Breakdowns

9/30/21

6 min read

Week 3 Rookie Report

By Charlie Parkinson

Stock Up: Offensive Players

QB: Davis Mills - Week 3 was a rough one for rookie QBs but Davis Mills actually played pretty well in his debut on Thursday Night Football. He finished his debut with 19/32, 168 yds, 1TD to 0 INTs, and an 83.9 passer rating. His PFF grade was 56.4.

RB: Najee Harris - Harris has been inconsistent to start his career, as much of that is to do with the OL, but played a solid game in Week 3. He still struggled to find holes in the run game, going 16 carries for 51 yards, but he was very impressive as a receiver, tallying 15 catches for 114 yards. His PFF grade for his performance was 57.3. 

WR: Ja’Marr Chase - Chase impressed again, as his career is off to a hot start, proving why he was such a highly-touted prospect. He finished the day with four catches for 65 yards and two TDs, with a PFF grade of 77.9. 

TE: Pat Freiermuth - Freiermuth has had a very consistent start to his career, and it was only a matter of time before he made it onto this list. On Sunday, he caught four balls going for 21 yards and a TD, with a PFF grade of 65.6.

OL: Rashawn Slater - Slater is another player who has been really good week-to-week. He excelled as a run blocker in Week 3, with a grade of 90.7. He allowed just one pressure and finished the day with a 72.7 PFF grade.

OL: Creed Humphrey - Humphrey makes an appearance here for the second time and is the third Chiefs IOL in a row. Again, he allowed no pressures on the inside, as he had held his own against the pass. He finished with a grade of 76.0 for his efforts. 

Stock Down: Offensive Players 

QB: Justin Fields - Like almost all of the rookie QBs this weekend, Fields struggled. He was under duress all day and took a lot of sacks. He finished just 6/20 for 68 yds, 0 TDs, 1 INT, was sacked a total of 9 times, and had a 41.3 passer rating. His PFF grade for the day was 46.8.

RB: Javonte Williams - Williams had a great week last week, as he was on the stock-up list, but this week, he had trouble finding running room, carrying the ball 13 times for 37 yards. He also surrendered a fumble, finishing with a 42.3 grade.  

WR: Rondale Moore - Like Williams, Moore had a huge Week 2 and made it onto the stock-up list. However, in Week 3, he was much less involved as he had just two catches for a total of one yard, as well as one carry for three yards, finishing with a grade of 52.7

WR: Dyami Brown - After being on here last week, Brown, unfortunately, finds himself here again. He had another tough week, as he was targeted just twice with no receptions and had one carry for a four-yard loss. He finished the day with a 42.8 grade, 

OL: Penei Sewell - Sewell has had a good season so far and was on the stock-up list after Week 1. However, this week, Sewell struggled in pass protection, finishing with a 45.5 grade overall and a 37.7 in pass blocking.

OL: Alijah Vera-Tucker - Vera-Tucker has had an up and down few games, but it was mostly down in Week 3. He had been a strong run blocker over the first two weeks but dropped there this week, resulting in just a 48.6 overall grade.

Stock Up: Defensive Players

DL: Azeez Ojulari - Ojulari was a stock-down player in Week 1 but has been very consistent this year, notching a sack in each game. He was very effective in the pass rush, finishing with a 92.2 grade this week as his pass-rush and overall grade.

DL: Osa Odighizuwa - The Cowboys' third-round selection has been a force for their defense this year and showed off on MNF. He finished with two QB hits, one TFL, and 1.5 sacks, to go with a PFF grade of 55.2. 

LB: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah - Koramoah has also played a solid couple of games but was very good in Week 3. He had eight tackles, to go with just allowing one catch in coverage, finishing with a monster grade of 93.9.

 

DB: Asante Samuel Jr: Samuel Jr is playing great football to start his career. He allowed just two catches this week and had an acrobatic INT off a Patrick Mahomes pass. He finished the day with a 68.4 grade.

DB: Michael Carter II - Carter was a fifth-round selection by the Jets this year and has been a good player for them in the secondary to start the year. He allowed just two catches for 13 yards, had four tackles, and finished with a grade of 76.4.

Stock Down: Defensive Players

DL: Payton Turner - After a great start to his career last week, making our stock up list, Turner struggled this week, as he did not generate any pressure and finished with a grade of just 50.7.

DL: Alim McNeil -McNeil has played fine in his first two weeks, but notched just one tackle and generated no pressure this week, finishing with a 40.2 PFF grade.

LB: Jamien Sherwood - Sherwood has had a rough go of things to start his career in his transition to playing LB at the next level. He had just two tackles and struggled in coverage, finishing with a 53.0 PFF grade.

DB: Jevon Holland -  Holland had played very well to start his NFL career, but had a penalty and allowed a TD this week in coverage, earning a grade of 29.4. 

DB: Deommodore Lenoir - Lenoir had been a nice surprise, playing really well so far, especially for a fifth-round pick. However, he struggled this week, allowing four catches for 47 yards and a TD, finishing with a 43.7 grade.  

Week 4 Matchups

Going into Week 4, there are some noteworthy matchups of rookies that will be worth keeping an eye on. 

Ja’Marr Chase vs Tyson Campbell - Chase has been having his way with any defenders that have tried to cover him so far and will look to continue that on Thursday Night Football in Week 4. Campbell has been up and down in the first three weeks and will certainly have his hands full with this talented WR. 

Kyle Pitts vs Jamin Davis - Pitts has been solid to start his career and will always present matchup issues with whoever matches up against him. Davis was great in Week 2 and has been very reliable in coverage overall this year, so it will be fun to watch these two square off. 

Kadarius Toney vs Paulson Adebo - Toney has found himself buried on the depth chart behind fellow Giants’ WRs Darius Slayton, Kenny Golladay, and Sterling Shepard which has inhibited his impact on the gridiron. However, with both Slayton and Shepard banged up, Toney will look to assert himself as a formidable player in the offense. Adebo has had his ups and downs this season but will look to make an impact for the Saints in Week 4. 

Tags: Davis Mills, Ja'Marr Chase, Najee Harris See More

Charlie Parkinson

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