10 Players Who Can Help Save Their Struggling NFL Teams

In recent weeks, we’ve been surprised to see teams such as the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons regress significantly. They now join a handful of teams that are in need of someone to step up. While it will still be the team effort that is the determining factor, certain players out there have the ability to help impact the rest of the season.

For this list, we’ll look at each team’s remaining schedule and identify a matchup in which it is imperative for a certain somebody to take over. These players are impact guys who have shined earlier this season or have shown encouraging signs of breaking out. 

With six weeks left in the regular season, it’s time for some of the teams to regroup and trust in their stars to get them back to the form we know they are capable of.

Jimmy Graham, Seattle Seahawks

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As he showed in 2013, when he had 16 touchdowns and averaged 14.1 yards per catch, Jimmy Graham has the ability to change a game. But that scoring potential has yet to truly show up yet in his first season as a Seattle Seahawk.

In nine games played this season, he only has two touchdowns.

According to the Seattle Times' Bob Condotta, people have questioned whether or not Seattle is utilizing Graham the correct way all season long.

While it’s easy to sit back and criticize Graham’s lack of scoring, it’s important to remember that he is still averaging more yards per catch (12.0) this year than last year (10.5). 

Also, it’s clear that Seattle’s game plan to use Graham was always going to be different than that of the New Orleans Saints. According to Pro Football Focus (h/t Condotta), the Seahawks have run the football on 47 percent of the snaps this season compared to about 37 percent for the Saints last season.

But Graham has shown he is still effective, even in a new system. Perhaps if Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell starts targeting him more in the red zone, Graham can help Seattle return to form. 

While the playoffs look doubtful, and it will take a lot for this 4-5 Seahawks team to bounce back, it’s not time to give up. The matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 29 will be critical, and Graham, among others, needs to show what he's made of.

Chris Ivory, New York Jets

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The New York Jets are coming off a 22-17 turnover-filled loss to ex-coach Rex Ryan and the Buffalo Bills. While the loss puts them in a tough position, one huge positive from the game was the play of running back Chris Ivory.

Ivory ran for 99 yards on 18 carries and was a big part of the offensive attack. Yes, he fumbled once, but the key takeaway was that he was able to return to his early-season form.

Back when the Jets were 4-1, which seems like a long time ago, they were dominating in the running game, and Ivory had three games with 90 or more rushing yards.

Moving forward, he needs to sustain those types of numbers up if the Jets hope to make the playoffs and complete a surprise season. The December 27 faceoff with the New England Patriots and their rush defense, which is second in the league, could prove to be a must-win for this team.

Amari Cooper, Oakland Raiders

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Similar to Ivory, Amari Cooper played a pivotal role in his team’s early success this season. Now, the Oakland Raiders have regressed due to back-to-back losses to the Minnesota Vikings and Steelers.

Both quarterback Derek Carr and offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave must continue to look to one of their top weapons in Cooper. That’s not to say they should become one-dimensional or predictable, but the team could benefit from stretching Cooper out a little bit. 

Let the big rookie run deep routes. Lack of confidence is not an issue with him. Cooper won the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week award in Weeks 7 and 9.

Look for Carr and Cooper to help the Raiders bounce back in Week 11, when they face a Detroit Lions defense that ranks No. 23 in the league in pass defense this season. Gaining some more confidence against a weak secondary may be all that’s needed to get Oakland going again.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, New York Giants

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Speaking of spotty pass defense, the New York Giants are last in the league in that department, and Sunday’s one-point loss to the Patriots showed us why.

So far, the Giants have struggled to stop opponents’ two-minute drills and fourth-quarter comebacks.

The secondary hasn’t been able to make clutch plays, but Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has been a leader and positive influence for that unit, per NJ.com's Jordan Raanan.

Rodgers-Cromartie already has 38 tackles and three interceptions this season. Sunday’s game showed that the Giants can play with the best of them.

Look for the defense to rally around Rodgers-Cromartie as the team gets set for crucial games versus the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers in Week 13 and 15.

Darren Sproles, Philadelphia Eagles

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Given the fact that DeMarco Murray has been a disappointment after signing a $42 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, Darren Sproles’ role is more important than ever.

