Denard Robinson's New Job

A safe bet? Your career arc is not as interesting as Denard Robinson’s. A record-setting human highlight reel of a quarterback for the Michigan Wolverines, “Shoelace” ended his college career as a signal caller who couldn’t throw thanks to a nerve injury. A tweener who owned NCAA records but not an obvious NFL position, Robinson fell to the No. 135 pick of the 2013 draft.

Listed as an “offensive weapon” on his first official depth chart — seriously — Robinson ended up failing to settle at either running back or receiver, ending his rookie campaign with all of 53 snaps. He turned them into an uninspiring 20 carries for 66 yards (3.3 YPC), and zero catches. Robinson had two more lost fumbles (two) than touchdowns (zero). He was a long way from dropping 502 total yards on Notre Dame in 2010.

But he headed into the offseason with a set position — running back — and 13 pounds heavier (212) than he was at the Combine. Shoelace wouldn’t get a shot at the starting job after the Jaguars signed Toby Gerhart and drafted Storm Johnson, but he would get a clean slate. Robinson had a strong preseason — 21 carries for 94 yards (4.5 YPC) and a touchdown — but entered Week 1 a murky No. 2 on the depth chart, with Johnson and Jordan Todman also vying for work behind Gerhart.

Then … not a whole lot happened. Gerhart struggled behind a horrid offensive line, but Robinson touched the ball a grand total of 39 times for 131 yards as the Jags wheezed to an 0-6 record. There was little reason to expect the tide to turn in Week 7. It began with a Sunday morning announcement — Robinson would be “starting” against the Browns. Whether that meant he’d simply be getting the first snap or actually leading the Jaguars’ backfield in touches, nobody knew.

We know now.

Robinson had the first-effective game for a Jaguars runner all season, rushing 22 times for 127 yards as — how about this — the Jags tallied their first victory of 2014. Robinson’s 381 feet on the ground represented 79.4 percent of his previous career total. The Jags’ previous “best” day for a rusher this season? Gerhart’s 42 yards in Week 1. Coming into Week 7, Jacksonville’s weekly rushing leaders had averaged 31.5 yards. That included 17 from Chad Henne in Week 2, and 38 from Blake Bortles in Week 6. Yes, Shoelace’s big day came against a Browns defense that entered the game silver plattering five yards per carry, but it was no small accomplishment behind an offensive line that had graded out as a -26.7 run-blocking unit in Pro Football Focus’ ratings.

Robinson provided a living, breathing rushing threat where there previously was not one. Things will get considerably more difficult against the Dolphins’ elite run defense in Week 8, but the only question will be Robinson’s effectiveness, not his role. That’s because after nearly two years of uncertainty as he tumbled from superstar to gadget player, Shoelace has finally found his new job: Starting running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Five Things That Went According To Plan In Week 7

Doug Baldwin’s ascension to No. 1 status in the Seahawks’ receiver corps. Baldwin had the best game by a Seattle wideout all season, snagging 7-of-11 targets for 123 yards and a nine-yard touchdown. Such an effort can’t be expected every week. Part of the reason the Seahawks unloaded Percy Harvin is because they don’t like the idea of having to manufacture touches for their No. 1 receiver. But Baldwin should remain clearly ahead of Jermaine Kearse and Paul Richardson, and could begin to flirt with WR3 status.

Jerick McKinnon maintaining the Vikings’ No. 1 job over Matt Asiata. Cranky coach Mike Zimmer made mid-week noise about wanting to increase Asiata’s role after it faded into oblivion in Week 6, but it was just sound without fury. McKinnon out-touched Asiata 21-7, and out-gained him 101-37. McKinnon’s 103 yards on the ground represented the first 100-yard performance against a Bills run defense that entered Week 7 permitting just 2.8 yards per carry, the lowest mark in the league. Asiata’s sound fundamentals will keep him in the Vikings’ backfield mix, but it’s abundantly clear that he’s now McKinnon’s caddie, and not vice versa.

Sammy Watkins’ return to civilian life following his escape from Revis Island. The No. 4 overall pick of May’s draft ripped the Vikings for 9/122/2, and is now up to 35/433/4. Watkins has essentially alternated big performances with quiet weeks, but even including his Revis lockdown, is averaging six catches for 79 yards with Kyle Orton under center. Watkins will have a real chance to get on a roll when he does battle with the Jets’ league-worst secondary in Week 8.

Matt Ryan’s continued struggles behind the Falcons’ bombed out offensive line. For the third-straight game, Ryan was held to one measly touchdown. He took five sacks, and managed a season-worst 5.18 YPA on his 44 attempts. Ryan’s TD:INT ratio sits at 6:4 over four games since he dismantled the Bucs in Week 3. Things won’t get any easier in a Week 8 matchup with the Lions’ elite defense in Wembley Stadium.

Peyton Manning’s seizure of the NFL’s all-time touchdown record. Manning, as has become his custom, made it look far too easy against the 49ers, racking up his required three scores before the curtain even closed on the first half. Now averaging 3.2 TDs per game after he managed 3.4 in 2013, Manning is rampaging toward touchdown history all his own. It’s going to be a long time before someone catches him.

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Five Things That Didn’t Go According To Plan In Week 7

Kirk Cousins’ seizure of the Redskins’ starting job. Coach Jay Gruden made it abundantly clear after Robert Griffin III dislocated his ankle in Week 2 that Cousins could run away with RGIII’s starting job. Flash forward five weeks, and Cousins was benched at halftime against the lowly Tennessee Titans. His damage in six games on the job? 126-of-204 (61.7 percent) for 1,710 yards (8.38 YPA), 10 touchdowns and … an NFL-leading nine interceptions. Cousins looked spooked before he was benched for Colt McCoy, with CBS commentator and former NFL quarterback Rich Gannon going in on his body language. Now RGIII is appearing likely to return for Week 8. Whether Griffin will play well in Gruden’s offense is an entirely different matter, but his starting job emphatically remains his.

