Fast Five: NFL players Buzz will be watching this season

Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five NFL players Buzz will be watching this season.

THE GUY WHO FINISHED STRONG
Jonathan Taylor -- RB, Indianapolis Colts ... Rookie Cards in 2020 NFL releases
I'm big on the stat sheet -- what a player does on the field vs. what people think he might do -- and this guy leads off here because his final results as a rookie last year are impressive. If you look at last year's NFL rushing leaders, the king is Derrick Henry who put up the fifth-best season in NFL history with 2,027 yards (his RCs are in 2016 sets) then Dalvin Cook with 1,557 and then this rookie who had 1,169. That's a big drop to No. 3 for sure, but consider that only six other players even made to to 1,000 yards -- and one of them was a quarterback. There are QB questions for his team which might hamper his sophomore season but this time last year he wasn't really a scorcher, either. He finished strong. He had 101 yards in his second game but only had two other 100-yard games -- a 150-yarder and a crazy 253-yarder to end the season. That was tied for the ninth-best single game in NFL history. Imagine the possibilities if he's more consistent and is a go-to guy who can deliver. He had an impressive 11 TDs last year -- seven in his last four games -- so that and the yardage, to me, shows there's really good potential here. If you latch onto nicer cheaper options out there he's a safe buy to me ... though I actually collect other RBs who I didn't put on the list.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

THE ONE WITH THE CHIP?
Baker Mayfield -- QB, Cleveland Browns ... Rookie Cards in 2018 NFL releases
He's had a really productive first three seasons in the NFL -- more than 11,100 passing yards, 75 TDs and, most importantly, an 11-5 record last year with a new coach. That campaign also showed a substantial drop in his interceptions and included a pair of playoff games for the first time since 1994. (The only other time the Browns had made the postseason in that span was a one-and-done in 2002.) The expectations are there -- his good RCs aren't cheap -- and he's got talent around him so this could be a key year. And that's more ways than one as his salary goes from $920K this year to $18.85M ... so he'd better not regress. Is he a safe buy? On the cheaper stuff ... but if the Browns do well I think there's room on a lot of his other stuff to get flipped hard as he's the guy who'll get the attention along with RB Nick Chubb.

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THE TOP ONE
Najee Harris -- RB, Pittsburgh Steelers... Rookie Cards in 2021 NFL releases
This former Alabama star had back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons (1,224 and 1,466) and scored 39 TDs in just those two years as his team rolled to a number of big wins against strong competition and a national title last year. He was the first RB taken in the draft this year (21st overall) and goes to a relatively productive team that could use a better running game. James Conner led the team in yardage the last three years with 973, 464 and 721 -- nothing impressive in the big scheme of things. He's the starter so we'll see how it goes very soon and he might get even more attention from collectors who like RBs as the other guy on this card is out for the year. They were the only first-round picks for RBs.

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NEW STARS AROUND HIM
Cooper Kupp -- WR, Los Angeles Rams ... Rookie Cards in 2017 NFL releases
His yardage checked in at 22nd in the league last year and his TD total wasn't even in the top 25 but this guy has had a big presence since his rookie season with nearly 300 catches, more than 3,500 yards and 24 TDs in three and a half seasons. He's here as a pick that is about potential -- he's got a new QB throwing to him, a new RB in that mix with some expectations and a number of good WRs around him. Meanwhile he's in a high-profile market and his RCs and autos on the cheaper side of things ... this could be an interesting year for all of them.

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THE NEW BRADY?
Mac Jones -- QB, New England Patriots ... Rookie Cards in 2021 NFL releases
He's the "it" guy right now who's not the No. 1 pick if you ask me, and the hype train is rolling here so he makes my list with some cautionary thoughts. He's an established winner at the college level where he was only a starter for last season and part of the previous year when Tua Tagovailoa was lost halfway into the campaign. (This week, he'll meet his former teammate in his first NFL start ... just to add to the hype.) Last year was a huge one, though, as Jones threw for 4,500 yards and had 41 TDs to only four picks en route to a national title and then ... well, Bill Belichick came calling with the 15th overall pick ... and then Belichick cut Cam Newton this preseason. The ball is his -- and there are all kinds of Tom Brady allusions here, too, though Jones' college career was far more impressive. (Brady had just 4,773 yards and 30 TDs in his entire Michigan stay.) Jones' stuff is trending red-hot right now but I'm not sure I would dig in on the biggest stuff right now ... I'd at least wait for a win or two (sarcasm) to make those four-figure purchases. Over the long term, if he does end up being the franchise QB he's got a long way to go for a place in that team record book. You could win big here or lose your butt if you're buying singles ... but, at that same time, pulling some nice cards of his might make for a good payday to those who are believers.

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What would you want to see in a future Fast Five? Let Buzz know on Twitter or email.

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