Rookie WRs Have Been Strong, To Quite Strong This Year

We knew it was a loaded WR class in this past draft and these guys have not disappointed.

Five were drafted in the 1st round..

Sammy Watkins, 4th overall, Buffalo Bills
Mike Evans, 7th overall, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Odell Beckham Jr., 12th overall, New York Giants
Brandin Cooks, 20th overall, New Orleans Saints
Kelvin Benjamin, 28th overall, Carolina Panthers

Evans is on a streak of 3 straight games with at least 100 yards receiving and a TD... something that hasn't happened since Randy Moss back in 1998.  Evans is currently 10th in the league in rec. yards.

Benjamin is the #1 WR for Carolina, 13th in the NFL in yards to go along with 8 TDs.

Watkins, Beckham, and Cooks have all fought through some injuries (Cooks now on IR) but have all shown flashes of being just nasty.

Non 1st rounders who look good...

Jordan Matthews, 42nd overall, Philadelphia Eagles
Martavis Bryant, 118th overall, Pittsburgh Steelers
Davante Adams, 53rd overall, Green Bay Packers
John Brown, 91st overall, Arizona Cardinals
Allen Robinson, 61st overall, Jacksonville Jaguars
Allen Hurns, undrafted, Jacksonville Jaguars

Matthews is turning into a beast in Philly, Bryant got a late start but slapped together 4 straight ridiculous games, John Brown has been a slick option out in Arizona.  Robinson was the leading receiver in Jax before getting hurt, Hurns also had some monster games.  Adams is showing promise in that high scoring attack up in Green Bay.

That's 11 WRs who have been productive this year.  And here some other guys I still like (more than say an Aaron Dobson or Josh Boyce...)

Marqise Lee, 39th overall, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jarvis Landry, 63rd overall, Miami Dolphins
Donte Moncrief, 90th overall, Indianapolis Colts
Taylor Gabriel, undrafted, Cleveland Browns

2013-14 NBA All-Rookie Teams

1st Team:

Michael Carter-Williams, Philadelphia 76ers

Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic

Trey Burke, Utah Jazz

Mason Plumlee, Brooklyn Nets

Tim Hardaway Jr., New York Knicks

2nd Team:

Kelly Olynyk, BOSTON CELTICS

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Gorgui Dieng, Minnesota Timberwolves

Cody Zeller, Charlotte Bobcats

Steven Adams, Oklahoma City Thunder

Hopefully next year will be a little more competitive for these spots.  Ugly stuff. 

Rising Stars aka Rookie-Sophomore Game Player Pool

The old Rookie-Sophomore game is now the Rising Stars Challenge (Ok.)  Here are the 18 players who were selected to play.

Sophomores:
Harrison Barnes, Golden State Warriors
Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards
Anthony Davis, New Orleans Hornets
Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons
Terrence Jones, Houston Rockets
Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
Jared Sullinger, Boston Celtics
Jonas Valanciunas, Toronto Raptors
Dion Waiters, Cleveland Cavaliers

Rookies:
Steven Adams, Oklahoma City Thunder
Pero Antic, Atlanta Hawks
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Trey Burke, Utah Jazz
Michael Carter-Williams, Philadelphia 76ers
Tim Hardaway Jr., New York Knicks
Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic
Kelly Olynyk, Boston Celtics
Mason Plumlee, Brooklyn Nets


Wow, how bad is this rookie class?  Only 2 of the Top 10 picks from this draft were invited to play in this thing (Oladipo, 2 and Burke 9).  #1 pick Anthony Bennett?  He just scored in double-figures for the first time all season last night.  So, good for him.   Awful, awful draft.