On this Columbus Day Weekend, it was the offensive rookies who arrived on the scene.
The fireworks were on display, as the top rookie performers of the week put on displays that bested not only their fellow first-years, but ranked amongst the top players in the entire NFL. Of the studs, many of the names on this list have consistently impressed, but a couple surprises emerged in breakout fashion. And of the studs, a few familiar faces continued their yearly struggles after being drafted within the top 10 picks.
So without further adieu, let’s take a look at Week 5’s Rookie Studs and Duds.
Rookie Studs
QB Davis Mills
Week 5 Stats: 21/29, 312 YDS, 3 TD, 0 INT vs. Patriots
As discussed in my Rookie Recap from last week, teams scrambled early in the draft to get their franchise quarterbacks. Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson and Trey Lance went with the first three picks, and both the Bears and Patriots followed suit with Justin Fields and Mac Jones, respectively. This week marked the first that each of these quarterbacks would be starting for their respective teams, and fans all anxiously waited to see which of the group would shine the brightest.
Davis Mills outperformed them all.
Starting in place of the injured Tyrod Taylor, the Houston Texans’ third-round pick out of Stanford put on a masterful performance against Jones’ New England Patriots a week removed after tying a franchise record with four interceptions. Mills threw for over 200 yards in the first half, including a 67 yard touchdown to Chris Moore, and a 37-yard touchdown off a flea-flicker to Chris Conley pushed the Texans surprising lead to 22-9 in the third quarter. However, a special teams blunder and missed field goals prevented Mills from his first career win, but the rookie put on the best performance we have seen by a rookie quarterback so far this season. It remains to be seen which of the two performances more accurately describes Mills’ ability, but he at least put his name on the map for fans to watch while Taylor remains on injured reserve.
WR Ja’Marr Chase
Week 5 Stats: 6 REC, 159 YDS, TD vs. Packers
Ja’Marr Chase entered Sunday’s matchup in Green Bay coming off of his worst performance of the season – only 6 receptions for 77 yards and no touchdowns.
Yes, you read that right. That is how good he has been this season.
The Burrow-Chase connection has looked just as it did during their championship season at LSU, and it continued in huge fashion again in a duel against the first place Packers. Chase scored his sixth touchdown of the season on a measly 70 yard play at the end of the first half, adding to his incredible 19.8 yards per reception number on the season. He finished the day with 159 yards, his highest total of the year and first 100 yards game since Week 1, and has now reached the end zone in four of his first five career games. He is now the second player in NFL History to record at least 400 yards and five touchdowns in his first five games alongside the great Randy Moss. Chase is the runaway favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, and if Burrow can remain on the field, he should take home the award easily.
WR Kadarious Toney
Week 5 Stats: 10 REC, 189 YDS vs. Cowboys
The rookie first-rounder out of Florida got off to a slow start after dealing with a hamstring injury in training camp, but recorded a solid six catches for 78 yards in the Giants’ previous game against the New Orleans Saints. Daniel Jones has looked to be a much better quarterback through the teams’ first four weeks, so it seemed like only a matter of time before Toney got involved with the offense.
He did much more than that on Sunday, recording 189 yards – the most in a single-game for any rookie pass catcher this season. Toney made his athleticism known early, reeling in a 38 yard chuck from Jones along the sideline, evading the coverage of Anthony Brown and diving while keeping both feet in bounds. Toney also exhibited terrific speed and after-the-catch ability, catching and turning a five yard out-route into a 33-yard scamper, nearly breaking through the defense for a touchdown before being tripped up two yard short. Even after an injury to Jones forced Mike Glennon into the game later in the second quarter, Toney continued to find openings in the Cowboys secondary. The only blip on the rookie’s day was a thrown punch late in the fourth quarter after his final catch of the day leading to an ejection. Despite the immature moment and the 24-point loss, Toney shined, and it remains to be seen if he will continue to be Daniel Jones’ number one target once he returns from his concussion.
DE Greg Rousseau
Week 5 Stats: 5 TCKL, SACK, INT vs. Chiefs
As you’ll see at the end of this list, many impressive rookie performances missed the cut, including two additional offensive studs. But defense wins championships, as the saying goes, so there’s no way we can leave this performance off this list.
