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Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2001
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Stepping up
Rookie wideouts are coming to the forefront
By Jeff Agrest, Senior editor
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| We’ve been of the belief that 2001 would be
the year of the of the rookie wide receiver. Despite the long-standing theory that, nine
times out of 10, wideouts produce little in their first season, we at Pro Football
Weekly thought this season would be different. If Week Seven was any indication, we
might be on to something.
Bears WR David Terrell caught two TD passes. Redskins WR Rod Gardner caught his second
TD pass in two weeks. Chiefs WR Marvin Minnis caught four passes for 64 yards. Colts WR
Reggie Wayne caught five passes for 63 yards. Dolphins WR Chris Chambers caught three
passes for 76 yards.
While no one has been what Randy Moss was as a rookie, the 2001 class of rookie
wideouts is proving to be quite a productive one, and the latest newcomer might steal the
show. Terrell, the No. 1 pick of the Bears, played an integral role in his team’s
comeback win over San Francisco, scoring two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Though he caught
only three passes in the game, the fact he was looked to in the clutch raises his fantasy
value.
Though Gardner’s yardage output plummeted from 208 to 20 in a week, he still
showed up on the score sheet. Minnis has the opportunity to step up amid a below-average
group of wideouts, save Derrick Alexander. However, Larry Parker has become worth
watching, given his two-TD effort last week. Wayne is coming on strong without the injured
Jerome Pathon and Terrence Wilkins to hold him back, and Chambers has drawn rave reviews
in Dolphins camp.
On the other hand, we’re still waiting for Eagles WR Freddie Mitchell to break
through. He has only two catches all year. Seahawks WR Koren Robinson also is scoreless,
but at least he’s been involved in the offense, catching 16 passes. Jets WR Santana
Moss is out for another month or so with a knee injury.
Mitchell was held back early by a hamstring injury, but he wasn’t expected to be
held back by the West Coast offense, which he ran at UCLA. But it hasn’t clicked for
him with the Eagles just yet, and with WRs James Thrash and Todd Pinkston and TE Chad
Lewis hogging the ball, it may be some time before Mitchell breaks through.
Robinson has shown flashes of ability, but as a younger rookie (he left school early),
he’s still learning. A hamstring injury slowed him in training camp, but he’s
healthy now. The biggest problem has been Seattle’s QB play. Until Darrell
Jackson’s TD catch last Sunday, the Seahawks were the only team without a touchdown
from a wide receiver. |
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The Archives
2001 - 2002 Season |
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| "In our
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| "PFW spins"
— short-takes on current events |
| Joel
Buchsbaum — college player evaluations, NFL player analysis, NFL draft coverage,
NFL notepad, NFList, college game previews and other NFL articles by PFW's contributing
editor |
| NFL Draft —
player evaluations, printouts, feature stories, commentaries, draft recaps |
| Ron
Pollack — articles and commentary by PFW's editor-in-chief |
| Season in
review — the 2001-2002 NFL season |
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