Tar Heels in NFL: Hollins has career day, makes two late clutch catches but Raiders fall

By R.L. Bynum

Mack Hollins made a lot of fantasy football owners happy with the best performance of his career Sunday as he continues to put up more significant numbers than star Davonte Adams, his fellow wide receiver with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Hollins made two clutch catches on a late touchdown drive in the Raiders’ 24–22 loss at Tennessee on Sunday and showed that he’s a dangerous weapon for them. UNC fans already knew he was versatile, and he proved that by also throwing a pass and downing a punt.

Quarterback Derek Carr found Hollins down the right sideline for a 48-yard gain on a fourth-and-15 play on the Raiders’ final drive. Hollins ended that drive by making a terrific catch in the end zone over Titans defensive back Terrance Mitchell for a nine-yard touchdown reception with 1:14 left.

A two-point conversion pass meant for tight end Darren Waller went incomplete, denying Las Vegas a chance to tie the game, and the Raiders fell to 0–3.

There’s no doubt that Hollins has the advantage of opponents giving Adams a lot of attention, but it would mean nothing if he didn’t take advantage of his chances. Hollins definitely did that.

After combining for six catches for 82 yards in the first two weeks, Hollins had a career-high eight catches on 10 targets for a career-high 168 yards and a touchdown. In addition, he threw a pass that was completed for four yards in the third quarter and finished with an eye-popping 29.96 fantasy points (under Yahoo’s system). If that wasn’t enough, he downed a punt at the 5-yard line.

While Hollins had a big day, Adams was held to five catches for 36 yards and one touchdown.

“Mack plays hard on every play,” Raiders coach Josh McDaniels. “I thought it was a great play that he made, and then being able to re-establish himself quickly to down the punt in there inside the five was obviously a great individual play.

“[Hollins] had a lot of single coverage today and made some plays in the passing game as a receiver,” McDaniels said. “Mack always works hard. I think that’s why he was voted as a captain. His effort and the way he performs has been a bright spot for us, for sure.”

In addition to the clutch play at the end, Hollins also had a 60-yard reception, the third-longest of his career, in the fourth quarter that led to a field goal. He gained 35 yards after the catch.

You can see all of Hollins’ catches in this video (the NFL doesn’t allow its videos to be embedded).


After getting 22 carries the first two weeks, Javonte Williams got 15 in Denver’s 11–10 Sunday night home victory over San Francisco,. However, he could muster only 58 yards against the tough 49ers defense and had only three catches on five targets for two yards. Sixteen of those rushing yards came on one run.

He only got three more carries than Melvin Gordon III, who ran for 26 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Williams had 33 snaps compared to 28 for Gordon.


It was a rough day for Michael Carter, who got 11 carries for the New York Jets after only getting 17 combined in the first two games. Carter finished with 39 rushing yards and one catch for 7 yards in the Jets’ 27–12 home loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.


In Washington’s 24–8 home loss to Philadelphia, linebacker Cole Holcomb equaled his combined tackles total from the first two weeks with five, and added four assists. Dyami Brown had one special-teams assist, and Sam Howell wasn’t active for the game.


Chicago defensive end Robert Quinn had a quiet day with only one tackle in the Bears’ 23–20 home victory over Houston. For the Texans, defensive back M.J. Stewart Jr. took a direct snap on a punt and ran 3 yards over the right guard for a first down in a third-quarter drive that produced a field goal. Stewart also had one special-teams assist. Offensive lineman Charlie Heck played three offensive snaps and four special-teams snaps off the bench.


Defensive end Myles Dorn, who played for Minnesota in Week 1 and was on the practice squad for Week 2, was active again for the Vikings’ 28–24 home win over Detroit but had no statistics in 13 special-teams snaps. For the third time in three games, running back Ty Chandler wasn’t active for the game.


Week 3 of the NFL season started Thursday night with Mitch Trubisky’s Pittsburgh Steelers losing 29–17 at Cleveland. After Trubisky completed 20 of 32 passes with no interceptions and ran 1 yard for a second-quarter touchdown, Coach Mike Tomlin said that he was sticking with Trubisky as his starter.

For more on Trubisky, read this Friday Tar Heel Tribune story.


In New Orleans’ 22–14 loss at Carolina, James Hurst started at left tackle and played all 69 offensive snaps in addition to three special-teams snaps.


Tampa Bay running back Giovani Bernard is on injured reserve with an ankle injury and will be out for at least three more weeks. Bernard was hurt in the third quarter of the Bucs’ Week 2 victory at New Orleans.


In New York’s 23–16 Monday night loss to Dallas, the Giants’ Antonio Williams had no statistics in 16 special-teams snaps, Joshua Ezeudu played five special-teams snaps and Tomon Fox was inactive for the game.

