Archive for NFL Rookie of the Week
Rookie of the Week: Week 10 – Chris Wells
Posted by: | CommentsOne of the most exciting reasons to collect NFL rookie cards is that you get to watch their values spike if the player performs well on the field. To help capture that excitement, Upper Deck launched a new website to help collectors track 2009 NFL rookie cards, but also make predictions on which rookie would have the best week at OwnTheRookies.com.
Collectors who successfully guess Upper Deck’s “Rookie of the Week” will be entered into a drawing to win a box of 2009 NFL trading cards. For his two touchdown performance in a must win game, Chris “Beanie” Wells has earned top honors for Week 10. If you entered codes from Wells’ cards last week, stay tuned to the website to see if you are a winner!
Ever since the NFL switched to a two back rotation on most of the top teams, the draft has become a place to snatch that one player to make your team complete. This has led to many of the top running backs being selected earlier rather than later on day one, and has also put those players in a position to compete earlier than usual. Chris Wells definitely benefitted from this new phenomenon in the 2009 draft, being selected by the NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals. The difference between Wells and other backs like Donald Brown and Knowshon Moreno was that the Cardinals would need his services from day one.
The wheels had fallen off of perennial producer Edgerrin James, and they needed a franchise player to pick up right where he left off. Wells has had a slower start to the season than the Cardinals would have liked, but with Warner throwing to Boldin and Fitzgerald as much as he does, the touches for Beanie aren’t as high as they would be on a run focused team. Even without having great games week in and week out, the Cards are on top in the NFC West, and last week’s explosion out of the backfield sure helped to keep them there.
Wells entered Week 10 with only one touchdown in his previous games, and the offense was going to need a counter against a Seattle secondary that had done above average against the pass during the first part of the season. Wells’ per carry average and touchdown total were on the rise, and both improved even more with this great game.
He averaged 5.3 yards per carry, including a long 26 yard scamper, and a 23 yard reception that led to Cardinals scores. Pretty impressive considering that most of the other rookie running backs are working hard to find a groove with their respective teams at this time.
For collectors, Wells was already at the top of the value spectrum due to his position as a running back, as well as his strong college ties to hugely popular Ohio State University. His cards haven’t been on the level of a Mark Sanchez or Percy Harvin, but they have started to reflect his production as of late. My favorite of his current cards is probably the Premier auto jersey out of the flagship UD Football product, but I have an experience with Beanie that I value much more than just his cool rookie cards.
When the 2009 NFL Rookie Premiere took place this past March in Los Angeles, Beanie was invited to be a part of the event outside the walls of the LA Coliseum. He made an appearance at a local card shop, and I was lucky enough to be able to spend some time with him. He was extremely personable, and even said that he had collected cards growing up before getting into football full time. When looking at his first of many sports cards out of 2009 UD Draft and the early products of the year, he was impressed to be featured on cards that he had once sought after for his favorite players. Beanie signed a football for me as well as a few cards, and all of them currently reside on my shrine to the sport of champions.
As a collector, it’s always awesome to interact with a player you have the opportunity to chase through the card year. I have actually picked up a few extra of his rookie cards solely because he is a nice guy with a nice signature, as well as being a running back who plays like a freight train. As Wells continues to improve on a team that has become an annual contender, I know that my positive interactions with him will seem even more unreal.
Check in next week for the newest rookie to win “Rookie of the Week” honors, and don’t forget to enter in all your rookie card codes from the Upper Deck products you have collected so far. Not only can you win prizes, but the site has some great features that allow you to track rookies and their cards this season!
Adam Gellman runs the collecting blog Sports Cards Uncensored, and has been a collector of all things sports for over 15 years. To see more of his work, visit www.sportscardsuncensored.com (warning: strong language!).
Popularity: 1% [?]
NFL’s Week 6 Top Rookie: Hakeem Nicks
Posted by: | CommentsOne of the most exciting reasons to collect NFL rookie cards is that you get to watch their values spike if the player performs well on the field. To help capture that excitement, Upper Deck launched a new website to help collectors track 2009 NFL rookie cards, but also make predictions on which rookie would have the best week at OwnTheRookies.com.
