After a bit of a slow Week 6, the rookies came back alive in Week 7, not only putting together performances better than their fellow first years, but better than anyone in the entire league. A rookie quarterback continues to prove he is the best in his class, while one rookie receiver is making the case for being the best wide receiver in all of football. However, it was not all good for the rookies, as a couple in their class looked like first year players despite almost being halfway through the NFL season.
Here are this week’s Studs and Duds:
Studs
Mac Jones
Week 7 Stats: 24/36, 307 YDS, 2 TD vs. New York Jets
It has been an uncharacteristically bad year for rookie quarterbacks. Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson and Trey Lance were selected with the top three picks in last year’s draft, and yet none of them have proven to be the hot commodity they were on draft night. However, one rookie quarterback has stood head and shoulders above the rest so far this season.
The New England Patriots selected Alabama quarterback Mac Jones 15th overall as the fifth quarterback in the draft, and although he has not been amazing, he has shown flashes of being a franchise quarterback. He ranks among the top 10 in the league in passing yards, and on Sunday, he added to that total while leading the New England Patriots to a blowout win over the New York Jets. Jones put up his first 300+ game as a pro and avoided any turnovers, illustrating the efficiency he has shown all season long. Although he was just under the 70 percent completion mark by a few points, he has that mark 5 out of his 7 games, and with the yardage total he put up on Sunday, this performance has been his best to date, Under the guidance of Bill Belichick, Jones has proven he has what it takes to follow up Tom Brady as the Patriots signal caller and get New England back to its winning ways in the near future.
Elijah Mitchell
Week 7 Stats: 18 ATT, 107 YDS, 1 TD vs. Indianapolis Colts
With an onslaught of injuries to the running back position, the 6th round pick out of Louisiana has been thrust into the lead back role for the 49ers, and in his limited action due to his own injuries, he has performed.
On Sunday night football, Mitchell put up his most efficient game to date, averaging 5.9 yards per carry and recording his second touchdown of the season against a stout Indianapolis Colts defense. His 100 yard performance was his second of the season, with his first coming in Week 1 against the Detroit Lions. His performance has overshadowed that of fellow rookie running back Trey Sermon, who the team selected three rounds ahead of Mitchell. Mitchell has proven himself to be bigger than his 5’10” stature would suggest, exhibiting tough running and ability to break oncoming tacklers. Until San Francisco gets healthy, look for Mitchell to keep putting up big games for a 49ers team that hopes to climb out of the basement of the NFC West.
Ja’Marr Chase
Week 7 Stats: 8 REC, 201 YDS, 1 TD vs. Baltimore Ravens
Justin Jefferson put up insane numbers his rookie year last year coming out of LSU. The Offensive Rookie of the Year Winner put up 1,400 yards and 7 touchdown receptions, further cementing LSU as Wide Receiver University along with stud receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry.
Little did he and the NFL know that a potentially better receiver had lined up right beside him just a year ago.
Ja’Marr Chase seems like he will be a fixture on this list in the coming weeks after putting up one of the best performances of any receiver this year against the Ravens. Chase recorded over 200 yards and put Baltimore’s defense on skates, turning a five yard slant route into an 82 yard touchdown by breaking three tackles with a nasty spin move. Chase is on pace to record 85 catches for 1,831 yards and 15 touchdown receptions, placing him in the category of one of game’s most elite receivers in just his first year. Burrow and Chase have continued the connection that won them a National Championship just two years ago, and although it will be tough for Chase to repeat this performance, it looks like he is primed to continue torching defenses all season long for the first place Cincinnati Bengals.
Kyle Pitts
Week 7 Stats: 7 REC, 163 YDS vs. Miami Dolphins
Another repeat on the studs list is the first round rookie tight end out of Florida, who continues to show his unique combination of size and speed on the NFL stage.
