Joe Burrow Micah Parsons headline 10 most important first and second-year players in NFL playoffs
Joe Burrow Micah Parsons headline 10 most important first and second-year players in NFL playoffs
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In these NFL playoffs, we'll be treated to watching the Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Years, and they'll both play on wild-card weekend. But they aren't the only important young players in the playoffs.Below I've ranked the 10 most vital first and second-year players who'll take the field this postseason. Before I begin, I've compiled a list of honorable mentions.WR (), CB (), RB (), LB (), RB () has spread the ball around well this season, but the Bills offense still mostly runs through . Strong play from Davis -- like he had in the wild-card round a year ago -- would make Buffalo's offense extremely difficult to stop. Fulton was a second-round pick two years ago after a standout career at LSU, and he came into his own this season for the Titans with 14 pa s breakups and two picks. Akers is miraculously healed from his the Achilles tear he suffered in July and ran at a 4.3 yards-per-carry clip as a rookie.Simmons is part-linebacker, part-slot defender, part-safety who looked more comfortable in Arizona's defense this season than he did in his rookie campaign. At 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, he can match up with tight ends down the field. Mitchell averaged 4.7 yards per tote on the ground during his first season in Kyle Shanahan's offense. He's healthy again. The 49ers want to run it, and when their ground-game is clicking, they're sneaky-good offensively.10. , CB, Hobbs went from obscure fifth-round pick from Illinois to the best cornerback on the Raiders roster in a few months. The slot cornerback broke up three pa ses and had an interception while allowing just one score on 55 targets this season. He's a twitched-up athlete will be tasked in slowing down in the opening round of the playoffs. A strong outing from Hobbs this weekend would go a long way in Las Vegas attempting to spring an upset on the .9. , CB, Stokes took time to acclimate to the NFL from Georgia -- believe it or not -- but once he settled into Green Bay's defense, he played to first-round pick standards. Stokes finished the regular season with 14 pa s breakups and an interception. There were four touchdowns scored in his coverage area, though Sebastian Aho Women Jersey only one those occurred after Week 12.A super-explosive plant-and-drive defender, Stokes is always a threat to make a play on the ball, and as is slowly brought back into the lineup, Stokes may have to a sume big responsibilities against the likes of , , , or in the playoffs. 8. , WR, BengalsThis season, his second in the NFL, Higgins stated his case as the best No. 2 receiver in football. Does he unequivocally own that title now? No. But he's a viable candidate after his 74-grab, 1,091-yard, six-touchdown campaign opposite in the Bengals offense.At 6-foot-4, Higgins has a size advantage over every cornerback he'll see on the outside, and he came down with 16 contested-catch receptions during breakout year. Cincinnati's offensive skill-position depth is a big reason many like the team's chances in the playoffs. Higgins is the most important "depth" piece this postseason because teams (first, the Raiders) will sell out to limit Chase's productivity.7. , RB, The Patriots are a power-based, run-heavy club -- they finished with the eighth-most rushing attempts during the regular season -- and had seven outings with more than 140 yards on the ground. Harris is at the forefront of that rushing attack and has averaged 4.8 yards per carry in his first two seasons as a primary ball-carrier in New England. This weekend, the Patriots head to Orchard Park, New York, for what will be a frigid game, which probably means Bill Belichick won't ask to drop back to pa s too often. Harris scored the game-winning touchdown -- a 64-yard scamper -- when the Bills hosted New England in December and had over 100 yards on 18 carries in the lo s to the Bills a few weeks later. He's vital to the Patriots' upset bid on Saturday night. Pick Six Newsletter Crafted By The Best NFL Experts Get the day's big stories + fun stuff you love like mock drafts, picks and power rankings. I agree to receive the "Pick Six Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. By pre sing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the and acknowledge Paramount's . Please check the opt-in box to Brett Pesce Women Jersey acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox. Sorry! There was an error proce sing your subscription. 