Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five MLB names I'm watching in the postseason ...

THE NEW KID ...
Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners (prospect cards since 2019, RC in 2021)
I've been sold on him since early in the year, but the postseason and anything this newcomer does will get a lot more attention with the Mariners' successes already surprising some and with more prime time attention to come. His first season in The Show got him a new monster deal (12 years, $209M) before it was even over -- so he'll be a key in Seattle for some time -- after a year that had him hitting .284 with 28 homers and 75 RBI in 132 games. His RC logo cards this year have been trickling out in SP form for the most part but there will be more to come -- and then there's his Rookie Card and prospect cards to look for, too, from past years. He's hyped and he's pricey but if he and his team can get things done in the postseason -- something the Hall of Famer called Kid didn't -- he'll be a money guy even more than now and for some time. (I'm not sure that'll happen, though, but it could.) I'm not a big fan of how his autograph looks so I won't overpay there, but I think we'll see a lot of good cardboard coming for him to go with fun stuff from the past.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five affordable autographs you can get at The National this year.

WHAT?
Frank Whaley, actor ($39 any item; $10 inscription)
There's only one inscription I'd add with an autograph for this veteran actor who will be signing at the show and that would be on a Pulp Fiction photo something like this one. And that inscription is "What?" -- never has a four-letter addition ever been a better buy. While I suspect he and others signing -- or show promotors -- will have photo options you should be able to buy, I'd choose my own destiny and find something like this. Sports fans might consider a Moonlight Graham photo of him from Field of Dreams or maybe one could consider something from The Doors where he played legendary guitarist Robby Kreiger. It's all about a cool item that can make the ink here and there's good potential with a long list of credits. Heck, at this price I'd try something for all three movies -- or maybe Career Opportunities. Frank Whaley signs on Friday and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. (Times all subject to change.)

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Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five MLB players who impressed Buzz this week.

BIG NAME, BIG GAME
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B Toronto Blue Jays -- Rookie Cards in 2019 releases
MVP or not, you should all know Guerrero after last season and this year he's atop MLB with four homers in seven games -- and three of those were in a single game against the Yankees on Wednesday night. He's hitting .333 with eight RBI and six runs but I think the key here is that he's a main guy on a team with a crop of young home-grown stars -- and that is a recipe for hobby success if they get things done this season.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five past movies Buzz wants to see on card sets. New Oscar nominations? No need for me -- I'm not sure I have seen any of the movies up for honors this year. I'm too busy Buzzing with cardboard but I can do a film twist here today. How about some films that I'd want to see on cardboard? I can totally do that ... though it's not easily said and done for card companies to do so with licensing costs and the reality that sets need autographs today -- so Hollywood A-lister ink is a big obstacle.

NEED THIS ONE IN WIDEVISION ...
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Remember the days when Topps took its "tallboy" card size and flipped it sideways to show off widescreen scenes from Star Wars movies? Fury Road is one of those kinds of movies where landscapes and dramatic visuals would make for some cool cards. Among the cast members are some big names then and some names that are perhaps bigger now, too. Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Zoë Kravitz, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Riley Keough are of note here. (If you don't know some of them, Google them.) You have seen some of them elsewhere on cardboard already but this one would be far about more than just ink. It's not my flashiest pick here but it's the newest film from my top-of-my-head list ... you know, a fast five.

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Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five strategies to find bargains in today's hobby.

COLLECT LAST YEAR & PAST YEARS ...
Dabbling in the new stuff is fun, of course, but it can get pricey these days with an influx of new buyers with possibly deeper pockets than the typical collectors going all Galactus, gobbling up everything in the world out there in the retail wild and plenty elsewhere. Some are flippers, some are rippers ... but both are affecting the prices and volumes of boxes available -- and they don't necessarily make the results inside better. (That's still where luck can be in play.) But one way to fight with them if you're not a Silver Surfer might be to shop with recent past years in mind -- not just the newest rookies. Finding past-year bargains isn't as easy as it once was price-wise, either, but dabbling with boxes where others aren't can still have good results if you know what you're looking for and scout checklists and odds. The Dash Deals section and Bargain Breaks are two places where I'd look while keeping in mind the basic adage that should apply with cardboard ... buy low, sell high. This also leads into my second tip ...

