The NFL is nearing the midway point of the 2016 regular season, and that means divisional and playoff races are slowly beginning to heat up. It also means players will soon be returning from Injured Reserve (IR), others will be added and inconsistent talent will be replaced.
With all of that in mind, here’s a look at five players who are poised to make a late-season impact for their respective teams.
5. Roger Lewis Jr. (wide receiver, New York Giants)
With all the star power the New York Giants have at the wide receiver position, it may be hard to believe that an undrafted rookie would have much impact at all, let alone enough to warrant placement on this list.
But the sad reality for Big Blue is that their offense is drastically under-performing, and that includes Victor Cruz, rookie Sterling Shepard and, at times, even Odell Beckham Jr.
With no other wideout stepping up to secure that No. 4 spot and the top three struggling with an unexpected level of inconsistency, Lewis Jr. has slowly played his way into a bit of a role; a role beyond his special teams contributions.
In a 27-23 Week 6 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, Lewis hauled in his very first NFL reception on a beautiful route in the back of the end zone. The touchdown also happened to be the 300th of quarterback Eli Manning’s professional career.
Lewis had a second opportunity for a score in that game, but was interfered with. He later made an appearance in London, being activated for the fourth straight game and, again, hauling in a reception.
“[Lewis] has been doing a good job; he did some good things at training camp and early on. He’s kind of waited for his opportunity to get in there,” Manning said following the team’s win over Baltimore.
Lewis was a hot prospect in college, but character concerns hurt his stock. With that now a thing of the past and opportunities coming his way, Lewis has a chance to make a legitimate impact during the second half of the season.
4. Colin Kaepernick (quarterback, San Francisco 49ers)
Colin Kaepernick has been the center of attention across the football universe through the first seven weeks of the season, but very little of it has had to do with actual football. Rather, Kaepernick has sparked both conversation and outrage with his national anthem protests, which have since carried over to different teams and different sports.
All of that is a topic of conversation for an article of a different theme, however.
Back on the football field, Kaepernick has re-assumed his role as the San Francisco 49ers’ starting quarterback, but headed into the team’s Week 8 bye, even that seems fickle.
Kaepernick has struggled in his first two starts of the season — losses to the Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers — completing just 46% of his passes for 330 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
“I have to be better,” Kaepernick said following a loss to the Buccaneers. “I think we threw for about 100 yards. That’s not going to win in the NFL. We have to be able to do better on that and ultimately, we have to string this together as a team and play well as a team for 60 minutes to get wins.”
But there is a silver lining. Kaepernick has, both on the ground and through the air, showed flashes of the athlete who helped lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2012. And, at least as of now, San Francisco appears content with keeping him at his post following the team’s bye week.
Given that Kaepernick lost his starting job in training camp and hasn’t consistently practiced with the starters, it shouldn’t come as much of a shock that he’s starting off slowly. In fact, it’s an odd parallel to the 2012 season when he took over at the midway point and initially struggled out of the gate.
Will Kaepernick rekindle that flame and lead the 49ers back to the Super Bowl? With a 1-6 record that’s almost certainly out of the question, but don’t expect these terrible numbers to continue. Kap will likely find his groove and a level of consistency within the offense, turning his season around and making the most of what might be his final opportunity.
3. Julian Edelman (wide receiver, New England Patriots)
For some players, having an opportunity in the second half of the season isn’t just about getting an increased number of snaps, returning from injury or being thrust into a starting role. Rather, it’s about playing themselves out of a slump and returning to the dominant athlete they once were.
Of course, getting a future Hall of Fame quarterback back under center certainly doesn’t hurt, either.
This is the case when it comes to Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman, who played the first four weeks of the season without Tom Brady and who, for whatever reason, continues to struggle on the field even with Brady back.
In four games without Brady, Edelman hauled in 19 receptions for 196 yards and no touchdowns. In three games since his return, the Super Bowl XLIX champion has hauled in 18 receptions for 125 yards and no touchdowns.
All around, it’s been an uncharacteristically poor season for Edelman, which was highlighted by an exceptionally rare fumble 27-16 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“Just terrible ball security. I didn’t have it tight. I’ll have to hear about that,” Edelman told Boston.com after the game.
For Edelman, it’s not just the rare mistakes he’s making or his lack of touchdowns that stand out. It’s that even with the ball in his hand, he’s not making the plays we’re used to seeing from him or helping to create the mismatches that make him so valuable.
With two dominating tight ends — Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennett — Edelman isn’t likely to go over 1,000 yards on the season. And really, that’s not even the type of wide receiver he is anyway. But he is more valuable and more dynamic than we’ve seen at any point this season.
As Edelman and Brady get back into the swing of things, and defenses start to shift their attention back to the aforementioned Gronkowski, it’s inevitable that the value of Edelman once again rises. And it’s at that point we’ll begin to see bigger numbers and some trips to the end zone.
2. Adrian Peterson (running back, Minnesota Vikings)
After suffering a torn meniscus and sprained LCL in a Week 2 game against the Green Bay Packers, there was doubt that Vikings running back Adrian Peterson would return in 2016 or even appear in a Minnesota uniform ever again.
A month removed from that injury and optimism surrounding Peterson’s return is growing.
Peterson has always prided himself on being a “fast healer,” and while he can’t rush himself off of Injured Reserve (IR) based on NFL rules, he can prepare himself to play when that time inevitably comes. And by all accounts, he’ll be ready to do that.
“Usually Adrian becomes strong as the season goes, and goes stronger as the games progress. So I look at it as he’s going to do everything he can to get back,” Vikings general manager Rick Spielman told TwinCities.com in mid-October. “That’s at least eight, nine weeks of not taking hits on that body, which is going to make him pretty fresh.”
Currently, the 5-1 Vikings have the second-to-worst ground game in the NFL, averaging only 73.4 yards per game. They also bottom out in the NFL averaging an almost surreal 2.6 yards per carry.
Needless to say, 100% healthy or not, the Vikings need Peterson back when he’s eligible to return on November 20. And while he may only see the field at the very end of the season or playoffs, you can almost guarantee the seven-time Pro Bowler will have a significant impact.
Should Minnesota hang on and get themselves into the postseason, a fresh Adrian Peterson could make all the difference en route to Houston.
1. Ty Montgomery (running back, Green Bay Packers)
Whether or not Eddie Lacy, who was placed on Injured Reserve (IR) due to an ankle injury, returns this season is anyone’s guess. But with Lacy out an extended period of time and James Starks out several more weeks with a knee injury, it’s time for a new lead man in Green Bay.
Enter Ty Montgomery, who was listed as strictly a wide receiver only a week ago.
In his first action as a dual-threat in Green Bay’s offense, Montgomery ran for 60 yards on nine carries (6.7 ypc) and hauled in 10 receptions for 66 yards in a 26-10 victory over the Chicago Bears.
Even with Kniles Davis added to the roster following a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs, it appears to be Montgomery’s job to lose. And early indications are that’s not going to happen.
“Once again, just look at the availability and production,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy told the Wisconsin State Journal after a win over the Bears. “[Montgomery] has been given two primary roles [in games], [against] Dallas and against the Bears. And he’s delivered. I thought he played excellent [in Week 7].”
The 6-foot, 216-pound Montgomery has given the Packers a unique edge. Not only does he have great hands out of the backfield and the ability to line up as a wide receiver, but he’s also proven him capable of giving them 10-15 quality carries per game.
Out of necessity alone, Montgomery will have an impact for Green Bay down the stretch. But the fact that he’s a quality option at two different positions likely means he’ll become a major player in the tight NFC North race.
