Tag: Zonovan Knight

Aidan Hutchinson earns a place in the NFL Top 100 after his rookie season

Hutchinson is already earning respect around the league after just one season

Just one season into the NFL and the Detroit Lions Aidan Hutchinson has already made an impact. While he was expected to be an immediate impact player, I don’t think anyone could predict it would go this well for him in year one.

Drafted as the number two overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Hutchinson registered 9.5 sacks while having 9 tackles for loss and 15 QB hits in 17 games. He also became the fifth player and first rookie with three interceptions and nine-plus sacks since individual sacks were officially tracked in 1982, per NFL research.

Every NFL off-season, the NFL has the players in the league vote on who the top-100 players in the league are. For Hutchinson, he was voted as the 88th best player in the NFL from his peers.

As of now, Hutchinson is the only player from the Detroit Lions on the top-100 list. However, there’s only been the players ranked from 100th to 81st overall revealed. Former Lions running back Jamaal Williams was listed as the 95th overall player. We very well could see Hutchinson’s teammates such as Penei Sewell, Frank Ragnow and Amon-Ra St. Brown on the list.

During the reveal of Hutchinson as the 88th overall player in the top-100, here’s a few things that were said about him from players around the league:

  • “As the seasons progress, you start to see him get better and better. Both in the pass-rush game and in the run game as well.” – Eagles OT Lane Johnson
  • “Some people have, just, that they were born with it. The natural thing that you’re born with. He’s definitely one of those guys that were born with it.” – Saints IOL Cesar Ruiz
  • “I think he’s definitely proved a lot of people wrong.” – Cowboys LB Micah Parsons
  • “I’ll be the first to admit that he was basically playing in our entire backfield when we played them. He’s that type of player.” – Jets RB Zonovan Knight

You can see the full clip of Hutchinson’s reveal into the NFL Top-100 Players below:

 

Fantasy Football: 7 utilization stats to know from Week 16

Here are the top fantasy football utilization stats you need to know from Week 16 of the 2022 NFL season.

Here are the top fantasy football utilization stats you need to know from Week 16 of the 2022 NFL season before you make any waiver-wire claims this week.

Fantasy Football: 12 utilization stats to know from Week 15

Here are the top fantasy football utilization stats you need to know from Week 15 of the 2022 NFL season.

Here are the top fantasy football utilization stats you need to know from Week 15 of the 2022 NFL season before you make any waiver-wire claims this week.

Tunnel Vision

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

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks Pass-Rush TD
 Jalen Hurts 318-61 3
 Josh Allen 304-77 4
 Kirk Cousins 460-0 4
 Patrick Mahomes 336-33 3
 Trevor Lawrence 318-21 4
Running Backs Rush
Receive		 TD
Jerick McKinnon 10-52
8-70		 2
Derrick Henry 21-104
4-59		 1
Christian McCaffrey 26-108
6-30		 1
Rhamondre Stevenson 19-172
2-(-4)		 1
David Montgomery 12-53
3-38		 2
Wide Receivers Yards TD
Zay Jones 6-109 3
K.J. Osborn 10-157 1
Justin Jefferson 12-123 1
A.J. Brown 9-181 0
Russell Gage 8-59 2
Tight Ends Yards TD
George Kittle 4-93 2
Juwan Johnson 4-67 2
Dawson Knox 6-98 1
Travis Kelce 10-105 0
C.J. Uzomah 2-41 2
Placekickers XP FG
Chase McLaughlin 3 5
Matt Prater 0 3
Nick Folk 1 3
Brett Maher 4 2
Jason Sanders 2 3
Defense Sack – TO TD
Colts 7-3 2
Browns 3-2 0
Jaguars 3-2 1
Lions 4-1 1
Cardinals 7-2 0

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

After two weeks of serious injuries, this was rather light.