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Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five players to watch leading into Super Bowl LVI.

THE BIGGEST BENGAL
Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals -- Rookie Cards in 2020 releases
If you're looking to buy into Joe Burrow, it's really too late ... but there's still plenty of up-side if he's at the starting point for big things in Cincinnati. The time to buy him would have been while he was on the shelf recovering from a substantial knee injury last season but since he's led his team to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1989 he's the money guy. And if they can win one? Watch out ... he's got a boatload of cards from the last two years and more than 4,000 different ones as a rookie so there's a wide spectrum of stuff you can dabble with. A lot of the speculator money that had been pumped into other top-tier QBs with their seasons -- or now careers -- over, may end up here and he's got the swagger to perhaps make himself an icon and star beyond the field. If you want to spend big, do the rookie-year stuff. If you're more conscious about price, dabble with the low-end RCs or 2021 releases.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five ways to collect Tom Brady now that he's done.

GET OUT THE TIME MACHINE -- ROOKIE CARDS
Tom Brady doesn't have a boatload of Rookie Cards from back in 2000 -- at least in terms of overall volume with hits and memorabilia included -- with just 44 RCs out of roughly 130 total cards that year. Joe Burrow, for example, also only has 44 RCs -- from just one card company, mind you -- but that's out of more than 4,000 different cards. Big, big difference. Sure, a lot of those cards are rarities you might never see even if you're a diehard infinitely deep-pocketed Burrow buyer but that makes a big difference. How? Brady just has so few cards available (even with higher volumes per most cards) that there are more people fighting over what's available in auctions. Throw in the whole grading game and the elite prices being paid for elite items aren't going to soften as he's easily an all-time great who will always be in demand no matter who shows up to rival his records over time. To collect Brady's RCs you can dabble on the cheap or chase big stuff ... but "cheap" is relative in his case. (There's a range of options.) My example? I ripped a lot of 2000 packs back in the day, mostly on the low-end of the spectrum, chasing other guys but I got rid of all but one ... a Bowman Chrome RC like what you see here. It was in a single pack of Chrome in a $9.99 random football repack I opened from a Target little over a decade ago. That one's a keeper for me. My point with this tangent? You can't go back in time and a lot of those boxes and packs are long gone now ... so if you want a Rookie Card you'll need target one that's in your budget and work to make it happen. (Unless you have a time machine.) There may be more available now ... but prices have no reason to be faltering at the moment. It's not the best time to be buying, but the question one must ask ... how much will be available later?

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five NFL rookies who are impressing Buzz this season (on offense).

THE TOP QB
Mac Jones -- QB, Patriots (Rookie Cards in 2021 boxes)
Trevor Lawrence got all the attention heading into the season -- especially on cardboard with his own standalone crd sets -- but while the yardage is there for him pretty much nothing else is impressive on the NFL rookie stat sheet this year or in the standings. Mac Jones, though? The numbers are there as him being the top rookie QB of the year so far with 245 of 349 passes completed for 2,540 yards and 14 TDs with just eight picks in 11 games. He's 399 yards ahead of Lawrence (who has only played 10 games and only has eight TDs). Jones isn't as mobile as, say, Lawrence or Justin Fields but the numbers are there and his team is atop the AFC East, too. Are the stats freakish like, say, Justin Herbert last year? Nope, but they don't seem to be unrealistic to show that he's done well and could be around for some time. He's expensive as an Alabama title-winner -- he'll always be popular in that regard -- so I'd be selective with grabs, but all those pricey cards could still have a big up-side if he's the franchise guy like people hope.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five NFL players who impressed Buzz in Week 9.

