1 |
|
Undrafted rookie centre David Andrews, anchoring a retooled offensive line, is the only Patriots player to have played every snap this season (424—four more than Tom Brady).
|
1 |
2 |
|
The Bengals haven’t gotten much out of their 2015 draft picks: Their first-rounder, offensive tackle Cedric Ogbuehi, tore his ACL, while second-round pick Jake Fisher is a backup lineman and has only been used in a few trick formations.
|
2 |
3 |
|
Packers first-round pick Damarious Randall, a safety out of Arizona State, is second on the team in pass-coverage ranking, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), and passes defended (seven), trailing only Sam Shields in each category.
|
3 |
4 |
|
The Panthers’ first-round pick (25th overall), Shaq Thompson, had started all five games for Carolina until a knee sprain kept him out in Week 7. Thompson has played well, but is overshadowed by the Panthers’ other two starting linebackers, tackle monsters Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis. Considering second-round receiver Devin Funchess has done absolutely nothing, Thompson is definitely Carolina’s top impact rookie.
|
4 |
5 |
|
Second-round tackle Ty Sambrailo has played more snaps than any Broncos rookie, but has missed the last three games and grades out at -10.3 (via PFF), last among Broncos offensive players. First-rounder Shane Ray has chipped in a couple of sacks in just 99 total snaps, but is now expected to miss at least a month.
|
5 |
6 |
|
The Falcons drafted Vic Beasley, a former Clemson standout, eighth overall to help improve a bad pass rush that hampered Atlanta for a while. The good news: Beasley has 25 percent of the Falcons’ total sacks. The bad news: The Falcons have just eight sacks, worst in the NFL.
|
6 |
7 |
|
While Chris Johnson’s resurgence has overshadowed David Johnson, the rookie running back has made a big impact through the first seven weeks. The former Northern Iowa runner has the most total touchdowns among rookies with six.
|
8 |
8 |
|
Leonard Williams fell into the Jets’ lap at sixth overall, and the six-foot-five, 300-lb. defensive end hasn’t disappointed. PFF grades Williams’s performance this season at an even 15, second on the Jets behind only star lineman Muhammad Wilkerson and eighth in the NFL among 3-4 defensive ends.
|
7 |
9 |
|
The Vikings have a pair of rookie gems in receiver Stefon Diggs and linebacker Eric Kendricks. Diggs has played in just three games this season, but has made a big impact and is already third among first-year players in receiving yards. Kendricks has been an absolute beast—he leads the Vikings in tackles and is tied for the rookie lead in sacks with four.
|
10 |
10 |
|
The second safety selected in April’s draft, Landon Collins has played more snaps than any other defensive player on the Giants (518). While the 33rd-overall pick has struggled in pass coverage (to be fair, the whole Giants team has), Collins brings stability to the run defence and leads the team in tackles.
|
12 |
11 |
|
First-year speedster Tyler Lockett is the first rookie since Randall Cobb in 2011 to score a kick return, punt return and receiving TD.
|
16 |
12 |
|
Although he has yet to start a game, first-round pick Bud Dupree has accumulated three of the Steelers’ 19 sacks through seven games.
|
9 |
13 |
|
Miami’s rookies have had a tough go of it. Receiver DeVante Parker—taken 14th overall in May—has been a huge disappointment with just four receptions total and zero in the last three games, while guard Jamil Douglas started four games before being benched after allowing more QB hits than anyone in the league.
|
21 |
14 |
|
Amari Cooper is the front-runner for offensive rookie of the year through Week 7, and it’s not even close. The fourth-overall pick leads rookie receivers in every category that matters (receptions, yards, TDs), and is only getting better as his relationship with Derek Carr improves.
|
20 |
15 |
|
The Saints decided to start two rookie linebackers this season, and it’s paid off in a big way. Hau’oli Kikaha is tied with the Vikings’ Kendricks for the rookie lead with four sacks, while Stephone Anthony leads all rookies (and the Saints) in tackles with 45.
|
18 |
16 |
|
No first-year player has had a bigger impact on their team than Todd Gurley. The former Georgia standout has really played in just three games, but already leads all rookies in rushing yards and has transformed the Rams, who are 2-1 in games in which No. 30 touches the ball at least 19 times.
|
22 |
17 |
|
Rookie receiver Jamison Crowder has made an immediate impact for Washington, ranking third in receiving yards on the team. Crowder trails only Amari Cooper in total receptions among rookies with 32.
