Friday Updates
- David Reed is likely out for the Colts. Cassius Vaughn is most likely to return kickoffs again.
- Deonte Thompson is dobutful for the Ravens, and Bernard Pierce was questionable though looks likely to play now. If they cannot go or are limited, the team may have to turn to Shaun Draughn for kickoff returns, and Tandon Doss to back up Lardarius Webb on punts.
Where Did All The KICK Returns Go?
Entering the first week of the NFL season, the biggest questions had been about a handful of teams whose plans for their returners were still unclear. Those questions were largely answered, but an entirely new set of questions was raised by the severe drop off in the number of kickoff returns in Week 1. Since the NFL moved kickoffs up to the 35-yard line two years ago, teams have each returned around 2.7 kickoffs per game. In week 1 of the 2013 season, teams averaged barely over half as many with 1.4 kickoffs each.
The drop in kick returns could be an outlier that is unlikely to repeat, though it also may be a sign of NFL teams placing more of a premium on kickers with leg strength that can eliminate returns. Week 1 projections were made using each kicker's touchback percentage from either the 2012 season, or for the preseason for those kickers who are in their first season as kickoff specialists. This week, a weighted average is being used that favors Week 1. If this turns into a continuing trend the projections will quickly account for it.
Punt returns occurred at the normal rate of 2.3 per team. If touchbacks continue on kickoffs at the current rate, we may see a shift in value towards the punt returners. The top punt returner tends to accumulate around 500 return yards, which would be enough to compete with a top ten kick returner in most seasons.
Other Questions Answered
Other lingering questions were answered by Week 1, such as whether fantasy significant players like Randall Cobb would see returns. Cobb and Jeremy Ross split returns for the Packers, with Cobb receiving 4 of the team's 12 returns, including 3 punts. Other team situations became clearer as Cleveland went with Bobby Rainey for the majority of their kickoff returns, while the Rams used Tavon Austin on all punts and Benny Cunningham on all kick returns.
Like the Rams, most teams stuck with the same player for the majority of each type of return unless injury struck. The Bengals were an exception, with Brandon Tate and Adam Jones splitting punt returns, as were the Packers and the aforementioned duo of Cobb and Ross. Wes Welker also received 3 of the 9 punts to the Broncos.
A number of significant injuries required teams to make changes in game. Some of the more impactful include:
- Baltimore's Jacoby Jones was run into by his own teammate and will miss 4-6 weeks. Lardarius Webb took over punt returns and Bernard Pierce handled kickoffs.
- Marquise Goodwin of the Bills injured his hand and will miss time, with T.J. Graham likely locking down the job by himself in Goodwin's absence.
- Jeremy Kerley of the Jets suffered a concussion and was replaced by Kyle Wilson. The team plays the Patriots on Thursday Night, and Kerley is not expected to play.
- LaRod Stephens-Howling time with Pittsburgh was short-lived, as he suffered and injury and was put on season-ending Injured Reserve. The Steelers were using Stephens-Howling on kick returns, though after his injury Markus Wheaton and Antonio Brown each were used to return kickoffs rather than Felix Jones.
A select group of players received all of the punt and kick returns for a team. The list includes:
- Ted Ginn of the Panthers
- Devin Hester of the Bears
- Keyshawn Martin of the Texans
- Michael Spurlock of the Lions
- Marcus Thigpen of the Dolphins
- Darren Sproles of the Saints
- Darius Reynaud of the Titans
- Eric Page of the Buccaneers.
A break down of the complete returner usage for each team is included at the bottom of the article. That table shows the player that was intended to be the returner regardless of how the play went. A box score will not show fair catches or touchbacks, and may show a return by an up back who grabs a squib kickoff, or a blocker who was hit by a bouncing punt such as a box score would show. The information provided below reflects the team's intended returner had the play gone normally.
Best of luck to everyone in Week 2.
