Quarterback
Jaxson Dart / NYG
Dart took over the number one quarterback role week four against the Chargers. Since then there has been new life injected into the veins of Giants Nation. It goes further than a shiny new toy-type situation, however. Dart has thrown for ten touchdowns and run for five more. No other rookie quarterback has more than four total scores since week for. Dart is doing this without his number one receiver and he just recently lost his top running back. While the franchise still has a ways to go, Dart has unlocked the door to better days as he is one of the top dual threats at the position in the league.
2nd Team: Cam Ward / TEN
Running Back
Omarion Hampton / LAC
One reason why Ourlads track rookie performances weekly is a situation just like this. Recency bias has prevented some from realizing how strong of a start Omarion Hampton got off to before going down with an ankle injury. On just 66 carries (eighth most in the rookie class), Hampton is sixth in yards and second in yards per carry. He is also second in missed tackles forced and his 20 receptions are third most. Do not forget he has done this in just over half the games of other rookie backs. Los Angeles is 3-1 in games he has started and finished, 3-2 otherwise. He is a week or two away from returning and has a credible shot at finishing with the most total yards among all rookies which is amazing considering how much time he has missed.
2nd Team: Cam Skattebo / NYG
Wide Receiver
Emeka Egbuka / TB
The Tampa Bay offense, their receivers in particular, have dealt with numerous injuries this season. They are still 6-2 and in first place in the NFC South with a middle of the road passing game. The biggest reason? The quick ascent of Egbuka. He had four-plus catches in each of their first five games and broke 100 yards twice. He is tied for the rookie lead with five touchdowns (5) and yards after catch (179). He is averaging 22 yards per catch in the second half of games (#1 in the NFL) and has been the go-to guy in several key situations for Baker Mayfield.
2nd Team: Tetairoa McMillan / CAR
Tight End
Tyler Warren / IND
There is not a single offense in the NFL that has turned heads more than the Jonathan Taylor-led Colts. While he is playing at an MVP-caliber level and Daniel Jones appears to be the next resurgent former first rounder under center, Tyler Warren may be the second most important piece to the complex puzzle. He leads the rookie tight end class in catches, yards, and touchdowns but it goes further than that. Similar to Brock Bowers last year, Warren is one of the most productive players at the position league wide. He trails only Travis Kelce in yards and he is fourth in catches and second in yards after catch.
2nd Team: Oronde Gadsden II / LAC
Offensive Tackle
Kelvin Banks / NO
Because Banks is playing for a 1-8 team that is tied for the worst record in football, very few have noticed he has been at left tackle. He receives very little help and has more than held his own in pass protection despite playing against a laundry list of high-level pass rushers. He has not allowed a sack in seven of nine games and has not been flagged in five games.
2nd Team: Armand Membou / NYJ
Guard/Center
Grey Zabel / SEA
The fifth highest-scoring team in the NFL and number one passing offense (when it comes to yards per attempt) has been turned around because of Sam Darnold. But Darnold is not playing at this level without vast improvements to the offensive line and that is where Zabel comes in. Coming from the FCS, Zabel quickly earned a week one starting job and has not looked back since. His movement traits that made him a dominant college tackle has transferred over to the NFL where he never looks a step behind nor does he show any struggles in recovery. He has yet to allow a sack this season, the only interior offensive lineman (out of nine) with over 300 snaps who can say that.
2nd Team: Tate Ratledge / DET
Edge
Abdul Carter / NYG
Looking at traditional stats will leave you underwhelmed by the first defensive player taken in the 2025 NFL Draft. Look a little deeper (and take a peek at the tape) and it is easy to see Carter has been the most disruptive rookie in the class, of all positions. He has 32 pressures this year; no rookie is within nine of that. He has been moved all over the defensive front and it has been a key reason why Brian Burns is currently in the running for Defensive Player of the Year.
2nd Team: Donovan Ezeiruaku / DAL
Defensive Tackle
Deone Walker / BUF
There are 66 rookies who have taken a snap along the defensive front this season, inside and outside. Walker leads all of them with 14 stops on the year. The day three pick has been a key piece to the Buffalo defense that has been desperately trying to find their way with some positive flashes in recent weeks. Walker has been playing an oversized three-tech role for most of the year and he has added ten pressures and is one of just three interior defensive linemen with multiple sacks.
2nd Team: Mason Graham / CLE
Linebacker
Jihaad Campbell / PHI
There was a reason why General Manager Howie Roseman spent multiple hours trying to trade up for Campbell during the first round of the draft. The versatile defensive weapon has been exactly that with both his alignment and production. He has set up as an off-ball linebacker 314 times and on the edge 116 times. He leads linebackers in pressures but is also top five in booth tackles and stops. And lastly, Campbell is the only rookie linebacker with both an interception and a forced fumble for the first place Eagles who are currently in the running for the number one overall seed in the NFC.
2nd Team: Carson Schwesinger / CLE
Cornerback
Will Johnson / ARI
A soft tissue injury slowed Johnson a bit, but he is still comfortably in the league lead among rookies with six pass break ups and he has done an excellent job of limiting big plays. He is third in yards per catch allowed and has limited yards after catch to under two yards per. The Arizona defense and team overall is a couple bounces of the ball away from a winning record and Johnson has quickly become their top corner.
2nd Team: Jacob Parrish / TB
Safety
Nick Emmanwori / SEA
Emmanwori got off to a late start but he is now showing up all over the stat sheet and defensive alignment like a young Derwin James. Head Coach Mike Macdonald, who worked with Kyle Hamilton in Baltimore, has been using him in a similar fashion. He has a defensive back-high eight pressures (third most in all of NFL), has double digit stops, and two pass break ups. His 7.2 yards per catch allowed is the lowest among 23 eligible rookie defensive backs.
2nd Team: Xavier Watts / ATL