NFL Stats: Oddly Surprising League Leaders Through Week 3

We’re through just week three of the NFL season, and it’s safe to say everything has turned upside down. The Cardinals and Panthers are 3-0, the Saints and Ravens still are winless and the league leaders in the NFL stats category have been a bit well, let’s just say surprising.

Here’s the quick roundup as they currently stand after Week 3:

Tom Brady leads the league in passing yards, and it isn’t close. 

Brady: 1,112 yards.

Next up?

It’s Matt Ryan at 946 yards.

Things are absolutely ridiculous in New England right now. Brady is absolutely dominating his opponents and is stomping into the turf one certain thing: he doesn’t want to be done at “just” four rings.

This is a revenge tour, and we’re seeing it first hand.

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Larry Fitzgerald is back, baby! Oh, and that Julio Jones guy is good too. 

The Cardinals are surging, largely due in part to the passing game absolutely lighting it up. Sure, Carson Palmer looks fantastic — but he’s getting help from a Larry Fitzgerald who looks like he’s at the top of his game.

What happened? Who knows. But he’s 5th in the NFL in yards (333), leads the league in TD’s (5) and has 19 first downs on his 23 catches. Not too shabby.

Of course, we can’t overlook what Julio Jones is doing it Atlanta.

It’s crazy.

His line through three games: 34 catches, 440 yards, 4 TDs. 

Three games!

Also sneakily thriving is Steve Smith Sr. in Baltimore: 25 catches, 349 yards, 2 TDs.

Defensive star power is being led by … Jacquies Smith? 

The Tampa Bay defensive end is lighting it up early, leading the NFL with four sacks and two forced fumbles. So much for a cookie-cutter start to the season.

Aaron Donald and DeMarcus Ware are next up with 3.5, followed by a host of players with three including J.J. Watt and Justin Houston.

Still, it’s Jacquies Smith leading the way. Certainly an interesting storyline.

Completion percentage is the name of the game.

The NFL has gotten smart, at-least where the passing game is concerned.

Get rid of the ball, avoid sacks and get the ball to speedy playmakers. It’s a simple strategy that teams like the Patriots have been following for years.

Check out the completion percentage numbers early from young QBs:

Tyrod Taylor: 74.4%

Russell Wilson: 70.3%

Kirk Cousins: 69.3%

Teddy Bridgewater: 67.6%

Derek Carr: 63.3%

Call it whatever you want; one aspect of the numbers is clear — the NFL’s offensive coordinators are getting wise.

Other Notables

• Brandon Weeden is 29/33 with 305 yards. Proof of simple logic — numbers sometimes lie (sorry formerly-named ESPN show, Numbers Never Lie.)
• No NFL rusher has eclipsed 300 yards on the season through three weeks. Pretty odd. The closest is Adrian Peterson with 291.
• Sean Lee, after coming back from injury, has 33 tackles with a sack, an INT and a few pass deflections. Think Dallas missed him?
• Finally, let’s give a shoutout to Bills rookie RB Karlos Williams. The former Seminole has 186 yards on 24 carries, averaging 7.8 per touch. He’s been impressive on film and is clearly showing that Buffalo can manage just fine and dandy without LeSean McCoy.