The NFL season is just two weeks old, but for many teams those two weeks have already started to push the issue of desperation as teams begin to separate themselves from the pack.
The same sentiment can go for some players, as those not getting the job done must find a way to keep their job while bench players continue to work and show why they belong on the field.
D2 alum are no different, and there are plenty of such players who need to start heating up in the third week of play. Take a peek below and see if your favorite team has a gem hiding out waiting to be unearthed as they could be the difference between a future loss or victory.
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John Brown, WR — Arizona Cardinals
Whatever happened to the John Brown who was supposed to be a big impact player and team with Larry Fitzgerald to give the Cards one of the best receiver groups in the league? That thought was generated two years ago after the former Pittsburg State All-American posted his first 1,000-yard season.
Since then, Brown has started just seven games, and he is potentially going to miss the week three game against Dallas too, giving him just one game played thus far. Now in that game, Brown did have four receptions for 32 yards, but he was never able to break a big play like he did in his first two seasons.
Time is running out for Brown to claim back his former glory, and though injuries can't be rushed back from, the former D2 superstar needs to find a way to have a big break out.
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Matt Judon, LB — Baltimore Ravens
Judon has started both games for the Ravens so far, but has yet to record a sack on a defense that has been one of the best in the game, forcing 10 turnovers already.
A second-year player from Grand Valley State, it took some time for the fifth-round pick of the 2016 Draft to get going last year too, recording his first sack in week seven when he had a pair. Judon eventually finished the season with four takedowns of the QB, but as a starter that number should be jumping towards double digits.
Baltimore has Terrell Suggs on one side, and honestly not much else when it comes to pass rush. Five players have one sack each, and Suggs is the only one with multiple at 3.0. Judon can alleviate some focus from the Ravens' leader if he steps his game up, and the Jacksonville offense is a good one to do so against in London this week.
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Terrell Watson, RB — Pittsburgh Steelers
Watson has gotten one carry for exactly one yard so far this season, but it is not the running game I am worried about improving for Watson, as he sits behind the best running back in the league anyways.
Watson has been one of the two primary kick returners for Pittsburgh in its first two contests, and so far the Azusa Pacific product has one return for 25 yards — which is very good for Steelers standards, a team that has suffered through poor KR in recent years.
Chicago — the Steelers' week three opponent — has allowed just one return for 11 yards in their first two games, but there has yet to be a single kick return TD at all this year. Asking for a score may be a bit much, but giving the potent Pittsburgh offense more room away from their own end zone might help them to start clicking much more like they should instead of what we have seen in the first two weeks.
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NEXT: D2 in the NFL: Week 2 Fantasy Football Leaders Include Delanie Walker, Greg Zeurlein