Week 2 Projections
By Team:
| Receiving Team | KR yards | KR TDs | PR yards | PR TDs | Total Yards | Total TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Eagles | 82 | 0.02 | 20 | 0.04 | 102 | 0.06 |
| San Diego Chargers | 90 | 0.02 | 12 | 0.01 | 102 | 0.04 |
| New England Patriots | 69 | 0.02 | 33 | 0.05 | 101 | 0.06 |
| Denver Broncos | 80 | 0.04 | 19 | 0.04 | 99 | 0.08 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 67 | 0.02 | 27 | 0.05 | 93 | 0.07 |
| Green Bay Packers | 70 | 0.02 | 22 | 0.03 | 92 | 0.05 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 68 | 0.02 | 17 | 0.02 | 85 | 0.04 |
| Detroit Lions | 65 | 0.02 | 20 | 0.03 | 85 | 0.04 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 61 | 0.02 | 22 | 0.03 | 83 | 0.04 |
| New York Jets | 66 | 0.02 | 16 | 0.02 | 82 | 0.04 |
| Miami Dolphins | 56 | 0.01 | 24 | 0.03 | 80 | 0.04 |
| Carolina Panthers | 57 | 0.01 | 22 | 0.05 | 79 | 0.06 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 56 | 0.01 | 21 | 0.03 | 78 | 0.04 |
| St. Louis Rams | 60 | 0.02 | 17 | 0.02 | 76 | 0.04 |
| Houston Texans | 48 | 0.01 | 28 | 0.04 | 76 | 0.05 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 51 | 0.01 | 25 | 0.03 | 76 | 0.04 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 54 | 0.01 | 20 | 0.02 | 74 | 0.04 |
| Tennessee Titans | 49 | 0.01 | 21 | 0.03 | 70 | 0.04 |
| Buffalo Bills | 39 | 0.01 | 29 | 0.07 | 68 | 0.08 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 46 | 0.01 | 21 | 0.03 | 67 | 0.04 |
| Oakland Raiders | 41 | 0.01 | 25 | 0.03 | 67 | 0.04 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 47 | 0.01 | 19 | 0.02 | 66 | 0.04 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 40 | 0.01 | 25 | 0.03 | 65 | 0.04 |
| New Orleans Saints | 44 | 0.01 | 20 | 0.02 | 64 | 0.04 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 43 | 0.01 | 18 | 0.04 | 61 | 0.05 |
| Cleveland Browns | 41 | 0.01 | 19 | 0.02 | 60 | 0.03 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 35 | 0.01 | 24 | 0.03 | 59 | 0.04 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 39 | 0.01 | 19 | 0.02 | 58 | 0.03 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 37 | 0.01 | 21 | 0.03 | 58 | 0.04 |
| New York Giants | 39 | 0.01 | 15 | 0.02 | 54 | 0.03 |
| Chicago Bears | 29 | 0.01 | 23 | 0.05 | 52 | 0.07 |
| Washington Redskins | 14 | 0.00 | 16 | 0.02 | 30 | 0.02 |
By Player:
| Player | Team | Position | KR yards | KR TDs | PR yards | PR TDs | Total Return Yards | Total TDs |
| Trindon Holliday | Denver Broncos | WR | 73 | 0.04 | 15 | 0.04 | 88 | 0.08 |
| Marcus Thigpen | Miami Dolphins | RB | 56 | 0.01 | 24 | 0.03 | 80 | 0.04 |
| Fozzy Whittaker | San Diego Chargers | RB | 72 | 0.02 | 0 | 0.00 | 72 | 0.02 |
| Ted Ginn | Carolina Panthers | WR | 52 | 0.01 | 18 | 0.04 | 69 | 0.06 |
| Dwayne Harris | Dallas Cowboys | WR | 45 | 0.01 | 23 | 0.03 | 68 | 0.04 |
| Michael Spurlock | Detroit Lions | WR | 52 | 0.01 | 16 | 0.02 | 68 | 0.03 |
| Jeremy Ross | Green Bay Packers | WR | 55 | 0.01 | 9 | 0.01 | 64 | 0.02 |
| Damaris Johnson | Philadelphia Eagles | WR | 57 | 0.01 | 7 | 0.01 | 64 | 0.02 |
| Keshawn Martin | Houston Texans | WR | 41 | 0.01 | 23 | 0.03 | 64 | 0.04 |
| Darius Reynaud | Tennessee Titans | RB | 44 | 0.01 | 19 | 0.02 | 63 | 0.04 |
| Brandon Tate | Cincinnati Bengals | WR | 50 | 0.01 | 12 | 0.02 | 63 | 0.03 |
| Eric Page | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | WR | 43 | 0.01 | 17 | 0.02 | 59 | 0.03 |
| Benny Cunningham | St. Louis Rams | RB | 54 | 0.01 | 0 | 0.00 | 54 | 0.01 |
| Darren Sproles | New Orleans Saints | RB | 36 | 0.01 | 18 | 0.02 | 53 | 0.03 |
| Jermaine Kearse | Seattle Seahawks | WR | 49 | 0.01 | 0 | 0.00 | 49 | 0.01 |
| Devin Hester | Chicago Bears | DB | 26 | 0.01 | 21 | 0.05 | 47 | 0.07 |
| Perrish Cox | San Francisco 49ers | DB | 43 | 0.01 | 2 | 0.00 | 45 | 0.01 |
