Returner Recap and Latest News

Photo: Geoff Burke, USA Today Sports

Friday UpdateS

Dwayne Harris (hip) has said he will play this week for Dallas. The Cowboys play San Diego, who have an abysmal 6% touchback rate this season. As a result, an active Harris tops the individual player projections this week.

Stephen Burton is expected to miss the Jaguars' game against the Colts. Denard Robinson and Jordan Todman will likely see the extra kickoff returns.

The Jaguars are also looking at changes on punt return, where they plan to use Ace Sanders in attempt to get him more touches. Downgrade Will Blackmon as a result.

Week 3 Recap

League wide Return Yards remain down compared to previous years

The 2011 and 2012 season averages for each team game for kickoff and punt returns were fairly close.  This season is seeing significantly fewer kickoff returns than in previous years, as well as a slight drop in yards per punt return.

TOP PERFORMERS

Week 3 featured a matchup between the Chargers and the Titans, who happened to be the two worst teams in the league in touchback percentage on kickoffs. Tennessee's Darius Reynaud benefited as he broke the century mark with 4 returns for 119 yards. Chargers returner Fozzy Whitaker only managed a single return in the game. Joining Reynaud in going over 100 yards this week was the Bengals' Brandon Tate, who managed 111 yards on 4 returns. 

The only returner to find the end zone in Week 3 was Tandon Doss of the Ravens. Doss was able to freeze a pair of defenders on a punt return, splitting them and then outrunning the rest of the defenders to the end zone. He should continue to hold onto the punt return job until Jacoby Jones returns from injury.  The other top punt returner was Tavon Austin of the Rams. Austin's two returns for 94 yards included a return of 84 yards.

Job Changes

Jeremy Ross was released by the Packers after a number of miscues, including a Week 3 fumble. The team is on bye this week so have time to decide what to do at both kickoff and punt returner. Randall Cobb will be in the mix, but the team may call on Micah Hyde or Johnathan Franklin, or look to sign another player to be Cobb's backup.

Wide receiver Greg Little handled all of the kick returns for the Browns this week, while Travis Benjamin continued to handle punts.

Jacksonville called on Denard Robinson to return kickoffs, and he responded with a pair of returns for 54 yards. With the Jaguars offense sputtering, the team may look to get Robinson more involved on returns.

Though the Eagles have used DeSean Jackson on punt returns previously, in Week 3 the team gave Damaris Johnson all of the returns. This is a definite concern for those who are counting on Jackson's return ability to augment his offensive fantasy points. On the bright side, Johnson averaged less than five yards per return, leaving the door open for Jackson to be seen as a better option in the future.

After being re-signed in Indianapolis for Week 2, Kerwynn Williams saw kickoff returns while David Reed was sidelined with an injury. In Week 3 the team turned instead to Cassius Vaughn to handle the returns, though the pair of kickoffs to him resulted in touchbacks. I still expect Reed to retake the returner job when he is ready.

Injuries of Note

In Buffalo, Leodis McKelvin suffered a hamstring injury. His status will need to be watched for Week 4. Jim Leonhard took over when McKelvin went out with the injury.

Ray Rice's injury in Baltimore made Bernard Pierce the starting running back. The team turned to Shaun Draughn to fill in on kick returns to keep Pierce fresh for offensive plays.

Cowboys returner Dwayne Harris suffered an injured hip. He was replaced in the game by Cole Beasley.

LaMichael James is practicing again though did not play in Week 3. He may be active for the team's next game against the Rams.

Jermaine Kearse earned the Seahawks' kick return job in preseason, but was hobbled by an ankle injury in Week 3. Kearse is reportedly already out of his walking boot which is a positive sign for his availability in Week 4.

While not an injury, Adam Jones was arrested following the team's Week 3 win. Jones has a history of arrests that have resulted in lengthy suspensions. It is very possible this new infraction will result in a suspension from the league.

Baltimore's Jacoby Jones was already injured and will likely miss several more weeks, though now has some extra lacerations to add to his injury report. Jones was riding on a party bus celebrating a teammate's birthday when a dancer who goes by the name Sweet Pea broke a large champagne bottle over his head. The resulting cuts should not affect his return or outlook as a returner so truly did not need to be mentioned here. But in the course of reporting on NFL returners, when I get the chance to give a report about a stripper named Sweet Pea, I pretty much have to take it.

Week 4 Team Return Projections

Week 4 Player Return Projections