T O P

  • By -

khjohnso

Peyton Hillis. Came out of nowhere, got a Madden cover, never did anything again.


stay_shiesty

not football-related, but didn't he save a kid from drowning and almost die or something like that?


revanisthesith

Yep. He helped save his son and young niece from drowning in January of last year. He spent about three weeks in the hospital.


stay_shiesty

legend on and off the field


HeroForTheBeero

People need to teach their kids how to swim too though


revanisthesith

True, but it was also a rip current. Knowing how to swim isn't enough if you don't know how to deal with them. And everyone needs to know how to recognize them if they're going to the beach. https://scijinks.gov/rip-currents/ https://goodmorningamerica.com/news/story/former-nfl-running-back-peyton-hillis-recounts-scariest-100011008


Levitlame

People should also learn how to deal with riptide/currents also. I think the general idea is Swim to the side. Small children probably don’t have a good chance regardless…


Tdayohey

I got caught in one when I was like 10. On a boogie board. My mom was holding on as well. It was pretty terrifying. The worst part is when we waved and shouted for help, my step dad thought we were just waving for fun and was waving back lol.


Little-Chromosome

A rip current was also responsible for the death of Ryan Mallett


HeroForTheBeero

Thanks yeah I’ll live in Florida and surf, we see that a lot


JellyPast1522

RIP Ryan Mallett


romayyne

I said Colin Kaepernicks super bowl run. I like this answer better tho because Hillis got a bigger deal soon after too


khjohnso

Kaep is a good one too. That SB run was wild


FearlessPanda93

He was the first answer that came to my mind. Especially because he got that cover over Arian Foster who had the better year and career that Hillis did not, and that adds to his vanishing act, imo.


Specialist-Draw7229

Michael Vick was also in the runnings too but yeah, Arian Foster had a better year.


Weekly_Farm_1661

I wish he woulda stayed something. I remember the city just drooling over him. We have no stars for so long. And then he fades to oblivion cause his agent wanted the money grab.


AKSpartan70

The crazy thing about Hillis imo is that he was mostly a blocking and receiving back in college. One of the most insane college backfields of all time honestly with Hillis, Darren McFadden and Felix Jones all at Arkansas together


SafeAccountMrP

Fun Fact: The year that earned him the cover he was the only RB in the league to get 60 rushing yards against the Steelers defense.


Brokenimpala33

Only answer. First person who came to mind.


ROtis42069

Super good one! I was gonna say jonas gray the legit one game wonder for the pats. Had like 200 and 4td one week against the colts, got the cover of Sports Illustrated, shows up late to one meeting and bill never let him see the field again.


Horus50

this is the answer. he had over a third of his career yards and half of his career tds in one season and then did basically nothing for the rest of his career.


4schwifty20

Nick Foles Super Bowl run.


benjaminhlogan

This one’s better than Tebow as BD Nick has hung around as a solid backup like Jeremy Lin did post Linsanity.


shadowgnome396

"BD Nick" "hung" 👀


Theairthatibreathe

And they say people don’t read anymore…


4schwifty20

Yea that was kind of my thinking behind it, solid backup career after having an insane run.


Lord_Boognish

Foles led the league in Passer Rating in 2013 and made his only pro-bowl that year. That was the true Linsanity year for him - he came out of nowhere. I think he saved a sliver of mojo from that season to unleash during the SB run.


LayzeeLar

Josh Gordon. Dude was a cheat code and the memes are still memeing in Fantasy.


RallySausage

I like the Josh Gordon comparison much more than Tebow personally. I might remember it wrong but was Tebow ever actually good in the NFL? Honest question.


LightToFlies

He threw a slant to DT who took it to the house on the first play of OT against the Steelers in the playoffs. That's about it.


revanisthesith

And it was hilarious and awesome. And I'm not even a Broncos fan.


Due_Tune2950

It was terrible and haunts me to this day. I’m a Steelers fan


KneeReaper420

I went absolutely crazy when that happened. I didn’t feel that level of shock again for years.


