With the 2020 NFL regular season heading into Week 6, its time to take a look at the top 10 rookies so far this season. Keep in mind, that many of these first-year performers could have a hand in either helping – or hurting – their respective teams’ chances of winning each and every week. With that said, let’s find out which rookies are making their respective presences felt across the league.
Top Rookies up to the Moment | NFL Betting
No. 1 Justin Jefferson – WR – Minnesota Vikings
A bunch of teams, most notably, the Philadelphia Eagles, blew it by passing on the former LSU star who went to Minnesota with the 22nd overall pick. Now, five games into his NFL career, Jefferson has 19 receptions for 371 yards and one touchdown. Jefferson has two 100-yard receiving games including a 175-yard, one touchdown performance against Tennessee in Week 3.
No. 2 Chase Claypool – WR – Pittsburgh Steelers
The former Notre Dame star has a modest 13 receptions in four games, but he hauled in seven passes for 110 yards in Week 5. Better yet, the fleet-footed rookie made history against Philadelphia in Week 5 by becoming the first rookie in NFL history with at least three receiving touchdowns and one rushing touchdown in a single game.
No. 3 Patrick Queen – LB – Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens didn’t get a bunch of recognition for their selection of former LSU linebacker Patrick Queen with the 28th overall pick in the draft, but the speedy rookie has made a ton of sideline-to-sideline highlight reel plays already this season and recorded a 53-yard fumble recovery touchdown in Week 5 against Cincinnati. Queen finished that game with nine tackles, a sack and a forced fumble that earned him the AFC Defensive Player of the Week award. Basically, wherever the ball is, that’s where you’ll find Patrick Queen.
No. 4 Joe Burrow – QB – Cincinnati Bengals
While the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft had a rough outing against Baltimore in Week 5, the former LSU star still gets a spot on the top rookie rankings because of his overall play this season, Burrow has completed 65.2 percent of his passes while tossing six TD passes and just three interceptions. Burrow tossed five TD passes and no picks over a two-week stretch against Philadelphia and Cleveland and has generally looked more than worthy of being the top pick in the 2020 NFL draft.
No. 5 Justin Herbert – QB – Los Angeles Chargers
While the former Oregon star was thrown into the fire without warning in Week 2, Herbert has been absolutely eye-opening ever since. First, Herbert passed for over 300 yards with one TD and one pick in each of his first two career starts against Kansas City and Carolina. The last two weeks, Herbert has thrown seven TD passes and just one interception including his four-TD outing against Drew Brees and the Saints in Week 5. Herbert has now been named the starter for the Chargers and rightfully so. The future is now in L.A.
No. 6 CeeDee Lamb – WR – Dallas Cowboys
Lamb is another player that a handful of receiver-needy teams shouldn’t have passed on, though Dallas wisely grabbed the former Oklahoma star with the 17th overall pick. Now, heading into Week 6, Lamb has 29 receptions for 433 yards and two touchdowns. Lamb has caught at least five passes in every game this season while hauling in a career-high eight passes for 124 yards in Week 5 against the Giants.
No. 7 Laviska Shenault – WR – Jacksonville Jaguars
I thought the former Colorado star should have been one of the first wide receivers taken in this year’s draft, but everyone else’s loss was Jacksonville’s gain with the No. 42 overall pick in the draft. Shenault has caught at least three passes in every game this season while catching five passes or more in each of the last three weeks and a career-high seven passes in Week 5 against Jacksonville. For the season, Shenault has 23 receptions for 270 yards and one score.
No. 8 Damien Lewis – G – Seattle Seahawks
I don’t know what the Seattle Seahawks were expecting out of former LSU guard Damien Lewis after selecting him in the third round with the 69th overall pick, but they probably weren’t expecting him to perform like an experienced veteran. Lewis has played 100 percent of the snaps in three of his five starts
“Once we drafted Damien everybody felt like we were drafting a starting right guard in the National Football League,” Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said. “He’s just a man.”
No. 9 Antoine Winfield, Jr. – S – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The 45th overall pick out of Minnesota has made a name for himself very quickly in Tampa Bay and across the league. The former Gophers star has two sacks, 21 solo tackles, nine assisted tackles, one forced fumble while making the routine look simple. Winfield is clearly going to be a star at the safety position for years to come.
No. 10 Michael Onwenu – G – New England Patriots
Onwenu was a sixth round pick out of Michigan, but he’s been, not only one of the best rookie offensive linemen in the league, but one of the best – period. The 182nd overall pick has played 100 percent of the snaps in each of New England’s last two games while providing ample protection up the middle while also excelling as a run blocker.
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