Offensive Rookie of the Week:
Kelvin Banks - OT/New Orleans Saints
Defensive Rookie of the Week:
Nic Scourton - ED/Carolina Panthers
Quarterback
Jaxson Dart / NYG (Round 1)
It was a game to forget for the Giants as their defense allowed a historic comeback up by 19 in the fourth quarter. That aside, Dart’s play was good enough to go on the road to one of the toughest stadiums a team can travel to against one of the best defenses the NFL has to offer. He responded with a week seven-lead 283 yards and three touchdowns to three different receivers. Dart did this without his number one and two pass catchers respectively and did not even target a wide receiver besides Wan’Dale Robinson until the last drive of the game.
Honorable Mention: Cam Ward / TEN
Running Back
Quinshon Judkins / CLE (Round 2)
Another rookie that scored three touchdowns was the new lead back in Cleveland. Judkins, in classic AFC North bad weather, ran the will out of the Dolphins defense. He led rookie backs with 88 yards and averaged 3.8 yards after contact per carry and led the group with six missed tackles forced. He was also the only one to run for 15+ yards on multiple carries in week seven.
Honorable Mention: Kyle Monangai / CHI
Wide Receiver
Travis Hunter / JAX (Round 1)
The more weeks that pass and the more Brian Thomas continues to struggle across the board, Travis Hunter looks more and more like the Jaguars’ top receiver. He led the rookies with 101 yards, the first time he has eclipsed triple digits, on eight catches. Five of those eight catches resulted in a first down or touchdown and not one other rookie receiver had more than four catches. By the way he played 14 snaps at cornerback and broke up a pass in addition.
Honorable Mention: Tez Johnson / TB
Tight End
Oronde Gadsen II / LAC (Round 5)
Coming into the game with 144 yards on the year, Gadsden led all rookies and finished second in the NFL with 164 yards receiving. He also brought in his first touchdown of the year as Los Angeles tried to mount the comeback. He had 60 yards after contact and was lining up both in-line and in the slot. Gadsden averaged over 23 yards per reception with five of those catches going for 15 or more yards. This may be the complementary threat the passing game has been looking for.
Honorable Mention: Tyler Warren / IND
Offensive Tackle
Kelvin Banks Jr / NO (Round 1)
The fourth quarter of his week two game against Nick Bosa was the last time Banks allowed a sack in pass protection. This past weekend in the Saints road game at Chicago, Banks allowed just two pressures on 39 drop backs. Not only is he keeping his quarterback worry free on his blind side, but he is playing incredibly firm and maintaining ground against the bull rush. The pocket Rattler is working from stays wide behind him and it is because Banks does not give an inch. He was passing guys off left and right seamlessly and rarely got fooled by any complex pass rush schemes Chicago threw at him. And for the fifth time this year, Banks went all four quarters without being flagged.
Honorable Mention: Aireontae Ersery / HOU
Guard/Center
Tate Ratledge / DET (Round 2)
It was not a pretty week for the rookie interior offensive linemen, but Ratledge continues to be rock solid for the third-highest scoring offense in football. He threw a couple key blocks on the big Jahmyr Gibbs’ runs in his breakout 136-yard performance. For the fifth time in seven weeks he did not allow a sack and this was a tough matchup for him and he did not get flagged.
Honorable Mention: Tyler Booker / DAL
Edge
Nic Scourton / CAR (Round 2)
If you can remember back to Nic Scourton’s scouting report coming out of Texas A&M, he had a really interesting journey to the NFL. After tearing it up at Purdue for two seasons, he transferred to Texas A&M, put 20 pounds on quickly, and seemed to play lethargic rather than twitchy. Now that he is better acclimated to his frame, his combination of play strength and never-say-die style has created balanced production against the run and pass. He led all rookies with six pressures and got in on two sacks in a game that held the Jets to just 139 net yards in the passing game and 220 total yards, the lowest of the year allowed respectively for the Panthers who have won three in a row.
Honorable Mention: Donovan Ezeiruaku / DAL
Defensive Tackle
Kenneth Grant / MIA (Round 1)
While the pass rush repertoire and impact are still lagging, Grant made an impact against the Cleveland running game in the bad-weather matchup. He led defensive linemen with five tackles, four of which were stops for the defense. He also had a pressure that led to a sack.
Honorable Mention: Mason Graham / CLE
Linebacker
Shemar James / DAL (Round 5)
The Cowboys played their best game of the season in the big matchup against the division rival Commanders. With DeMarvion Overshown coming back soon, James is playing better with each week. He had five tackles and a sack that he also forced a fumble on. Dallas recovered, quarterback Jayden Daniels limped off the field, and it was the nail in the coffin for a statement win.
Honorable Mention: Barrett Carter / CIN
Cornerback
Quincy Riley / NO (Round 4)
Riley allowed just a 50% completion rate when targeted and he was the only rookie corner to intercept a pass in week seven. It was an excellent play where he cut the angle of a pass to Rome Odunze in the first quarter. The 21.5 passer rating allowed was best among rookies and actually third best among all corners league-wide among the 57 that were targeted 4+ times.
Honorable Mention: Trikweze Bridges / DAL
Safety
Malachi Moore / NYJ (Round 4)
There is not much to be excited about in New York but for the second straight week a rookie back seven defender makes the Ourlads All-Rookie Team. Moore had three tackles, one of which went for a loss, and broke up a deep pass. Moore showed range, physicality, and accuracy as he punched the ball out after Jimmy Horn Jr. brought it in. It was a big time play on a 1st and 20 attempt.
Honorable Mention: Nick Emmanwori / SEA