Player Expectations - NFL 2020

What to look for this season from NFL players.

JOSH ALLEN, Buffalo, needs three rushing touchdowns to become the second quarterback with at least 20 rushing touchdowns in his first three seasons in NFL history joining Cam Newton (28). Allen also needs eight rushing touchdowns to become the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for at least eight touchdowns in three consecutive seasons.

SAQUON BARKLEY, N.Y. Giants, needs 57 receptions to become the seventh running back in NFL history with at least 200 receptions through his first three seasons. Barkley also needs 10 games with at least 100 scrimmage yards to become the third player in NFL history with 30 such games through their first three seasons, joining Eric Dickerson (34) and Edgerrin James (32).

ODELL BECKHAM JR., Cleveland, needs 1,000 receiving yards to become the 10th player with at least 1,000 receiving yards in six of his first seven seasons in NFL history.

LE'VEON BELL, N.Y. Jets, needs 60 receptions to become the sixth running back in NFL history with five seasons of at least 60 receptions. Bell also needs 72 receptions to become the fourth running back with at least 450 receptions in his first seven seasons in NFL history. Bell enters 2020 with 378 career receptions in 77 career games.

TOM BRADY, Tampa Bay, needs 16 starts to surpass Brett Favre (298 games) for the most games started by a quarterback in NFL history. Brady also needs two games with at least 300 passing yards to surpass Peyton Manning (93 games) for the second-most such games in NFL history, trailing only Drew Brees (120). With eight games with at least three touchdown passes, Brady would surpass Drew Brees and Peyton Manning (93 games) for the most such games in NFL history.

Brady needs one more Pro Bowl berth to surpass Tony Gonzalez (14), Peyton Manning (14), Bruce Matthews (14) and Merlin Olsen (14) for the most Pro Bowl berths in NFL history.

DREW BREES, New Orleans, needs 10 starts to become the third quarterback in NFL history to start 300 games, including the postseason, joining Tom Brady (324) and Brett Favre (322). Brees also needs 25 touchdown passes to join Peyton Manning (16 seasons) as the only players in NFL history to have at least 15 seasons with at least 25 touchdown passes.

Brees needs one game with at least two touchdown passes to surpass Peyton Manning (165 games) for the second most such games in NFL history, trailing only Tom Brady (173). With one game with at least three touchdown passes, Brees would surpass Peyton Manning (93 games) for the most such games in NFL history.

Brees needs one game with a passer rating of 125 or higher to surpass Peyton Manning (50 games) for the most such games in NFL history.

A.J. BROWN, Tennessee, needs at least 1,000 receiving yards, 50 receptions and five receiving touchdowns to become the ninth player in NFL history to accomplish the feat in each of his first two seasons. Brown also needs five games with at least 100 receiving yards to become the ninth player in NFL history with 10 such games through his first two seasons.

KEVIN BYARD, Tennessee, needs three interceptions and two sacks to become the sixth player in NFL history with at least 20 interceptions and five sacks through his first five seasons in NFL history.

KIRK COUSINS, Minnesota, needs 893 passing yards in his first three games of the 2020 season to become the third-fastest player (96 career games) to reach 25,000 career passing yards in NFL history, behind Matthew Stafford (90 games) and Dan Marino (92 games).

AARON DONALD, L.A. Rams, needs eight sacks to become the fourth player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, to record at least eight sacks in each of his first seven seasons. Donald also needs 13 sacks to become the fourth player since 1982 to record at least 85 sacks in his first seven seasons, joining Reggie White (110), DeMarcus Ware (99.5) and Derrick Thomas (85). Donald has 72 sacks in 94 career games.

AUSTIN EKELER, L.A. Chargers, needs 953 scrimmage yards to become the third undrafted player in the common draft era (since 1967) with at least 4,000 scrimmage yards in his first four seasons, joining Arian Foster (6,052) and Willie Parker (4,818). Ekeler has 3,047 scrimmage yards in his first three seasons.

