Skyy Moore had a lesser rookie year, but I’m not giving up on him just yet. He chipped in a few plays, and I think there’s still a chance he’ll emerge.
The rookie numbers were underwhelming: 22 catches for 250 yards, with a pair of lost fumbles on muffed punts. On the plus side of the ledger, he had a couple of 5-catch games against the Los Angeles teams and caught Kansas City’s final touchdown in the Super Bowl (his first touchdown as a pro).
Moore also had a 27-yard punt return at the end of the AFC Championship, setting up the game-winning field goal, but that was a modest game for him overall. He played a bunch but caught only 3 of the 7 passes thrown his way, for 13 yards.
But Kansas City is looking for receivers to step up, with JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman now playing in the AFC East. And Moore is one of the key guys they’re looking at, along with Kadarius Toney. They drafted Rashee Rice late in the second round, but I think he would be a notch back, being a year behind in his development. They signed Richie James at close to the league minimum, but he might be more of a backup plan.
I looked at the past numbers some, and what Moore is attempting has been done other times before. Not a lot, but it’s been done – receivers coming on after lackluster first seasons.
In the 32-team era, 18 receivers have finished with fewer than 300 yards in their first season, then posted top-40 numbers (using PPR scoring). Another 10 receivers have posted top-40 numbers after having less than 400 yards as rookies.
I will be throwing a late-round dart at Skyy Moore.
MAKING A SECOND-YEAR LEAP | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | Rec | Yds | TD | PPR | Rk | Prev Yr |
2002 | Steve Smith, Car. | 54 | 872 | 5 | 170.8 | 38 | 10-154-3 |
2002 | Chad Johnson, Cin. | 69 | 1,166 | 5 | 215.6 | 21 | 28-329-1 |
2003 | Javon Walker, G.B. | 41 | 716 | 9 | 166.7 | 27 | 23-319-1 |
2005 | Ernest Wilford, Jac. | 41 | 681 | 7 | 151.1 | 40 | 19-271-2 |
2007 | Brandon Marshall, Den. | 102 | 1,325 | 7 | 282.2 | 9 | 20-309-2 |
2008 | Steve Breaston, Ariz. | 77 | 1,006 | 3 | 196.4 | 25 | 8-92-1 |
2009 | Pierre Garcon, Ind. | 47 | 765 | 4 | 148.5 | 39 | 4-23-0 |
2009 | Mario Manningham, NYG | 57 | 822 | 5 | 169.2 | 30 | 4-26-0 |
2010 | Danny Amendola, St.L. | 85 | 689 | 3 | 180.0 | 30 | 43-326-1 |
2011 | Victor Cruz, NYG | 82 | 1,536 | 9 | 289.9 | 3 | 0-0-0 |
2011 | Eric Decker, Den. | 44 | 612 | 9 | 159.3 | 37 | 6-106-1 |
2011 | Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 69 | 1,108 | 3 | 201.9 | 23 | 16-167-1 |
2012 | Cecil Shorts, Jac. | 55 | 979 | 7 | 194.5 | 26 | 2-30-1 |
2012 | Randall Cobb, G.B. | 80 | 954 | 9 | 242.6 | 16 | 25-375-3 |
2013 | Marvin Jones, Cin. | 51 | 712 | 10 | 188.7 | 29 | 18-201-1 |
2013 | Alshon Jeffery, Chi. | 89 | 1,421 | 7 | 285.6 | 8 | 24-367-3 |
2015 | Willie Snead, N.O. | 69 | 984 | 3 | 185.4 | 32 | 0-0-0 |
2016 | Tyrell Williams, S.D. | 69 | 1,059 | 7 | 216.9 | 19 | 2-90-1 |
2016 | Cameron Meredith, Chi. | 66 | 888 | 4 | 183.5 | 38 | 11-120-0 |
2018 | Mike Williams, LAC | 43 | 664 | 11 | 180.2 | 33 | 11-95-0 |
2018 | Zay Jones, Buff. | 56 | 652 | 7 | 165.2 | 35 | 27-316-2 |
2018 | Dede Westbrook, Jac. | 66 | 717 | 6 | 183.5 | 30 | 27-339-1 |
2018 | Corey Davis, Ten. | 65 | 891 | 4 | 183.6 | 29 | 34-375-0 |
2019 | DJ Chark, Jac. | 73 | 1,008 | 8 | 225.8 | 18 | 14-174-0 |
2021 | K.J. Osborn, Min. | 50 | 655 | 7 | 158.5 | 40 | 0-0-0 |
2021 | Van Jefferson, LAR | 50 | 802 | 6 | 168.2 | 36 | 19-220-1 |
2022 | Josh Palmer, LAC | 72 | 769 | 3 | 169.3 | 37 | 33-353-4 |
2023 | Skyy Moore, K.C. | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 22-250-0 |
—Ian Allan