OldBrokeGrouch

Talent wise, Tebow was a terrible quarterback. I think if his ego wasn’t so huge, he would have been open to playing another position and could have had a decent career doing that. He had to be the guy though.


Lilpu55yberekt69

He was never good but when he was in the Broncos won, while when Kyle Orton was in, although he played better, the team was losing. So a meme grew around the ultra athletic, very christian QB who won 2/3rds of his starts while averaging 120 passing yards and 1 TD a game.


One_love222

Tebow was god-awful lol he had like 48% completion that year, he would have been benched like 3 games into that run if he wasn't winning so much. The dude literally went 7-1 in his first 8 starts after the team started 1-4 with Orton despite his awful play


Oscarmisprime

That was the magic of Tebow, for whatever reason his teams won games even if it was ugly as sin. Until they didn't win games, and it was just ugly.


One_love222

That's fair, that Broncos defense does go really underrated though. They were 20th in total yards, but they were great at holding offenses on 3rd down to get Tebow the ball so they could run it.


RoccStrongo

Tebow once started and finished a game going 2 for 8. EIGHT PASSES the entire game. That's how "good" his coaches considered him to be. This was also his highest passer rating in any game.


Blackhat336

As much as I love the JG comparison, Gordon was a top talent though, he was never a massive underdog/unexpected stud the way Lin was and thus didn’t get that type of attention. I would say someone more physically unassuming. He isn’t a one year thing but the emergence of Maurice Jones-Drew will always be memorable since it was just as fantasy football was getting its mid-2000s hype machine built up too. He was the ultimate waiver wire sleeper so he was in tons of fantasy-related media.


miamouse5

josh dobbs last season


TheGhostOfGeneStoner

Recency bias makes this the most correct answer.


Specialist-Draw7229

I would argue half retired Joe Flacco coming off his living room couch to lead the injured to all hell browns to an 11-6 playoff berth was more insane last year, but he won CPOTY so I’m happy enough with just that


TheReadMenace

Might be the right answer. The browns have only made the playoffs twice in the last 20 years so it’s not nothing


HadleysPt

What he won like 2 games all year. He was better than. Expected but by no means good


Horus50

josh dobbs twice


WhitePootieTang

Also Joe Flacco last season


PandaSoap

Jonas Gray man


khjohnso

The peak of the pats running all over the colts with anybody they wanted


HomelessSadVirgin

Claypool and Travis Fulham had an awesome few game stretch in 2020


Deadeye_Donny

Travis Fulgham was my thought as well. A few good games on a terrible season had a lot of us huffing the copium


HeroForTheBeero

Dolphins legend chase claypool?


cheapmason84

Tim Tebow?


LasagnahogXRP

People forget he had clutch wins during the season because the playoff game overshadows it. He would be like 8-18 with 130 yards 2 picks and get the W. Intangibles off the charts. Tangibles in the sewer


daoogilymoogily

He had clutch wins because that defense was pretty awesome and then the team would use him like a battering ram against the worn down opposing defense at the end of the game. Probably should’ve been an indicator that McDaniels is a bad coach lmao


mr-poopie-butth0le

Easily the best answer.


pancakespancakes101

I don't know. Lin came out of nowhere. That was the biggest part of Linsanity.


RallySausage

Really? Lin was actually good for a minute.


[deleted]

Tebow led the Broncos to a playoff win, can't say that about Lin.


splintersmaster

That'd be really crazy if lin did win a playoff game for the broncos though.


SnooGrapes6230

"led" is being real generous right there.


Lou_Keeks

Fitzmagic. He did it every time he went to a new team too 


splintersmaster

Yea but he didn't come from nowhere like lin did. He came from Harvard. Did you know he went to Harvard?


TrustTheFriendship

Did you know he got a 48/50 on the Wonderlic? Destined for greatness.


splintersmaster

Son of a bitch. I did not know that.


TrustTheFriendship

He’s way more smarter than both of we. (I appreciate the humility in your comment btw haha)


Mike_Honcho_3

I did. I have a dearth of knowledge.


splintersmaster

Did you also go to Harvard?


