With only five weeks left, week 13 provides a clear idea of how successful these rookies’ NFL careers can be. One player had 140 receiving yards against the best team in the AFC, while another had a four-touchdown performance to keep his team in the hunt for a Wild Card playoff spot. 

Dropped Out

Braden Fiske – The Los Angeles Rams defensive end was kept quiet in their win over the New Orleans Saints. Braden Fiske recorded two total tackles, both assists, and averaged 4.78 yards of separation from Derek Carr. 

Just Missed the Cut

Joe Alt – Joe Alt is outside the top 10 for the second straight week. The Los Angeles Chargers have had offensive line issues all season. He has been the positive takeaway for the Chargers, but, has given up at least a sack in consecutive weeks.

10. Tyler Nubin – S

The New York Giants safety recorded 12 tackles and one TFL against the Dallas Cowboys and was his team’s leading tackler for the last three weeks. New York has had issues in almost every position, but Tyler Nubin has been a comfortable replacement for Xavier McKinney.

Nubin is the joint-lead tackler for the Giants with Bobby Okereke. He makes himself an impact player in every possession and could be the key to rejuvenating and improving a struggling Giants’ secondary.

The Chicago Bears are one week from being eliminated from the playoffs, but their quarterback has had an impressive season. Against the Detroit Lions, Caleb Williams threw for 256 yards and three touchdowns.

Despite his stat line, he was sacked five times against the best team in the NFC. When the Bears decide to run the ball 15 times versus the 39 pass attempts, the pocket is bound to collapse a few times. 

The Chargers wide receiver had his third 100-yard receiving game in the past six weeks. Ladd McConkey had nine receptions on 12 targets for 117 yards but did fumble on a 49-yard completion that was recovered by his teammate Derius Davis.

Also, he has the 13th most receiving yards this season, leading all rookies in his position, and is 18 yards shy of breaking into the top 10. Outside of McConkey, Los Angeles had 33 receiving yards, a problem they must fix as they currently hold the fifth seed in the AFC. 

7. Bo Nix – QB

The Denver Broncos survived a thrilling back-and-forth against the Cleveland Browns, but Bo Nix was outperformed by his Cleveland counterpart. In their victory, Nix threw for 294 yards and a touchdown, but unfortunately threw two picks and contributed to three of the five Denver touchdowns.

His biggest struggle is his completion percentage; in which six of the Broncos’ 13 games Nix threw for under 60%. Denver sits in a slightly comfortable position with a two-game advantage over teams in the hunt and if they want to pose a threat in the postseason, Nix needs to be in sync with his targets.

Following his 150+ scrimmage yard game against the Giants in week 12, Bucky Irving had his first 100-yard rushing game last week. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been splitting their rushes between Irving and Rachaad White this season, but with the NFC South on the line, it appears Tampa Bay will have Irving as their starting running back during their playoff push.

Against the Carolina Panthers, he had 152 rushing yards and 33 receiving yards with a 100% completion rate on three targets. Last week was Irving’s eighth-straight game with a perfect receiving percentage and has hit a perfect stride setting a career-high in rushing yards during back-to-back weeks.

Cooper DeJean has improved each week since he earned the starting role in an improved Philadelphia Eagles defense. In their win against the Baltimore Ravens, DeJean had five tackles including a big third down stop in the fourth quarter and a pass defensed. 

The Eagles have the Panthers and Giants on their remaining schedule and both teams are two of the worst passing offenses this provides an opportunity for DeJean to make a case to become a favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year. He continues to look as though he is a seasoned veteran in the league and has given Philadelphia fans hope for another Super Bowl victory.

The second Eagles cornerback on these rankings has been one of the best lockdown corners in the league, let alone amongst rookies. Quinyon Mitchell did not allow a touchdown against the Ravens and has not allowed enough separation for the opposing quarterback to feel comfortable targeting the receiver matched up against Mitchell.

Philadelphia is one or two weeks from securing a playoff spot and two weeks from securing the NFC East. If they make a dangerous run this postseason the Eagles will have their cornerback core to thank since they have been the reason why their offense has been as explosive as they have this season.

The Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate, Jared Verse, recorded five tackles and a pass defensed against the Saints. He was the hardest pass rusher for New Orleans to defend and had a team-best of 3.68 yards of separation for Carr.

The NFC West looks like it will only have the division winner clinch a playoff spot with the race for a Wild Card seed in the conference being competitive. The Rams are a six-win team, two games behind the current seventh seed, and a game behind their division leaders, the Seattle Seahawks. Their defense has impressed this season and it might take an all-out effort for the final five weeks to secure a playoff seed.

Brock Bowers has been the most impressive non-quarterback offensive rookie this season. He had 10 receptions on 14 targets for the Las Vegas Raiders in the defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs. 

He had 140 receiving yards and has the fourth-most receiving yards in the league with 884, trailing Terry McLaurin, Justin Jefferson, and  Ja’Marr Chase. He also leads all rookies in receiving yards and will have a full offseason to improve his game for next season with the Raiders already eliminated from playoff contention.

The Washington Commanders have returned to form because Jayden Daniels played like he was before his rib injury against the Panthers in week seven. Against the Tennessee Titans, he had four total touchdowns, three passing and one rushing, and threw for 206 yards with a completion percentage of 83.3%.

Daniels is the current favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year and AP Rookie of the Year, but Bowers and Nix are chasing him for that award. The Commanders hold the final wild card spot heading into week 14 and have a relatively easy remaining schedule to secure a playoff spot.