SneakerReporter NFL Top 30: #6 DeAndre Hopkins

SneakerReporter NFL Top 30: #6 DeAndre Hopkins

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by | Aug 30, 2019 | Featured, NFL

6. DeAndre Hopkins

Team: Houston Texans

Position: WR

Experience: 6 Years

Simply put, DeAndre Hopkins is the best wide receiver in the NFL. Debate if you want but the job of the receiver is to catch passes and last season, Hopkins did not drop a single ball. That’s right, he was thrown 115 catchable passes last year and he finished with 115 receptions. He was an offense all to himself. No matter how opponents chose to defend him if the ball was within his catch radius it was going to come down in his possession. Hopkins has gotten better each season and it is scary to think what the next step in his progression will be.

Even before Andrew Luck decided to retire, the Houston Texans were considered a team that not only could win the AFC South but also be a threat to the New England Patriots in the AFC. Part of the reason is the connection that Hopkins and Deshaun Watson have developed. Their production is equal to or better than any other quarterback and wide receiver duo currently in the league. Capitalizing on this pair is important, As long as both remain healthy this franchise will surely be in the discussion for the playoffs.

For his part, Hopkins is truly a complete receiver. He can run a complete route tree. He has the speed to burst past taller cornerbacks and the size to jump over smaller cornerbacks. Unless he lines up against an All-Pro defensive back (sometimes even that isn’ enough) you can pencil him in with a catch if Houston runs a passing play. If the team success can match the stats that Hopkins routinely puts up then by this time next year he could be the clear-cut answer for the question of who’s the best wideout in the NFL.

He’s coming off of back-to-back First-Team All-Pro selections and looks on the path to repeat everything we saw from him last season. The Texans have added Will Fuller V and Keke Coutee to their receiver room in hopes of opening the field for Hopkins even more. However, the two of them have rarely been able to stay on the field as they have piled up injury after injury over the course of their short times in the league to date. If the supporting pieces are available Hopkins overall numbers may dip some but he could be even more efficient–if it is even possible to be more efficient than not dropping a single pass.

At the end of the day, regardless of who’s out there with him and who’s throwing him the ball, Hopkins has the talent to dominate. He has done just that over the last two seasons. If he continues, there’s a chance that his name will land even higher on this list when it comes out next year.

Aug 30, 2019 No Comments
SneakerReporter NFL Top 30: #8 Andrew Luck

SneakerReporter NFL Top 30: #8 Andrew Luck

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by | Aug 28, 2019 | Featured, NFL

8. Andrew Luck

Team: Indianapolis Colts

Position: QB

Experience: 7 Years

Andrew Luck was a sure thing. Coming out of Stanford he was clearly head and shoulders above his peers. This is why the Indianapolis Colts let go of future Hall of Fame quarterback, and up to that point “Mr. Colt”, Peyton Manning so that they could hand the reigns of the franchise over the Luck immediately. His talent was evident right away but the supporting players around him didn’t match his level to help the Colts produce wins immediately. Still, the team felt that they had their franchise quarterback locked in for the next decade-plus.

Then, on Saturday August 24, news leaked that Luck—who had missed the bulk of minicamp and training camp this offseason with lingering ankle and calf issues—was going to retire from the NFL. Everyone was shocked. It didn’t make sense that a 29-year-old All-Pro quarterback would decide to walk away from the game in his prime. Especially with the changes to how the game is officiated and how quarterbacks are more protected now than ever. However, Luck is gone for now and all we can do is look back on his career instead of looking ahead as we’ve done for the previous selections on the SneakerReporter Top 30.

In his seven seasons Luck easily cemented his status as one of the elite players at his position. His numbers were among the top tier year-in and year-out. He made the Pro Bowl the first three seasons of his NFL career. In 2014 he eclipsed Peyton Manning’s single-season record for passing yards by throwing for 4,761 yards. It was very evident that he would have written his name in numerous record books had his career continued past 2018. During his time with the team there weren’t many players elsewhere that were better.

Injuries were ultimately the downfall of his short-lived career. In 2016 he suffered a shoulder injury on his throwing arm that eventually forced him to sit out for the entirety of the 2017 year. He followed that up by winning AP Comeback Player of the Year in what would end up being his final season in the league. Earlier we alluded to the ankle and calf injury that kept him sidelined to begin this summer. The daunting task—both physically and mentally—of another prolonged rehabilitation made Luck decide that it was time for him to call it quits and hang up the jersey.

In the end, even though we didn’t get as long of a career out of Luck as we are accustomed to he still made his mark on the Colts and the NFL. Instead of harping on what we will be missing it’s best to reflect on the seven years that we were able to watch one of the premier players in the league’s history. Luck earned his spot on this list even though he will ultimately not play a single down this season.

Aug 28, 2019 No Comments
SneakerRepoerter NFL Top 30: #10 Drew Brees

SneakerRepoerter NFL Top 30: #10 Drew Brees

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by | Aug 26, 2019 | Featured, NFL

10. Drew Brees

Team: New Orleans Saints

Position: QB

Experience: 18 Years

Over the last few years the NFL has become a pass-first league. With more and more teams turning to the air the importance of having an elite quarterback has become a more pressing need. In New Orleans, they have had their man at the spot cemented for quite some time. When they signed Drew Brees in 2006 not many could’ve predicted he would be one of the top QBs in the entire league over the next 12 years. With Brees, the Saints have helped bring about the offensive revolution that the NFL has undergone of late.