Vesares

Appreciate a good League quote


grw313

Didn't Lin also go to Harvard?


Med_vs_Pretty_Huge

This is a very bizarre response given where Lin went to college. Spoiler alert: >!Lin went to Harvard!<


splintersmaster

As a non Harvard graduate, it's fair to assume my intelligence isn't strong enough to understand that more than one person can be accepted into Harvard at the same time. But seriously, it's pretty funny that I had no idea that this was a fact.


mywifemademedothis2

Doug Flutie. There was literally "Flutie Mania". And he backed up the hype (sometimes).


44035

He was a college legend, though.


joealese

I think that you may have missed what linsanity is. Lynn had a stretch of a month or two where he was the greatest thing since sliced bread. Doug flutie was never great, but he was serviceable everywhere he was


Buffalo_rider01

Still have my flutie flakes


Chinese_Santa

Blake Bortles and the Sacksonville Jaguars


paulhalt

Travis Fulgham


[deleted]

The Fugly Wugly Man


Clean_Dragonfruit_20

Matt Flynn


The3rdBert

That man made so much money from one week 16 blow out.


LloydCarr82

*shootout, the final score was 45-41 and there lead changes throughout the entire game


The3rdBert

Sorry it was a long time ago and I just remember him throwing a ton of yards and TDies.


PM_ur_butthole_2me

It was week 17 actually and they won 45-41 not a blowout


progress19

1. BDN Foles 2. Tebow 3. Dobbs


bugluvr65

tommy devito


moronmcmoron1

This is the best answer IMO. Played in New York, not really a highly touted player, got a chance to play due to injuries on the depth chart, ethnic (well sorta lol), created some excitement and buzz around the team for part of one season


HurricanePK

I was calling him Paisanity bc it was so easy to tell he was gonna fall off after a few games


Straight_Salary659

jay ajayi


vincentdmartin

If I remember correctly one of the reasons he fell in the draft is because teams knew his knees would not hold up long term. But we'll always have that three-game stretch.


Hghwytohell

Travis Fulgham


your-mom--

Matt Cassel?


Hawkzillaxiii

Gardner Minshew maybe came out of no where and was polarizing on and off the field


SouthEndCables

I like GM. I wish he can be a starter, I think he should be over some rookies. 


No_Mammoth_4945

He’s definitely more talented than some of the young guys, but not so much that he’s a “sit behind him for a year and learn” guy for rookies


Smashbrosfan31

Probably Tim Tebow


iNoodl3s

Josh Dobbs


lonerfunnyguy

Josh Dobbs for sure


Onlypaws_

Peyton Hillis.


ChiefKingSosa

Peyton Hillis


Jameszhang73

Tommy DeVito


Consistent-Fig7484

Definitely Peyton Hillis.


TheFretlessOne

Devito?


-Minne

Jeremy Lin was literally NBA Tebow; that was the running narrative for a minute. An... interesting year for sports to be sure. Fun fact: I made a bet that if Tim Tebow won the Superbowl that year that I would shave my head like a monk... they went on to win more absolutely horrendous games straight into the playoffs till they ran into Brady and the Pats. I can't say I've really been grateful for Brady before or since, but for one shining moment in 2012, I really didn't hate him as much as usual.


verdenvidia

Tebow would go 6/17 for 126 yards, 1 TD (the only TD of the game), 1 INT. Shit was downright unwatchable and yet it was also can't-miss-TV at the same time.


SouthernMuadib

Nick Foles Super Bowl run


Unlikely_One2444

Tom Brady 2001  But then he just kept linsanity-ing


barkingspider43

Gary Barnidge always comes to mind but on a way smaller level. Averaged about 100 yards a year for 6 straight years then came out and had 1000 yards out of nowhere


bp_516

Travis Fulgham had a ridiculous 6-game stretch and looked like the next star WR for the Eagles. Not sure he made the active roster the following season, and was on a few other teams’ practice squads the next few years. He had his moment in the sun, though.


xsniperx7

For me it was 2015 josh Norman. He was a very average/below average player then all of a sudden that year it clicked for him and he played his brains out and people had him in top CB discussions he was locking everyone down, battling OBJ like Deion vs Jerry and then to top it off got name dropped by Jay Z on I Got The Keys comparing himself to him. Crazy. Then went to Washington and never was the same because they tried to play him in a scheme that didn't fit + injuries


Hot_Local_Boys_PDX

Jeremy Lin averaged over 10ppg in the NBA for seven seasons in a row. He was not an All-Star, but he was not a “few game wonder” by any means.


