OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Malik Nabers – WR / NYG
Daniel Jones, the current backup quarterback for the Vikings. Tommy DeVito, a second year undrafted free agent. Drew Lock, a fifth year journeyman quarterback with as many career interceptions as career starts. Tim Boyle, a seventh year undrafted free agent that has been on six teams in five years. Those are the guys that have been throwing Malik Nabers the ball this season. A season that has him just a few catches away from setting a new single season reception record for rookies. And that is despite missing two games with a concussion.
Nabers has been setting records left and right these past few weeks. The Giants all-time leader in receptions by a rookie added a new one to the list in their win over the Colts. His 171 yards in week 17 were the most by a rookie in this historic reason for receivers. He scored two touchdowns that were both a result of broken tackles and yards after the catch. He created them on his own with his running back power and elite breakaway speed. 103 of his yards cam after the catch and he caught all three contested targets, two of which were high-level downfield plays.
DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Braden Fiske – DT / LAR
Jared Verse, the Rams first round edge defender all but has the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award locked up. But it was Braden Fiske, Verse’s college teammate at Florida State, that the Rams traded up. It was an aggressive trade up as well. This franchise knows a thing or two about drafting defensive tackles. Aaron Donald is on the Mount Rushmore of NFL defenders. Last year Kobie Turner set an all-time franchise rookie record with nine sacks. Fiske is now just one away from tying that mark.
In a win against the Cardinals, Fiske took down Kyler Murray not once, but two times. It was his third multi-sack game of the year. He also added three more pressures using a variety of moves comng from all angles. He leads all rookies in sacks this season and is third in total pressures. One of the best athletes in the position league wide is another example of just how good this front office is at finding talent in all areas of the draft.
QB
Bo Nix / DEN (Round 1)
3 touchdown performance going step for step with MVP candidate Joe Burrow.
Honorable Mention: Jayden Daniels / WAS
RB
Bucky Irving / TB (Round 4)
190 yards from scrimmage led all running backs league wide.
Honorable Mention: Isaac Guerendo / SF
WR
Malik Nabers / NYG (Round 1)
Set a new mark for single game yards by a 2024 rookie.
Honorable Mention: Ricky Pearsall / SF
TE
Brock Bowers / LV (Round 1)
Set a new NFL record in receptions by a rookie
Honorable Mention: Devin Culp / TB
OT
Joe Alt / LAC (Round 1)
Made it look easy in New England.
Honorable Mention: Roger Rosengarten / BAL
OG/OC
Jackson Powers-Johnson / LV (Round 2)
Battering ram in New Orleans – shutout in pass pro and dominant in run game.
Honorable Mention: Zach Frazier / PIT
ED
Jared Verse / LAR (Round 1)
Led all rookies in pressures yet again.
Honorable Mention: Jalyx Hunt / PHI
DT
Braden Fiske / LAR (Round 2)
Teammate now leads rookies in sacks after his 2-sack performance.
Honorable Mention: Elijah Chatman / NYG
LB
Jacoby Windmon / CAR (UDFA)
Newcomer to the team in his second career start – 8 tack / 1 pressure / and a pass break up.
Honorable Mention: JD Bertrand / ATL
CB
Nate Wiggins / BAL (Round 1)
Allowed just 50% completion percentage and broke up a deep pass.
Honorable Mention: Andru Phillips / NYG
S
Kamren Kinchens / LAR (Round 3)
4th INT of year – ALL four have come in the fourth quarter.
Honorable Mention: Thomas Harper / LV