EZEKIEL ELLIOTT, Dallas, needs at least 1,300 rushing yards to the eighth player with at least 1,300 rushing yards in four of their first five seasons in NFL history. Elliott also needs 1,523 yards from scrimmage to surpass Chris Johnson (8,546) for the fifth-most yards from scrimmage through a player's first five seasons in league history.

ZACH ERTZ, Philadelphia, needs 93 receptions to surpass Jason Witten (617) for the most receptions by a tight end in his first eight seasons in NFL history.

MIKE EVANS, Tampa Bay, needs 1,000 receiving yards to become the first player in NFL history to begin his career with seven consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons.

LARRY FITZGERALD, Arizona, needs 22 receptions for 1,400 career receptions, trailing only Jerry Rice (1,549) for most in NFL history. Fitzgerald has 1,378 receptions in 250 career games. Fitzgerald also needs nine touchdown receptions to surpass Marvin Harrison (128) for the fifth-most touchdown receptions in NFL history. Fitzgerald has 120 receiving touchdowns in 16 career seasons.

Fitzgerald needs 1,000 receiving yards to become the third player in NFL history with 10 career 1,000-yard seasons, joining Jerry Rice (14) and Randy Moss (10).

ROB GRONKOWSKI, Tampa Bay, needs 139 receiving yards to reach 8,000 career receiving yards, joining Jason Witten (8,948 receiving yards), Tony Gonzalez (8,710) and Antonio Gates (8,321) as the only tight ends with at least 8,000 receiving yards in their first 10 seasons. Gronkowski also needs 1,000 receiving yards to become the first tight end in NFL history with five career 1,000-yard seasons.

Gronkowski needs 976 receiving yards to become the fifth tight end in NFL history with 10,000 career receiving yards, including postseason. With nine receiving touchdowns, he would become the third tight end in NFL history with 100 career receiving touchdowns, including the postseason.

Gronkowski needs four games with at least 100 receiving yards to surpass Tony Gonzalez (31 games) for the most such games by a tight end in NFL history.

TODD GURLEY, Atlanta, needs 12 total touchdowns to surpass Jim Brown (81) for the fifth-most total touchdowns through a player's first six seasons in NFL history. Gurley also needs 10 rushing touchdowns to become the seventh player with at least 10 rushing touchdowns in five of their first six seasons in NFL history.

DERRICK HENRY, Tennessee, needs 1,500 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns to become the fourth player in NFL history to accomplish the feat in consecutive seasons. Henry also needs two games with at least 200 rushing yards to become the third player in NFL history with four such games in his first five seasons.

DEANDRE HOPKINS, Arizona, needs 68 receptions to become the fifth player in NFL history with 700 receptions in his first eight seasons. Hopkins has 632 receptions in 110 career games.

Hopkins also needs at least 1,300 receiving yards and 10 touchdown receptions to become the fifth player in NFL history with four such seasons. Hopkins reached those marks during the 2015, 2017 and 2018 seasons.

Hopkins needs 800 receiving yards to become the third player in NFL history with at least 800 receiving yards in each of his first eight seasons, joining Gary Clark and Jerry Rice.

DANIELLE HUNTER, Minnesota, could join Reggie White (1986-88, 1990-92) and Jared Allen (2007-09) as the only players with at least 14 sacks in three consecutive seasons since 1982, when the individual sack became an official NFL statistic. Hunter recorded 14.5 sacks in both the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

LAMAR JACKSON, Baltimore, needs 132 rushing yards to surpass Cam Newton (2,032 yards) for the most rushing yards by a quarterback in a player's first three seasons in NFL history. Jackson also needs four games with at least 100 rushing yards to tie Michael Vick (10 games) for the most such games by a quarterback in NFL history.

