ESPN Top-100 Players for 2024 (Nelson, Buckner, Pittman, Taylor)

[Colts And Orioles]

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2024 NFL Rank: Predicting Top 100 Players for This Season

(ESPN Staff)

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...dictions-stats



(#60) ) Quenton Nelson ) Any disappointing performance in Nelson's past has typically been tied to injuries. He is coming off an injury-free offseason following a resurgent 2023, so look for him to maintain or elevate his performance in 2024. An additional boost could come from the continuity Nelson has around him, including left tackle Bernhard Raimann, who is entering his third season and has been a surprise solution to the void at a critical position. --- Stephen Holder

Signature Stat: ) Nelson has played and started in 95 games; that is the 5th most among all interior offensive linemen since 2018.

2024 Projection: ) Tells the opposing defensive linemen to go fuck themselves.


(#73) ) DeForest Buckner ) Buckner was double-teamed on 267 pass rush snaps in 2023, more than Chris Jones and Justin Madubuike. Much of that can be attributed to nose tackle Grover Stewart's 6-game suspension, which resulted in a big drop-off in performance from the interior of the Colts' defensive line. With Stewart back on the field, Buckner should be a beneficiary and (theoretically) see fewer double-teams and create even more of a pass rush. --- Stephen Holder

Signature Stat: ) Buckner has contributed at least five sacks as a defensive tackle in each of the past six seasons, the third-longest streak since 2000 behind Aaron Donald (eight straight from 2014 to '21) and Chris Jones (seven straight from 2017 to 2023.)

2024 Projection: ) 71 Tackles, 7 Sacks


(#83) ) Michael Pittman, Jr. ) Pittman's targets have increased by at least 10% in each of his 4 previous seasons. His status as a volume receiver is indisputable. But look for yardage production to also increase in 2024 with the return of quarterback Anthony Richardson, who is not afraid to give his receivers more opportunities on intermediate and deep routes. There have been too few of those plays for the Colts in the past 2 seasons. --- Stephen Holder

Signature Stat: ) Pittman's 109 receptions was the 5th most in the NFL in 2023, and tied for the 4th most in a single season in Colts franchise history. Pittman also accounted for 31% of his team's receptions last season, the 2nd-highest mark in the league behind CeeDee Lamb (32%.)

2024 Projection: ) 99 Receptions, 1,081 Yards, 4 TDs


(#90) ) Jonathan Taylor ) Health (and a nasty contract standoff) has been the biggest obstacle for Taylor the past 2 seasons. But he finished 2023 relatively healthy, and had a productive offseason that has him poised to return to form ...... just as important is the presence of Anthony Richardson in the Colts' backfield. The young quarterback's feared running ability will likely create some tough choices for defenders that could benefit Taylor. He has 104.5 scrimmage yards per game since coming into the league in 2020, ranking 2nd behind Derrick Henry's 114.9 scrimmage yards (minimum of 50 games.) --- Stephen Holder

Signature Stat: ) Taylor ended 2023 with a scrimmage touchdown in 6 straight games, the 3rd-longest streak in the NFL last season (CeeDee Lamb had 9, and Christian McCaffrey had 8.)

2024 Projection: ) 1,178 Rushing Yards, 10 TD's (317 Yards/1 TD Receiving)

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[Colts And Orioles]

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(vs. TITANS, 10/13)


Michael Pittman, Jr. was nothing short of great this afternoon ...... he fought for catches like a mother fights to save her son from being attacked.

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[Colts And Orioles]

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(vs. TEXANS, 10/20)


Jonathan Taylor had a very good game today, in a losing cause.

His ankle appears to be fine.

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[Colts And Orioles]

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(vs. PATRIOTS, 12/01)


Jonathan Taylor was a workhorse this afternoon ...... in fact, he was the only running back on the team who carried the ball at all !!! )



THE COLTS: llllllllllt 33 ., Carries


Taylor: llllllllllllllllllll. 25 l. Carries


Richardson: llllllllllll) 8 ll) Carries

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[Colts And Orioles]

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(vs. BRONCOS, 12/15)


Today has got to be the worst day of Jonathan Taylor's career.

His gaffe of dropping the ball before he crossed the goal-line was inexcusable.







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[nate505]

Originally Posted by Colts And Orioles

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(vs. BRONCOS, 12/15)


Today has got to be the worst day of Jonathan Taylor's career.

His gaffe of dropping the ball before he crossed the goal-line was inexcusable.







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I agree it was inexcusable...but I wish we had different angles on the play. Honestly from there it looks like he had possession once it broke the plane of the goalline.

[Colts And Orioles]

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Jonathan Taylor ) (vs. TITANS, 12/22)



ATTEMPTS: lllllllllllllll 29


YARDS: lllllllllllllllllllllll 218


YPC: llllllllllllllllllllllllllll. 7.5


TD's: lllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 3

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[YDFL Commish]

Originally Posted by Colts And Orioles

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Jonathan Taylor ) (vs. TITANS, 12/22)



ATTEMPTS: lllllllllllllll 29


YARDS: lllllllllllllllllllllll 218


YPC: llllllllllllllllllllllllllll. 7.5


TD's: lllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 3

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Stats are for losers, and rarely taken in their proper context.

[Colts And Orioles]

Originally Posted by YDFL Commish

If you think that Taylor is a great RB, then just state that. I will wholeheartedly disagree.

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I said that Taylor had a great game. Don't move the goalposts.

You quoted me on that post, which again, was specific to that game (vs. TITANS, 12/22.)

I'm also the same person who was all over Taylor last week, starting a thread about his imbecilic play of dropping the ball at the 1/2-yardline, and going so far as to show photos/still-shots which showed exactly what he did on that play.

Originally Posted by Colts And Orioles

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My point about players never learning has to do with the fact that the idiocy about dropping the ball at the 1/2-yardline has been going on for decades, and somehow these feeble-minds continue to do it ...... not whether or not once they do it will they ever do it a second time.

So no, Jonathan Taylor DID NOT learn ....... any player who ever did this one single time did not learn from the fact that this nonsense has happened more than 100 times in the last quarter century, yet they still continue to do it.

So, the fact that Taylor did it in the first place is evidence that he (and each and every player who ever did this even one single time) never learn.

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[YDFL Commish]

Taylor did not have a great game. The offensive line and blocking of the WR's and TE's had a great game.

On two runs he had 135 yards without being touched! WTF is special about that?

I dislike the dude. He is highly educated and knows the right things to say, for sure. But his toughness and dedication to his craft meter runs Lukewarm.