QB Colt McCoy (ARI) – Concussion
QB Justin Fields (CHI) – Leg
QB Ryan Tannehill (TEN) – Ankle
RB Zonovan Knight (NYJ) – Ankle
RB Caleb Huntley (ATL) – Ankle
WR Eq. St. Brown (CHI) – Concussion

Chasing Ambulances

QB  Colt McCoy – Was hit hard and stayed down for several minutes before being led off the field. Trace McSorley finished the game with predictable results, even though the Broncos were also using a replacement quarterback. The Cardinals host the Buccaneers on Christmas Day but that may not be enough time for McCoy to pass the concussion protocols. Sorley only completed 7-of-15 for 95 yards and two interceptions, so the Cards dire quarterback situation may be getting even worse.

QB Justin Fields – Left the game and went to the locker room but returned and played. It is believed that he just had cramps.

QB Ryan Tannehill – Was carted from the field with an ankle injury in the first quarter but returned before the half and played the rest of the game. It will be interesting to see if the ankle is still an issue in practice this week.

RB Zonovan Knight – The rookie left with an ankle injury and was limping on the sideline but returned to the game. He had his worst performance this season with only 13 rushes for 23 yards but Michael Carter (4-15) didn’t see any more work.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

TE George Kittle (SF) – His first two games with Brock Purdy resulted in just a couple of 25-yard games, but on Thursday against the Seahawks, he led the team with four catches for 93 yards and two touchdowns. Notable – first game with Deebo Samuel gone.

RB Zack Moss (IND) – When Jonathan Taylor left the game almost immediately, the Colts turned to Zack Moss (24-81) over Deon Jackson (13-55). Neither was used as a receiver much, and there was a split. Taylor was diagnosed with an ankle sprain but it wasn’t initially thought to be serious and he could return this week.

QB Tyler Huntley (BAL) – Relying on Huntley over the injured Lamar Jackson has been a losing proposition with the Ravens dropping their matchup against the Browns by 13-3. Huntley passed for 138 yards and ran for only 15 yards on six rushes. Now the Ravens fell behind the Bengals and play them in Week 18 at Cincy. Huntley has kept Mark Andrews (3-31) on his disappointing track even though he was the leading receiver.

RB Raheem Mostert (MIA) – Jeff Wilson was questionable to play the Bills and then ruled out due to his hip injury. In his place, Mostert took the lead and ran for a season-best 136 yards on 17 carries and caught a 20-yard pass. The Packers visit this week with their No. 25 ranked running back defense.

WR Diontae Johnson (PIT) – He still has not scored a touchdown this year, but with Mitchell Trubisky as the starter these last two weeks, Johnson produced stat lines of 6-82 and 10-98. Both were season highs for the veteran who gets along better with Trubisky than Kenny Pickett.

RB Jerick McKinnon (KC) – He got hot in the playoffs last year and he’s been a mediocre start each week until two games ago. McKinnon produced 134 total yards and two scores at the Broncos, and on Sunday he ran for 52 yards on ten carries and caught a season-best eight passed for 70 yards while totaling two touchdowns. The Chiefs have been in challenging road games these last two weeks and McKinnon is the third-down back.  But it’s turned into Isiah Pacheco as the runner for first and second down, while McKinnon is a reliable target for Patrick Mahomes, and he runs the ball as well. His 26-yard touchdown won the overtime game against the Texans.

RB Royce Freeman / Dare Ogunbowale (HOU) – With Dameon Pierce placed on injured reserve, the Texans backfield is down to just the pair of backs on Sunday. Freeman was the primary back with 11 runs for 51 yards while Ogunbowale only gained 14 yards on eight runs. The lone rushing score was taken by Davis Mills. The Texans face their three rivals from the AFC South in the final weeks. Titans this week have a good run defense, but the Colts and Jaguars have below average run defenses.

RB Tyler Allgeier (ATL) – He’s been worth around ten carries per week with almost no work as a receiver. He he comes off his season-best 139 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries in the loss to the Saints. It was the first start for Desmond Ridder and a sign that the Falcons will commit even more to the run if the game allows it.