Greg Rousseau had himself a night on Sunday Night Football against the always dangerous Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs, helping the Chiefs cement their spot at the top of the AFC. The first-round pick out of Miami recorded his third sack of the season (tied with Odafe Oweh to lead all rookies) and brought in a juggling interception off of his own deflection, showing the insane athleticism Rousseau brings to the table. Rousseau has come in and become the Bills best pass-rusher instantly, leading the team in sacks and quarterback pressures, and with that performance against the Bills on TV, put him in the conversation as one of best young up-and-coming pass rushers in the NFL.
Just Missed:
RB Najee Harris – 23 ATT, 122 YDS, TD, 2 REC, 20 YDS vs. Broncos
TE Kyle Pitts – 9 REC, 119 YDS, TD vs. Falcons
DE Odafe Oweh – 3 TACK, SACK vs. Colts
LB Micah Parsons – 8 TACK vs. Giants
(What a week it was for the rookies. Except for these next few.)
Rookie Duds
QB Zach Wilson
Week 5 Stats: 19/32, 192 YDS, 1 INT vs. Falcons
After showing promise in the New York Jets’ upset victory over the Tennessee Titans last week, Zach Wilson reverted right back to the struggling quarterback we have seen all year.
Wilson came out of gates struggling against a weak Falcons defense in London, putting up just 42 passing yards and three points in the first half, failing to drive the ball down the field – the major knock on Wilson’s game even coming out of college. He did rebound slightly in the second half, with his best drive of the day coming late in the fourth quarter where he went 4 of 5 for 90 yards including deep passes of over 20 yards to Keelan Cole and Denzel Mims. However, he failed to come up big when the Jets needed a touchdown to sustain late life, taking a sack at the Atlanta 31 yard line for a 17 yard loss. The day was wildy unremarkable for the young quarterback who continues down the same path former first round pick Sam Darnold took in New York. Hopefully Wilson will continue to prove until the Jets can fork up some money to bolster the team around him before it is too late.
WR Jaylen Waddle
Week 5 Stats: 6 TGTS, 2 REC, 31 YDS vs. Buccaneers
Another top prospect that finds himself in a difficult offensive situation is Jaylen Waddle, desperately waiting for Tua Tagovailoa to return for injured reserve, as he has not been able to get in sync with Jacoby Brissett. Despite the speed that Waddle possesses, he has looked like more of a possession receiver thus far in the season, but even in that role Waddle has not been able to find too much success.
Waddle has not eclipsed the 60 yard mark since Week 1, and his latest box score numbers are nearly invisible. He secured just two receptions on six targets for just over 31 yards with just one catch in each half. Waddle also dropped a touchdown (although it ultimately would have been erased on a penalty) and later had a Jacoby Brissett pass-and-catch deflect off his fingertips for an interception. Waddle has looked like an immature NFL receiver thus far as compared to some of his rookie colleagues in addition to being stuck in a dink-and-dunk offense. It remains to be seen if the return of Tagovailoa can jump start his big play ability or if his ankle injury from a season ago is continuing to bother him, but the production has been mediocre thus far from the second receiver selected in the draft.
OT Penei Sewell
Week 5 Stats: 2 Sacks Allowed vs. Vikings
An injury to Taylor Decker early in the season pushed the tackle out of Oregon from right to left much earlier than expected, and saying he struggled is slightly an understatement.
While showing some promise in the run game, pass blocking became Sewell’s early kryptonite, as after not letting up a sack in his first two gaves (and none since Week 4 of 2018 in Oregon), the 21 year old rookie has given up multiple over his next three games. This past weekend against the Vikings, Sewell gave up two sacks on back-to-back plays to defensive end 33 year old Everson Griffin – the second of which led to a forced fumble at the end of the first quarter. Sewell’s borderline-disastrous stint at left tackle for the Lions is likely coming to an end soon with the hopeful return of Taylor Decker next week, and move back to right tackle should take some pressure off the rookie and better allow him to develop into the first round pass-blocker he was drafted to be. It is just five weeks, so there is plenty of time for the young tackle to develop into even just a formidable tackle.
For more NFL coverage, click here.
