Sunday provided football fans with the full slate of games they were sorely missing over the summer, and to no surprise, Week 1 introduced a number of potential breakout stars.
Without further ado, here are five players who made a name for themselves during their season openers.
Tarik Cohen, RB, Bears
Jordan Howard may have finished second in rushing yards last season, but it was rookie Tarik Cohen who operated as the engine of the Bears' offense Sunday.
Cohen led Chicago in rushing and receiving, running for 66 yards on five carries while catching eight passes for 47 yards and a touchdown. The speedster could carve out a larger role in the offense as the season progresses, and it's clear the fourth-round pick will be pushing Howard for lead-back status. Although the Bears lost in heartbreaking fashion, they have no reason to hang their heads, in large part due to Cohen's exciting debut.
Kenny Golladay, WR, Lions
Golladay earned excellent reviews during the preseason and made a strong introduction to the professional game during Sunday's victory over the Cardinals. The 23-year-old caught four passes for 69 yards and two touchdowns, fueling the Lions' second-half surge.
After the game, Golladay - a third-round pick who could end up being one of the steals of the 2017 draft - earned high praise from Golden Tate, and the two receivers figure to be the central components of the Lions' offense this season.
Cooper Kupp, WR, Rams
Kupp is another rookie receiver who stole the show on Sunday, leading the Rams with four catches for 76 yards and a touchdown in a 46-9 rout of the Colts. Some believed Kupp would eventually become the best receiver from his class, and he wasted no time proving that he's ready for the professional ranks. The Rams looked like an entirely different team than last year's forgettable iteration, and Kupp was a major reason why.
Austin Hooper, TE, Falcons
Hooper was held to just two catches, but made them count, scoring on an 88-yard touchdown while leading the Falcons with 128 receiving yards in a 23-17 win over the Bears. Atlanta led the NFL in scoring with 33.8 points per game last season and could be even more potent if Hooper develops into a consistent contributor. The young tight end got his feet wet during his rookie season, and now looks ready to flummox defenders who are worried about Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu, and the rest of the Falcons' numerous weapons. On Sunday, Hooper made the Bears pay for their inattention.
Jesse James, TE, Steelers
Like Hooper, James is often the forgotten man in a star-studded offense, and picked the Browns apart when called upon in a 21-18 victory. The third-year tight end caught six passes for 41 yards and two touchdowns, giving the Steelers another capable weapon in the red zone. During an afternoon when Le'Veon Bell and Martavis Bryant were clearly working themselves back into top form, James picked up the slack, forming a strong tandem alongside Antonio Brown.
