Tonight’s Thursday Night Football game pits two AFC South opponents with little hope of a postseason berth, even in that pathetic division, against one another. The Titans and Jaguars are playing for next year, as are a number of downtrodden teams. So why aren’t some of these teams playing their young guns to see what they have to offer?
Here are five rookies on going-nowhere teams that must play more.
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Jaelen Strong, WR, Texans
Strong looked like he’d be a thing when he caught two touchdown passes in Week 5 against the Colts, but the 3rd-round pick had done nothing before, and has done nothing since. Strong, a 6’3, 215-pound specimen, looks the part of stud wide receiver but he’s totaled three catches for 58 yards this season. The reason is that he’s trapped behind veterans Cecil Shorts and Nate Washington.
The Texans are a very soft 4-5, and tied for first place in the AFC South, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be making every effort to help DeAndre Hopkins in the passing game. Coach Bill O’Brien has said that Strong needs to develop more, but he isn’t getting an opportunity to do so. When given one extended chance, he rewarded them with two scores.
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Washington and Shorts have higher floors, but there’s very little room between the floor and the ceiling. Strong’s upside is that of a star, and he could be a difference maker in the playoff hunt.
Melvin Gordon, RB, Chargers
Gordon leads the Chargers in carries, but 12.7 carries per game isn’t enough for a player drafted to be a workhorse. Danny Woodhead has been effective in the time he’s been given, but at 2-7 its time to turn the role over full-time to Gordon.
San Diego knows what they have in Woodhead; a quick back who has surprising short-yardage chops and can contribute a ton on third downs. Gordon was comparable to St. Louis’ Todd Gurley in the draft, however, and so far hasn’t been unleashed the way Gurley has.
The Bolts moved up to select him, so for him to go nine games without a touchdown is unacceptable.
DeVante Parker, WR, Dolphins
RotoWorld reported a depressing bit of news that Parker recently spent time watching his college highlights to “remind himself that he’s good.” Wow. Miami, get the guy some reps. In the preseason he was being compared athletically to Odell Beckham Jr. of the Giants, but in-season it has translated to four catches for 49 yards.
Parker, like Strong, is currently blocked by veteran receivers Kenny Stills and Greg Jennings. The team fired their head coach four weeks into the season, and are in last place in the AFC East. The playoffs aren’t happening, so why not get Parker on the field so he can make his mistakes now. Next year, Ryan Tannehill will be grateful, and the Dolphins will have a high-end pass-catching trio instead of a mediocre one.
Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Titans
The Titans looked like they turned DGB loose vs. the Saints in Week 9 with nine targets, which he turned into five grabs for 77 yards, but the status quo returned the next week when he was targeted twice and held without a catch.
The Titans are still technically in the hunt for the division crown, but that’s all the more reason to turn to Green-Beckham. They handed the keys to the offense to rookie QB Marcus Mariota, so why isn’t he developing a rapport with their second-round receiver, especially with No. 1 receiver Kendall Wright set to miss his third straight week?
If Mike Mularkey wants his interim coach tag to turn permanent, he should unshackle DGB’s physicality and let the refinement come along later.
Ameer Abdullah, RB, Lions
This is the most baffling case to football fans, and fantasy owners alike. Why in the world is Abdullah not carrying the load for the 1-7 Lions? Not only is their season a five-alarm dumpster fire, Abdullah is easily the most explosive player on the team besides Calvin Johnson.
The Lions’ coaches have cited “ball security” as an issue, which is understandable, but QB Matthew Stafford 12 or more picks in every season except 2010 (he only played three games) and he’s had the seal of approval the whole time.
Abdullah hasn’t been given even 15 carries a single time this year, despite his successful college career and obvious ability in the passing game. The misuse of this big-potential second round pick is worth re-considering Jim Caldwell’s status as head coach. Abdullah needs to see the field a lot more, fumbling be damned.
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