5 breakout players from Week 1 2019 NFL season

5 breakout players from Week 1 of 2019 NFL season

CARSON, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 08: Austin Ekeler #30 of the Los Angeles Chargers runs past Al-Quadin Muhammad #97 of the Indianapolis Colts during overtime of a game at Dignity Health Sports Park on September 08, 2019 in Carson, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

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Week 1 of the 2019 NFL season is nearly in the books, and here are five breakout players from the week.

With the traditional Monday night double header yet to be played, and the Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints, Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders yet to play as of this writing, Week 1 of the 2019 NFL regular season is nearly in the books.

There have been plenty of very good performances through the first 14 games of Week 1 slate, on an individual and team level. Some come as expected (see Tom Brady against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night). But others can be considered breakouts or breakthroughs from guys that haven’t quite reached their potential due to injury, or have simply been in the background as a backup.

Here are five breakout players from Week 1.

5. Bengals WR John Ross

After being drafted No. 9 overall in 2017, Ross entered the season with 21 career catches in 16 games with single-game highs of three catches and 52 yards. With A.J. Green (ankle) out, the speedster burned the Seattle Seahawks to the tune of seven catches for 158 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday. He did have two drops, but otherwise it was a promising showing.

One game doesn’t totally erase two seasons of underachievement. But Ross has an opportunity in front of him while Green is sidelined, and so far so good one game in.