Collectors who successfully guess the player who will be Upper Deck’s “Rookie of the Week” will be entered into a drawing to win a box of 2009 NFL trading cards. For breaking the 100-yard barrier and putting up a score, New York Giants’ wideout Hakeem Nicks is Week 6’s top rookie. If you entered codes from Nicks’ cards last week, stay tuned to the website to see if you are a winner!
When it comes to rookie wide receivers, the New York Giants have had a blast over the last few years. In 2007, the Giants drafted Steve Smith, who has become their go-to guy in the passing game this year. Last year they went with Michigan standout Mario Manningham, who has already amassed 392 yards and 4 TDs through Week 6 this season. This year seems to be no different for Nicks (out of UNC) who has been having one of the best years of all the rookies drafted in 2009. Nicks may come from a school better known for its top-of-the-class basketball program, but that hasn’t stopped him at all so far.
When the Giants finished the 2008 season, they had a huge hole left at wide receiver thanks to off-the-field problems by Plaxico Burress. Burress had anchored their corps for a few years, and doubters weren’t too sure of Smith and Manningham’s capabilities of being the go-to guys for the team. Nicks had shown up overweight and ran slow at the combine, but Giants head coach Tom Coughlin saw potential in a player that had put up monster numbers during his college career. Michael Crabtree, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Percy Harvin and Jeremy Maclin had all come off the board, so the G-Men didn’t hesitate in taking Nicks to solidify their future offensive firepower.
As the Giants broke camp, the once shaky wide receiver picture was starting to come into focus, and Nicks was definitely going to be a huge factor. Unfortunately an injury sidelined him for Weeks 2 and 3, preventing his numbers from being even bigger than they already are. After his return, however, his huge size and quick feet proved to be the invaluable, which prompted the Giants used him as a deep threat as well as a possession option in the flats. He quickly notched three TDs and 250-plus yards in three games, and has become a favorite target of QB Eli Manning in clutch situations.
You would think his performances in the last few games would have helped his card values jump a bit, but he is actually still a diamond in the rough. His Upper Deck cards like the SPX rookie jersey autograph, and the SP Threads Lettermen Autograph are still affordable, and I would NOT hesitate in picking up a few if you have the chance. Nicks’ cards will continue to be a great investment as he continues to grow among the young Giants receivers. He is tied for the lead in rookie receiving touchdowns and is also near the top of the rookie leader board in yards.
Nicks also has some great Upper Deck cards in Icons, Draft Edition and Philadelphia if you are a UNC fan, most of which are hard-signed cards. His Philadelphia National Chicle Mini is one of my favorites so far, as the painted card looks great in Tar Heel blue. These cards will complement any collection you are building, especially as sets like UD Black and SP Authentic hit the market later this year.
Lastly, I would check out his Premier Jersey Autograph insert card out of the 2009 Upper Deck product. The card looks amazing, features both an auto and jersey worn by the player, and is extremely rare at less than 50 copies. These cards were inserted at one per case, and so far represents my favorite subset in any set from 2009 because of the way they look. Nicks’ card definitely fits the bill, and should be one of his more valuable options released due to its rarity and design.
As the 2009 NFL season moves on, I have a feeling that Nicks will continue to amaze. The Giants are one of the NFC’s best teams, and are favorites to go far in the playoffs. With players like Smith and Manningham around him, as well as horses like Manning, Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, Nicks will have lots of company to aid in his development. I have said before that a good supporting cast is key for a rookie, and it’s obvious that Nicks has no shortage of talent around him. Luckily for collectors, that means Nicks’ card values should also perform well.
Adam Gellman runs the collecting blog Sports Cards Uncensored, and has been a collector of all things sports for over 15 years. To see more of his work, visit www.sportscardsuncensored.com (warning: strong language!).
Popularity: unranked [?]