6. , RB, As many expected, Harris alone wasn't able to right the ship for the Steelers on the ground this season. However, the first-round pick from April did have an incredibly high-volume campaign despite average efficiency.Harris ama sed 1,200 yards on the ground on 307 carries (!) and was targeted 94 times -- not a typo. He caught 74 of those throws and scored three receiving touchdowns. Harris is truly a special talent. Despite playing behind a young, completely revamped offensive line, Harris averaged 2.97 yards after contact per rush. Anything close to three yards in that category is good, and it's fantastic when you're a back with more than 300 carries. A huge effort from Harris would likely be the reason the Steelers keep it close with Kansas City on Sunday night. 5. , CB, Diggs has rapidly become a playmaking star in Dallas and, uniquely, quite polarizing. Diggs has 14 interceptions in 27 career games -- including the 11 you probably heard about this season -- but allowed five touchdowns in his coverage area in 2021.He'll see plenty of Deebo Samuel in the opening round, and there are plenty of stud wideouts in the NFC playoff picture. Will Diggs be the football magnet he was for most of his second NFL season? Or will his ultra-aggre sive style lead to the Cowboys allowing game-altering plays on the outside?4. , EDGE, CowboysParsons will get some Defensive Player of the Year votes. He's the definition of an instant superstar, and it's still baffling to me that he earned that distinction at new position. Then again, Parsons did flash serious edge-rusher skill at Penn State, but this dude was playing off-ball linebacker in Big 10 games in 2019, and he was an elite pa s rusher in his debut NFL season. He, along Brock McGinn Kids Jersey with and , formulate the best outside pa s-rushing trio in this postseason, and Dallas utilizes Parsons as a blitzer against guards and centers, too, so having one good tackle can't erase the impact he has on a game.3. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, BengalsFirst the Defensive Rookie of the Year. Now the Offensive Rookie of the Year. Chase had a lull from Halloween to the game before Christmas. It didn't hurt his overall production, though, as he finished with 1,455 yards on 81 grabs with 13 touchdowns. Goodne s. In 13 of 17 regular-season contests, Chase either had more than 50 receiving yards, a touchdown or both.And Chase is scary not only because of his ball-tracking prowe s and sneaky speed. His YAC abilities might be his finest skill, as evidenced by him finishing third in the NFL in yards after the catch. Chase can take a seven-yard comeback with three defenders converging on him at the catch and erupt into the end zone. While of course it doesn't happen in every outing, Chase has take-over-the-game type talent. 2. , QB, Quarterback is the most vital position on the field, so Hurts gets the No. 2 spot. The Eagles finished one carry behind the Titans for the league lead in rushing attempts, and they're best when is bouncing around and the offensive line is destroying the opposition's defensive front seven.That doesn't mean Hurts' play is insignificant. He took a small step forward in 2021 and, in that maturation, showcased the ability to play within the confines of Nick Sirianni's game plan and didn't hesitate to scramble if he didn't like what he saw after scanning downfield. Hurts ran for 784 yards and generated 10 scores on the ground during the regular season.In the lo s to the in October, Hurts had his lowest pa ser rating of the season yet managed 44 yards rushing and scored twice. His multi-faceted style makes him low-key dangerous. 1. Joe Burrow, QB, Bengals and may get all the MVP votes, but Burrow deserves some. He was that good for the Bengals, with one stinker in Week 2 against the and then super-consistent play the rest of the season with a few monstrous performances in vital games.Zac Taylor does provide Burrow plenty of easy throws to schemed-open receivers, but it's rare to see the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft put the ball in harm's way, and his deep-ball touch was tremendous all season. However, the chink in the armor of Cincinnati's offense was how often Burrow was sacked -- 51 times to be exact, the most in football.Burrow has the precise ball-placement, arm talent, and just enough improvisational capability to lead the Bengals deep into the playoffs, if he limits the amount of times he's taken to the turf with the ball in his hands. Burrow's the most important first or second-year player on the field this postseason.
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