New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham Has Chance at Historic Season

Jimmy Graham, the former basketball player turned NFL star, has been lighting up secondaries in the first six weeks of the season. He is currently ranked in the top five of four major receiving categories: yards per catch, receptions, yards per game and total receiving yards.

With three TDs, 620 receiving yards, an average of 103.3 yards per game, 15.9 YPC, and 39 receptions, Graham has quickly become one of the most dangerous players in the NFL.

If that was not enough, his current streak of four games with at least 100 receiving yards is tied for the longest by a TE. In this week’s game against the Indianapolis Colts, a team ranked 18^th in pass defense, Graham could break the tie with Tony Gonzalez.

The Saints TE, along with Darren Sproles and Drew Brees, has stolen the spotlight on a New Orleans team that is 4-2. He is not just gaining attention from the public either. Brees relies on him more and more every week. In fact, when Brees threw his third interception against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth quarter last Sunday, his intended target was none other than Jimmy Graham.

Even though Brees and Graham failed to connect on that play, do not expect the Saints to shy away from the TE in pressure situations. At 6’6”, 260 pounds, Graham is able to make plays that many tight ends cannot.                                                     

If Graham continues his torrid pace, he would rack up 1653 yards, 104 receptions and eight touchdowns. It would be one of the greatest seasons ever recorded by a TE. Expect Graham to come close to those numbers, because the Saints' offense relies heavily on Drew Brees, and he likes to air the ball out.

When the New Orleans Saints drafted Jimmy Graham with the 95^th pick in the 2010 draft, they knew what a great athlete he was. However, it appears that the Saints franchise has hit pay dirt, because Graham looks more like a football player rather than an athlete.