Rookie of the Week: Week 4 – Mohamed Massaquoi
Posted by: | CommentsOne of the most exciting reasons to collect NFL rookie cards is that you get to watch their values spike if the players perform on the field. To help capture that excitement, Upper Deck launched a new website to help collectors track 2009 NFL rookie cards, but also make predictions on which rookie would have the best week at OwnTheRookies.com.
Collectors who can successfully guess the player who will be Upper Deck’s “Rookie of the Week” will be entered into a drawing to win a box of 2009 NFL cards. For putting up the best game of any rookie wide receiver so far, Mohamed Massaquoi has been given top honors for Week 4. If you entered codes from Massaquoi’s cards last week, stay tuned to the website to see if you are a winner!
Even though Massaquoi was the tenth receiver taken in the 2009 NFL draft, and the second by the Cleveland Browns, he is the first of two wide receivers to put up a 100 yard receiving effort in the league. He has been a bright spot for a team that hasn’t had many this year, and thanks to his performance on Sunday, he gave the Browns a chance to win their first game.
Massaquoi benefitted greatly from having Stafford throw to him at Georgia, and the Browns surprisingly went for him after drafting Brian Robiskie in the earlier part of the second round. Even though Massaquoi only had two receptions for 31 yards coming into Sunday, he exploded with eight catches for 148 yards in the loss to the Bengals. I’m sure it was quite surprising for the Browns, as he was never supposed to be a big factor in the offense this early. However, with Derek Anderson gaining confidence in his ability, he may continue to have a place.
As a part of the 2009 NFL Rookie Premiere, Massaquoi has had a lot of cards in the first releases of the year, and will continue to have them as the year progresses. Personally, I really like his base rookie out of Upper Deck football, as it has a pretty unique picture. Massaquoi is almost floating in the air, and he looks like he is about ready to bust that football he is holding. Many of the rookie cards in the flagship set this year have some amazing photography, and this one is no exception.
He also has a great looking rookie card out of Icons, this time featuring him in his Georgia Bulldogs uniform. Georgia fans, like their mascot, can be quite intimidating. Their passion means he’ll continue to have a following, which adds more value to these cards. The card also has autographed parallels, some of which are very affordable.
Lastly, if you are a fan of both the Browns and the Bulldogs, I would check out his 3D-Stars card out of Upper Deck, which features pictures from both. It’s a pretty cool concept card, showing the transition from the college to pro uniform (not to mention some “dancing” images).
Massaquoi’s value is more reflective of his selection in the draft rather than the production on the field at this point, which gives you a lot of room to invest in his potential. He has a lot of talent, and the Browns seem to love to use him as their preferred slot receiver, so it’s not a bad idea to take a look at him when selecting a target for the year. You won’t have to spend a lot of money to build a great collection, and the guy has already put up the best game of the year so far. He isn’t going to get the attention of someone like Mark Sanchez, but that will work to your advantage until he has another great game. With very little other talent on the field for the team, I can guarantee you that this will not be his last amazing performance.
Check in next week for the newest rookie to win rookie of the week, and don’t forget to enter in all your rookie card codes from the Upper Deck products you have collected so far. Not only can you win prizes, but the site has some great features to allow you to track rookies and their cards this season!
Adam Gellman runs the collecting blog Sports Cards Uncensored, and has been a collector of all things sports for over 15 years. To see more of his work, visit www.sportscardsuncensored.com (warning: strong language!).
Popularity: unranked [?]
Rookie of the Week: Week 3 – Matthew Stafford
Posted by: | CommentsOne of the most exciting reasons to collect NFL rookie cards is that you get to watch their values spike if the players perform on the field. To help capture that excitement, Upper Deck launched a new website to help collectors track 2009 NFL rookie cards, but also make predictions on which rookie would have the best week at OwnTheRookies.com.
Collectors who can successfully guess the player who will be Upper Deck’s “Rookie of the Week” will be entered into a drawing to win a box of 2009 NFL cards. For helping the Detroit Lions break their NFL record losing streak, Matthew Stafford has been given top honors for this week. If you entered codes from Stafford’s cards last week, stay tuned to the website to see if you are a winner!
