Heisman rankings Week 2: Joe Burrow enters the conversation

4. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin

In a rout of Central Michigan, the Wisconsin Badgers passed the ball far more than people are accustomed to with Jack Coan throwing 33 times for over 360 yards. However, star running back Jonathan Taylor was still able to submit a highly impressive performance that sends him moving up the 2019 Heisman Trophy rankings through the first two weeks of the season.

Taylor notched 102 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries in the running game but also got his due in the passing attack as well, hauling in three catches for 17 yards and another touchdown for his tally. Everyone expected Taylor to be a monster in the 2019 season but he’s perhaps been even better than that to start the year, finding the end zone eight times already on the year. If he gets into a matchup where his team isn’t winning by 50 and gets more carries, his yardage totals will catch up to the touchdown production as well.

3. Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

Whenever Joe Burrow lit up Georgia Southern in Week 1 for 278 yards and five touchdowns in limited work, there was tempered optimism about how the second-year starter would fare this year in a new-look LSU offense. In a high-profile matchup against a Texas secondary hailed as one of the better units in college football, Burrow stepped up and delivered a masterful effort that vaults him right into the top three of the early Heisman race.

Though he threw one interception, Burrow was still near perfect on Saturday night. His stat-line finished at 31-of-39 for an incredible 471 yards and four touchdowns but his performance on tape was perhaps even more impressive. The Tigers signal-caller was exceptionally smart and made big-time plays over and over to help bring down Texas. That’s a legend-making performance that sets the tone for what could be coming down the line from Burrow.