Hawkeyes in the NFL: Week 17 Top Performers
We have reached the penultimate Hawkeyes in the NFL article. Just one week remains in the NFL season, but before we move on to those games, we will take a look back at the best performances from week 17. Despite TJ Hockenson being out for the season with a torn ACL, Iowa tight ends were still able to rack up 15 catches for over 150 yards. A couple of former Hawkeye defensive backs forced turnovers in their respective games, while CJ Beathard got the start under center for the Jaguars.
Honorable Mention
LB Josey Jewell – 9 tkls, 1 FR vs Chargers
CB Desmond King II – 8 tkls, 1 PD vs Tennessee
DE Anthony Nelson – 4 tkls, 1 tfl, 1 PD vs New Orleans
TE George Kittle – 3 rec 29 yds
C Tyler Linderbaum – 82.4 pass block grade vs Miami #3 amongst all centers
TE Noah Fant – 5 rec 59 yds vs Pittsburgh
1. DB Dane Belton
The Giants aren’t going to make the playoffs, but that didn’t stop Dane Belton from putting up a huge game against the Rams. He picked off two Matthew Stafford passes and recovered a fumble in just 46 snaps. His 76.2 overall grade ranked 11th best for all safeties during week 17 and his 80.8 coverage grade ranked fourth best. On the season, Belton has 27 tackles, but has played just 230 snaps. Intercepting a couple of passes is a good showing late in the year, while the Giants evaluate what they have going into the offseason.
2. DB Geno Stone
At one point this season, Geno Stone picked off a pass in four straight games to take the NFL lead. He entered week 17 with six interceptions and picked up his seventh in the Ravens blowout win over the Dolphins. Stone also racked up eight tackles, which gives him 68 total tackles for the season. On the season, he has a 85.6 coverage grade by Pro Football Focus, which ranks 12th amongst all defensive backs. The fourth year safety is having a really good year for a really good Ravens team that could make it to the Super Bowl.
3. QB CJ Beathard
CJ Beathard has put together a solid six year career in the NFL as a backup quarterback and he has gotten chances here and there to start. In three years with the 49ers, Beathard started 12 games, but just got his first start with the Jaguars on Sunday against the Panthers. It wasn’t scoreboard shattering performance, but CJ did what he needed to do to get the Jags one step closer to clinching a playoff berth. Beathard completed 17 of 24 passes for 178 yards and did not turn it over in the 26-0 victory. He also had three rushes for 24 yards. If Trevor Lawrence cannot go in week 18, Beathard will give the Jaguars a chance to win and clinch the AFC South.
Top 10
- 1
Phil Longo Fired
Wisconsin announces firing of OC
- 2
Iowa QB out
Ankle injury sidelines Brendan Sullivan
- 3
Peter Boulware chimes in
FSU legend offers Norvell advice
- 4
Paul Finebaum
'Kirby Smart was different'
- 5
AP Poll Shakeup
New Top 25 shows big fallout from Saturday
4. TE Sam LaPorta
How could we ever do this list without a tight end? We can’t. Sam LaPorta has had one of the best seasons for a rookie tight end in NFL history and it continued on Saturday against the Cowboys. LaPorta finished with seven catches for 84 yards, including three catches for 50 yards on what should have been a game winning drive for the Lions. On the year, LaPorta has 81 catches for 860 yards and nine touchdowns. He needs just four catches to break the NFL rookie tight end receptions record, while he is projected to finish with the third most yards by a rookie tight end. Also noteworthy, if LaPorta makes the list next week, he will tie TJ Hockenson for the most appearances on the season with 11. Drama with the Hawkeyes in the NFL leaderboard!
5. LB Nick Niemann
I really think Nick Niemann deserved more snaps on the Chargers defense this season. He played 113 total snaps in week 2/3 and racked up 17 tackles, but got relegated to special teams and played just 57 defensive snaps over the next 12 games. In 47 snaps against the Broncos on Sunday, Niemann racked up 11 tackles and one tackle for loss. He is averaging 9.3 tackles per game in games that he got 45+ snaps. With the Chargers out of the playoff hunt, look for Niemann to get a good load of the snaps next week against the Chiefs.