QB Desmond Ridder (ATL) – The rookies debut went against the Saints in New Orleans, and he completed just 13-of-26 for 97 yards while rushing six times for 38 yards. It wasn’t great, but at least he threw 11 targets to Drake London. No other receiver attracted more than three passes.

QB Zach Wilson (NYJ) – Mike White missed this week and he may potentially miss the rest of the season with a fractured rib. Zach Wilson stepped back in as starter and threw for 317 yards and two scores with one interception in the loss to the Lions. He maintained Garrett Wilson (4-98) as the leading receiver and threw both scores to C.J. Uzomah on his only catches in the game. He’ll face the visiting Jaguars this week for another lighter fantasy matchup.

RB Latavius Murray (DEN) – The Broncos have turned to heavier use of Murray who logged a season-best 24 carries for 130 yards and one touchdown against the Cardinals on Sunday.  Marlon Mack scored on his five rushes for 37 yards and he scored last week as well. Road games against the Chiefs and Rams are up next, and should prove more challenging.

WR Jahan Dotson (WAS) – He already scored five times this year, though with never more than 60 yards in any game. Against the Giants, he gained a season-high 105 yards on four catches and scored once. Terry McLaurin remains the primary receiver, but Dotson is carving out a bigger role for this and next season.

Huddle player of the week

Zay Jones  –  The former second-round pick in 2017 is on his third NFL team but the Jaguars seem to be a fit. Jones stepped up his involvement in the last month including 11 catches for 145 yards in Week 12 versus the Ravens. At home again in Week 15, he went against the Cowboys’ defense and logged six catches for 109 yards and three touchdowns for a career mark.

Salute!

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

Comedy Yards TDs Tragedy Yards TDs
QB Trevor Lawrence 339 4 QB Justin Herbert 315 0
RB Jerick McKinnon 122 2 RB Miles Sanders 29 0
RB Tyler Allgeier 136 1 RB Jonathan Taylor 13 0
WR Russell Gage 59 2 WR Brandon Aiyuk 19 0
WR Noah Brown 49 2 WR Davante Adams 28 0
WR K.J. Osborn 157 1 WR Stefon Diggs 57 0
TE Juwan Johnson 67 2 TE Dalton Schultz 15 0
PK Chase McLaughlin   3 XP   5 FG PK Justin Tucker   1 FG
Huddle Fantasy Points = 173 Huddle Fantasy Points = 30

Now get back to work…

Oh – and have a merry Christmas and a happy holiday.

Fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em: Week 15

Check out these starts and sits for Week 15 of fantasy football.

For most fantasy football managers, the playoffs begin in Week 15 and officially commenced with the Thursday night game between the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks.

While there are fantasy managers on the outside looking in, we still can use these start/sits as a way to find an edge in DFS or prop betting during the final month of the season.

Doing start/sit articles can be a little challenging. The players featured on the list below should not be taken as “must starts” or “must sits.” Instead, these are more suggestions on what we believe managers should do with fringe players heading into the weekend. The choice is ultimately up to the manager.

Just because a player is listed as a “start” doesn’t mean he should be put in the lineup over the secure, bona fide studs. Vice versa for the “sits.” If there’s no better option on the waiver wire or the bench, a manager shouldn’t automatically sit the player. That’s why these can be tricky waters to navigate.

You also can check out our start and sit bench list for Week 15:

Fantasy Football: 10 utilization stats to know from Week 14

Here are the top fantasy football utilization stats you need to know from Week 14 of the 2022 NFL season.

Here are the top fantasy football utilization stats you need to know from Week 14 of the 2022 NFL season before you make any waiver-wire claims this week.

Fantasy Football: 15 best waiver wire targets for NFL Week 15

Make sure Zonovan “Bam” Knight isn’t still available in your fantasy football league.