ANOTHER BIG WEEK
Jonathan Taylor -- RB, Colts (Rookie Cards in 2020 boxes)
To me, this week was all about the ground game at least when it came to the standouts and that started with this guy's monster showing on Thursday night. He had 19 carries for 172 yards and two TDs in a 45-30 win over the Jets. If you're a regular reader of this piece each week, then you have seen him before -- and every time he has a big game like this there are fewer and fewer steals to be found out there as more and more collectors know his name. He's reached 100 yards four times this year and this was his best day, yet though he had a 145-yard, two-TD game last month. He's got 821 yards and eight TDs on the ground this year and had a TD catch as part of a 116-yard game last month. This former second-round pick is a must-grab if you're watching football cards right now though Marlon Mack's arrival and then poof should be kept in mind, too.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five NFL players who impressed Buzz in Week 8.

THE LONE WOLF
Elijah Mitchell -- RB, 49ers (Rookie Cards in 2021 boxes)
Only one running back topped the 100-yard mark this week and it was this guy, who has barely cracked the NFL cardboard ranks with uniformed cards in just a few sets so far this year. This sixth-round pick out of Louisiana had 18 carries for a career-high 137 yards and a TD in a 33-22 win over the Bears on Sunday. It was his third 100-yard game of the year -- and he's only played five games -- and the 49ers have won each of those. He's made this list before -- as more of a dark-horse pick -- but three big games in just five played might mean something more. The next-highest RB yardage this week? Just 91. Mitchell's auto isn't much to write home about -- I loathe initial-graphs, myself -- and he's got a few draft picks appearances, too, but his NFL uniform cards are what should get the look from both quick-flippers and those holding for a little longer this season.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five NFL players who impressed Buzz in Week 7.

BIG CATS IN CINCY
Ja'Marr Chase -- WR, Bengals (Rookie Cards in 2021 boxes)
QB Joe Burrow had a day but that's almost to be expected but Chase had a monster showing with eight catches on 10 targets good for 201 yards and a score. All are career-highs except for the TDs but that's not a big deal as he's establishing himself as big deal on a team with big potential. His RCs this year are probably overlooked compared to others among this year's crop but a game like that will change things in a hurry. His 754 yards for the year are the most through seven games in NFL history for a rookie so that clearly puts him on pace for records by season's end if he maintains. With a young star QB that's a good recipe for cardboard success.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five names in the news you could collect

MR. MVP?
Eddie Rosario, OF, Atlanta Braves: With Atlanta a win away from the World Series it's been this guy who has been a surprising and dominating performer for a team loaded with young and popular options for collecting. He's not that -- he's a trade grab earlier this year -- but he doesn't have a lot of past cards at key points (first prospect and Rookie Cards) and that makes for an easier and cheaper (so far) option to collect somebody on a heater. He's a free agent after this season ends but he's been playing so well that could mean he stays or dollar signs if he goes. He had a two-homer game last night (the second homer spoiled his chance at the cycle) and it was his second four-hit game of the NLCS (10-for-17) where he's hitting .588. He doesn't have a boatload of cards overall and has Rookie Cards in just five 2015 releases -- Bowman Chrome, Topps Update, Topps Chrome Update, Topps Heritage High Number and then an auto-mem RC in National Treasures limited to 99 copies. His Bowman Draft debut was way back in 2010 and his only other prospect cards that year are in Pro Debut. His stuff isn't super-pricey but his playing so well should mean more of the rarer stuff gets posted out there if you're looking.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five collecting options on my mind ... or at least five examples of stuff I look for.

BEFORE THE BIGS (COLLECT MINOR LEAGUES)
The Card: Wander Franco 2020 Topps 206 (Series 3)
The MiLB series of Topps 206 this year dropped recently and that one will get me to bite before it's gone from Topps' site -- unless I already missed it -- but in the case of last year's release I have gone back and forth about grabbing a pack retroactively for Series 3 to add some unique MiLB cards but ultimately only bit to grab this one for about $6. Yes, part of this buy was the name power -- though the grab was before his rookie hit streak was in play -- but that bling, that pose and the fact that he was playing for a team known as the Stone Crabs ... well that's just the perfect storm. MiLB stuff is always good for some rare or different cardboard -- even with names you know well attached -- and this one adds on the tobacco-card style to hit yet another base with my personal tastes.

This was a safe pick ... keep reading for four more making up the list this time -- some weird cards in this one.

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Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five NFL players who impressed Buzz in Week 6.