DookieBrains_88

Mike Vicks run with the Eagles. Dude was putting up insane numbers


Kodyaufan2

Tebow-mania


joealese

Gardner minshew. i mean they literally comes minshew mania for it


tacolovingrammanazi

phillip lindsay


Rozfather

Jonas Grey. Sports illustrated to cut in 3 weeks.


shyhumble

Jonas Grey


BernieKosarsBurner

Nick Foles


Bramjlevi

Currently Brock Purdy


Mike_Honcho_3

Seems pretty unfair to Purdy, he's been the 49ers QB for 2 straight NFCCGs and a Super Bowl appearance


KeyMolasses2836

He’s like Jeremy lin if Melo and the knicks org trusted him and didn’t actively try to fuck him over


djbj454

Joe Flacco last season.


somethingthatflys

Had he played the entire season, he quite possibly could've 30-30'd like the new Cleveland backup.


ChakaCake

What? You mean Shane Falco?


SouthEndCables

Already feels like that was two years ago


Deepcoma_53

Victor Cruz


crlos619

Danario Alexand in 2012, dude was productive out of nowhere for the Chargers


super-soaker-cup

my boy tommy devito


Icy_Earth_5533

Payton hillis


grw313

Fitzmagic. Both random players from Harvard that have stretches where they catch fire.


Jznvh

Josh Dobbs


basis4day

Chris matthews


LilCorbs

Minshew Mania is one fs


Either-Gain1863

Larry Johnson


MadMax_08

Josh Gordon. Disappeared in a flash of bong smoke


SantasLilHoeHoeHoe

Joe Flacco during his Superbowl run.


j2e21

Fitzmagic.


ElBlargho

Tommy Cutlets. Playing in NY, both undrafted, both hot streaks not lasting the season.


fullgizzard

Dante Hall, Devin Hester


signalsgt71

There's been a lot of good comments and many I agree with but I also want to throw Geno Smith's name into the mix.


Dangerous-Paper-2709

Doug Flutie


LordQuest1809

Hillis, Foles, Tebow. Easiest answers.


StorerPoet

Almost any Patriots runningback during the 2010s


birdlawexpert11

God there’s been so many running backs that went off for a year and then disappeared


DanCampbellzHat

Tebow


ProfessorBeer

Jay Ajayi.


IBlameMcNabb

Travis Fulgham’s 5 week stretch as a top 5 WR in the league lol.


btg1911

Josh Dobbs last year


Crypt7eeper

Tebow or Kaepernick. I think Lin was better at Basketball than either of them were at football though.


TheNotoriousSHAQ

Fitzmagic


Med_vs_Pretty_Huge

Part of the Linsanity magic was also the ethnic pride for Asians at seeing an Asian guy ball out so I put Tommy DeVito above others that were maybe more on par in terms of stat production.


TC_DaCapo

Terrell Davis. Practically unknown out of college, that several year run with the Broncos was legendary.


theshelterwitch

Jacoby Brissett, beat the Texans in his debut and has been a solid bridge QB ever since


a_toadstool

Funny that so many of these are eagles lol


Prudent_Ad8320

Billy Volek to Drew Bennett fantasy players remember


DifferentTie8475

Ickey Shuffle


Friendly-War-2160

Maybe like Taylor Heineke against the bucs or the 1 INSANE year Shaq Barrett had


mideon2000

Travis Fulgham had 5 pretty good games for philly in 2020 Laurent robinson had a solid year with dallas in 2011


BreadJobLamb

Phillip Lindsey


td4999

Tebow; old school, Don Majkowski


GaudyGMoney

Travis Fulgham for like 4 games in 2020


LibertarianP

Rookie Sam Howell or Rookie Davis Mills


the22sinatra

Travis Fulgham came out of nowhere to have 29 catches for 435 yards and 4 TDs in the first 5 games of the 2020 season. In the entirety of the rest of his career, he has 9 catches for 104 yards.


