the different hashes and line splits, to the bigger/stronger defenders they’re required to block, it’s often a slow burn for even the top tight ends.

The draft class of 2023 has been a little different. Four rookie TEs, all drafted in a cluster between No. 25 and 42 overall, are off to flying starts in the NFL.

1 breakout rookie to watch, from Bryce Young to Anfernee Orji, for all 32 NFL teams in 2023

From the top overall pick to undrafted free agents, this year’s rookie class will shape how the 2023 NFL season unfolds.

There are several obvious answers when it comes to which rookies will have the biggest impact on the 2023 NFL season.

Three quarterbacks were selected among the first four picks and each will have the chance to prove they can be franchise saviors this fall. Another stacked class of wide receivers should only further the league’s passing revolution. A pair of players who finished their careers as the all-time sack leaders in different Power 5 conferences will sow chaos even against an upgraded class of blockers.

But this season’s debutant stars won’t be limited to first round picks. Several rookies have used offseason workouts and preseason snaps to showcase their ability to make a difference on Sundays. College stars who waited until the third day of the 2023 draft to hear their names called — or potentially not at all — will rise from that relative NFL obscurity to leave their marks on the league. We can’t say for certain who those emerging studs will be, but after months of workouts and exhibition play, we can make some educated guesses.

32 of them, to be exact. Let’s take a look at potential impact rookies for each team in the league, ranging from the obvious to the surprising.

Chargers WR Quentin Johnston receives praise from idol Davante Adams

Fanatics shared a heartwarming documentary short showing the rookie class being surprised with positive words and advice from their idols.

Fanatics shared a heartwarming documentary short showing the rookie class being surprised with positive words and advice from their idols. Colts QB Anthony Richardson received a personal message from Tom Brady, Ravens WR Zay Flowers heard from Steve Smith Sr., and Chargers WR Quentin Johnston heard from his idol Davante Adams.

Fanatics aimed to give the rookies a moment they would never forget and welcome them into the league with words of affirmation and a signed jersey from their idols that they have always looked up to. Johnston was one of the only rookies in the class to receive his message from a player still in the league – a player he will see at least twice a year and compete against within his own division.

Adams was the player that Johnston watched the most in college, and Adams extended a compliment to Johnston in his video message today, stating, “[I’m] proud of you man, big fan of you and the way you play the game.” Earlier this off-season, Johnston discussed how he models his own game after Adams on Good Morning Football, saying, “From his release to the way he makes his routes look different… Even though our playstyle is still different, I still try my best – especially off the line.”

Johnston has been showing out at camp, getting great separation from the secondary and garnering significant praise from coaches and players alike – including his ‘football idol.’

Bijan Robinson among FanDuel’s best Offensive Rookie of the Year odds

Bijan Robinson leads the way with the best odds for Offensive Rookie of the Year this season.

The 2023 NFL Draft class was full of talented playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. Continue reading “Bijan Robinson among FanDuel’s best Offensive Rookie of the Year odds”

2023 NFL Draft: Day 1 fantasy football recap

Live blogging the impact of each fantasy-relevant pick from Round 1.

The 2023 NFL Draft is finally upon us, and prospects are now rookies with NFL cities to call home. Follow along for real-time analysis of the opening round’s impact on fantasy football plans for 2023.

Fantasy draft season may not be close to hitting its crescendo, but hardcore gamers have been selecting players prior to the conclusion of the collegiate bowl season. It’s time to let the real fun begin!

Also see: Day 2 | Day 3

Round 1 fantasy football reaction

Fantasy Football 2022: Top 10 rookies to draft featuring Breece Hall and Chris Olave

These first-year players could contribute right away.

If you don’t think a rookie can have a huge impact on your fantasy football team, think again. Two rookies were top-five fantasy players at their positions in 2021: Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase and Pittsburgh’s Najee Harris.

In 2020, the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor was also a top-five player, and Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson was the WR6. When the marriage of talent and team-fit is perfect, rookies can and have impacted their teams in big ways and lucky fantasy managers benefitted.

There are several candidates capable of making that happen this season. And while the wide receiver class is a lot deeper, a running back tops my list of favorites.