HOW 'BOUT THEM PICKS?
Trevon Diggs -- CB, Cowboys (Rookie Cards in 2020 boxes)
Defensive stars rarely appear here -- it seems like most buyers just don't dig even the most tenacious of D when it comes to cardboard -- but if you're wanting to collect without breaking the bank then those guys on defense can make for some easier chases at times. This guy? He might not apply right now on that cheaper part of the equation, but he's doing things that make him get noticed and all you had to do was look at the last few minutes of the fourth quarter on Sunday between the Cowboys and Patriots. His league-leading seventh interception of the year was a pick-six off his old Alabama teammate Mac Jones -- and he's one of four players in league history to have an interception in six consecutive games to start a season. (The first since 2003.) His seven picks though six games is something only previously done by Hall of Famer Rod Woodson back in 1993. He has a lot of rookie-year cardboard last year and actually had stuff in USA Football sets in 2015, but his best pieces will be the cardboard in his Cowboys colors and perhaps some with full sigs vs. his simplified TD signature. He's having a big year -- so now may not be the best time to chase -- but now will likely be the time where the better stuff shows up on the market.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five NFL players who impressed Buzz in Week 5.

THE GOAT HAS A GAME
Tom Brady -- QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Rookie Cards in 2000 boxes)
Passing yards? Nobody had more than his 411 this week -- in fact, only two others topped 350. Five passing TDs? Nobody touched that, either, as his team stomped their in-state rivals. This week? With four passing TDs, he'll be the only player to ever throw for 600 TDs ... and there will be countless more looks at the greatness of his career. (At least there should be.) His RCs from 21 years ago are in-demand and pricey and, well, if you didn't grab ink long ago you're going to be paying top-dollar there, too. Is there a lot more room to grow? Well, that depends on those buying at the top of the market. For the rest of us, I think his Tampa Bay basics and non-hit rare stuff here and there might be the best way to dabble -- unless you don't have to worry about dollar signs.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five NFL players who impressed Buzz in Week 4.

PRIME TARGET
Tyreek Hill -- WR, Kansas City Chiefs (Rookie Cards in 2016 boxes)
Patrick Mahomes' deep-threat receiver put up yet another big game this week with a league-leading 11 catches for a league-leading 186 yards and a league-leading three TDs (tied with another guy on this list) in a 42-30 win over the Eagles. He's in his sixth season and should reach the 6,000-yard mark for his career this week ... or, at worst, sometime next week. Only one other WR in NFL history has posted more than a game of 10-185-3 and that's Jerry Rice. Hill has done it more than once. Some of Hill's stuff can be cheap -- and that's where I might dabble and slab -- but there's no chance that his big stuff will be under the radar. He may be undervalued compared to the record-setting prices of stuff for his QB, though.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five MLB players worth a look after this season ... and, no, not the super-obvious guys.

A CAREER YEAR ...
Ozzie Albies, SS, Atlanta Braves -- RCs in 2018 releases
The Braves' loss of Ronald Acuña Jr. to a season-ending injury didn't lead to the team faltering without one of MLB's biggest stars in the midst of another strong year. Instead, other guys kept at it and other guys stepped up and the team is still leading the NL East as the season winds down. Albies? He's having a career year in pretty much everything but average with 30 homers (previous high 24), 103 RBI to reach that plateau for the first time and even a career-high 19 stolen bases. Big-picture, there are other shortstops out there with numbers like this but they might be pricier when it comes to cards for whatever reasons. His RCs in 2018 releases are all over the place yet affordable and his 2015 cards might get overlooked here and there as he's listed as "Ozhaino." (You might set up a saved search for that name, too.) He's a home-grown player on a contender who's only 24 and among a core of young players ... a recipe for strong cards if they win it all.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five NFL players who impressed Buzz in Week 3.