| Clyde Gates | New York Jets | WR | 41 | 0.01 | 2 | 0.00 | 43 | 0.01 |
| Julian Edelman | New England Patriots | WR | 14 | 0.00 | 28 | 0.03 | 41 | 0.04 |
| Kyle Wilson | New York Jets | DB | 25 | 0.01 | 15 | 0.02 | 39 | 0.02 |
| Jacoby Ford | Oakland Raiders | WR | 33 | 0.01 | 5 | 0.01 | 38 | 0.01 |
| T.J. Graham | Buffalo Bills | WR | 35 | 0.01 | 2 | 0.00 | 37 | 0.01 |
| Quintin Demps | Kansas City Chiefs | DB | 34 | 0.01 | 3 | 0.00 | 37 | 0.01 |
| Markus Wheaton | Pittsburgh Steelers | WR | 31 | 0.01 | 4 | 0.00 | 35 | 0.01 |
| Jacquizz Rodgers | Atlanta Falcons | RB | 35 | 0.01 | 0 | 0.00 | 35 | 0.01 |
| Cassius Vaughn | Indianapolis Colts | DB | 34 | 0.01 | 0 | 0.00 | 34 | 0.01 |
| Travis Benjamin | Cleveland Browns | WR | 18 | 0.00 | 15 | 0.02 | 33 | 0.02 |
| Leodis McKelvin | Buffalo Bills | DB | 4 | 0.00 | 27 | 0.07 | 31 | 0.07 |
| Cordarrelle Patterson | Minnesota Vikings | WR | 31 | 0.01 | 0 | 0.00 | 31 | 0.01 |
| Desean Jackson | Philadelphia Eagles | WR | 16 | 0.00 | 14 | 0.03 | 30 | 0.04 |
| Felix Jones | Pittsburgh Steelers | RB | 30 | 0.01 | 0 | 0.00 | 30 | 0.01 |
| Javier Arenas | Arizona Cardinals | DB | 29 | 0.01 | 0 | 0.00 | 29 | 0.01 |
| Dexter McCluster | Kansas City Chiefs | WR | 11 | 0.00 | 18 | 0.02 | 29 | 0.03 |
| Kyle Williams | San Francisco 49ers | WR | 11 | 0.00 | 18 | 0.02 | 29 | 0.02 |
| Randall Cobb | Green Bay Packers | WR | 14 | 0.00 | 13 | 0.02 | 28 | 0.02 |
| Michael Cox | New York Giants | RB | 27 | 0.01 | 0 | 0.00 | 27 | 0.01 |
| LeGarrette Blount | New England Patriots | RB | 27 | 0.01 | 0 | 0.00 | 27 | 0.01 |
| Eddie Royal | San Diego Chargers | WR | 18 | 0.00 | 8 | 0.01 | 26 | 0.01 |
| Adam Jones | Cincinnati Bengals | DB | 10 | 0.00 | 14 | 0.04 | 24 | 0.04 |
| Marcus Sherels | Minnesota Vikings | DB | 8 | 0.00 | 15 | 0.02 | 23 | 0.02 |
| Bernard Pierce | Baltimore Ravens | RB | 23 | 0.01 | 0 | 0.00 | 23 | 0.01 |
| Chris Thompson | Washington Redskins | RB | 10 | 0.00 | 13 | 0.02 | 23 | 0.02 |
| Stephen Burton | Jacksonville Jaguars | WR | 22 | 0.01 | 0 | 0.00 | 22 | 0.01 |
| T.Y. Hilton | Indianapolis Colts | WR | 0 | 0.00 | 22 | 0.03 | 22 | 0.03 |
| Lardarius Webb | Baltimore Ravens | DB | 0 | 0.00 | 21 | 0.03 | 21 | 0.03 |
| Antonio Brown | Pittsburgh Steelers | WR | 7 | 0.00 | 14 | 0.02 | 21 | 0.02 |
| Phillip Adams | Oakland Raiders | DB | 0 | 0.00 | 20 | 0.03 | 20 | 0.03 |
| Tavon Austin | St. Louis Rams | WR | 6 | 0.00 | 14 | 0.02 | 20 | 0.02 |
| Bobby Rainey | Cleveland Browns | RB | 18 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 18 | 0.00 |
| Golden Tate | Seattle Seahawks | WR | 0 | 0.00 | 18 | 0.02 | 18 | 0.02 |
| Josh Boyce | New England Patriots | WR | 17 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 17 | 0.00 |
| William Blackmon | Jacksonville Jaguars | DB | 0 | 0.00 | 16 | 0.02 | 16 | 0.02 |
| Leon Washington | New England Patriots | RB | 11 | 0.00 | 5 | 0.01 | 16 | 0.02 |
| Harry Douglas | Atlanta Falcons | WR | 0 | 0.00 | 15 | 0.02 | 15 | 0.02 |
| Patrick Peterson | Arizona Cardinals | DB | 0 | 0.00 | 15 | 0.04 | 15 | 0.04 |
| Shaun Draughn | Baltimore Ravens | RB | 13 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 13 | 0.00 |
| Knile Davis | Kansas City Chiefs | RB | 11 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 11 | 0.00 |
| Patrick Edwards | Detroit Lions | WR | 6 | 0.00 | 4 | 0.01 | 10 | 0.01 |
| Reuben Randle | New York Giants | WR | 0 | 0.00 | 10 | 0.01 | 10 | 0.01 |
| Robert Alford | Atlanta Falcons | DB | 7 | 0.00 | 3 | 0.00 | 10 | 0.01 |
| Shiloh Keo | Houston Texans | DB | 5 | 0.00 | 5 | 0.01 | 10 | 0.01 |
| Alfonso Smith | Arizona Cardinals | RB | 9 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 9 | 0.00 |
| David Wilson | New York Giants | RB | 8 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 8 | 0.00 |
| Bryan Walters | Seattle Seahawks | WR | 6 | 0.00 | 2 | 0.00 | 8 | 0.00 |
