by Ryan Mercier
Everyone loves having a guy. Or a band before they became “mainstream.” Standing on the table and shouting how you knew them first and their early stuff was better gives one a sense of pride.
In the NFL, these are My Guys. You can’t have them. It’s too late, they were claimed here first. Of course, this excludes players like Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Justin Jefferson, or any obvious superstars.
Khalil Herbert • RB • Bears
Mr. Herbert is why this article exists. In the 2021 season, any time the Bears were (regretfully) on one of your TV screens, No. 24 would be making plays. Bursts of speed and nice moves were evident, and both with consistency. Chicago already had a good back in David Montgomery, and his injury allowed Khalil Herbert to shine. He only has 683 rushing yards this season but is averaging 5.7 yards per game. Look out next year.
Rashod Bateman • WR • Ravens
In two years, Bateman has only 61 catches, 800 yards, and three touchdowns. Don’t care. This guy is sinewy and smooth. It feels obvious when watching the games. What the Ravens should care about, though, are the injuries he has endured. Buy up his stock now and hope for better injury luck.
Breece Hall • RB • Jets
This one feels like cheating. Even though Hall was “only” a second round pick, when he played this season it was so clear he is a star. His injury is the only reason he isn’t in the current top-5 best running backs in the league conversation. He is the total package with the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. If Nick Chubb didn’t exist, it would be fun to boldly claim him as the best back in the NFL.
Travis Etienne • RB • Jaguars
While we’re cheating, how about a first round pick? His whole first season was wiped away by injury but now he has now exploded onto the scene. The fact is, no one moves quite like him. He’s carrying the rock at 5.2 yards per carry and, yet, that feels incredibly low when you watch Trevor Lawrence’s backfield mate. He is slithery in a way that isn’t even smooth. It’s jarring. Etienne is like early Derrick Rose or Russell Westbrook in the NBA, playing too fast. He’ll get even better with time. Etienne does have a fumbling issue and hopefully that can be fixed.
Baron Browning • LB • Broncos
Browning is in the backfield sacking the quarterback before the end of this sentence. He’s a pass rusher in his second year with only four sacks. That’s why he’s being claimed now, before he wreaks havoc next year.
Darnell Mooney • WR • Bears
Like Bateman, Mooney is stuck in an offense which doesn’t cater to wide receivers. His skill still feels clear even after a somewhat disappointing season. Don’t count him out yet.
Chase Claypool • WR • Bears
That’s right, too many Bears! So many Bears! It wasn’t supposed to be this way, as Claypool used to be a Steeler, but here we are. Chase Claypool is a monster. Right now he’s hidden. Nine touchdowns in his rookie season will not be a fluke by the time his career is over.
Nick Bolton • LB • Chiefs
If you need a big hit and stop on defense, Bolton is your guy. Well, actually, he’s My Guy now. Every Chiefs game, this second year player is going to show up.
Keisean Nixon • KR • Packers
Nixon is a cornerback but he butters his bread in the return game. The Amari Rodgers returner experiment mercifully ended in Green Bay and Nixon showed promise from the jump. His clear ability was rewarded with the first return touchdown of his career in Week 17. He adds a secret weapon to the suddenly thriving Packers.
Andrew Van Ginkel • LB • Dolphins
The real ones know.
Struggling Actor Sports 