ANOTHER BIG DAY ...
Josh Allen -- QB, Buffalo Bills (Rookie Cards in 2018 boxes)
It seems this former Wyoming star just puts up big numbers week after week and this week was one of them -- four passing TDs, 358 yards -- and also a rushing TD. (Nobody put up more fantasy points, either.) He's already thrown for 807 yards and seven TDs to just one pick. and his career stats already include more than 10,000 passing yards with his next TD being his 75th. He had more than 4,500 passing yards last season and there's really no reason to expect his numbers to lag even though one could argue he doesn't yet have a single bonafide unquestioned superstar guy to throw to. His good cards are not cheap and I'm not sure I'd go all-in on any of them but bargains could easily pay off well with team success in the postseason.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five NFL players who impressed Buzz in Week 2.

OLD-MAN BRADY BLOWS 'EM OUT
Tom Brady -- QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Rookie Cards in 2000 boxes)
Sure, he failed to throw for 300 yards but when the clock wound down and the numbers went into the record book he added five passing TDs to his career total (590) which is, of course, the most in NFL history. At this pace -- nine so far this season -- he'll be the first to hit 600 sometime early next month. His Rookie Cards and autos are a given that they are pricey -- and, really, some of them are still probably under-valued -- but I'd be looking at other years' flashy inserts and rare stuff along with game-used memorabilia cards that are on the cheaper side of things. Those should have growing power -- and a lot of his stuff can be cheap from the years where there were several card companies pumping out cards. His Bucs stuff should prove to be a little more popular now than other cards but I'd only focus on the rarer or interesting ones -- numbered stuff -- myself right now.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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Fast Five is a quick list under a simple topic that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection. It's a basic list of five items that could be fun for a starting collector or a new way to add to a stash that might already seemingly include everything when it comes to cardboard. For some of you, it's probably common sense. For others of you out there, it's something to think about.

This time? Five boxes Buzz would be ripping right now ... all from the bargain section.

BACK TO SCHOOL ... RIGHT NOW
2021 Onyx Vintage Collection College Football box
These aren't actually out yet -- it's merely in pre-order mode for a November release -- but this one is Onyx's take on the new NCAA NIL rules that allow current athletes to make money on their name, image and likeness right now rather than when they are done with their college days. College football and college basketball figure to be the biggest deals on this front and this one includes a pair of autos in a box along with two other cards. Bryce Young's start has the word "Heisman" attached already and the other certified autos of his all have had pro-type dollar signs attached, not mere college award-winner prices. These boxes figure to be a bit hit and miss -- the big names will pay for a few boxes, others probably won't -- but at their present price I think they are worth the risk moreso than a lot of other releases out there. College NIL autos will have a longer shelf life than your typical draft picks cards as the booster crowd will be interested as well as the school fans -- and they won't have NFL cardboard to trump them until further down the line. I'm sure more stuff is coming but the other other one of these releases on the tarmac is a multi-sport approach. This one is solely football so that gives it the edge for me. Once Panini America's fully licensed NIL stuff starts, those will be the first-look but these are not far off.

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Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five NFL players who impressed Buzz in Week 1.

A STAR OFF THE RADAR?
Kyler Murray -- QB, Arizona Cardinals (Rookie Cards in 2019 boxes)
He's put up big numbers in the past -- 7,982 yards and 50 TDs in his career -- but the opener was a big one as the Cardinals knocked off the Tennessee Titans 38-13 with him throwing for 289 yards and four TDs. Was that expected? Maybe, maybe not. (I didn't.) He's still pricey but my gut feeling is that other QBs from recent years might be getting a little more attention than Murray. Sure, he's pricey -- most younger QBs are -- but I think if you find some cheaper options here there is potential with a successful season. I think he's easily the top dog on his team for cardboard.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five NFL players Buzz will be watching this season.

