Zach Hocker had a very successful NFL debut Sunday.
The former Arkansas kicker made all four of his field goals and his only extra point in the Saints’ 31-19 loss to the Cardinals.
His longest kick came from 45 yards out, with his other three being from 23, 33 and 37 yards. With new NFL rules, even his extra point was a bright spot, as it came from a distance of 32 yards. Across the league, four PATs were missed. (Eight were missed all of last season.)
He was one of four kickers in the NFL with four field goals Week 1. The performance earned 14 fantasy points, as well, which was tied for fourth amongst kickers.
Next week, the Saints host the Buccaneers at noon Sunday.
Here is a look at how the other former Arkansas players on 53-man rosters performed in Week 1 of the NFL season.
Alvin Bailey – Seattle Seahawks
Week 2: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, at Packers
Bailey served as the Seahawks’ only backup guard and tackle in their 34-31 overtime loss to the Rams, as Mark Glowinski and Kristjan Sokoli were inactive. However, the starters stayed healthy and he saw action only on special teams, playing six snaps.
Knile Davis – Kansas City Chiefs
Week 2: 7:25 p.m. Thursday, vs. Broncos
In 18 offensive snaps, Davis had six carries for 16 yards and one reception for 12 yards in the Chiefs’ 27-20 win over the Texans. He also had one kickoff return for 30 yards, giving him 58 all-purpose yards.
Trey Flowers – New England Patriots
Week 2: noon Sunday, at Bills
Flowers was one of the Patriots’ eight inactive players in Thursday’s 28-21 win over the Steelers.
Brett Goode – Green Bay Packers
Week 2: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, vs. Seahawks
The Packers were 1 of 1 on field goals and 4 of 4 on extra points, while punting twice in their 31-23 win over the Bears. Goode was the long snapper on all seven kicks.
Chris Gragg – Buffalo Bills
Week 2: noon Sunday, vs. Patriots
Gragg was one of the Bills’ seven inactive players in Sunday’s 27-14 win over the Colts.
Ryan Mallett – Houston Texans
Week 2: noon Sunday, at Panthers
Mallett sparked a quarterback controversy in Houston when he came into the game in the fourth quarter of the Texans’ 27-20 loss to the Chiefs and led the team on two scoring drives.
The former Arkansas quarterback completed 8 of 13 passes for 98 yards and one touchdown, compiling a 85.9 Total QBR (the seventh-highest in Week 1). His first drive ended with an 8-yard touchdown pass and two-point conversion pass, both to DeAndre Hopkins.
On his next drive, Mallett led the Texans to a field goal, which cut the lead to seven points with 1:24 left in the game. Houston head coach Bill O’Brien has not announced if Mallett will start Sunday’s game or not.
Darren McFadden – Dallas Cowboys
Week 2: 3:25 p.m. Sunday, at Eagles
In his first game with the Cowboys, McFadden was a backup in Dallas’ 27-26 win over the Giants. He had seven touches: six carries for 16 yards (with a long of eight yards) and one reception for 19 yards.
Jason Peters – Philadelphia Eagles
Week 2: 3:25 p.m. Sunday, vs. Cowboys
The entire Eagles offensive line struggled in their 26-24 loss to the Falcons, including Peters, who false started on a drive that at the Eagles’ 5-yard line and got beat by Vic Beasley a couple of times.
Darius Philon – San Diego Chargers
Week 2: noon Sunday, at Bengals
Philon didn’t register any tackles in his NFL debut, but he did have a quarterback hit in the Chargers’ 33-28 win over the Lions.
Chris Smith – Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 2: 3:05 p.m. Sunday, vs. Dolphins
Playing 39 defensive snaps, Smith racked up four solo tackles – including one tackle for loss – and deflected one pass in the Jaguars’ 20-9 loss to the Panthers. He also missed a tackle on a potential sack.
Martrell Spaight – Washington Redskins
Week 2: noon Sunday, vs. Rams
Spaight didn’t play any defensive snaps, but he did have one solo tackle in nine specials teams snaps in the Redskins’ 17-10 loss to the Dolphins.
Travis Swanson – Detroit Lions
Week 2: noon Sunday, at Vikings
Making his first start as the Lions’ fulltime center, Swanson appeared to have some growing pains, but led an offensive line that earned a “C” grade from The Detroit News. Detroit fell to the Chargers 33-28.
Jarius Wright – Minnesota Vikings
Week 2: noon Sunday, vs. Lions
Wright’s only catch in the Vikings’ 20-3 loss to the 49ers was a 27-yard reception that came on the final play of the half against a prevent defense. He was targeted four times in 34 snaps.