Many thought that the Lions could stretch their losing streak to an epic twenty games or more, unless some luck came their way. Last Sunday, Matthew Stafford proved that maybe luck wasn’t the only thing they needed. For the first time in almost two seasons, the Lions went up early thanks to a beautiful TD pass from Stafford to Bryant Johnson, and he played practically mistake free until the final gun. Stafford racked up close to 250 yards in passing and was able go without a turnover for the first time this year. He also rushed for 23 yards, helping the sometimes outmatched defense play without the pressure of the streak on their shoulders.
Stafford was the consensus overall number one pick coming out of Georgia, but not everyone thought the Lions should go in that direction. After putting up a poor performance in week one, and struggling in week two, the critics started chirping that Stafford needed more time to develop on the bench. After the game on Sunday, the tide seems to have changed. Ever since the Lions started their streak of incompetence, QB play had always been at the forefront of the disasters on the field. They had Calvin Johnson, but no talent to get the ball to him. Stafford was drafted to help with that problem, and up until the Redskins victory, was not necessarily living up to the billing.
Many teams are going to start to avoid the adjustment year that new QBs usually require to be successful because of the stellar play from Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, and Mark Sanchez (Upper Deck’s first Rookie of the Week this year), but not everyone can fit into that mold with ease. Stafford is also playing on one of the worst teams in NFL history, so its going to be tougher for him to do well with no experience.
Even though Mark Sanchez may be the rookie toast of the league at the moment, Stafford definitely should not be ignored. He has shown flashes of brilliance despite working with a bad offensive line and one receiver. This has lead to some of the top card values of the 2009 rookie class, despite the fact that the Lions are 1-2. Regardless, Stafford will be very good, especially with the likes of Calvin Johnson and Kevin Smith playing around him; even more so as tight end Brandon Pettigrew starts to fit into his role.
When it comes to the cards available right now, there are quite a few that I would suggest picking up as soon as possible. First, when SPx is released this week, Stafford should have one of the more valuable rookie jersey autographs in the set. It will feature three swatches of player worn jersey, and will be numbered lower than many of the other releases so far this year.
Others I would keep an eye out for are his autographs out of UD Philadelphia, as some of the inscriptions he did are the best of the set. Because his autograph is so clear on every card he signs, having a hard signed example like the ones on the 5×7 box toppers out of the product can be an amazing centerpiece to any Lions collection. If you can find the one he signed “Lion King,” I may have to hunt you down for a trade, as I think it was one of the more brilliant autographs I have ever seen.
Lastly, Stafford had some great cards in UD Draft, especially the dual autographs with fellow Georgia Bulldog Knowshon Moreno. The base draft auto is another hard signed autograph card, and should be pretty affordable for the people who can’t spend much money on one. If you can get one of the duals, it wouldn’t be too bad of an investment considering that Moreno also had a great week.
Overall, Matthew Stafford should be hailed just for being the one to put a tick in the win column for the Lions, but its becoming more apparent that he is going to be great in the coming years. As the Lions improve (and they will), Stafford will too, so don’t be afraid to start your collection now while things are cheaper. He has the skills to be great, though having Johnson to throw to should help just as much.
Check in next week for the newest rookie to win top honors of the week, and don’t forget to enter in all your rookie card codes from the Upper Deck products you have collected so far. Not only can you win prizes, but the site has some great features to allow you to track rookies and their cards this season!
Adam Gellman runs the collecting blog Sports Cards Uncensored, and has been a collector of all things sports for over 15 years. To see more of his work, visit www.sportscardsuncensored.com (warning: strong language!).
Popularity: unranked [?]
Rookie of the Week: Week 2 – Donald Brown
Posted by: | CommentsOne of the most exciting reasons to collect NFL rookie cards is that you get to watch their values spike if the players perform on the field. To help capture that excitement, Upper Deck launched a new website to help collectors track 2009 NFL rookie cards, but also make predictions on which rookie would have the best week at OwnTheRookies.com.