It took Kyle Pitts a couple weeks to settle into the Atlanta Falcons offense, but now he is finally showing off his elite pass catching abilities. His 163 yard performance is his second straight, and his seven catches only trails his previous game’s 9. Pitts’ biggest contributions came on the final drive, where Matt Ryan found him for 23 and 28 yard receptions on back to back plays to put the Falcons’ within field goal range for the game winning kick. It remained to be seen if Pitts could be effective in the offense with Calvin Ridley in the lineup, and it seems like the injury to the star receiver allowed Pitts and Ryan to develop much needed chemistry. Pitts has only scored one touchdown so far this season, which should end up being his main contribution to the offense, but if he keeps putting up wide receiver yard totals, Matt Ryan is bound to find the 6’6” tight end in the end zone.
Honorable Mentions:
Khalil Herbert – 18 CAR, 100 YDS vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jaylen Waddle – 7 REC, 83 YDS vs. Atlanta Falcons
Duds
Justin Fields
Week 7 Stats: 22/32, 184 YDS, 3 INT vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Since becoming the starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears, Justin Fields has not put up the numbers that Bears fans had been expecting. Despite leading the Bears to a 2-1 record heading into Sunday, he had only thrown for one touchdown pass and only thrown for over 200 yards one time. Sunday presented a tough matchup against a good Buccaneers team, and Fields struggled mightily.
The Ohio State product turned the ball over three times and did not record a touchdown pass. The Bears were down early, forcing them to throw the ball more than they hoped too, and Fields struggled to read the defense. He also failed to escape pressure, getting sacked four times. So far, Fields has been bailed out by his defense and run game, and when has been forced to lead the offense through the air, he has folded under the pressure. The Bears have traditionally struggled in the passing game and hope that
Fields will eventually develop into a complete quarterback, but the results so far show a quarterback in need of much more development.
Rondale Moore
Week 7 Stats: 2 REC, 17 YDS vs. Houston Texans
The Arizona Cardinals have been one of the biggest surprises in the NFL this year, currently sitting at 7-0. Their offensive success has largely been driven by Kyler Murray, who is currently a top 3 MVP candidate so far this year. Murray has many weapons at his disposal, especially after the team acquired tight end Zach Ertz from Philadelphia, and thus has many mouths to feed in the passing game.
One who is going unfed in Rondale Moore. The Cardinals selected former Purdue Boilermaker in the second round to add receiving threats beside DeAndre Hopkins, but he has been a nonfactor up to this point. In his last two games, he has a combined 5 catches for 33 yards and has just one touchdown, and Sunday’s dud against a porous Texans defense represents his worst showing since Week 1. Former Bengal all-pro A.J. Green has received a much larger target share and more red zone targets, relegating Moore to a limited role within the offense. Moore is talented and is capable of putting up big yardage totals when targeted, but if the chemistry between him and Murray does not improve, he could remain limited in his production for the remainder for the season.
DeVonta Smith
Week 7 Stats: 5 REC, 61 YDS vs. Oakland Raiders
DeVonta Smith’s outing against the Raiders was not terrible, but for the number one option in an Eagles passing attack now without Ertz, he has not lived up to expectations. Last week, Smith put up just two catches, and with 9 targets on Sunday against the Raiders, it seemed that there was an emphasis on trying to get him more looks. However, he caught just above half of his targets as the Eagles offense struggled to mount a comeback after going down 30 to 7.
On the season, Smith is projected to finish with just under 1,000 yards and has been the second best rookie receiver outside of Ja’Marr Chase, but the 1,000 yard mark seemed like the floor for Smith’s numbers coming into the season after winning the Biletnikoff Award a year ago. Philadelphia is by no means a powerhouse offense, but Jalen Hurts has shown in flashes that he can hit his receivers on deep routes in the passing game. Smith should find success within the offense. Although his outing was not terrible, expectations for Smith are through the roof, and these numbers are not going to cut it if Smith is going to prove he was worth drafting with the 10th overall pick.
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