PFF: Second-half risers: 5 most improved players at every position over the second half of the 2024 season

[TheSpecialJuan]

Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

• Snaps from Week 1-9: 228 | Grade from Week 1-9: 51.5
• Snaps from Week 10-18: 500 | Grade from Week 10-18: 86.4

Young’s second-half resurgence was a shock to many. The former No. 1 overall pick looked dead and buried after being benched by the Panthers in the first two weeks of the season, but Young stepped back into the lineup following an injury to Andy Dalton and never looked back. Young had 22 big-time throws in the second half of the season, the second-most in the NFL, and he finished with the seventh-most in 2024 (27).

 

https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-second-half-risers-5-most-improved-players-at-every-position-over-the-second-half-of-the-2024-season

[TheSpecialJuan]

Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers

• Snaps from Week 1-9: 109 | Grade from Week 1-9: 63.7
• Snaps from Week 10-18: 320 | Grade from Week 10-18: 79.4 

Thielen returned from injury with a bang in the second half of the season. After catching just eight passes in the first three games of the season, Thielen went on to catch 40 passes for 506 yards and four touchdowns from Week 10 onwards. His reception rate of 80.0% was seventh-highest of all receivers in the second half of the season.

[TheSpecialJuan]

Tommy Tremble, Carolina Panthers 

• Snaps from Week 1-9: 200 | Grade from Week 1-9: 46.1
• Snaps from Week 10-18: 318 | Grade from Week 10-18: 61.4

Tremble missed time in the middle of the season due to a concussion and a back injury, but that didn’t stop him from improving upon his early season grade. The fourth-year tight end caught 14 of 17 targets thrown his way in the second half of the season for 162 yards and two touchdowns, and his 6.2 yards after the catch per reception was 19th among tight ends.

[TheSpecialJuan]

CORNERBACK

Chau Smith-Wade, Carolina Panthers

• Snaps from Week 1-9: 130 | Grade from Week 1-9: 36.5
• Snaps from Week 10-18: 171 | Grade from Week 10-18: 66.7 

The Panthers’ rookie fifth-round pick saw his role grow in the second half of the season. Smith-Wade’s 67.6 coverage grade was 41st among cornerbacks from Week 10 onwards, and he allowed just nine catches in 110 coverage snaps, giving up just 71 receiving yards. 

[Pejorative Miscreant]

Smith Wade being on the list is surprising.  If this is sustainable it’s a good thing.  Not going to overreact but I’m sufficiently whelmed and trending upward.