Tajae Sharpe,Kalan Reed

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Tajae Sharpe (19) runs a drill against cornerback Kalan Reed (32) during NFL football practice Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Tajae Sharpe's gradual takeover of the NFL continues. And slowly, but surely, the former UMass receiver is starting to earn some recognition for his high level of play.

The fifth-round Tennessee Titans draft pick hauled in another six catches for 68 yards in his team's week-two preseason loss to Carolina on Saturday. It was the second time in as many games that Sharpe led the Titans in receiving.

Halfway through the preseason, he has eight receptions for 103 yards heading into this weekend's matchup with the Oakland Raiders.

According to football analytics website ProFootballFocus, Sharpe is the highest graded rookie in the league at his position:

Top graded rookies through two weeks of the preseason

QB: Dak Prescott, DAL

RB: Derrick Henry, TEN

WR: Tajae Sharpe, TEN

TE: Alan Cross, TB — Pro Football Focus (@PFF) August 21, 2016

In a separate article, PFF included Sharpe among their week two winners and delved into his rising value as a potential fantasy football steal:

It's common knowledge that preseason results don't amount to much in the grand scheme of an NFL season. But for a rookie looking to carve out a niche role with a new team - or, in Sharpe's case, a week one starting job - these four games can be a make-or-break experience.

So far for Sharpe, it's been all make, no break.

TitansOnline.com writerJim Wyatt touched on the first-year wideout's continued success following his latest impressive outing, highlighting some strong praise from Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota:

"He makes it easy,'' Mariota said of Sharpe. "He is a very versatile athlete, and he's done a lot for us already. He creates separation in and out of his routes and we are going to continue to expect these kinds of things out of him."

...

"I don't want to look like a rookie,'' Sharpe said. "I just want to look like an NFL receiver."

Sharpe said he's worked hard to be where Mariota wants him to be in practices, and in games.

When the ball is in his vicinity, he considers it his football.

"The mindset I have,'' Sharpe said, "is whenever he puts his trust in me, it is my job to come down with it. If I am the intended target for Marcus, I consider that my ball."

That's nothing that UMass fans haven't already seen and heard during the Minutemen's all-time leading receiver's four-year stint in Amherst. And that's good news for his pro prospects. Without any hint of a hiccup so far, it looks like Sharpe is ready to keep up his steady ways in the NFL.

Follow MassLive.com UMass beat writer @Daniel_Malone on Twitter or reach him via email.