THE GUY WHO FINISHED STRONG
Jonathan Taylor -- RB, Indianapolis Colts ... Rookie Cards in 2020 NFL releases
I'm big on the stat sheet -- what a player does on the field vs. what people think he might do -- and this guy leads off here because his final results as a rookie last year are impressive. If you look at last year's NFL rushing leaders, the king is Derrick Henry who put up the fifth-best season in NFL history with 2,027 yards (his RCs are in 2016 sets) then Dalvin Cook with 1,557 and then this rookie who had 1,169. That's a big drop to No. 3 for sure, but consider that only six other players even made to to 1,000 yards -- and one of them was a quarterback. There are QB questions for his team which might hamper his sophomore season but this time last year he wasn't really a scorcher, either. He finished strong. He had 101 yards in his second game but only had two other 100-yard games -- a 150-yarder and a crazy 253-yarder to end the season. That was tied for the ninth-best single game in NFL history. Imagine the possibilities if he's more consistent and is a go-to guy who can deliver. He had an impressive 11 TDs last year -- seven in his last four games -- so that and the yardage, to me, shows there's really good potential here. If you latch onto nicer cheaper options out there he's a safe buy to me ... though I actually collect other RBs who I didn't put on the list.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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Fast Five is a basic list of five items that could be fun for a starting collector or a new way to add to a stash that might already seemingly include everything when it comes to cardboard. For some of you, it's probably common sense. For others of you out there, it's perhaps something to ponder.

This time? Five items Buzz would be grabbing right now.

AUTOGRAPHED & AUTHENTICATED ROOKIE CARDS
It seems like more and more collectors love their slabbed Rookie Cards -- to the point where some popular RCs' pop report numbers seem nutty. But what's a natural thing to try and round up once one has 'em all in whatever grade suits their budget? Well, to me, a run of autographed and authenticated/slabbed Rookie Cards would be compelling in some instances if it's do-able for a player. Certified autos are easy to find for a lot of guys if you just want ink of any kind, but signed RCs like the one you see above are impressive, too. Years ago people often said "no" to cards like this but I think those hesitations have vanished with these after-market autos when found in slabs. (This example isn't cheap, but it's nice.) If you collect a player who does signings, then amassing ink on RCs and then getting them slabbed and authenticated yourself also can make this a collecting project more than just a commodity.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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This one is a new department here on The Buzz ... Fast Five -- a quick list under a simple topic that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection. It's a basic list of five items that could be fun for a starting collector or a new way to add to a stash that might already seemingly include everything when it comes to cardboard. For some of you, it's probably common sense. For others of you out there, it's perhaps something to ponder.

This time? Five players/groups that are looking pretty good as we start the second half of the MLB season.

WATCHING THE JUNIORS ...
The big rookies of the last few years are seemingly all paying off right now in different ways ... and that is a good thing for collectors, whether they just do the raw stuff or chase slabs. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. may have ended the All-Star festivities with an MVP award and that big home run, but let's not forget that just before Shohei Ohtani took over as the primary headliner heading into the break Vladdy was putting on a big show ... the kind that will move cardboard. He's still a Triple Crown contender right now with a .332 average, 28 homers (second to Ohtani) and an MLB-leading 73 RBI. Meanwhile in the NL, Fernando Tatis Jr. has overcome those injury scares from earlier in the year and has a league-leading 28 homers, league-leading 20 SBs and is hitting .286. Could a spot in the exclusive 40-40 Club happen by year's end? Even Ronald Acuña Jr. cardboard should have some appeal right now -- he was having another strong year before it ended due to injury. This is the time to be buying hard if you are a believer and people are in sell mode, especially on rarer stuff. They all have Rookie Cards in either 2018 or 2019 releases with big stuff to chase across the board. Acuña is my favorite of the three, but there will be dips (like I said, time to buy) but I think Vladdy is the top one of the bunch -- and that's regardless of the All-Star showing. Tatis has been a top seller for some time now but I'm not sure if we have seen a Vladdy peak in terms of on-field and then cardboard.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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This one is a new department here on The Buzz ... Fast Five -- a quick list under a simple topic that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection. It's a basic list of five items that could be fun for a starting collector or a new way to add to a stash that might already seemingly include everything when it comes to cardboard. For some of you, it's probably common sense. For others of you out there, it's perhaps something to ponder.

This time? Five interesting cards from 2021 Topps Stadium Club.

ALTERNATIVE INK & BASE
If you poke around auctions you'll see guys with standard autos and then variations that use the 1991 Stadium Club design in place of the 2021 photo bar. And others use other looks (that are ultimately pretty much the same in the big picture of things) and then you can find variations without autographs, too. This being the 30th anniversary of Stadium Club it all works --  see the checklist here.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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