| Brandon Boykin | Philadelphia Eagles | DB | 8 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 8 | 0.00 |
| Travaris Cadet | New Orleans Saints | RB | 7 | 0.00 | 1 | 0.00 | 8 | 0.00 |
| Dominique Franks | Atlanta Falcons | DB | 4 | 0.00 | 3 | 0.00 | 7 | 0.00 |
| Denard Robinson | Jacksonville Jaguars | RB | 7 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 7 | 0.00 |
| Jordan Todman | Jacksonville Jaguars | RB | 7 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 7 | 0.00 |
| Joe Lefeged | Indianapolis Colts | DB | 4 | 0.00 | 3 | 0.00 | 7 | 0.01 |
| Omar Bolden | Denver Broncos | DB | 7 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 7 | 0.00 |
| Michael Preston | Tennessee Titans | WR | 5 | 0.00 | 2 | 0.00 | 7 | 0.00 |
| Kevin Ogletree | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | WR | 5 | 0.00 | 2 | 0.00 | 7 | 0.00 |
| Giovani Bernard | Cincinnati Bengals | RB | 7 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 7 | 0.00 |
| Joique Bell | Detroit Lions | RB | 6 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 6 | 0.00 |
| Jeremy Lane | Seattle Seahawks | DB | 6 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 6 | 0.00 |
| Armond Smith | Carolina Panthers | RB | 6 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 6 | 0.00 |
| Lance Dunbar | Dallas Cowboys | RB | 5 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 5 | 0.00 |
| Jerrel Jernigan | New York Giants | WR | 4 | 0.00 | 1 | 0.00 | 5 | 0.00 |
| Stepfan Taylor | Arizona Cardinals | RB | 4 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 4 | 0.00 |
| Armanti Edwards | Carolina Panthers | WR | 0 | 0.00 | 4 | 0.01 | 4 | 0.01 |
| Mike Jenkins | Oakland Raiders | DB | 4 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 4 | 0.00 |
| Taiwan Jones | Oakland Raiders | RB | 4 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 4 | 0.00 |
| Keenan Allen | San Diego Chargers | WR | 0 | 0.00 | 4 | 0.01 | 4 | 0.01 |
| Johnson Bademosi | Cleveland Browns | DB | 4 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 4 | 0.00 |
| Ace Sanders | Jacksonville Jaguars | WR | 0 | 0.00 | 4 | 0.01 | 4 | 0.01 |
| Jarius Wright | Minnesota Vikings | WR | 0 | 0.00 | 4 | 0.00 | 4 | 0.00 |
| Tyrann Mathieu | Arizona Cardinals | DB | 0 | 0.00 | 4 | 0.00 | 4 | 0.00 |
| Wes Welker | Denver Broncos | WR | 0 | 0.00 | 4 | 0.00 | 4 | 0.00 |
| Davone Bess | Cleveland Browns | WR | 0 | 0.00 | 4 | 0.00 | 4 | 0.00 |
| Santana Moss | Washington Redskins | WR | 0 | 0.00 | 3 | 0.00 | 3 | 0.00 |
| Austin Pettis | St. Louis Rams | WR | 0 | 0.00 | 3 | 0.00 | 3 | 0.00 |
| Jayron Hosley | New York Giants | DB | 0 | 0.00 | 3 | 0.00 | 3 | 0.00 |
| Niles Paul | Washington Redskins | TE | 3 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 3 | 0.00 |
| Eric Weems | Chicago Bears | DB | 2 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 2 | 0.00 |
| Earl Bennett | Chicago Bears | WR | 0 | 0.00 | 2 | 0.00 | 2 | 0.00 |
| Tandon Doss | Baltimore Ravens | WR | 0 | 0.00 | 2 | 0.00 | 2 | 0.00 |
| Danieal Manning | Houston Texans | DB | 2 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 2 | 0.00 |
| Walter Thurmond | Seattle Seahawks | DB | 0 | 0.00 | 2 | 0.00 | 2 | 0.00 |
| Cole Beasley | Dallas Cowboys | WR | 0 | 0.00 | 2 | 0.00 | 2 | 0.00 |
| Pierre Thomas | New Orleans Saints | RB | 2 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 2 | 0.00 |
| Aldrick Robinson | Washington Redskins | WR | 1 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 1 | 0.00 |
| Lance Moore | New Orleans Saints | WR | 0 | 0.00 | 1 | 0.00 | 1 | 0.00 |
Week 1 Returner Usage
Reflects how many times the team sent the player out to be the returner, even if no return took place, or it was returned by another player such as a squib kick handled by one of the blockers.
