Let\u2019s face it. First impressions are important.<\/p>\n
You get a bloody nose on your first date? Not ideal.<\/p>\n
You hit a parked car on your driver\u2019s test? Whoops.<\/p>\n
You catch one pass for 4 yards in your highly anticipated NFL debut? Big yikes!<\/p>\n
OK, maybe the last example was a little harsh. You might not get that second date, and you might have to wait to get your driver\u2019s license, but there\u2019s always an opportunity to erase the memory of one dud game if you\u2019re an NFL receiver with enormous talent.<\/p>\n
Here are three players who could bounce back in Week 2:<\/p>\n
WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals<\/h2>\n
Yes, we know, one catch for 4 yards. But think about it this way: 4 yards is 12 feet!<\/p>\n
Sarcasm aside, it is far too early to overreact to Harrison\u2019s quiet debut. Quarterback Kyler Murray ended up focusing mostly on Trey McBride (nine targets) and Greg Dortch (eight), and James Conner got four targets out of the backfield.<\/p>\n
Harrison was fourth with a trio of targets, and he caught only one of those passes. But if you dig a little deeper, you see that he was on the field for 55 plays\u201490.2% of Arizona\u2019s offense. That was more than McBride (52 snaps, 85.3 percent), Conner (41 snaps, 67.2 percent), and Dortch (37 snaps, 60.7 percent).<\/p>\n
The rookie is going to be OK<\/a>. We think.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Haters gonna hate, etc., but Kelce knows to shake it off when it comes to Week 1.<\/p>\n In some ways, Kelce was lucky that the Chiefs went up against the Baltimore Ravens in the season opener. Most of the tight end consternation focused on the other side of the field, where Mark Andrews sold hot dogs in the stands while Isaiah Likely caught a whopping nine passes for 111 yards and a touchdown.<\/p>\n Andrews is \u201cLikely\u201d facing big competition from his teammate all season. But Kelce is in a different situation in Kansas City, where he\u2019s still the clear alpha at his position.<\/p>\n Look at routes run: Kelce was involved in 48 plays, which represented 88.9 percent of Kansas City\u2019s offense. No other pass-catcher was on the field as much as he was. He finished with only three receptions for 34 yards, but stay patient. Kelce has big games on the way.<\/p>\n Aiyuk spent most of the preseason watching clips of Jerry Maguire — \u201cShowww Me the Money!!!\u201d — so it wasn\u2019t a huge surprise that he was quiet in Week 1. He caught two passes for 28 yards from Brock Purdy, who will join him on the way to the bank soon.<\/p>\nTE Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n
Feb. 12, 2023: Andy Reid and Travis Kelce celebrate the Kansas City Chiefs’ win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. credits: Michael Chow \/ USA TODAY NETWORK <\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
WR Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n
Nov 19, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) leans into the play against Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive back Dee Delaney (30) during the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium. credits: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports <\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n