Dyami Brown, Washington Commanders wide receiver

24–8 loss vs. Philadelphia — 1 special-teams assist; 12 offensive snaps (16%), 4 special-teams snaps (15%)
Season statistics — 3 games, 1 special-teams assist
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Dallas, Fox
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Michael Carter, New York Jets running back

27–12 loss vs. Cincinnati — Started; 11 carries, 39 yards (9 longest); 1 catch on 2 targets, 7 yards; 5.6 fantasy points; 38 offensive snaps (49%)
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 starts; 28 carries, 122 yards (22 longest, 4.4 average); 13 catches on 16 targets, 74 yards (12 longest)
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Pittsburgh, CBS
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Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings running back

28–24 win vs. Detroit — Inactive for the game
Season statistics — Hasn’t played
Up next — 9:30 a.m. Sunday vs. New Orleans in London, NFL Network
———————————————

Myles Dorn, Minnesota Vikings defensive back

28–24 win vs. Detroit — No statistics; 13 special-teams snaps (46%)
Season statistics — 2 games, 1 assist
Up next — 9:30 a.m. Sunday vs. New Orleans in London, NFL Network
———————————————

Joshua Ezeudu, New York Giants offensive lineman

23–16 loss vs. Dallas Played 5 special-teams snaps
Season statistics — 3 games; 45 offensive snaps, 122 special-teams snaps
Up next —
1 p.m. Sunday vs. Chicago, Fox
———————————————

Tomon Fox, New York Giants linebacker

23–16 loss vs. Dallas Inactive for the game
Season statistics — 2 games; 2 tackles, 1 sack, 1 QB hit
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Chicago, Fox
———————————————

Charlie Heck, Houston Texans left tackle

23–20 loss at Chicago Reported tackle-eligible once; 3 offensive snaps (5%), 4 special-teams snaps (14%)
Season statistics — 3 games, 1 start; 9 offensive snaps, 11 special-teams snaps
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Los Angeles Chargers, CBS
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Cole Holcomb, Washington Commanders middle linebacker

24–8 vs. Philadelphia — Started; 5 tackles, 4 assists, 1 pass defended, 1 QB hurry, 8.0 fantasy points; 64 defensive snaps (91%)
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 starts; 9 tackles, 14 assists
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Dallas, Fox
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Mack Hollins, Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver

24–22 loss at Tennessee Started; 1 of 1 passing, 4 yards, 83.3 passer rating; 8 catches on 10 targets for 158 yards (60 longest), 1 TD; 29.96 fantasy points; 68 offensive snaps (97%), 4 special-teams snaps (17%)
Season statistics — 3 games, 2 starts; 1 of 1 passing, 4 yards; 14 catches on 19 targets, 240 yards (17.1 average, 60 longest)
Up next — 4:25 p.m. Sunday vs. Denver, CBS
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Sam Howell, Washington Commanders quarterback

24–8 loss vs. Philadelphia Inactive for game
Season statistics — Hasn’t played
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Dallas, Fox
——————————————

James Hurst, New Orleans Saints tackle

22–14 loss at Carolina Started at left tackle; 69 offensive snaps (100%), 3 special-teams snaps (10%)
Season statistics — 3 games; 3 starts, 1 fumble recovery, 1 tackle on an interception return; 198 offensive snaps (100%), 7 special-teams snaps
Up next — 9:30 a.m. Sunday vs. Minnesota in London, NFL Network
———————————————

Robert Quinn, Chicago Bears defensive end

23–20 win vs. Houston Started; 1 tackle; 1.0 fantasy point; 42 defensive snaps (71%), 2 special teams snaps (7%)
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 starts; 4 tackles, 1 assist, 1 sack, 1 tackle for a loss
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at New York Giants, Fox
———————————————

M.J. Stewart Jr., Houston Texans safety

23–20 loss at Chicago 1 rush, 3 yards; 1 special-teams assist
Season statistics —
3 games; 4 special-teams tackles, 1 special-teams assist
Up next —
1 p.m. Sunday vs. Los Angeles Chargers, CBS
———————————————

Mitchell Trubisky, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback

29–17 loss at Cleveland Started; 20 of 32, 207 yards (36 longest), 0 TD, 0 INT, 1 sack; 2 rushes, 7 yards, 1 TD; 81.1 passer rating, 14.98 fantasy points; played all 59 offensive snaps
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 starts; 62 of 103, 569 yards (5.5 average, 36 longest), 2 TDs, 1 INT, 5 sacks; 6 rushes, 23 yards; 77.7 passer rating
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. New York Jets, CBS
———————————————

Antonio Williams, New York Giants running back

23–16 loss vs. Dallas No statistics; 16 special-teams snaps
Season statistics — 2 games, no statistics
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Chicago, Fox
———————————————

Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos running back

11–10 win vs. San Francisco Started; 15 carries, 58 yards (16 longest); 3 catches on 5 targets, 2 yards; 9.0 fantasy points; 33 offensive snaps (45%)
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 starts; 37 carries, 176 yards (4.8 average, 17 longest); 15 catches on 21 targets, 77 yards (5.1 average, 13 longest)
Up next — 4:25 p.m. Sunday at Las Vegas, CBS
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Suspended (violating performance-enhancing substance policy)
Linebacker Andre Smith, Buffalo (first game will be Sunday, Oct. 30 vs. Green Bay)
On injured reserve
Running back Giovani Bernard, Tampa Bay
On practice squads
Cornerback Kyler McMichael, Buffalo
Linebacker Chazz Surratt, New York Jets (released by Minnesota)
Released during camp and unsigned
Fullback Jake Bargas, Chicago (earlier by Minnesota)
Defensive tackle Aaron Crawford, Baltimore
Linebacker Jeremiah Gemmel, Denver (earlier by San Francisco)
Wide receiver Dazz Newsome, Chicago
Wide receiver Austin Proehl, New York Giants
Offensive tackle Jordan Tucker, Pittsburgh
Released from injured reserve with settlements
Defensive lineman Jalen Dalton, Atlanta
Tight end Bug Howard, Tampa Bay

Photo via @Raiders

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