Congratulations! If you’re paying attention to fantasy football waiver wire lists this late in this year, that presumably means you’ve had a successful season that led to a playoff berth.

And if you didn’t make the playoffs and are still fighting until the very end, kudos to you for that too.

This week’s list of waiver wire targets includes options at quarterback, tight end, wide receiver and running back.

At QB, Brock Purdy is rolling in San Francisco (assuming an oblique injury does not sideline him). If he’s healthy enough to play, Purdy is worth a roll of the dice for a team thin at QB.

At TE, Chig Okonkwko has at least five targets in each of his last three games. He’s not posting huge numbers, but Okonkwko can help out if you’re in a pinch at TE.

At WR, Richie James scored again on Sunday, marking his third touchdown in his last four games.

At RB, Zonovan “Bam” Knight has totaled 298 yards from scrimmage over the last three weeks and he’s shown no signs of slowing down.

Now, let’s get to the full list!

Fantasy football waiver wire: Week 15 free agent forecast

Here are the top waiver wire targets in fantasy football for Week 15.

The bye weeks are over, trade deadlines have passed and the fantasy football playoffs are commencing for the majority of leagues.

The waiver wire will be the sole avenue for making transactions moving forward as most leagues wrap up their 2022 campaign during the next three weeks.

We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in ESPN leagues, using the 75% rostered mark as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on Twitter (@KevinHickey11). Your questions, comments, and roasts are always welcome!

We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.

Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.

Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.

Jets undrafted rookie RB Zonovan Knight has a name you need to remember

New York Jets undrafted rookie RB Zonovan “Bam” Knight has a name you need to remember. He’s been on fire the last three weeks.

You probably didn’t notice it unless you are a hardcore New York Jets fan, but over Weeks 12 and 13 of the 2022 NFL season, only seven running backs had more rushing yards than the 159 put up by Zonovan Knight.

If you are not a hardcore New York Jets fan, your response to that is probably going to be, “Um… who?”

And you would not be alone. No NFL team seemed to know Knight’s name in the 2022 draft, which left the North Carolina State alum with no choice but to sign as an undrafted free agent with whichever team would have him. That would be the Jets, who did just that on April 30.

Once running back injuries depleted Gang Green’s backfield, Knight got his first opportunity against the Chicago Bears in Week 12, and dude did not miss. He ran 14 times for 69 yards, and added three catches for 34 yards. Against the Vikings last Sunday, Knight gained 90 rushing yards on 15 carries, adding five catches for 28 yards.

Knight had no touchdowns on any of those touches, but he was finally rewarded for his persistence against the Buffalo Bills in this Sunday’s key AFC West matchup. With 9:59 left in the third quarter, Knight took the ball at the Buffalo 13-yard line, and hammered the ball into the end zone.

You can see why his nickname is “Bam.”

“He has just brought such a presence and a style that we needed, in terms of just putting his foot in the ground and digging out yards,” offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said of Knight this week. “And it usually isn’t even the second guy that brings him down. The whole cavalry usually needs to come.”

Knight, who is officially the only “Zonovan” in pro football history, has proven all of this before. On this 48-yard run against Minnesota, Knight showed the patience to follow center Connor McGovern outside left, and then, he just turned on the Jets and ran through about half of Minnesota’s defense.

And against the Bears, he hit it to the right for a 19-yard gain with nice burst and acceleration.

Draft analysts had a consensus opinion of Knight’s game, debiting him as a player without any special traits that would set him apart. Nothing I can say about that, as I didn’t even have Knight in my list of the top 11 running backs in this draft class.

But through his first three NFL games, Zonovan Knight has done everything possible to raise himself above the fray.

Fantasy Football: 12 utilization stats to know from Week 13

Here are the top utilization stats you need to know from Week 13 of the 2022 NFL season.

Here are the top fantasy football utilization stats you need to know from Week 13 of the 2022 NFL season before you make any waiver-wire claims this week.