Quarterback
Jaxson Dart / NYG (Round 1)
We finally have some competition for Cam Ward. Dart started his first game against the undefeated Chargers and, through a gutsy effort, led the Giants to their first victory of 2025. He scored a 15-yard rushing touchdown on the first drive and threw a short touchdown pass later on to get them the final points that kept them on top. Ward did not do a lot through the air but he was third in the NFL among quarterbacks with 54 rushing yards. Most importantly, he did not turn it over.
Honorable Mention: Cam Ward / TEN
Running Back
Ashton Jeanty / LV (Round 1)
Raiders fans can release their grip from the premature-panic button. Ashton Jeanty led the NFL with 144 rushing yards with a touchdown week four but he wasn’t done there. He added two more touchdowns through the air in the one-point loss to Chicago. It was vintage Boise State Jeanty, the style everyone fell in love with throughout the scouting process. He rarely went down easily, gaining 129 of those yards after contact. No other back in the NFL had 129 yards altogether in week five. His nine missed tackles forced tied for the lead league as well.
Honorable Mention: Omarion Hampton / LAC
Wide Receiver
Emeka Egbuka / TB (Round 1)
Egbuka scored on a 77-yard touchdown pass in Tampa Bay’s comeback effort and it was the third longest touchdown catch we have seen in the league this season. No other rookie had over 70 yards on the day through the air. He finished with his first 100-yard game on four catches as the team patches together their air attack with multiple injuries.
Honorable Mention: Matthew Golden / GB
Tight End
Mason Taylor / NYJ (Round 2)
A newcomer to the Ourlads All Rookie Team, Taylor tied for the rookie lead with five catches on just six targets. He led all rookie pass catchers with four first downs as the Jets are trying to patch together a passing game despite the erratic Justin Fields. Taylor made several key catches and quickly found the sticks. The offense also averaged seven yards per carry on the ground and Taylor’s ability to latch on to and control his man played a key role.
Honorable Mention: Tyler Warren / IND
Offensive Tackle
Kelvin Banks Jr. / NOR (Round 1)
After a rough performance in Seattle week three, Banks bounced back in a big way as New Orleans gave Buffalo everything they had on the road. He won almost all of his one on one matchups and made multiple key blocks on successful runs. His lateral burst and balance opened up the cutback lanes Alvin Kamara excels at finding and exploding through.
Honorable Mention: Will Campbell / NE
Guard/Center
Grey Zabel / SEA (Round 1)
The early favorite for the top rookie offensive lineman has been the top interior blocker three out of four weeks. His game has seamlessly transitioned to the NFL and the entire Seattle offense has improved because of it. Zabel kept quarterback Sam Darnold clean and upright for the second straight week.
Honorable Mention: Connor Colby / SF
Edge
Abdul Carter / NYG (Round 1)
No rookie has hit the quarterback more than three times this season. Carter hit Justin Herbert five times in week four alone as the Giants pulled off the upset against the undefeated Chargers. That led the league (all players) and he also had eight pressures, tied for the league-high week four. The Giants edge rushers have been lighting it up so far and even though Carter isn’t getting the sacks, his impact on the games have been heavy.
Honorable Mention: Jack Sawyer / PIT
Defensive Tackle
Deone Walker / BUF (Round 4)
A player that many had as a likely first rounder two years ago at this time, Walker’s draft grade took a hit because of a back injury and questionable pre-draft process. For anyone that watched his college tape, the performance on the field surprised noone. He has multiple tackles for loss and his three run stops on just 18 run-defending snaps were a key factor to the surprisingly close win over New Orleans.
Honorable Mention: Derrick Harmon / PIT
Linebacker
Carson Schwesinger / CLE (Round 2)
The interior run defense of Schwesinger was a factor from start to finish against a Detroit team that excels at running between the tackles. The Lions averaged 5.9 yards per carry in both weeks two and three, but Schwesinger had six tackles and three stops as the Browns held them to just 3.8 yards per.
Honorable Mention: Jihaad Campbell / PHI
Cornerback
Nohl Williams / KC (Round 3)
There may not be a team in the league better at getting the most out of a young cornerback than Kansas City. Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo had a plan to intensify his role week to week and we saw the current apex met in the Chiefs dominant home win over Baltimore. He was targeted twice, neither of which were completed and he broke up a deep pass. Williams ended with two tackles on Lamar Jackson in addition. The pass defense has been a catalyst to them getting out of their 0-2 hole and Williams already looks like he could be their second best defensive back.
Honorable Mention: Jacob Parrish / TB
Safety
Jonas Sanker / NO (Round 3)
What an up and down game for Sanker. His 14 tackles are a league-high for 2025 rookies but it was the pass defense that put the spotlight on him. Sanker was tested downfield on two plays in a row in the second quarter. The first was a pass break up over his shoulder and the second resulted in an interception on the opposite sideline. He broke up a third downfield pass later on as well.
Honorable Mention: Xavier Watts / ATL