With 672 passing yards and 599 rushing yards, Jackson would become the first player with at least 5,000 passing yards and 2,500 rushing yards through his first three seasons in NFL history.

CHANDLER JONES, Arizona, needs 21.5 sacks to surpass Jared Allen (117) and DeMarcus Ware (117) for the second-most sacks by a player in his first nine seasons since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic. Reggie White had 137 sacks in his first nine NFL seasons. Jones also needs 17 sacks to become the third player since 1982 with three career seasons of at least 17 sacks. Jones had 17 sacks in 2017 and 19 sacks in 2019.

JULIO JONES, Atlanta, needs 1,151 receiving yards to surpass Jerry Rice (13,275 yards) for the most receiving yards through a player's first 10 seasons in NFL history. Jones also could become the first player with at least 1,250 receiving yards in seven consecutive seasons in NFL history. Jones needs at least 100 receptions and 1,500 receiving yards to become the first player to reach those marks in four different seasons in NFL history.

ALVIN KAMARA, New Orleans, needs at least 500 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards to become the first player in NFL history to have at least 500 rushing and receiving yards in each of his first four seasons. Kamara also needs 92 rushing yards and 432 receiving yards to join Roger Craig and Christian McCaffrey as the only players with at least 2,500 rushing and 2,500 receiving yards in their first four seasons in NFL history. If Kamara reaches 3,000 rushing yards, he would join Craig as the only players with at least 3,000 rushing yards and 2,500 receiving yards in their first four seasons. Kamara enters 2020 with 2,408 rushing yards and 2,068 receiving yards.

TRAVIS KELCE, Kansas City, needs 93 receptions to become the second tight end with at least 600 receptions in his first eight seasons, joining Jason Witten (617). Kelce also needs 535 receiving yards to become the third tight end in NFL history with at least 7,000 receiving yards in his first eight seasons, joining Rob Gronkowski (7,179) and Antonio Gates (7,005). Kelce has 6,465 receiving yards in 96 career games. Kelce needs 1,000 receiving yards to become the first tight end in NFL history with five career seasons of at least 1,000 receiving yards. Kelce had at least 1,000 receiving yards in each of the past four seasons. Kelce needs 90 receptions to become the first tight end in NFL history to record at least 90 receptions in three consecutive seasons. Kelce had 103 receptions in 2018 and 97 receptions in 2019. RYAN KERRIGAN, Washington, needs five sacks to become the ninth player to record at least five sacks in each of his first 10 seasons since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic. Kerrigan also needs at least five sacks and one forced fumble to join Derrick Thomas as the only players since 1982 to do so in each of their first 10 seasons.

GEORGE KITTLE, San Francisco, needs 919 receiving yards to surpass Jimmy Graham (3,863) for the most receiving yards by a tight end in his first four seasons in NFL history. Kittle has 2,945 receiving yards in 45 career games. Kittle also needs 84 receptions to join Jimmy Graham (301) as the only tight ends in NFL history with at least 300 receptions in their first four seasons. Kittle has 216 receptions in his first three seasons.

JARVIS LANDRY, Cleveland, needs at least 80 receptions to become the first player in NFL history to record at least 80 receptions in each of his first seven seasons. Landry also needs 102 receptions to surpass Marvin Harrison (665) for the most receptions through a player's first seven seasons in NFL history.

DARIUS LEONARD, Indianapolis, needs three interceptions to become the third linebacker in NFL history with at least 10 interceptions through his first three seasons.

PHILLIP LINDSAY, Denver, needs 1,000 rushing yards to become the first undrafted player since 1967 to record at least 1,000 rushing yards in each of his first three seasons. Lindsay had 1,037 rushing yards in 2018 and 1,011 rushing yards in 2019. Lindsay also needs 1,200 scrimmage yards to become the fifth undrafted running back since 1967 to record at least three career seasons of 1,200 scrimmage yards. Lindsay had 1,278 scrimmage yards in 2018 and 1,207 scrimmage yards in 2019.

