The Beckett Blog

Every Monday morning throughout the NFL season, we’ll select our rookie, veteran and breakout player of the week and provide a run down on why collectors should take notice. Here are our selections for NFL Week 9.

Veteran of the Week:
Michael Turner, RB, Falcons
(166 yards rushing, 2 touchdowns)
Turner was one of last season’s big breakout performers. But with 2009 NFL defenses more prepared, Turner and the Falcons have yet to get their high-powered rushing attack into high gear. But Turner’s 166 yards on the ground Sunday against the Washington Redskins might be an indication that they’ve straightened it all out. His 58-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter sealed the victory for the Falcons.

Collectors who jumped on Turner’s 2004 Rookie Cards late last year must have been feeling uneasy about their purchases since most of his best cards have been soft since the beginning of 2009. They’re not likely to rebound too strongly off one game, but as long as the Falcons can remain in the playoff hunt, collectors will be watching.

Cards to Grab:
2004 Bowman Chrome #238 AU RC ($50)
2004 Playoff Prestige Draft Picks Autographs #DP9 ($80)
2004 Sweet Spot #246 AU/699 RC ($50)

Breakout Player of the Week:
Mike Sims-Walker, WR, Jaguars
(147 yards receiving, 1 touchdown)
Sims-Walker recorded the biggest statistical game of his career against the hapless Kansas City Chiefs. His 61-yard touchdown (the longest of his career) in the second quarter gave the Jaguars an eight-point lead. He also logged a 45-yard catch and run to finish with the highest single game yardage total in his three year career.
Sims-Walker, known simply as “Mike Walker” as a rookie in 2007, has a total of just 238 cards with nearly all of them being released in 2007. He’s having a huge year on an average team so few collectors have taken notice of his bargain-priced cards – until this week. Prices on eBay jumped a bit on Sims-Walker’s best 2007 cards like Exquisite Collection and SP Authentic. Those, and others, could still be considered great buys if he continues to record 100-yard games.

Cards to Grab:
2007 Exquisite Collection #95 AU/150 RC ($60)
2007 SP Authentic #219 AU/1199 RC ($20)
2007 Leaf Rookies and Stars Rookie Auto Holofoil/50 #167 ($20)

Rookie of the Week:
Josh Freeman, QB, Buccaneers
(205 yards passing, 3 touchdowns)
Although his stats were not that impressive, Freeman’s performance in his first career start was very impressive. Not only did he lead the Buccaneers to their first win of the season against a tough Packers squad, he did it with great poise. Trailing by four late in the fourth quarter he and the Bucs mounted a 76-yard drive that ended with a nifty 7-yard touchdown toss from Freeman on fourth down. Those types of comeback wins are scarce from a rookie quarterback in his first start.

But collectors are more than aware of Freeman’s potential. They’ve made his cards some of the most sought after of the year. Freeman is currently priced at roughly half or less of top rookie signal callers Mark Sanchez and Matthew Stafford, so there is certainly some upside potential.

Cards to Grab:
2009 Absolute Memorabilia #209 RPM AU/199 RC ($30)
2009 Bowman Chrome Rookie Autographs #112 ($N/A)
2009 SP Threads #234 AU/126* RC ($40)

– Dan Hitt