***Editor’s note: This piece was written prior to Sunday’s game against the Patriots.***

Who’s Hot?

  1. Kenyan Drake: Through the first six games, he had 52 carries for 210 rushing yards and a touchdown with his longest run being for 25 yards. In the last six games, he has 44 carries for 229 yards and three touchdowns with his longest run being for 54 yards. That’s not all. He is just as lethal as a receiver as he has four additional touchdown catches with the longest catch being for 33 yards. Also, with Jakeem Grant out for the year, he is helping on return duties again. With Albert Wilson also out for the year, he is—hands down—the best playmaker we have. He has made my impact analysis twice already.
  2. TJ McDonald: In his first six games, he had 30 tackles, two interceptions, and three pass breakups. In the last six, he has 42 tackles (one for loss), one interception, and two pass breakups plus a fumble recovery. McDonald is a tough one to figure out. In some games he doesn’t do very well. In others, he is the star of the defense for the day. I don’t know if it’s because he is forced to play out of his natural position of strong safety or what. I imagine next year, he is going to move back to strong safety full-time.

Who’s About the Same?

  1. Matt Haack: In the first six games Haack had 14 punts inside the 20. In the next six, he had 17 inside the 20, but he had back to back punts for 63 yards during the early Jets and Raiders games. He hasn’t been able to top that since. Haack has made my impact analysis five times already. He leads everybody else on my list.
  2. Danny Amendola: During the Texans game, through some trickery, Amendola threw a touchdown pass to Brock Osweiler. That would be his only touchdown for the year. He has 24 receptions in both the first six games and the last six games, although he did not play in the Bills game and he could miss the Patriots game.
  3. Jason Sanders: Hats off to Darren Rizzi for bringing Sanders in, as he has missed only one field goal and extra point all year. Yeah, he is just a kicker but so far this seems to be a nice find in the draft.
  4. Pass-Rush Defense: This unit had ten sacks in the first six games and another ten sacks in the last six games. What can I say? They are doing their best and so far, even with all the injuries to the d-line, that is an accomplishment. My concern is for the future.