Alfred Morris’ awakening against the Titans’ soft run defense. Morris seemed primed for a revival in what was surely going to be a competitive game against a team allowing 4.0 yards per carry and 127.7 rushing yards per game, but instead managed a meager 18 totes for 54 yards (3.00 YPC). Morris has now failed to clear 100 yards rushing in any of his seven games this season, and is averaging a paltry 63. His YPC has slumped to 3.82. The impending return of Robert Griffin III should help open up the Redskins’ entire rushing attack, but Morris is looking like a different player with mentor Mike Shanahan prowling golf courses instead of sidelines.

Bishop Sankey’s burying of Shonn Greene. Sankey rushed just 16 times for 56 yards (3.5 YPC) in Tennessee’s latest loss, this one a 19-17 setback to the Redskins. He drew only one target in the passing game, one he muffed for a brutal drop on what could have been a long screen gainer. With 34 carries for 117 yards (3.44 YPC) in Greene’s absence the past two weeks, Sankey simply hasn’t run well enough to leave any doubt that he’ll move forward as Tennessee’s No. 1 runner. If there’s good news, it’s that he gets the Texans’ gettable run defense in Week 8.

Zac Stacy’s role in the Rams’ newfound committee. That’s because Stacy didn’t have a role in the Rams’ newfound committee, registering zero touches to Tre Mason’s 18 and Benny Cunningham’s seven. The Rams are making a switch, with Mason pounding between the tackles and Cunningham doing work in the passing game. Stacy shouldn’t have many more zero-touch afternoons, but his lead-dog days are long gone. He can safely be dropped in 12-14 team leagues.

Randall Cobb’s touchdown regression. Cobb scored, again, in Sunday’s throttling of the Panthers, giving him eight touchdowns through the Packers’ first seven games. That puts him on pace for 18. Although Cobb is unlikely to reach that mark, 12-15 is appearing quite realistic. A 5-foot-10 wideout most dangerous out of the slot, Cobb is an unlikely red-zone dynamo, but that’s what he’s become for a team without a receiving threat at tight end.

Questions

1. Would you reduce DeMarco Murray’s workload?

2. Remember when Brian Hoyer was feted? Like, this time last week?

3. Has anyone told Marc Trestman that being a head coach includes more than dialing up sick plays for your skill players?

Early Waiver Look (Players owned in less than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues)

QB: Carson Palmer, Robert Griffin III, Ryan Tannehill

RB: Denard Robinson, Bryce Brown, Tre Mason, Jonathan Stewart, Anthony Dixon

WR: Doug Baldwin, Allen Robinson, Brandon LaFell

TE: Owen Daniels, Gavin Escobar (extremely deep leagues)

Stats of the Week

Question: Did Russell Wilson miss Percy Harvin Sunday? Answer: He became the first player in league history to pass for 300 yards in a game while rushing for over 100.

Amazing Stat 1: Justin Forsett is fourth in the NFL with 503 yards rushing. Amazing Stat 2: Justin Forsett’s 503 yards rushing are 410 fewer than NFL leader DeMarco Murray.

Aaron Rodgers has a 13:0 TD:INT ratio in four games since imploring Packers fans to “relax.” He’s sporting an 18:1 mark on the season, and threw his lone pick in Week 1.

DeMarco Murray and Le’Veon Bell are two of three running backs to notch at least 75 yards from scrimmage in every game this season. The third? Andre Ellington, who smoked the Raiders for 160 total yards on 30 touches Sunday.

Jermaine Gresham caught 10 passes for 48 yards in Sunday’s embarrassing loss to the Colts. Per Pro Football Reference, that’s a non-running back record for the fewest yards on 10-plus receptions in NFL history.

Per the Associated Press’ Josh Dubow, Derek Carr is the first quarterback since the AFL/NFL merger to start and lose the first six games of his rookie season.

Awards Section

Week 7 Fantasy All-Pro Team: QB Peyton Manning, RB DeMarco Murray, RB Ahmad Bradshaw, WR Demaryius Thomas, WR Sammy Watkins, WR Golden Tate, TE Greg Olsen

Reasoning of the Week: Andre Ellington, on why he intentionally checked out of the game near the goal line in favor of Stepfan Taylor: Taylor deserved it after taking the vast majority of the Cardinals’ first-team reps in practice as Ellington rested his foot. Ellington, who can play some football, is an altruistic fellow.

The A Picture Is Worth 1,000 Words Award Goes To: Mr. Denny Carter.

The Strange But True Award Goes To: Mr. Field Yates, for pointing out that Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy both threw touchdowns on their first pass attempt this season.

Tweet of the Week, from Raiders CB D.J. Hayden: Think I'ma just play Madden all night

Most Absurd Moment(s) Of Week 7: The Bengals going 3-and-out on each of their first eight drives.

Most Darnell Dockett Moment of Week 7: This.

When The Historians Look Back On This Week, They Will Say: The greatest amusement of Week 7 of the 2014 season came from the Seattle “Sea Hawks” falling for not one, but two, “trick plays.” “Trick plays” were transactions where one human opponent would attempt to confuse or deceive a fellow human opponent through the use of sleight of hand or subterfuge. The computers of today never fall for such chicanery, of course — they can diagnose over 10,000 play possibilities in less than 0.03 seconds — but in 2014 these illusions were the source of wild amusement and occasional success.