SECOND-YEAR STARS

Indianapolis running back JONATHAN TAYLOR leads the league with 1,854 scrimmage yards, 1,518 rushing yards, 19 scrimmage touchdowns and 17 rushing touchdowns. Last week, he became the fifth player with a rushing touchdown in 11 consecutive games within a single season. He can join Pro Football Hall of Famers JOHN RIGGINS (1983) and LADAINIAN TOMLINSON (2004) as the only players to do so in 12 straight games within a single season.

Additionally, with 146 scrimmage yards and a touchdown at Arizona on Christmas night (8:15 PM ET, NFLN), Taylor – who turns 23 on January 19, 2022 – will become the first player under the age of 23 with at least 2,000 scrimmage yards and 20 touchdowns in a single season all-time.

He would also join Pro Football Hall of Famer ERIC DICKERSON (1983) and DAVID JOHNSON (2016) as the only players with at least 2,000 scrimmage yards and 20 touchdowns in one of their first two career seasons in NFL history.

The players with at least 2,000 scrimmage yards and 20 touchdowns in one of their first two career seasons in NFL history:
PLAYER TEAM SEASON AGE SCRIMMAGE YARDS TOUCHDOWNS
Eric DickersonHOF L.A. Rams 1983 23 2,212 20
David Johnson Arizona 2016 25 2,118 20
Jonathan Taylor Indianapolis 2021 22 1,854* 19*
*Entering Week 16

Taylor led all rookies with 11 rushing touchdowns last season and now has 28 in his career. With two rushing touchdowns on Saturday, he will become the third player all-time with at least 30 rushing touchdowns in his first two seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers EARL CAMPBELL (32 rushing touchdowns) and ERIC DICKERSON (32).

The players with the most rushing touchdowns in their first two seasons in NFL history:
PLAYER TEAM RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS
Earl CampbellHOF Houston Oilers 32
Eric DickersonHOF L.A. Rams 32
Clinton Portis Denver 29
Curtis MartinHOF New England 28
Jonathan Taylor Indianapolis 28*
*In second season

Taylor isn’t the only player from the 2020 NFL Draft that can make history this week. Minnesota wide receiver JUSTIN JEFFERSON needs 21 receiving yards against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX) to surpass ODELL BECKHAM JR. (2,755) for the most receiving yards ever by a player in his first two seasons.

The players with the most receiving yards in their first two seasons in NFL history:
PLAYER TEAM RECEIVING YARDS
Odell Beckham Jr. N.Y. Giants 2,755
Justin Jefferson Minnesota 2,735*
Randy MossHOF Minnesota 2,726
*Entering Week 16    

Additionally, with 133 receiving yards in Week 16, Jefferson – who turns 23 on June 16, 2022 – will surpass JUJU SMITH-SCHUSTER (2,867 receiving yards) for the most receiving yards by a player under the age of 23 in NFL history.

The players with the most receiving yards prior to their 23rd birthday in NFL history:
PLAYER TEAM RECEIVING YARDS
JuJu Smith-Schuster Pittsburgh 2,867
Justin Jefferson Minnesota 2,735*
Randy Moss HOF Minnesota 2,726
*Turns 23 on June 16, 2022

Jefferson ranks tied for sixth in the league with 89 receptions this season. He can join LARRY FITZGERALD (103 receptions in 2005), CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY (107 in 2018) and JUJU SMITH-SCHUSTER (111 in 2018) as the only players under the age of 23 to record at least 100 receptions in a single season.

CATCHING RECORDS IN LA

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver COOPER KUPP leads the league with 122 receptions, 1,625 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns. Last week, he became the first player in the Super Bowl era with at least 90 receiving yards in 10 consecutive games within a single season. Overall, Kupp has eclipsed 90 receiving yards in 13 of 14 games this season.

With at least 90 receiving yards at Minnesota on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX), Kupp will become the first player ever with at least 90 receiving in 14 games within a single season.

The players with the most games with at least 90 receiving yards in a single season in NFL history:
PLAYER TEAM SEASON GAMES
Antonio Brown Pittsburgh 2014 13
Michael IrvinHOF Dallas 1995 13
Cooper Kupp L.A. Rams 2021 13*
*Entering Week 16      

Kupp also needs a touchdown reception to become the fourth player in league history to record at least 100 catches, 1,000 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns in a single season. He will be joining Pro Football Hall of Famers MARVIN HARRISON (2001), RANDY MOSS (2003) and JERRY RICE (1995).

The players with at least 100 receptions, 1,500 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns in a single season in NFL history:
PLAYER TEAM SEASON RECEPTIONS RECEIVING YARDS RECEIVING TDs
Marvin HarrisonHOF Indianapolis 2001 109 1,524 15
Randy MossHOF Minnesota 2003 111 1,632 17
Jerry RiceHOF San Francisco 1995 122 1,848 15
Cooper Kupp L.A. Rams 2021 122* 1,625* 14*
*Entering Week 16          

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver KEENAN ALLEN, who also calls SoFi Stadium home, can join Kupp in making history this week. Allen ranks fifth in the league with 92 receptions this season and his 495 catches since 2017 are the most in the NFL.

With three receptions at Houston on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Allen will become the second player ever to record at least 95 catches in five-or-more consecutive seasons, joining ANTONIO BROWN (six consecutive seasons).

