Just about to kick off the NFL 2017 season, we've seen teams on the rise to victory, we've seen astounding players ready to keep their reputation, we've seen the rookies, but what can we expect from the upcoming season?
There have been numerous pre-season headlines, some highlighting the potential Super Bowl repeat for the New England Patriots. Others explain the talent from new rookies, like the Jaguars' Leonard Fournette, the Panthers' Christian McCaffrey, and the Texans' Deshaun Watson. Even a few delve into the possibilities of a spark from star running back Ezekiel Elliot, who faced the devastating loss to the Packers in an upset.
From AnythingNFL's perspective, we're looking forward to seeing the rookies the most. Sure, the Patriots may defend their title as Super Bowl Champion, or the Cowboys might revolt from their playoff defeat, but all of the rookies have a chance to affect these outcomes, which make them vital for success. As we've mentioned, Fournette, McCaffrey, and Watson are our top three rookies from the Combine.
"Fournette is a ruthless and dirty back, but that doesn't make him a bad one." AnythingNFL's reporter Ajay Macherla describes. Indeed, Leonard Fournette proved to be a scary running back: his 6',1" and 230 pounds resemble Marshawn Lynch (who has recently returned to the NFL as an Oakland Raider). In LSU, he had 3,830 running yards and 40 touchdowns. Recently, he was drafted to the Jacksonville Jaguars, so the offensive line may be a help to Fournette. Everyone has high expectations for this guy.
“Fournette is a like a bull out there; if I were a linebacker, man, I'm outta there! That's what's going to make him a good running back." -- AnythingNFL's Ajay Macherla
Christian McCaffrey is the complete opposite from Fournette: tiny guy, and definitely not that muscular. But that doesn't mean he's any good. Coming out from Stanford, McCaffrey is pretty sneaky, and really fast. He also claims to be a receiving back, having 645 receiving yards in his 2015 season. But, we've seen him on the ground, and he'll be a crucial asset to the ground game. Recently being drafted to the Carolina Panthers, we're excited to see his role with power-back Jonathan Stewart.
Finally, Deshaun Watson was all the talk between scouters in the combine. Fresh out of Clemson, Watson had 4593 passing yards in his 2016 season, his final one with Clemson. Not only was his arm a deadly threat, but his ability to evade defenders and move outside the pocket on a broken play means he's used to making plays even when coverage is excellent. We're thrilled to see how much he'll resemble Russell Wilson and Carson Wentz, who also use a similar tactic. When the Houston Texans drafted him, they knew they were in for a ride with this guy.
Overall, we think the rookies will greatly impact the new season and be that factor that makes the 2017 season different than the 2016 one. Star players such as Fournette, McCaffrey, and Watson are still fresh, and still as deadly. Week One will kick off the season with a spectacular matchup, the Kansas City Chiefs against the New England Patriots, on September 17th. Let the games begin!