PFF grades: Darrell Henderson is top RB in NFL, Jared Goff is No. 3 QB

 

Cameron DaSilva 

19 hours ago

It’s no secret that Jared Goff and Darrell Henderson have been two bright spots for the Rams through three weeks. They’re both playing at a very high level, with Goff bouncing back from a difficult 2019 season and Henderson emerging as the Rams’ top option at running back.

Based on Pro Football Focus’ grades, they’re each among the best players at their respective positions, which is part of the reason L.A.’s offense has been so effective in the first three weeks of the season.

According to PFF, Goff is the third-highest graded quarterback in the league, behind only Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson. In fact, he’s the fourth-highest graded player in the NFL on offense, with Mo Alie-Cox between him and the other two quarterbacks.

As for Henderson, he’s the NFL’s top-graded running back through three weeks, according to Pro Football Focus. That puts his performance thus far into perspective, showing just how effective he’s been not only as a runner, but also as a receiver.

They’re not the only Rams players who rank in the top 10 of their respective positions. Cooper Kupp is the third-best receiver, according to PFF’s grades, while Tyler Higbee is the No. 10 tight end.

On the offensive line, Andrew Whitworth is the second-best tackle in the league, David Edwards (in limited action) has the ninth-best grade of any guard, and Austin Blythe’s shift to center has gone well, earning the eighth-best grade among all NFL centers.

Even in a game where the Rams scored just three points in the first half, the offense performed well. Goff went over 300 yards passing, Henderson had 114 yards rushing and a touchdown, and Kupp caught nine passes for 107 yards and a score.

It’ll be hard for the Rams’ top offensive players to keep up this pace, but if they do, L.A. will be in great shape as the season rolls on.

TJ Hockenson off to franchise record start with Lions

 

ByDAVID EICKHOLT 4 hours ago

 

T.J. Hockenson has had a strong start to his 2020 season. After a devastating ankle injury prematurely ended his rookie season, the former Iowa Hawkeyes star has been a consistent weapon for Matthew Stafford. 

In Detroit's 26-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals, Hockenson finished with four receptions totaling 53 yards. Following the performance, the Detroit Lions' PR account tweeted out a feat that Hockenson has already accomplished this season.  

 

"(T.J. Hockenson) is the first TE in franchise history to produce at least 50 receiving yards in each of the first three games of a season. He is also the first Lions tight end to have 4+ receptions and 50+ yards in 3-straight games since TE Brandon Pettigrew did so in 2010."

 

Through three games this season, Hockenson has 13 catches totaling 171 yards and one touchdown. It's a solid start, especially considering that Hockenson told reporters in August that he still doesn't feel one hundred percent.

 

During his rookie season, the former Iowa star went on to appear in 12 games with seven starts, hauling in 32 receptions on 59 targets for 367 yards and two touchdowns.

 

Earlier this offseason NFL.com writer Adam Rank previewed the Lions 2020 season and believes that Hockenson will be a breakout star for Detroit this season. 

 

“A lot of people called the tight end "Patricia's Gronk" after Detroit selected him at No. 8 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft,” Rank wrote. “And those folks doubled down on that sentiment when Hockenson caught six passes for 131 yards and a touchdown in the season opener. But he never came close to that kind of production again, totaling just 26 catches for 236 yards and a touchdown over the rest of the season.

 

“Honestly, not a huge surprise, considering A) the TE position usually takes a few NFL seasons to master, B) Hockenson was limited by injuries and C) Stafford missed half the year. I'm really looking forward to seeing what Hockenson can do in 2020.”

 

Prior to the start of the season, Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com said that Hockenson is his breakout player for the Lions in the 2020 season. 

 

"The tight end position is probably the toughest for rookies to learn outside of quarterback," wrote Twentyman. "It's essentially learning three positions at once, and those guys have to know all the protections, blocking schemes and then obviously the route tree and passing game concepts."

 

"We don't typically see tight ends come into the league and tear it up as rookies. There's plenty examples, however, of guys having big second seasons, and that's certainly what I expect from Detroit's first-round pick in 2019."

 

Hockenson was a star for the Hawkeyes caught 24 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns over 13 games in 2017. But he broke out as a redshirt sophomore, hauling in 49 catches for 760 yards and six touchdowns en route to winning the John Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end and being named a first-team All-American.

 

The former Iowa star is currently on pace to finish 2020 with 69 receptions totaling 922 yards and five touchdowns. Hockenson and the Lions will return to action on Sunday when they host the New Orleans Saints. 

 

Rex Burkhead thanked his teammates after 3 TD performance

 

"It all starts with the guys up front."

Rex Burkhead of the Patriots celebrates scoring a third quarter touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. –Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

By Deyscha Smith, Boston.com Staff

September 27, 2020

“Burky had a game. He had a day.”

That’s how Patriots quarterback Cam Newton summed up an electrifying performance from running back Rex Burkhead in the win against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. The Patriots’ running backs dominated against the Raiders, especially Burkhead — who had 49 yards rushing, 49 yards receiving, and finished with three touchdowns.

“It doesn’t matter if it was at the running back position, which was highlighted today, or anything else moving forward. It’s just another different asset to attacking the defense and, like I said, Burky had a day and who knows who it could be next week.”

 While Newton praised him, Burkhead dished the credit to his teammates for helping with the win.

“It all starts with the guys up front,” Burkhead said after the game. “Offensive line did a tremendous job tonight, just being physical from the get-go from the first drive, and of course J.J. [Taylor] and Sony [Michel] doing great as well.”

With the absence of center David Andrews and running back James White, he was just as impressed with how different players stepped in to fill their spot.

“Like you said, it’s the next guy up. For them to fill in was tremendous [and] not only them but the receivers out wide, blocking Julian [Edelman], N’Keal [Harry] doing a great job finishing plays.”

Burkhead himself was doing his job, leaping over Raiders’ defenders to find the end zone. It’s the first three-touchdown game of his career.

Surfing in for the score.@RBrex34 | #GoPats

📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/fDrQxrdlzf

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 27, 2020

"Flying and contorting and spinning into the end zone!" @RBrex34 | #GoPats

📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/FpMOuLwDF1

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 27, 2020

As far as what to expect against the Kansas City Chiefs next Sunday,

“It’s a great challenge for us,” he said. “They’re the defending champs so we know they’re a great team offensively, defensively and special teams. We’re going to have to be ready to go.”