The rookie card market barely moved after another bruising Week 4 around the NFL, but one receiver made a real case for himself and gave collectors something to chase. Carnell Tate was the biggest riser after hauling in 9 of 12 targets for 145 yards in Sunday’s loss to the Ravens, and that kind of usage matters. He now has 21 targets over the last two weeks.
The Titans, meanwhile, don’t seem interested in spreading the ball around to their fringe options anymore. Wan’Dale Robinson, Calvin Ridley, and Elic Ayomanor combined for just eight targets in that game. Tate’s hobby value is still going to be tied to a Titans team that looks like one of the league’s worst, but being one of the few bright spots on a thin offense gives him some protection in the market.
Jordyn Tyson remains a tricky case. You could make the argument he doesn’t belong in the top five because his rookie season debut is still “weeks away” according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Even so, he stays on the list to reflect the scorching Tyler Shough market through the first month of the season.
Denzel Boston also gets another bump, while the 3-1 Browns continue to carry some real cardboard appeal with their cluster of intriguing young players. That group includes second-year players Quinshon Judkins and Harold Fannin.
The real stress test comes in early November, when Cleveland lines up against the Steelers, Saints, and Texans in back-to-back-to-back fashion. If the Browns get through that stretch, they could be looking at only their third postseason trip since 2002, and that would naturally lift the market for their two marquee rookie wide receivers.
There was not much movement in the lower half of the list. Several rookie wideouts are still sidelined by injury, including Caleb Douglas, De’Zhaun Stribling, and Ja’Kobi Lane, which keeps them in the speculative bucket for now rather than giving collectors anything concrete to work with.
At quarterback, Daniels didn’t put up huge numbers in his pro debut against the Packers, but he stayed within one possession and flashed some running ability. Baker Mayfield is expected to miss at least one more week, possibly two, and that stands out next to someone like Drew Allar, who is still backing up Aaron Rodgers for now.
One defensive name worth tracking is Arvell Reese, who is among the favorites for Defensive Rookie of the Year after helping the Giants get to 3-1. New York is likely to hit some rougher waters soon, with a tough schedule waiting closer to the end of October, but a couple of eye-catching defensive plays can still create usable hobby buzz. Chiefs cornerback Mansoor Delane could enter that conversation too, especially with Kansas City off to a 4-0 start, though that may have to wait another week.
- QB Jalon Daniels - Buccaneers (last week No. 19)
- LB Sonny Styles - Commanders (last week No. 17)
(Ed. Note: I petioned Joe to add Athan Kaliakmanis, but the uncertainty around Jayden Daniels' timeline leans towards being back sooner rather than later and keep the Baklava Bomber and his card market on the sideline)
In Other News...
Titans Face A Tough Veteran Decision To Help Cam Ward
The Titans slow start has them looking hard at the roster, and that naturally pulls veteran names into the conversation as the NFL trade deadline approaches. One possibility being floated would send Browns receiver Jerry Jeudy to Tennessee in a deal centered on running back Tony Pollard, a kind of veteran-for-veteran move that would be aimed at shaking up a team still trying to find traction around rookie quarterback Cam Ward.
Clevelands 3-1 record gives the Browns a little more flexibility to weigh their own needs, while Tennessee is in a spot where almost any credible help on offense will get attention. Nothing has been finalized, and no trade has been announced, but the speculation alone says plenty about where the Titans are right now: searching for answers, open to changes, and trying to decide whether a move like this is the right one to support Wards development. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Suddenly Have A Tony Pollard Decision Fans Wont Ignore
The Seahawks running back room has been hit hard enough that a familiar name, Joe Mixon, briefly entered the conversation before his physical ended that possibility. Mixon last played for the Texans in 2024 and sat out the 2025 season with a foot and ankle injury, leaving Seattle still searching for help at a position where injuries and the physically unable to perform list have thinned the depth chart.
That kind of need naturally turns attention toward the trade market, and Tony Pollard becomes a name worth watching from Tennessees side of the ledger. He is in the final year of his contract, and with the Titans mired in a rough season, any player with value can at least spark speculation about whether the front office would listen if a contender came calling for backfield help. [Read more 🡒]
Titans 0-4 Start Is Already Separating Core Pieces From Disappointments
The Titans 0-4 start has already done what early-season records often do: it has started separating the encouraging pieces from the letdowns. On one side, rookie linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. has quickly become a defensive bright spot, sitting third in the league in total tackles, while rookie receiver Carnell Tate has given the offense a legitimate building block by leading the team in receptions and receiving yards.
Elsewhere, the picture is much murkier. Backup running back Tyjae Spears has not been able to stay healthy or make much of an impact, quarterback Cam Ward has fallen short of expectations, and the early returns on the offense have been uneven enough to keep the focus on what still has to be fixed. One notable exception has been JC Latham, whose leap has stood out, with no sacks or quarterback hits allowed so far. [Read more 🡒]