5. A.J. Brown, 23 catches, 332 yards, 4 TD’s
In 2019, Brown had just about as good of a rookie season as a wide receiver can have. Finishing with 52 catches and over 1,000 yards, it seemed like the Titans had a budding star on their hands. So far this season, Brown has 23 catches for 332 yards and 4 TD’s.
In 2020, Brown has solidified his claim to the number one receiver title on the Titans. Brown currently leads the Titans in Receptions, Receiving Yards, and is 2nd in Yards per catch and 2nd in TD’s.
Opposing teams can’t focus too much on the Titans’ explosive rushing attack due to the presence of a difference-making receiver like Brown. The presence of Brown has also allowed guys like Adam Humphries and Anthony Firkser to provide solid production in 2020.
The Titans have a few solid pass catchers, but no one who scares a defense like Brown does. Brown is the type of difference-maker the Titans thought they were getting when they selected Corey Davis in the first round. Davis has been fine, but Brown has completely taken over the number 1 receiver role in Nashville.
I expect Brown to continue to impress as this season goes on, and the Titans will need him too.
4. Harold Landry III, 26 tackles, 1.50 sacks
While one would like the sack numbers to be higher here, the Titans as a team have struggled to get to opposing QB’s. Only the Panthers and Jaguars have registered fewer sacks as a team than the Titans have in 2020.
Surely, that’s a stat that has to improve at some point. Harold Landry, coming off a season with double-digit sacks, seems like a prime candidate to start breaking into the sack column. Since becoming a full-time player in 2019, Landry has consistently performed as the best edge rusher on the Titans roster. And yes, this includes Jadeveon Clowney.
Landry III has been applying pressure, he just hasn’t translated it to sacks yet. But make no mistake, without Harold Landry III, the Titans just might have the worst pass-rushing unit in the league to this point.
Landry has not only proven himself a capable pass rusher, but he’s stepped it up in the run game, as evidenced by being 6th on the team in tackles, as primarily a pass rusher.
Hopefully, as the year goes on, Vic Beasley and Jadeveon Clowney will start piling up the sacks and take some pressure off of Landry III. As of now, Landry III is the most important pass rusher the Titans have.