WildCard Weekend Outlook
While it is not unusual to see teams give multiple players opportunities at returns over the course of a season, now that it is playoff time expect to see each team's best option handling more of the returns.
Kickoff returns tend to net more yards than do punt returns, which made opponents of the Chargers solid starts at returner as San Diego had the worst touchback percentage on kickoffs in the NFL throughout the season. The Wildcard Weekend beneficiaries of this are the Cincinnati Bengals and returner Brandon Tate.
The NFC matchup between Green Bay and San Francisco may also generate return yards. The Packers were fourth worst at touchback percentage while the 49ers were 11th worst. Add in the prospect that their game may have slightly higher scoring which will generate more opportunities, and returners for both the Packers and 49ers are also near the top of the list for the Wildcard round.
Job Changes and Injuries of Note
The Patriots have used a mixture of LeGarrette Blount and Shane Vereen on kick returns while both Josh Boyce and Devin McCourty have dealt with injuries. Their situation is one of the hardest to predict in terms of returners, so a good idea to shy away unless you are using team returners. However, for leagues that give individual returners points, Vereen could see a few extra yards to add to any offensive output.
New Orleans was using Darren Sproles on both kickoff and punt returns again, after having a period where Travaris Cadet took over kickoff returns even after Sproles returned from injury. Expect the team to stick with Sproles now if healthy.
The Colts have gone back to LaVon Brazill for kick returns, but so far have stuck with receiver Griff Whalen on punts.
Brad Smith was signed several weeks ago by the Eagles, and has finally begun to play a role in the return game on kickoff returns. DeSean Jackson continues to handle punts.
Wildcard WeekEND Team Return Projections
| Receiving Team | KR yards | KR TDs | PR yards | PR TDs | Total Yards | Total TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 89 | 0.02 | 18 | 0.02 | 107 | 0.05 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 89 | 0.02 | 14 | 0.02 | 103 | 0.04 |
| Green Bay Packers | 78 | 0.02 | 23 | 0.03 | 100 | 0.05 |
| San Diego Chargers | 88 | 0.02 | 10 | 0.01 | 98 | 0.03 |
| New Orleans Saints | 83 | 0.02 | 13 | 0.03 | 96 | 0.05 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 63 | 0.02 | 22 | 0.05 | 84 | 0.07 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 62 | 0.02 | 22 | 0.03 | 84 | 0.04 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 57 | 0.01 | 14 | 0.03 | 71 | 0.05 |
WildCard WeekEND Player Return Projections
| Player | Team | Position | KR yards | KR TDs | PR yards | PR TDs | Total Ret Yards | Total TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Tate | Cincinnati Bengals | WR | 81 | 0.02 | 16 | 0.02 | 96 | 0.04 |
| Micah Hyde | Green Bay Packers | CB | 74 | 0.02 | 21 | 0.03 | 95 | 0.05 |
| LaMichael James | San Francisco 49ers | RB | 73 | 0.02 | 12 | 0.02 | 85 | 0.03 |
| Darren Sproles | New Orleans Saints | RB | 58 | 0.01 | 12 | 0.03 | 70 | 0.04 |
| LaVon Brazill | Indianapolis Colts | WR | 50 | 0.01 | 4 | 0.01 | 55 | 0.02 |
| Brad Smith | Philadelphia Eagles | RB | 48 | 0.01 | 0 | 0.00 | 48 | 0.01 |
| Quintin Demps | Kansas City Chiefs | DB | 38 | 0.01 | 2 | 0.00 | 40 | 0.01 |
| Ronnie Brown | San Diego Chargers | RB | 35 | 0.01 | 0 | 0.00 | 35 | 0.01 |
| Danny Woodhead | San Diego Chargers | WR | 35 | 0.01 | 0 | 0.00 | 35 | 0.01 |
| Travaris Cadet | New Orleans Saints | RB | 25 | 0.01 | 1 | 0.00 | 26 | 0.01 |
| Knile Davis | Kansas City Chiefs | RB | 25 | 0.01 | 0 | 0.00 | 25 | 0.01 |
| Dexter McCluster | Kansas City Chiefs | WR | 0 | 0.00 | 20 | 0.05 | 20 | 0.05 |
| Griff Whalen | Indianapolis Colts | WR | 0 | 0.00 | 18 | 0.02 | 18 | 0.02 |
| Anthony Dixon | San Francisco 49ers | RB | 16 | 0.00 | 1 | 0.00 | 18 | 0.01 |
| DeSean Jackson | Philadelphia Eagles | WR | 0 | 0.00 | 13 | 0.03 | 13 | 0.03 |
| Cassius Vaughn | Indianapolis Colts | DB | 12 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 12 | 0.00 |
| Adam Jones | Cincinnati Bengals | DB | 9 | 0.00 | 2 | 0.01 | 11 | 0.01 |
| Lavelle Hawkins | San Diego Chargers | WR | 10 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 10 | 0.00 |
| Eddie Royal | San Diego Chargers | WR | 9 | 0.00 | 1 | 0.00 | 10 | 0.00 |
| Keenan Allen | San Diego Chargers | WR | 0 | 0.00 | 9 | 0.01 | 9 | 0.01 |
| Brandon Boykin | Philadelphia Eagles | DB | 6 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 6 | 0.00 |
| Randall Cobb | Green Bay Packers | WR | 4 | 0.00 | 1 | 0.00 | 5 | 0.00 |
| Damaris Johnson | Philadelphia Eagles | WR | 3 | 0.00 | 2 | 0.00 | 4 | 0.00 |