|
23 |
18 |
|
A much-scrutinized pick when he was selected in the third round (84th overall), Jordan Hicks has filled in admirably as the Eagles have dealt with many injuries in their linebacking corps. In fact, the former Texas Longhorn leads Philadelphia in tackles.
|
15 |
19 |
|
While the Bills are struggling, rookie cornerback Ronald Darby continues to thrive. PFF grades Darby (9.3) as Buffalo’s best defender in pass coverage by far. In fact, that grade is third among all NFL corners behind only Arizona’s Tyrann Mathieu and Carolina’s Josh Norman. He’s also the third-leading tackler on the Bills (34).
|
11 |
20 |
|
One of the top ranked offensive lineman coming out of college, La’el Collins went undrafted due to off-the-field concerns. The Cowboys scooped him up, and it appears Collins is just another up-and-comer on the league’s best offensive line as the LSU product recently took over at left guard for the struggling Ronald Leary.
|
14 |
21 |
|
Good news, Colts fans. It’s not all bad. Sure, Indianapolis looks awful, and rumours of unrest within the organization continue to swirl, but rookie defensive end Henry Anderson is quietly having a stellar rookie season. Anderson is Indy’s highest-graded defensive player by a whole bunch and, along with fellow rookie nose tackle David Parry, has had immense impact on the Colts run defence.
|
13 |
22 |
|
Melvin Gordon has 328 rushing yards and five plays of 20-plus yards, but his real impact has been a negative one; he can’t hold on to the ball. Gordon has fumbled the football four times this season, more than any other running back in the NFL.
|
17 |
23 |
|
Duke Johnson is contributing to the Browns through the air and on the ground. The former Miami Hurricane is fourth among rookies in receiving yards (263) and eighth in rushing (176). Only Cooper and Crowder have more receptions among first-year players.
|
19 |
24 |
|
While he’s had an up-and-down start to his career, the Chiefs have seen promising play from 18th-overall pick Marcus Peters. The cornerback out of Washington has started all seven games, leading all rookies with three interceptions, and is second on Kansas City in tackles with 35, just three behind veteran linebacker Derrick Johnson.
|
27 |
25 |
|
There hasn’t been much good about the Bears defence this season, who are allowing the most points per game in the NFL. Fifth-round safety Adrian Amos has been a pleasant surprise, however, starting all six games, ranking fourth on the team in tackles with 23, and is graded by PFF as the team’s best defensive back through six games.
|
25 |
26 |
|
While his presence hasn’t been felt in the passing game, rookie tight end Maxx Williams has contributed to the Ravens’ run game, as the former Minnesota Golden Gopher has established himself has a solid run-blocker. I know, not the sexiest of write-ups, but Baltimore’s 1-6. Cut us some slack!
|
26 |
27 |
|
Only Todd Gurley is averaging more rushing yards a game than Jaguars rookie back T.J. Yeldon, who is proving to be a real workhorse with 101 carries already this season (11th in the NFL). Yeldon is yet another young, exciting prospect on an improving Jacksonville club.
|
32 |
28 |
|
Due to injuries, Ameer Abdullah has been thrust into the role of the Lions No. 1 back and leads the team in rushing attempts and yards, but the rookie back hasn’t been without his struggles. The Nebraska product has fumbled three times and has yet to match his impressive 155-yard Week 1 performance.
|
30 |
29 |
|
While 21-year-old linebacker Kwon Alexander has had a solid start to his career at middle linebacker, Jameis Winston is obviously the Bucs biggest-impact rookie, and so far it’s been a mixed bag. The No. 1 overall pick has shown a tendency to turn the ball over, but is also statistically comparable to the likes of Cam Newton and Russell Wilson in the pass game.
|
29 |
30 |
|
Since a Week 1 victory over the 49ers, not much has gone right for San Francisco. First-round defensive lineman Arik Armstead has had a positive impact for the struggling franchise, according to PFF. He’s the third-rated defensive player on the team, the second-rated pass rusher, and continues to get more snaps as the season progresses.
|
24 |
31 |
|
Much like with Winston, we’ve seen good and bad from Marcus Mariota in his first half-season in the NFL. The No. 2 pick had a marvelous debut, but has, similar to his counterpart, struggled with protecting the ball. Overall, however, he ranks above a solid portion of the league’s starting quarterbacks.
|
31 |
32 |
|
Both first-round corner Kevin Johnson and second-round linebacker Benardrick McKinney have contributed early for the Texans, playing 48.3 and 23 defensive snaps per game, respectively. Before Sunday’s beatdown at the hands of the Dolphins, Houston’s defence actually ranked quite well….
|
28 |