After Week 1's action, here are the top rookies heading into Week 2!
Offensive 'Rookie of the Year' Rankings
1. Tyler Warren (TE) - Indianapolis Colts
Not only did the Indianapolis Colts' standout rookie tight end post 76 yards on seven receptions (leading rookies in both) with zero drops, his 90.4 score was the best among all tight ends across the league, outright.
Warren led all Colts players with nine targets as well, even adding a three-yard rush to his NFL debut - ending it with very similar stats to Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, who finished second in Offensive Rookie of the Year last season, after he posted 58 yards on six receptions (nine targets). And we all know the type of season Bowers went on to have.
2. Emeka Egbuka (WR) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka made a statement in his NFL debut on Sunday against the Saints. Egbuka caught four passes for 67 yards and a pair of touchdowns without a single drop, even calling game on his second one. Egbuka and Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston are the only receivers in the NFL heading into week two with at least two receiving touchdowns.
In fact, Egbuka's debut is the best by a Bucs rookie receiver since Lawrence Dawsey in 1991, when he put up 84 yards and one touchdown on two receptions (five targets), even better than his current teammate and future Hall of Famer Mike Evans' debut (37 yards on five receptions).
3. Bill Croskey-Merritt (RB) - Washington Commanders
Putting up 82 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries is one heck of a debut from the Washington Commanders' rookie running back. Croskey-Merritt heads into Week 2 not only leading all rookie RBs in rushing, but his 82 yards are currently fourth most in the entire league, sitting behind Derrick Henry (169), Travis Etienne Jr. (143), and Breece Hall (107).
The team recently traded last year's starter, Brian Robinson Jr., leaving Croskey-Merritt to take over the role with zero problems. Croskey-Merritt received the highest rushing grade of all backs this past week and broke as many tackles (3) as Henry did, putting him in the top three of offensive rookies after Week 1.
For fun, Croskey-Merritt is on pace for over 1,300 yards and 15 touchdowns.
4. Tetairoa McMillan (WR) - Carolina Panthers
Despite Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young having an awful Week 1, he still seemed to favour the highly touted rookie McMillan across the board. McMillan led all Panthers in targets (nine), receptions (five), and yards (68), which leads all rookie receivers.
While McMillan didn't put up the stats the previous three did, the flashes were undoubtedly there. He easily would've eclipsed 100 yards on Sunday with better passes from Young. Once the two really mesh together, there's no limit to what McMillan can accomplish. But for now, he's fourth on the Offensive Rookie of the Year watch.
5. Armand Membou (RT) - New York Jets
Offensive linemen never get the credit they deserve in these awards. And while Membou may not be back in this top five throughout the season for one reason or another, he deserves a spot to start the year after his downright stellar performance at right tackle for the New York Jets in Week 1.
He was the only rookie tackle this past week not to give up a single pressure in pass protection, let alone a sack, and posted the second-best run blocking grade (90.3) among all tackles. To go even further, Membou was only beaten once on 25 pass blocking snaps.
Reminder, Membou, a right tackle, played on the same side as the Pittsburgh Steelers superstar pass rusher T.J. Watt - who finished with five tackles, a pass deflection, and two tackles for loss. Granted, the Jets didn't run much at all to Watt's side during the game, but Membou made sure he didn't let him near Fields and that's to be recognized.
Defensive 'Rookie of the Year' Rankings
1. Will Johnson (CB) - Arizona Cardinals
If I could rank all the rookies together, Johnson would be No. 1 among all of them. Not only did the rookie stud out of Michigan have both the second-best coverage grade (90.3) and the second-most forced incompletions (three), but he also had his first-ever NFL interception - except it was called back.
And even though he only left the game with an unappealing stat line of one tackle and three pass deflections, Johnson ranked just behind Jets' two-time All-Pro corner Sauce Gardner (90.3) for the best overall grade with a 90.2, adding arguably the biggest hit of anyone from Week 1.
2. Jihaad Campbell (LB) - Philadelphia Eagles
Campbell was an eye-popping standout for Philly in Week 1's action against the Dallas Cowboys. Despite only recording three total tackles, he eventually forced a fumble after being moved to EDGE, punching the ball out of running back Miles Sanders' arms during a pivotal drive where the Cowboys were close to putting up six.
Campbell also posted the fourth-best coverage grade among all linebackers, not just rookies, after allowing just one reception - it went for -3 yards - and also recording a lone pass deflection that broke up what would've been a 30-yard completion.
3. Carson Schwesinger (LB) - Cleveland Browns
The second-round pick selection by the Browns had a standout Week 1 in a game that the team should've won. Schwesinger not only put up eight tackles and three tackles for loss, ranking him as the fifth-best linebacker across the league with a 90.0 overall grade, but he also put up an 83.8 coverage grade, breaking up the one pass thrown his way.
Schwesinger's eight tackles were the most of any Browns player and second-most among linebackers in the entire Browns-Bengals matchup, including a hit on quarterback Joe Burrow on one of his four pass rush opportunities.
4. Craig Woodson (S) - New England Patriots
Many probably don't know who Woodson is right now. But the fourth-round pick had a nice standout game for the Pats this past week after racking up the second-most tackles (7) on the team in their Week 1 matchup, including two tackles for a loss.
Woodson finished the week ranking one of the top box safeties in the league, placing fifth in pass rush and second in run defence (out of 95 safeties). He still needs to polish his coverage (29th). However, he had a respectable debut and could emerge as one of the best secondary rookies this season.
5. Abdul Carter (EDGE) - New York Giants
The No. 3 overall pick and the draft class's top pass rusher chalked up a half-sack and a couple of pressures in his debut. He faced a tough task in lining up across from Laremy Tunsil, but managed to collapse the pocket once on 24 pass snaps.
Carter's sack count will increase with time, so it's nothing of concern if he didn't come out of the gate looking like Micah Parsons or Trey Hendrickson in Week 1. He still posted the best pass-rusher grade among rookie EDGE guys with a 78.5.