He began his career with the then-named San Diego Chargers and in his five years there he never once cracked 4,000 yards passing in a season. During his first season with New Orleans he capped out at 4,418 yards. Brees has only thrown for less than 4,000 yards once (last season) and has gone over 5,000 yards five different times. Despite his lack of height—he’s listed at six feet even—he has managed to develop into one of the greatest passers in the history of the sport. Not only does he lead all active players in total passing yards but his career marks of 74,437 yards and 6,586 completions are both records.

At first, a lot of the success or failures of the team landed squarely on the shoulders of their quarterback. In recent years, the additions of running back Alvin Kamara and wide receiver Michael Thomas have lessened the load. They also have made the offense in the Bayou even more electric. Both are playmakers capable of turning a simple pass into an explosive touchdown. With opposing defenses focused so much on them it makes it easier on Brees to decipher looks and coverages before the snap. With the amount of All-Pro talent this team has they will definitely be a contender for Super Bowl XLIV in Miami.

As we all know (and saw) the chance at possibly winning one last year was snatched away from the team when a pass interference penalty went uncalled as the team was driving to take the lead in the NFC Championship. However, New Orleans must not get caught up on harping on what could’ve been. If they focus on the present they will be much more likely to duplicate their run from a year ago. Heartbreak has been a theme of the Saints recent playoff appearances. Their last-second loss to the Minnesota Vikings came in 2017.

If there’s anyone with the skill, moxie, charisma, and leadership to steer this team back to the mountaintop it’s Brees. He has already brought one Super Bowl trophy to Louisiana and the team is primed to make a run at number two once more. He’s also attempting to fight off Father Time a little longer. He will turn 41 in mid-January but he has yet to show any signs of slowing down or losing his touch. New Orleans took a gamble on Brees in free agency 13 years ago and it has surely paid off for both parties.

Aug 26, 2019 No Comments
BREAKING NEWS: Colts QB Andrew Luck Informs Team He’s Retiring

BREAKING NEWS: Colts QB Andrew Luck Informs Team He’s Retiring

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by | Aug 25, 2019 | Featured, NFL, uncategorised

 In the midst of Week 3 NFL Preseason, a.k.a. “Dress Rehearsals”, a bombshell broke when ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Indianapolis Colts franchise quarterback, Andrew Luck has told the team that he plans on retiring. 

The news came as a shock to everyone. With Luck nursing a tricky ankle/calf injury, the team initially planned on revealing their decision on the status of the quarterback Monday. That news came a couple days early.

Luck had admitted that his recovery from shoulder surgery a few years ago made him miserable. Last season was a breath of fresh air but this offseason saw another prolonged stint of rehab and recovery.

The thought was too much and the quarterback decided to hang up his jersey instead.

The 29-year-old will finish his career with the final stat totals of: 86 games played, 23,671 passing yardS, 171 touchdowns, four Pro Bowls, and four playoff victories.

A press conference is scheduled for tomorrow where Luck will make his decision official.

Aug 25, 2019 No Comments
SneakerReporter NFL Top 30: #12 Russell Wilson

SneakerReporter NFL Top 30: #12 Russell Wilson

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by | Aug 23, 2019 | Featured, NFL

12. Russell Wilson

Team: Seattle Seahawks

Position: QB

Experience: 7 Years

Russell Wilson was selected in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft. The Seattle Seahawks had just given free-agent quarterback Matt Flynn a $26 million contract and Wilson was looked at as taking a chance as opposed to a potential starter. However, before the end of the preseason, the undersized Wilson had beat out Flynn and was named the team’s starting quarterback. He started every game as a rookie and was named to the Pro Bowl in his first year. The Virginia native has not looked back since then.

At 5’11”, Wilson is one of the few sub-six-foot players to have success at the quarterback position. He’s made five Pro Bowls total, has not missed a single start in seven seasons and has split his two Super Bowl appearances (won SB XLVII, lost Super Bowl XLIX). In spite of his lack of height, Wilson has easily been one of the best players in the league. In six of his seven seasons as a starter, the Seahawks have won double-digit games—in the one year they didn’t (2017) they won nine. At the end of the day, a quarterback is ultimately judged by one thing, wins. Wilson’s 75-36-1 record looks pretty good compared to his peers.

Under Pete Carroll, Seattle has been known more for its aggressive defense (see: Legion of Boom) and run-first approach (see: Marshawn Lynch). During the team’s early success, Wilson didn’t receive much credit. Instead, those other two parts of the team were championed as the reason why they had made such a quick turnaround. Yet, as the Legion of Boom disassembled and Lynch left, the one constant remained is the quarterback. In 2017 his 34 touchdown passes led the league and he followed that up by throwing a career-high 35 last season as an encore.

With a quarterback as good as Wilson it would be assumed that the smart thing to do would be to let Wilson throw as often as he could. However, after back-to-back seasons of 500-plus pass attempts, his total dipped down to 427. The run game is still the backbone for Carroll’s offensive attack. This still benefits Wilson as he is one of the best play-action and bootleg quarterbacks in the league today. Getting him on the move not only allows him to use his legs as a threat but also helps to get him a clearer picture of the field away from the offensive and defensive linemen.

Passing has grown to become a big part of the modern NFL. Though the Seahawks offense hasn’t fully caught up to the times, they have one of the premier players at a position of need. Wilson’s presence on their roster makes them a playoff-caliber team year-in and year-out. This season, the team hopes it can unseat the reigning NFC champions, the Los Angeles Rams, and reclaim supremacy over the NFC West that they used to rule easily. Another Pro Bowl—maybe a potential MVP year—is what is needed of Wilson and so far he’s come up big for the Seahawks each year.

Aug 23, 2019 No Comments