This section is mainly going to be quick hits and thoughts from Week 1 in preseason football. This entire list is young talent in the NFL that you should keep your eye on as preseason continues.

Carlos Hyde – RB – San Francisco 49ers
Hyde has not skipped a beat since joining the 49ers; given the injuries to LaMichael James & Kendall Hunter, Hyde has been able to get more touches with the 2nd team. In limited action last week he had 5 attempts for 39 yards. That type of production is going to earn you playing time, especially when your starting RB is an aging Frank Gore.

Bruce Ellington – WR – San Francisco 49ers
Ellington was taken in the 4th round of this year’s draft. He is a guy that can do damage at both the slot and outside WR spot and he is a huge asset when it comes to special teams. He is an elite return man as you can see from his two kickoff returns for 61 yards in his first NFL action. Ellington also caught three passes for 35 yards. Ellington might have trouble seeing the field as a WR with all the talent the 49ers have but he will absolutely make an impact on Special Teams.

Lorenzo Taliaferro – RB – Baltimore Ravens
Taliaferro is another recent 4th round draft pick from 2014 that is really showing some promise. With the shaky RB situation the Ravens have concerning the legal issues and suspension for Ray Rice and how poorly Bernard Pierce performed last year when Rice was hurt is going to open up a door for Taliaferro to get some touches early on. In his first NFL action he ran the ball 13 times for 71 yards; which has officially put him on my watch list. He is going to be a stud in the league.

Alfred Blue – RB – Houston Texans
Blue was the lone bright spot for the Texans in their preseason defeat against the Cardinals. The Texans have a similar situation as the Ravens; their starting RB has major injury concerns and they have no one as a viable option as a backup. Blue ran the ball five times for 30 yards in his first NFL action. He comes from a big time college football (LSU) so he has been playing against the best of the best for the past few years. Blue could be the steal of the draft.

Logan Thomas – QB – Arizona Cardinals
I have already written an article about Thomas and his physical attributes, but pairing his abilities with the Bruce Arians offense is a match made in heaven. The Cardinals not only have the WR talent to spread the field but they have a young QB who is bound to take of the reins from Carson Palmer and perform admirably. Thomas went an eye popping 11/12 for 113 yards, and one TD pass.

Johnny Manziel – QB – Cleveland Browns
Johnny Football did what Johnny Football does. Everyone pretty much knew it was WHEN not IF, Johnny Football would take over the QB position from Brian Hoyer. Manziel went 7/11 for 63 yards and he ran the ball 6 times for 27 yards. He showed flashes of ability and once he gains full control of their offensive scheme the sky will be the limit for him. Hoyer has officially been put on watch; one more good game from Manziel and a bad game from Hoyer and you could see a switch at QB for Cleveland.

George Winn – RB – Detroit Lions
Winn is an undrafted guy from Cincinnati and if he keeps performing like he did in his first NFL action then the Lions will have to find a spot for him on the roster. Winn ran the ball 6 times for 39 yards and added 3 catches for another 23 yards. If Winn starts putting up the same type of production against the starters and backups he could find his way on the 53 man roster.

MarQueis Gray – TE – Cleveland Browns
Gray is the first 2nd year player to make it on this list. He is a converted QB trying to transition to TE in the NFL. He is 6’4 and weighs 242 lbs. so he has the proto typical size and athleticism for TE’s today in the league. Pairing him next to Jordan Cameron could create a match up nightmare for opposing defenses. He caught two passes for 54 yards this week; he is absolutely someone to keep an eye on.

Kendall Gaskins & Andre Williams – RB – New York Giants
One of these guys will be backing up Rashad Jennings and one will most likely play sparingly at RB and mostly special teams. Right now it’s a tossup for who is delegated for what position. They both have perfect size for RB in the NFL and both have shown flashes of ability when given the opportunity. I would pay close attention to who wins the RB #2 spot for the Giants; with their WR talent (or lack thereof) they could be running the ball a whole lot in 2014.

Bishop Sankey – RB – Tennessee Titans
Sankey is somehow listed as the backup to Shon Greene in the first official depth chart. That will not be the case for long. Sankey touched the ball 16 times for 75 yards in his first NFL action. Can you imagine what he will be capable when he actually knows the entire playbook for the Titans? If somehow you can get your hands on Sankey you should get him because he is going to be relied on heavily this year.

Daniel Herron – RB – Indianapolis Colts
Herron is another 2nd year guy who is actually already on his 2nd NFL team. With all the uncertainty with the RB situation for the Colts a guy with Herron’s ability is going to see some major playing time, especially if he keeps putting on a show in preseason. Herron touched the ball 13 times for 62 yards and a TD. He can catch passes out of the backfield and he offers a little bit in the running game.

Jimmy Garoppolo – QB – New England Patriots
The Patriots have dabbled with the thought of having Ryan Mallet taking over at QB once the all mighty Tom Brady finally retires. In this year’s draft they turned everyone’s heads by drafting the small school prospect Garoppolo out of Eastern Illinois. Wouldn’t you know that the Patriots know exactly what they are doing as Garoppolo severely outplayed Mallet in what was being called his audition to be traded to another team. Garoppolo is the future for the Patriots and it looks bright.

Lache Seastrunk – RB – Washington Redskins
When RGIII said he wanted the Redskins to draft Seastrunk it didn’t make much sense to me because they have a workhorse in Alfred Morris. Then I saw Seastrunk absolutely shred the Patriots defense in more way than one. He finished his first NFL action carrying the ball 12 times for 63 yards; pairing him with Morris is going to be a dangerous 1-2 punch for opposing defenses.

Matt Scott – QB – Cincinnati Bengals
Not only did Scott absolutely dismantle anything the Chiefs threw at him, but he threw up while the clock was running then proceeded to throw a TD pass. Scott went 6/11 for 66 yards and 2 passing TDs to pair with his 6 rushing attempts for 68 yards. This is his 2nd NFL home as he was an undrafted free agent out of Arizona playing for the Jags in 2013. If Scott keeps performing like this he could push Jason Campbell to back up the incumbent Andy Dalton.

Jeremy Hill – RB – Cincinnati Bengals
Hill is going to have a hard time finding carries with the likes of Giovani Bernard & Benjarvis Green-Ellis in front of him. If he keeps having games where he runs the ball six times for 36 yards and averages six yards per carry the Bengals may be looking for a new home for Green-Ellis. Hill and Bernard would form one of the most dangerously young RB duos in the league to go with an already pretty stout passing attack.

Juwan Thompson – RB – Denver Broncos
There are two things you need to know about Thompson, he is on the Broncos roster as an undrafted player out of Duke (so he is smart) and he always keeps his legs running. Thompson ran the ball six times for 59 yards against the defending super bowl champion Seahawks. That type of production will not go unnoticed. The Broncos can always use another weapon at Peyton Manning’s side.

Dontrelle Inman – WR – San Diego Chargers
Inman is an undrafted WR out of Virginia so he is fighting for a roster spot. In his limited action in his first NFL action he was targeted three times pulling down all three catches for 107 yards and a TD. He is big (6’3) and fast (caught a 70 yard bomb) and he can be just the type of target Phillip Rivers would love to have, if he makes the roster.