Watching the Hall of Fame game last night, the most notable offensive standout on either team was Steelers wideout Chase Claypool (3 catches, 62 yards). It serves as a reminder that even in a deep receiving corps, the second-year receiver has the talent to stand out this season. He was awfully impressive as a rookie.
The youngster's night included a scary moment where he laid out for a 45-yard reception, on which he seemed to be shaken up -- he left the field and didn't return. But afterward he was standing around on the sidelines looking a-OK, so looks like no harm done. Maybe don't play him too much in the remaining exhibitions? We can hope.
Claypool tailed off in the second half of last season, most notably scoring only once in the final six games. And Pittsburgh surprisingly re-signed JuJu Smith-Schuster in free agency, bringing back all four of their capable wideouts (including Diontae Johnson and James Washington), which will make it more difficult for Claypool to be an offensive focal point -- lots of competition.
But on the whole, Claypool's rookie season was remarkable -- one of the best from the last decade. He scored 11 touchdowns (9 receiving, 2 rushing). That's one of the top 4 performances by a rookie since 2010. The three who were better have all turned out pretty well: Tyreek Hill, Odell Beckham (when healthy) and Mike Evans. On the strength of those touchdowns, Claypool finished as the 23rd-best PPR wide receiver, even with Pittsburgh having that deep receiving corps.
| TOP SCORING ROOKIE WIDEOUTS, 2011-2020 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Run | No | Rec | TD | PPR | FF |
| 2016 | Tyreek Hill, K.C. | 267 | 61 | 593 | 12 | 219.0 | 18 |
| 2014 | Odell Beckham, NYG | 35 | 91 | 1305 | 12 | 297.0 | 8 |
| 2014 | Mike Evans, T.B. | 0 | 68 | 1051 | 12 | 245.1 | 13 |
| 2020 | Chase Claypool, Pitt. | 16 | 62 | 873 | 11 | 216.9 | 23 |
| 2018 | Calvin Ridley, Atl. | 27 | 64 | 821 | 10 | 208.8 | 20 |
| 2019 | A.J. Brown, Ten. | 60 | 52 | 1051 | 9 | 217.1 | 22 |
| 2016 | Michael Thomas, N.O. | 0 | 92 | 1137 | 9 | 259.7 | 7 |
| 2014 | Kelvin Benjamin, Car. | 0 | 73 | 1008 | 9 | 227.8 | 16 |
| 2013 | Cordarrelle Patterson, Min. | 158 | 45 | 469 | 9 | 161.7 | 38 |
| 2019 | Darius Slayton, NYG | 0 | 48 | 740 | 8 | 170.0 | 37 |
| 2017 | JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pitt. | 0 | 58 | 917 | 8 | 197.7 | 20 |
| 2016 | Sterling Shepard, NYG | 31 | 65 | 683 | 8 | 184.4 | 36 |
| 2015 | Tyler Lockett, Sea. | 20 | 51 | 664 | 8 | 167.4 | 41 |
| 2014 | Jordan Matthews, Phil. | 0 | 67 | 872 | 8 | 202.2 | 25 |
| 2014 | Martavis Bryant, Pitt. | 12 | 26 | 549 | 8 | 130.1 | 61 |
| 2013 | Keenan Allen, S.D. | 0 | 71 | 1046 | 8 | 223.6 | 18 |
| 2012 | T.Y. Hilton, Ind. | 29 | 50 | 861 | 8 | 187.0 | 28 |
| 2011 | Julio Jones, Atl. | 56 | 54 | 959 | 8 | 203.5 | 21 |
