QB
Kenny Pickett / PIT (Round 1)
Pickett did not have much competition among rookie quarterbacks. He did help lead PIT to a win over NO despite being sacked six times. He threw for 199 yards on 18/30 but made a game-changing impact on the ground. His 8 carries gained 51 yards and a touchdown.
Honorable Mention: Skylar Thompson / MIA
RB
Brian Robinson / WAS (Round 4)
WAS went run-heavy (to put it lightly) in their upset road win over PHI. Robinson took on over half of the team’s 49 attempts and gained 86 yards, 62 of which were after contact, and scored a touchdown.
Honorable Mention: Malik Davis / DAL
WR
Christian Watson / GB (Round 2)
There has been a lot of chatter around the struggling GB offense stemming from the inexperience at wide receiver. With GB on the outside looking in, they are going to be in several must-win contests over the second half. Down two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, Watson stepped up with touchdowns number two and three in his 107-yard performance to help lead their comeback effort.
Honorable Mention: George Pickens / PIT
TE
Cade Otton / TB
Otton continues to move the chains for the TB offense. He converted a first down for the seventh straight week and caught all three of his targets for 35 yards in TB’s win over SEA. He was also a key component to their success on the ground as a blocker.
Honorable Mention: Chigoziem Okonkwo / TEN
OT
Abraham Lucas / SEA (Round 3)
While SEA lost the game and put out their second fewest rushing yards of the season, Lucas played one of the best games we have seen out of him in his impressive rookie season. He threw a shutout as a pass blocker (no sacks, no pressures) and remained a constant force as a run blocker in his limited looks.
Honorable Mention: Braxton Jones / CHI
OG/OC
Luke Fortner / JAX (Round 3)
JAX was forced into dropping back to throw the ball 51 times. Fortner did not allow a single pressure or sack against an interior that has a reputation of generating pressure from the inside. His lateral speed has improved mightily which has helped their run-game success.
Honorable Mention: Joshua Ezeudu (NYG)
EDGE
Myjai Sanders / ARZ (Round 3)
In a season-high 22 snaps, Sanders made a big impact as an every down defender. His 5 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 pressure led to the biggest impact he has made in a game in ARZ’s much-needed ten-point win. He made multiple stops at the line of scrimmage and played a stout game.
Honorable Mention: Aidan Hutchinson / DET
DT
John Ridgeway / WAS (Round 5)
It was a quiet week for the rookie defensive tackles and Ridgeway saw just eight snaps in the win over PHI on Monday night, but his impact was felt. He had one tackle and forced a fumble that led to a turnover, one of the four on the night for the division leading Eagles. Ridgeway was released by DAL in mid-September and has been a steady backup contributor for WAS since.
Honorable Mention: Matthew Butler (LV)
LB
Quay Walker / GB (Round 1)
After allowing 28 points in the first half alone, GB held the visiting Cowboys scoreless from there as they scored 17 unanswered points. Walker was a key component to the defense stepping up when it mattered most, finishing with 8 tackles, 1 TFL, and a fourth quarter pass break up.
Honorable Mention: Christian Harris (HOU)
CB
Kader Kohou / MIA (UDFA)
One of the biggest surprises league wide is MIA’s nickel, the undrafted free agent from Texas A&M-Commerce, Kohou. After a slight lull in play, his last two games have been fantastic with his performance against CLE being arguably his best game of the season. He finished with four tackles (zero misses) and three pass break ups. He has not been penalized in three straight games.
Honorable Mention: Trent McDuffie (KC)
S
Bryan Cook / KC (Round 2)
Cook came on the field in obvious passing situations in KC’s home win against JAX. He finished with 4 tackles and was money in coverage. His skill set permits him to play sticky against both tight ends and receivers alike. That versatility was a big part of their defensive performance.
Honorable Mention: Rodney Thomas (IND)