| Returner | Team | KO returns | Punt returns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Javier Arenas | ARI | 7 | |
| Patrick Peterson | ARI | 3 | |
| Harry Douglas | ATL | 3 | |
| Jacquizz Rodgers | ATL | 6 | |
| Bernard Pierce | BAL | 6 | |
| Jacoby Jones | BAL | 1 | 2 |
| Lardarius Webb | BAL | 5 | |
| Leodis McKelvin | BUF | 6 | |
| Marcus Easley | BUF | 1 | |
| Marquise Goodwin | BUF | 3 | |
| T.J. Graham | BUF | 2 | |
| Ted Ginn | CAR | 4 | 4 |
| Devin Hester | CHI | 4 | 5 |
| Adam Jones | CIN | 2 | |
| Brandon Tate | CIN | 4 | 3 |
| Bobby Rainey | CLE | 4 | |
| Johnson Bademosi | CLE | 1 | |
| Travis Benjamin | CLE | 1 | 5 |
| Dwayne Harris | DAL | 4 | 3 |
| Terrance Williams | DAL | 1 | |
| Trindon Holliday | DEN | 5 | 6 |
| Wes Welker | DEN | 3 | |
| Michael Spurlock | DET | 5 | 5 |
| Jeremy Ross | GB | 6 | 2 |
| Randall Cobb | GB | 1 | 3 |
| Keshawn Martin | HOU | 5 | 6 |
| Cassius Vaughn | IND | 4 | |
| T.Y. Hilton | IND | 2 | |
| Ace Sanders | JAC | 1 | 1 |
| Stephen Burton | JAC | 5 | |
| William Blackmon | JAC | 8 | |
| Dexter McCluster | KAN | 11 | |
| Quintin Demps | KAN | 1 | |
| Marcus Thigpen | MIA | 3 | 5 |
| Cordarrelle Patterson | MIN | 7 | |
| Marcus Sherels | MIN | 4 | |
| Julian Edelman | NE | 8 | |
| LeGarrette Blount | NE | 4 | |
| Darren Sproles | NO | 4 | 6 |
| Michael Cox | NYG | 8 | |
| Reuben Randle | NYG | 6 | |
| Clyde Gates | NYJ | 3 | |
| Jeremy Kerley | NYJ | 1 | 4 |
| Kyle Wilson | NYJ | 3 | |
| Jacoby Ford | OAK | 4 | |
| Phillip Adams | OAK | 3 | |
| Damaris Johnson | PHI | 4 | |
| DeSean Jackson | PHI | 1 | 3 |
| Antonio Brown | PIT | 1 | 5 |
| LaRod Stephens-Howling | PIT | 3 | |
| Markus Wheaton | PIT | 2 | |
| Eddie Royal | SD | 3 | |
| Fozzy Whittaker | SD | 5 | |
| Golden Tate | SEA | 5 | |
| Jermaine Kearse | SEA | 2 | |
| Kyle Williams | SF | 6 | |
| Perrish Cox | SF | 5 | |
| Benny Cunningham | STL | 5 | |
| Tavon Austin | STL | 4 | |
| Eric Page | TB | 3 | 6 |
| Kevin Ogletree | TB | 1 | |
| Darius Reynaud | TEN | 1 | 7 |
| Chris Thompson | WAS | 7 | 5 |
| Santana Moss | WAS | 1 |
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