| 2020 | Justin Jefferson, Min. | 2 | 88 | 1400 | 7 | 274.2 | 6 |
| 2020 | CeeDee Lamb, Dall. | 82 | 74 | 935 | 7 | 219.7 | 22 |
| 2020 | Brandon Aiyuk, S.F. | 77 | 60 | 748 | 7 | 184.5 | 35 |
| 2020 | Gabriel Davis, Buff. | 0 | 35 | 599 | 7 | 136.9 | 57 |
| 2019 | DK Metcalf, Sea. | 11 | 58 | 900 | 7 | 193.1 | 29 |
| 2019 | Terry McLaurin, Was. | 0 | 58 | 919 | 7 | 191.9 | 30 |
| 2019 | Marquise Brown, Balt. | 0 | 46 | 584 | 7 | 146.4 | 46 |
| 2019 | Mecole Hardman, K.C. | 17 | 26 | 538 | 7 | 123.5 | 59 |
| 2018 | Anthony Miller, Chi. | 26 | 33 | 423 | 7 | 120.3 | 60 |
| 2013 | Marlon Brown, Balt. | -2 | 49 | 524 | 7 | 145.2 | 48 |
| 2011 | A.J. Green, Cin. | 53 | 65 | 1057 | 7 | 218.0 | 17 |
| 2011 | Torrey Smith, Balt. | 39 | 50 | 841 | 7 | 180.0 | 30 |
| 2020 | Tee Higgins, Cin. | 28 | 67 | 908 | 6 | 196.6 | 28 |
| 2019 | Deebo Samuel, S.F. | 159 | 57 | 802 | 6 | 191.1 | 31 |
| 2019 | Diontae Johnson, Pitt. | 41 | 59 | 680 | 6 | 167.1 | 39 |
| 2019 | Steven Sims, Was. | 85 | 34 | 310 | 6 | 109.5 | 66 |
| 2015 | Amari Cooper, Oak. | -3 | 72 | 1070 | 6 | 214.7 | 21 |
| 2014 | Sammy Watkins, Buff. | 8 | 65 | 982 | 6 | 200.0 | 27 |
| 2014 | Allen Hurns, Jac. | 0 | 51 | 677 | 6 | 154.7 | 49 |
| 2013 | Tavon Austin, St.L. | 151 | 40 | 418 | 6 | 132.9 | 53 |
| 2011 | Titus Young, Det. | 15 | 48 | 607 | 6 | 148.2 | 45 |
| 2011 | Denarius Moore, Oak. | 61 | 33 | 618 | 6 | 136.9 | 51 |
| 2020 | Laviska Shenault, Jac. | 91 | 58 | 600 | 5 | 157.1 | 46 |
| 2018 | Antonio Callaway, Cle. | 7 | 43 | 586 | 5 | 134.3 | 54 |
| 2018 | Dante Pettis, S.F. | -2 | 27 | 467 | 5 | 103.5 | 71 |
| 2018 | TreQuan Smith, N.O. | 0 | 28 | 427 | 5 | 100.7 | 73 |
| 2017 | Cooper Kupp, LAR | 0 | 62 | 869 | 5 | 178.9 | 25 |
| 2015 | Seth Roberts, Oak. | 0 | 32 | 480 | 5 | 112.0 | 63 |
| 2015 | Devin Funchess, Car. | 0 | 31 | 473 | 5 | 108.3 | 65 |
| 2014 | Jarvis Landry, Mia. | -4 | 84 | 758 | 5 | 189.4 | 30 |
| 2014 | John Brown, Ariz. | -6 | 48 | 696 | 5 | 147.0 | 53 |
| 2013 | Terrance Williams, Dall. | 4 | 44 | 736 | 5 | 150.0 | 45 |
| 2013 | Kenny Stills, N.O. | 10 | 32 | 641 | 5 | 127.1 | 56 |
| 2012 | Justin Blackmon, Jac. | 23 | 64 | 865 | 5 | 184.8 | 29 |
| 2012 | Josh Gordon, Cle. | 0 | 50 | 805 | 5 | 160.5 | 41 |
Last season was a great year for rookie wideouts. Claypool was one of five to score at least 7 touchdowns, and despite his 11 he was overshadowed by a couple of guys (Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb) who had better all-around seasons.
But Claypool caught my eye last night. Little more competition for targets in what might be a worse offense with an elderly quarterback than some of the other second-year wideouts, but a really talented guy, and a player who will be a lot easier to land in drafts than the other second-year wide receivers.
--Andy Richardson