Analysis

10/6/21

6 min read

Week 4 Rookie Report

Week 4 Rookie Report

Whether they are high draft picks, late-round value picks or undrafted free agents, we’ll take a look each week of the NFL season at how NFL rookies are doing. Here’s this week’s report:

Stock Up Offensive Players

QB: Zach Wilson - Wilson was in the midst of a rough stretch going into Week 4. He started the game very slowly but had a great second half and overtime, where he made many big-time throws. He finished the day with his first career win, going 21/35, 297 yards, with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. His performance was good for a 94.6 passer rating and a PFF grade was 71.3

RB: Najee Harris - Harris is making an appearance in this spot for the second straight week. Again, he contributed in the passing game, catching six balls. He also started to get it going a bit more as a runner, receiving 16 carriers for 63 yards and a score, gaining five first downs, and notching two runs over 10 yards. His PFF grade was 76.7.

WR: DeVonta Smith - Smith has been a bit inconsistent after his great Week 1 performance. He returned to that form, as he was really impressive this week, catching 7 passes for 122 yards, and gaining six first downs. His grade for this week was 74.2.

WR: Kadarius Toney - Toney had struggled to produce and get involved coming into this week. On Sunday, he was all over the place and made some big plays with the ball in his hand. He had 6 grabs for 78 yards and finished with a PFF grade of 63.4. 

OL: Landon Dickerson - Dickerson, who has been inconsistent in his first few games, makes his first appearance on the stock up list, as his excellent run blocking this week helped him earn a solid grade of 77.6.

OL: Trey Smith - Every week thus far there has an IOL from the Chiefs on this list, and this week is no different. Smith was really good this week, impressing in both the run and pass. He had an 85.4 PFF grade to show for it. 

Stock Down Offensive Players 

QB: Davis Mills - While Mills played well in his debut on TNF, he struggled on Sunday. Mills went 12 of 24 with 4 interceptions for a passer rating of 21.5 and a PFF grade of 32.2.

WR: Terrace Marshall - Marshall has been relatively quiet in his first few games, but was especially uninvolved this week, where he caught just one ball for two yards, good for a grade of 51.2. 

TE: Pat Freiermuth - Freiermuth, who was very solid over the last two weeks, did not get involved very much in Week 4. He had just one catch for 11 yards and ended the day with a PFF grade of 59.3. 

OL: Jalen Mayfield - Mayfield has struggled all year before putting together a solid performance in Week 3. Unfortunately this week, he struggled again, especially in pass protection, earning a total PFF grade of 29.8. 

OL: Jackson Carman - Carman has also had a bit of a rough go of things to start his NFL career. On TNF, he was penalized and allowed a pressure, as he earned just a 29.8 grade for this week.

Stock Up Defensive Players

DL: Jaelan Phillips - Phillips had a bit of a slow start out of the gate, but had a breakout game in Week 4. He had a half a sack, five total hurries, and seven total pressures. He finished the day with a grade of 65.1.

DL: Osa Odighizuwa - Odighizuwa had another dominant week, operating in the interior for the Dallas defense. He had another half a sack this week, in addition to three hurries and five pressures. He finished the game with a grade of 55.3.

LB: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah - Owusu-Koramoah was great last week and followed that up with another good game. He had five tackles and performed well in coverage, putting together an overall grade of 75.8 for the week.

LB: Pete Werner -  In Werner’s second career game, the second-round pick impressed in coverage and against the run. Werner had 10 tackles and allowed just nine yards on four catches. He had a grade of 84.4 this week.

DB: Michael Carter II - Carter put together another really good week in the Jets victory in Week 4. He had five tackles and forced a key incompletion, earning himself a grade of 68.7.

Stock Down Defensive Players

DL: Milton Williams - Williams had a very solid preseason, but the third-round pick has not quite put it together in regular-season play. His snap total was down this week and had just two tackles, in addition to not being very productive as a pass rusher. His performance earned him a grade of 43.0.

LB: Micah Parsons - Parsons has been very good to start his career, but had a tough day on Sunday when he was not rushing the passer. In coverage, he allowed 3/43, earning a total grade of 48.5. His struggles in coverage and performance on the LOS may lead to Parsons playing less and less off-ball linebacker.

DB: Patrick Surtain II - Surtain played well in his first few career games but did have some trouble on Sunday. He allowed 6 catches for 64, good for four first downs, which earned him a grade of 37.8.

DB: Tyson Campbell -  Campbell had a tough matchup with Ja’Marr Chase that we highlighted on Thursday night. He allowed 6 catches 125, five of which were for first downs. He earned a grade of just 37.3.

DB: Paulson Adebo - We also highlighted Adebo’s Week 3 matchup, and he struggled once again this go-around, as he has not been able to play as well as he did during Week 1. This week, he allowed 8 grabs for 174 yards and a touchdown, good for a grade of 29.4.

Week 5 Matchups

Going into Week 5, there are some noteworthy matchups of rookies that will be worth keeping an eye on. 

Samuel Cosmi vs Payton Turner - Cosmi has been on both sides of this list but has settled in and been nothing short of dominant in his recent play. Similarly, Turner has been on both but played well last week. Their matchup should be fun to watch all day.

Trey Sermon vs Zaven Collins - Sermon is coming off a solid performance on Sunday where he received a lot of touches and showed promise. He will try to have the same success going into this week. Collins has been up and down but has strung together back-to-back solid weeks, so their matchup will be one to keep an eye on. 

Justin Fields vs Trevon Moehrig - Fields struggled in his first start but looked really good on Sunday and will look to keep that going moving forward. Moehrig did not play very well in his first two weeks but has settled in and performed really well the last two games. 

RELATED