Rookies to Watch in the Thursday and Friday Night Preseason Games

By Chad Stapley
Chad Stapley

Blake Bortles – QB – Jacksonville Jaguars
There is a clear reason why Bortles was the first QB taken this year; with his first preseason game under his belt I am looking for Bortles to make more plays happen. In his first NFL action he went 7/11 for 117 yards with no TDs or INTs. Bortles has all the physical elements to be a very successful QB in the NFL and the Jags just drafted two young WRs who should develop nice targets for Bortles in the future. I think Bortles is hands down the best QB in his draft class.

Marqise Lee – WR – Jacksonville Jaguars
Lee is penciled in as a starter opposite Cecil Shorts and he actually started in his first preseason game last week but did not record a catch. Even worse Lee didn’t even get targeted once by any QB. Lee was brought in to be a difference maker and he is going to need to show a lot more or this could be a long season for the Jags.

Storm Johnson – RB – Jacksonville Jaguars
The backup RB position is wide open for Johnson to make a splash and grab some carries from the newly acquired Toby Gerhart. Johnson had a pretty average first preseason game running the ball nine times for just 21 yards. That type of production is not going to get you any sort of significant playing time. Johnson has the skills and talent to succeed in the NFL he just needs to learn the playbook.

Kadeem Carey & Jordan Lynch – RB – Chicago Bears
Carey was brought in to essentially back up Matt Forte, but with the type of performance he turned in against the Eagles in Week 1 I do not think they are ready to trust him with the backup role just yet. Lynch is a former college QB making the transformation to RB in the NFL and he actually looked better than Carey. Lynch ran the ball seven times for 24 yards and Carey ran the ball 10 times for 23 yards; neither are going to be good enough to backup Forte. Both of these guys have the ability to break off big plays with their playmaking abilities.

Jimmy Garoppolo – QB – New England Patriots
I don’t think anyone really expecting Garoppolo to outshine Ryan Mallet like he did; now I want to see what he can do when everyone expects him to perform well. He went 9/13 for 157 yards and a TD. He is sure to get extended playing time this week and if he continues to perform how he did in Week 1 this guy will be pushing Tom Brady in the next couple of years to early retirement.


Zach Mettenberger – QB – Tennessee Titans
This name may come as a surprise on this list as he has essentially no chance to start and is penciled in as the 3rd string QB thus far. Mettenberger even had a pretty awful first game going 4/7 for 87 yards and an INT. With the uncertainty with Jake Locker and the backup being journey man Charlie Whitehurst, you could see a scenario form where Locker under performs and Mettenberger skips Whitehurst on the Depth Chart due to potential alone. Let’s not forget that people were talking about taking this guy in the 1st round before he got injured in his last season of college football. This is a situation I would pay close attention to because Mettenberger has a big arm and the Titans have some legitimate deep threat WRs.

Brandin Cooks – WR – New Orleans Saints
This is a no brainer addition to this list. Cooks is NFL ready and the Saints have already made him a big part of the game plan. He caught five passes for 55 yards in his first NFL action. He runs crisp routes and has excellent hands. It doesn’t hurt that he has one of the best QBs in the league throwing him the pig skin.

Marion Grice – RB – San Diego Chargers
Grice was drafted in the 6th round of the 2014 NFL Draft and it seemed as if he was more of a luxury pick than a pick of need. Grice has game breaking speed and if he can get to the corner he could be deadly. The only problem is that he brings the same type of game as Danny Woodhead and his touches are sure to be limited. He got extended action in first preseason game and it was mostly disappointing. Grice ran the ball 14 times for 35 yards and had one catch for four yards, he will need to show more than that to get any sort of playing time.

Paul Richardson – WR – Seattle Seahawks
Richardson has game breaking speed and he has a great set of hands. Seattle needs all the playmakers they can get especially in the WR category. Richardson did not disappoint in his first NFL action grabbing four catches for 37 yards. If he can pick the playbook up quickly this guy could be a serious fantasy point producer.

Derek Carr – QB – Oakland Raiders
Can Carr ever get out from behind his brothers shadow? That is going to be his biggest obstacle because he has all the physical tools to succeed in this league. He also benefits from having the worst group of QB’s in front of him in Matt Schaub & Matt McGloin. If those guys stutter out the gates and Carr picks up a bit of momentum you could see Carr starting by week six. Carr didn’t have the best game in his preseason opener going 10/16 for 74 yards and an INT but either did anyone else who played QB for the Raiders.