Collectors who can successfully guess who will be Upper Deck’s “Rookie of the Week” will be entered into a drawing to win a box of 2009 NFL cards. After helping the Colts move to 2-0 on Monday Night Football, Upper Deck has recognized Running Back Donald Brown with the honors of “Rookie of the Week”. If you entered codes from Brown’s cards last week, stay tuned to the website to see if you are a winner!
Coming off of the 2008 season, the Colts were not ready to go into 2009 without a backup plan in case of injury to star running back Joseph Addai. Addai spent four games of the season on the shelf with various injuries, and playing at less than 100% often enough when he was healthy enough to play. Although the Colts were able to put together a good record, their lack of a rushing game without Addai was a problem they did not want to deal with again.
Donald Brown was drafted in the first round because of his play at University of Connecticut, mainly to fill a backup role behind Addai. They figured he could also be used as a change of pace back when their lightning fast star needed a break. He impressed collectors out of the gate with his potential, and was immediately near the top of the class in value for the running backs that were selected. Despite the fact that he didn’t have the same kind of college following as players like Knowshon Moreno of Georgia or Beanie Wells of Ohio State, his talent was undeniable.
Brown wasn’t used much in the preseason (mainly due to the physicality of the position), but still managed to score a touchdown against Detroit and put up a big run against top run stoppers in Minnesota. During the first regular season game, Brown looked great in his time on the field, putting up 50+ total yards behind Addai in a Colts win.
Last night, Brown’s carries dropped from eleven to six because the team was playing from behind during the second half, but he made the most of the reps he received. He averaged 6.5 yards per carry and became the first rookie back to score a rushing touchdown in 2009 en route to a come from behind win over the Dolphins. His touchdown tied the game late, and another catch was made later on a key play for a first down. He came away in week two again with over 50 total yards, and Colts collectors should be very happy to have him on the team to complement the revitalized Addai.
Brown has already had some pretty amazing cards hit the market, with autographs and rookie cards in every Upper Deck product so far this year. My personal favorite has been his Premier Rookie Auto Jersey out of 2009 Upper Deck, as it is the first UD card of the year to feature a certified autograph and player worn Colts jersey swatches. The card is also limited only to 40 copies, making it not only valuable, but rare as well. The design is absolutely stunning, and has already has collectors fighting for a chance to get one.
His base rookie card, also out of Upper Deck football, has one of the coolest action shots of the year as its subject. It features Brown diving for the goal line pylon while almost breaking through the front of the card. Many collectors love the base Upper Deck rookie set because of the amazing photography, and this card does not fall short in any sense of the word.
Lastly, Browns autographed parallel out of Upper Deck Heroes football is a great one to pick up in addition to the others. It features a hard signed autograph, as well as a cool design that features a game photo from Brown’s time as a UConn Husky. It is serially numbered to 199 copies, and should be an affordable option for collectors who don’t want to break the bank, but still want an amazing card.
Donald Brown definitely has the talent as well as the supporting cast to have a great career for the Colts, especially if he is going to be tag-teaming with Joseph Addai. As the NFL moves to a two back rotation for every team, Brown’s importance and involvement will grow along with his value in the hobby. His cards haven’t reached their pinnacle yet, which is great for people who want to get in at the ground level. He also has the luxury of playing for one of the best teams in the league, so his growing pains from the NCAA to the NFL should be minimal. He has already been a vital part of one of the team’s two wins, and that will only get to be more important as the season moves on. Miami and Jacksonville are not bad teams either, thus proving that he has the skills to go toe-to-toe with the better teams of the league.
Check in next week for the newest rookie to win top honors of the week, and don’t forget to enter in all your rookie card codes from the Upper Deck products you have collected so far. Not only can you win prizes, but the site has some great features to allow you to track rookies and their cards this season!
Adam Gellman runs the collecting blog Sports Cards Uncensored, and has been a collector of all things sports for over 15 years. To see more of his work, visit www.sportscardsuncensored.com (warning: strong language!).
Popularity: unranked [?]