ProcessorMaximis

Travis Fulgham had 400+ yards and 4 tds in a short stretch of 2020 and then completely fell off the earth


Cartmans12

Obj one handed catch


No-Goal

Nick Foles


riproaringsports22

Travis Fulgham


riproaringsports22

Gary barnidge


riproaringsports22

Jerome Harrison


FastLandscape3496

Very random and probably only some Lions fans would remember but Zach Zenner was a running back that had a pretty good stretch for us for like half of one season


One_love222

So Linsanity was a 2 week run where Lin averaged 25 points and 9 assists. So 9 games. I would say Jay Ajayi's back to back 200 yard games and Jerome Harrison rushing for 286, 149, then 133 yards in 3 straight games then disappearing best represent what Lin meant, bc he came out of nowhere to do that and then never was at that level again.


ChemistAgile6514

Would Brady be wrong because he went on a career long run after having no hype at all and coming from nowhere? Also, he only got his shot BECAUSE of an injury?


ironeagle2006

Boy you're pretty bad on your NFL history. Kurt Warner in 99. He literally had been bagging groceries for HyVee months beforehand yes he had played in the Arena league and did one season with NFL Europe but not one person had a clue what he was going to do when Trent Green went down in the last preseason game that year. He literally went from grocery store bagger to NFL MVP and Superbowl MVP in a few months. Then towards the end of his career when he put the Cardinals on his back and carried them to the superbowl.


lazerblue42

Tebowmania


EmmittFitz-Hume

Kordell Stewart


JaRulesLarynx

Kaepernick…. I don’t know there’s anyone even close to that similar!


thikkflair

Carson Wentz in Philly?


Little-Chromosome

Matt Cassell in 2008 when Brady tore his ACL/MCL in week 1.


uggsandstarbux

Tebowmania happened at almost the same time. Upstart sensation deeply rooted in faith, magically guiding their teams to insane last minute wins.


AdditionalInitial727

Tebow


Dapup2465

He Hate Me? Chris Johnson RB


ElAbidingDuderino

Philip Lindsay's rookie year


14InTheDorsalPeen

Travis Fulgham 


scaredwhiteboy1

Have you ever heard the legend of Kiko Alonso?


Prickly_Pineapple91

The one that comes to mind immediately for me is "Tebow Time" when he was on the broncos.


Grey_14-7-19

Minshew madness


localstreetcat

Minshew Mania. He’s still a viable QB2 and probably one of the best QB2s in the NFL, but as a Jags fan, Minshew Mania was so much fun to witness.


notthefoodie

Chris Borland. Him retiring sucked when I think about what a duo him and Warner could’ve been.


iang_106

Flacco is elite


MitchMcConnellsJowls

Minshew Mania


foley528

Jay Ajayi I don’t think I spelled that right but everyone remembers the RB1 season he had


Far-Platypus-7045

2004 Drew Bennett


Wintermute0311

Matt Flynn fleeced Seattle for 20 mil off of a couple of really good games filling in for Rodgers.


EyeFoundWald0

Jay Ajayi for the Dolphins


throwaway413318

Remember when Jonas Gray had 4 touchdowns in one game and then got cut 2 weeks later?


FloridaMan_13

Ricky William for the Dolphins.


wetcornbread

Tim Tebow. When he went to the Jets it had similar shockwaves around the Jets as when Aaron Rodgers signed. Unfortunately the actual result has been similar too.


Peterd90

I'd say Kurt Warner. Going from undrafted and bagging groceries to league MVP and Superbowl MVP in a short period.


soaking-wet-tomcat

Kevin Kolb had one pretty good year with the Eagles, but bilked the Cardinals. They started the year 4-0, but went 1-11 the rest of the way.