The players with the most consecutive seasons with at least 95 receptions in NFL history:
PLAYER TEAM(S) SEASONS
Antonio Brown Pittsburgh 6 (2013-18)
Keenan Allen L.A. Chargers 4* (2017-20)
DeAndre Hopkins Houston, Arizona 4 (2017-20)
Marvin HarrisonHOF Indianapolis 4 (1999-02)
Jerry RiceHOF San Francisco 4 (1993-96)
*Has 92 receptions entering Week 15    
65 FOR 85

Since entering the NFL in 2017, San Francisco tight end GEORGE KITTLE ranks second among tight ends with 4,429 receiving yards and third with 327 receptions. This season, he ranks third among tight ends with 850 receiving yards and fourth with 63 receptions and has totaled at least 90 receiving yards in each of the past three games.

With 71 receiving yards at Tennessee on Thursday (8:20 PM ET, NFLN), Kittle – playing in his 65th career game – can join Pro Football Hall of Famer KELLEN WINSLOW SR. (4,546 receiving yards) as the only tight ends all-time with at least 4,500 receiving yards in their first 65 career games.

The tight ends with the most receiving yards in their first 65 career games in NFL history:
PLAYER TEAM RECEIVING YARDS
Kellen Winslow Sr.HOF San Diego Chargers 4,546
George Kittle San Francisco 4,429*
Rob Gronkowski New England 4,379
*In 64 games

With three receptions, Kittle can surpass JORDAN REED (329 receptions) for the second-most receptions by a tight end in his first 65 career games all-time. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer KELLEN WINSLOW SR. (348) has more.

The tight ends with the most receptions in their first 65 career games in NFL history:
PLAYER TEAM RECEIVING YARDS
Kellen Winslow Sr.HOF San Diego Chargers 348
Jordan Reed Washington 329
George Kittle San Francisco 327*
*In 64 games
RUN, EAGLES, RUN

The PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (7-7) enter the week with the league’s leading rushing attack, averaging 165.6 rushing yards per game. Winners of four of their past five games and within one game of the final Wild Card spot in the NFC, the Eagles have recorded at least 175 rushing yards in each of their past seven games.

With 175 rushing yards against the New York Giants on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX), Philadelphia will become the third team in the Super Bowl era to record at least 175 rushing yards in eight consecutive games within a single season, joining the 1972 Miami Dolphins and 1972 Pittsburgh Steelers.

The teams with at least 175 rushing yards in the most consecutive games within a single season in the Super Bowl era:
TEAM SEASON GAMES
Miami Dolphins 1972 8
Pittsburgh Steelers 1972 8
Philadelphia Eagles 2021 7*
*Active streak    

Philadelphia quarterback JALEN HURTS leads all quarterbacks with 10 rushing touchdowns this season. Last week, he rushed for 38 yards and two touchdowns, his fifth career game with at least two rushing touchdowns, the most-ever by a quarterback in his first two seasons.

With two rushing touchdowns on Sunday, Hurts will tie STEVE GROGAN (15 rushing touchdowns) and KYLER MURRAY (15) for the third-most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in his first two seasons in NFL history. Only CAM NEWTON (22) and JOSH ALLEN (17) have more.

The quarterbacks with the most rushing touchdowns in their first two seasons in NFL history:
PLAYER TEAM RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS
Cam Newton Carolina 22
Josh Allen Buffalo 17
Steve Grogan New England 15
Kyler Murray Arizona 15
Jalen Hurts Philadelphia 13*
*In second season
BALLHAWKING D IN BIG D

The DALLAS COWBOYS (10-4) have 31 takeaways this season, tied with Indianapolis for the most in the league. They enter Week 16 winners of three straight games and sit atop of the NFC East. In each of those wins, Dallas has recorded at least four takeaways.

With at least four takeaways against Washington on Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, NBC), the Cowboys will become the fourth team since 1990 to force at least four turnovers in four consecutive games.

The teams to force at least four turnovers in the most consecutive games since 1990:
TEAM SEASON GAMES
Buffalo Bills 2004 4
Green Bay Packers 2002 4
Buffalo Bills 1993 4
Dallas Cowboys 2021 3*
*Active streak    

Last week, Dallas cornerback TREVON DIGGS recorded his league-leading 10th interception of the season. With three games remaining, Diggs has a chance to become the seventh player in the Super Bowl era, and first since Dallas’ EVERSON WALLS in 1981, with at least 11 interceptions in a single season.

The players with the most interceptions in a single season in the Super Bowl era:
PLAYER TEAM SEASON INTERCEPTIONS
Lester Hayes Oakland Raiders 1980 13
Mike Reinfeldt Houston 1979 12
Emmitt ThomasHOF Kansas City 1974 12
Mel BlountHOF Pittsburgh 1975 11
Bill Bradley Philadelphia 1971 11
Everson Walls Dallas 1981 11
Trevon Diggs Dallas 2021 10*
*Entering Week 16      
SACK ATTACK

The MINNESOTA VIKINGS (7-7) enter the week leading the league with 44 sacks this season. Winners of two straight games and currently holding the final Wild Card spot in the NFC playoff picture. The Vikings have recorded at least two sacks in each of their 14 games.

With at least two sacks against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX), Minnesota will become the first team ever to record multiple sacks in each of their first 15 games of a season.

Pittsburgh linebacker T.J. WATT leads the league with 17.5 sacks in 2021, followed by Chicago’s ROBERT QUINN (16 sacks), San Francisco’s NICK BOSA (15) and Cleveland’s MYLES GARRETT (15). Cincinnati’s TREY HENDRICKSON (13), New England’s MATTHEW JUDON (12.5) and Dallas rookie MICAH PARSONS (12) also have at least 12 sacks with three weeks to play.

The 2021 season has a chance to become the seventh season since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic. First since 1998 to feature five-or-more players with at least 15 sacks.

The seasons with the most players with at least 15 sacks since 1982:
SEASON PLAYERS WTH 15+ SACKS
1989 7
1986 6
1998 5
1992 5
1984 5
1983 5
2021 4*
*Entering Week 16
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