Furthermore, this team will be without quarterback Sam Bradford for two weeks or more, as reported by NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport (h/t NFL.com). That means head coach Chip Kelly may rely on the running game more than usual moving forward. 

Fellow running back Ryan Mathews is also questionable due to a concussion he received in the loss to the Miami Dolphins, per NFL.com.

Thus, there’s a lot of pressure on Sproles to regain his form from last season, when he averaged 5.8 yards per carry. In Weeks 11 and 12, Philadelphia could benefit from incorporating Sproles into the game plan more. 

The Eagles may be in real trouble if they can’t break through on the ground next week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Given their current injuries, consider that a pivotal matchup.

Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons

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The Atlanta Falcons are coming off a bye week and looking to regain some focus following surprising losses to the San Francisco 49ers and the Buccaneers, both of which have sub-.500 records.

After scoring a total of just 36 points in those two games, the Falcons are in need of an offensive spark.

Wide receiver Roddy White has the ability to impact total yards gained, and as ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure opines, Atlanta should incorporate him into the offense more in order to regain some of its early-season form.

While turnovers have plagued the Falcons all season long, they haven’t been an issue with White, who has zero fumbles in nine games played. Julio Jones has two.

The NFC South showdown with the undefeated Panthers on December 13 is obviously the big one ahead for White and Co. As they search for a way to re-establish the offense, look for the Falcons to target the veteran more in the weeks ahead.

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

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Similar to the Falcons, the recent offensive slide of the Green Bay Packers is alarming. After starting the season 5-0, the Packers have lost three straight.

Much of that blame falls on the offensive line and the injuries there. According to Genaro Armas of the Associated Press (h/t BND.com), two of the Packers’ starting offensive linemen sat out Wednesday’s practice, which means the job ahead may be a tough one for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is banged up himself.

During the three-game losing streak, Rodgers has been sacked 11 times. In order for Green Bay to get back on track, the two-time NFL MVP will have to improve his mobility inside and outside of the pocket. He has to do what he can to avoid the rush.

It’s something Rodgers has shown he can do successfully throughout his career, and it could be one key for waking up a sluggish offense and getting the Packers back in the win column this Sunday versus the Vikings.

Ronnie Hillman, Denver Broncos

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Running back Ronnie Hillman’s five touchdowns have already helped the Denver Broncos this season. Now, with quarterback Peyton Manning sidelined due to a torn plantar fascia, they will count on Hillman even more.

On Sunday, the Broncos face a 4-5 Chicago Bears team that has given up 1,067 yards on the ground this season, good for the eighth-highest total in the league.

This is one of the biggest games for the Broncos simply due to timing. They are coming off back-to-back losses, and with Manning out, they will have to depend on Brock Osweiler, who hasn’t started a regular-season game since he was at Arizona State in 2011. 

Can the running game help take pressure off the inexperienced quarterback? Although the Bears defense has allowed only three touchdowns on the ground all season, Hillman figures to play a big factor in this one.

Trumaine Johnson, St. Louis Rams

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Trumaine Johnson has quietly led the 4-5 St. Louis Rams in interceptions this season, tying a career high with three picks at the cornerback position.

He has 11 interceptions since joining the Rams after being drafted in 2012, the most by any NFL defensive back drafted that year. In his age-25 season, he is coming into his own.

On Monday, head coach Jeff Fisher announced he was benching QB Nick Foles in favor of Case Keenum. This means Johnson must help lead the defensive unit against a Baltimore Ravens team that has looked lost at times this season. 

Given the Rams' record, Sunday’s game at Baltimore is a must-win.

Kirk Cousins, Washington Redskins

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Quarterback Kirk Cousins is coming off a performance against the Saints that earned him NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors and a spot on this list.

The Washington Redskins blew out New Orleans in that one, 47-14, and Cousins dazzled by completing 20 of 25 passes for 324 yards and a career-high four touchdowns.

The game brought Cousins’ touchdown total to 14 on the year, also a career best.

Now, the Redskins’ hopes rest on the 27-year-old Michigan State product’s ability to keep the excellent passer rating going.

While saving the season appears to be a difficult task, Cousins seems up to the challenge.