PATRICK MAHOMES, Kansas City, needs 34 touchdown passes to become the third quarterback with at least 110 touchdown passes in his first four seasons in NFL history, joining Dan Marino (142) and Kurt Warner (111). Mahomes can become the first quarterback in NFL history to reach 10,000 career passing yards in 35-or-fewer games. Mahomes enters 2020 with 9,412 passing yards in 31 career games. He can also become the first quarterback in NFL history with at least 4,000 passing yards in three of his first four NFL seasons. Mahomes had at least 4,000 passing yards in both 2018 and 2019. Mahomes can become the fourth quarterback (joining Peyton Manning, Dan Marino and Russell Wilson) in NFL history with at least 25 touchdown passes in three of his first four NFL seasons. Mahomes had 50 touchdown passes in 2018 and 26 touchdown passes in 2019.

BAKER MAYFIELD, Cleveland, needs at least 3,500 passing yards to join Andrew Luck (2012-14), Peyton Manning (1998-2000) and Jameis Winston (2015-17) as the only players with at least 3,500 passing yards in each of their first three seasons in NFL history. With at least 3,500 passing yards and 20 touchdown passes, Mayfield would join Luck and Manning as the only players to do so in each of their first three seasons in league history.

CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY, Carolina, needs at least 1,000 receiving and 1,000 rushing yards to become the first player in NFL history to accomplish the feat in multiple seasons. McCaffrey also needs 97 receptions to become the third player in NFL history with 400 receptions through his first four seasons, joining Michael Thomas (470) and Jarvis Landry (400). McCaffrey needs at least 2,000 scrimmage yards to become the 11th player in NFL history to record 2,000 scrimmage yards in consecutive seasons. With 1,557 scrimmage yards, he would become the seventh player in NFL history with at least 7,000 scrimmage yards through his first four seasons. McCaffrey needs 80 rushing yards and 477 receiving yards to become the first player in NFL history with 3,000 rushing and 3,000 receiving yards in his first four seasons. With six rushing touchdowns and five receiving touchdowns, he would become the first player in NFL history with 30 rushing touchdowns and 20 receiving touchdowns in his first four seasons.

VON MILLER, Denver, needs 14 sacks to become the fourth player with 120 sacks in his first 10 seasons since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic. Miller has 106 sacks in his first nine career seasons. Miller also needs 10 sacks to become the seventh player since 1982 with at least 10 sacks in eight of his first 10 NFL seasons.

KYLER MURRAY, Arizona, can become the fifth quarterback in NFL history with at least 3,500 passing yards and 20 touchdown passes in each of his first two seasons. Murray also needs 500 rushing yards to become the fourth quarterback since 1970 to rush for at least 500 rushing yards in each of his first two seasons.

ADRIAN PETERSON, Washington, needs 1,054 rushing yards to surpass Barry Sanders (15,269) for fourth place on the all-time rushing list. Peterson also needs 13 rushing touchdowns to surpass Marcus Allen (123) for third place on the all-time rushing touchdown list. Peterson needs 750 rushing yards to become the third player in NFL history to accomplish the feat in at least 11 different seasons, joining Emmitt Smith (14 seasons) and Frank Gore (12). With five rushing touchdowns, he would become the fourth player in NFL history to do so in at least 11 different seasons, joining Marcus Allen (13), Emmitt Smith (12) and Walter Payton (11).

DAK PRESCOTT, Dallas, could join Peyton Manning (1998-2002) and Russell Wilson (2012-16) as the only players with at least 3,000 passing yards and 20 touchdown passes in each of their first five seasons in NFL history. Prescott also needs four rushing touchdowns and three touchdown passes to join Cam Newton (2011-15) as the only players with at least 100 touchdown passes and 25 rushing touchdowns through their first five seasons in NFL history.

PHILIP RIVERS, Indianapolis, needs 2,091 passing yards to surpass Dan Marino (61,361) for fifth place on the alltime passing yards list. Rivers also needs 24 touchdown passes to surpass Dan Marino (420) for fifth place on the alltime passing touchdowns list. With 60 completed passes, Rivers would surpass Dan Marino (4,967) for fifth place on the all-time completions list. Rivers needs 4,000 passing yards for his eighth consecutive season with at least 4,000 passing yards, tied with Peyton Manning for the third-longest such streak in NFL history.

AARON RODGERS, Green Bay, needs 3,054 passing yards to become the 11th quarterback to reach 50,000 career passing yards in NFL history. Rodgers also needs three touchdown passes to surpass Eli Manning (366) for the seventhmost career touchdown passes in NFL history.

BEN ROETHLISBERGER, Pittsburgh, needs one game with at least 300 passing yards to tie Brett Favre (62 games) for the seventh-most such career games in NFL history. Roethlisberger also needs two games with at least 300 passing yards to tie Dan Marino (63 games) for the sixth-most such games in league history. Roethlisberger needs one game with at least three touchdown passes to become the eighth quarterback to have at least 50 games with at least three touchdown passes in NFL history.

MATT RYAN, Atlanta, needs at least 4,000 passing yards to join Drew Brees (12 seasons from 2006-17) as the only players with at least 4,000 passing yards in 10 consecutive seasons in NFL history. Ryan also needs 3,643 passing yards to surpass Peyton Manning (54,828 yards) for the most passing yards through a player's first 13 seasons in NFL history.

MATTHEW STAFFORD, Detroit, needs 4,149 passing yards to surpass Dan Marino (45,173) for the fourth-most passing yards through a player's first 12 seasons in NFL history.

MICHAEL THOMAS, New Orleans, needs 1,000 receiving yards to become the fourth player in NFL history to have at least 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first five seasons, joining Mike Evans, A.J. Green and Randy Moss. Thomas also needs 100 receptions to become the third player in NFL history to have at least 100 receptions in four consecutive seasons, joining Antonio Brown (six seasons) and Marvin Harrison (four). Thomas needs 90 receptions to become the first player in NFL history with at least 90 receptions in each of his first five seasons. With 1,273 receiving yards he would surpass Torry Holt (6,784 receiving yards) for the most receiving yards in a player's first five seasons in NFL history. Thomas needs 12 receptions to surpass Jarvis Landry (481 receptions) for the most receptions in a player's first five seasons in NFL history.

DESHAUN WATSON, Houston, needs 29 touchdown passes to become the sixth player in NFL history with at least 100 touchdown passes in his first four seasons. Watson also needs 21 touchdown passes and six rushing touchdowns to become the first player in NFL history with at least 100 passing touchdowns and 20 rushing touchdowns in his first four seasons.

T.J. WATT, Pittsburgh, needs at least 13 sacks to join Reggie White (four seasons) and Derrick Thomas (three) as the only players to record at least 13 sacks in three of their first four seasons since 1982, when the individual sack became an official NFL statistic. Watt recorded 13 sacks in 2018 and 14.5 sacks in 2019.

RUSSELL WILSON, Seattle, needs seven wins to surpass Peyton Manning (92) for the most wins by a quarterback in his first nine seasons in NFL history. Wilson has won 86 games in his first eight seasons. Wilson also needs seven wins to surpass Tom Brady (101) for the most wins, including the postseason, by a quarterback in his first nine seasons in NFL history.

JASON WITTEN, Las Vegas, needs 60 receptions for his 16th career season with at least 60 receptions, the secondmost in NFL history, trailing only Jerry Rice (17). Witten needs 85 receptions to become the second tight end and fourth player in NFL history with at least 1,300 career receptions. With 23 receiving yards, he would become the second tight end in NFL history with 13,000 receiving yards, joining Tony Gonzalez (15,127).

Player Expectations - NFL 2020 Season