The NFL’s 5 Best Rookies Heading into Week 12

The Kansas City Chiefs finally lost a game, courtesy of the Buffalo Bills in New York. As a result, the Detroit Lions have taken the mantel as the frontrunner to win the Super Bowl in February, according to oddsmakers.

The NFL’s 5 Best Rookies Heading into Week 12

Meanwhile, several rookies have performed wonderfully, scattered throughout the business and regardless of draft round.

The following five players represent the league’s top five rookies through the end of Week 11,  ranked in ascending order, according to Pro Football Focus.

5. Bucky Irving (RB)

Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
PFF Grade: 84.2

If you’re a Dynasty fantasy football manager, know that Bucky Irving is on pace for 1,156 yards from scrimmage and 7 touchdowns.

And he’s not even showcased as an RB1. Before too long — mainly because his production is so impressive — Irving’s touch count will surpass Rachaad White’s, and he’ll fully blast off.

Meanwhile, the Buccaneers are suddenly just a game and a half back of the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC South. They’re still alive.

4. Andru Phillips (CB)

Team: New York Giants
PFF Grade: 84.6

Probably the league’s most unsung rookie through 11 weeks, Dru Phillips is the real deal and a steal of a deal from Round 4 of April’s draft.

Phillips’ coverage is on point, he plays sound rushing defense, his tackling is there, and he even rushes the quarterback effectively when called upon. His team is in a state of disrepair, but the whole Giants 2024 draft class is pretty snazzy. Phillips leads the way.

3. Jayden Daniels (QB)

Team: Washington Commanders
PFF Grade: 85.8

The Commanders have tailed off a smidgen as of late, but that should dampen anyone’s enthusiasm for Daniels.

He ranks sixth leaguewide per EPA+CPOE, notably outdoing quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, Jordan Love, Kyler Murray, Brock Purdy, and Justin Herbert per the metric.

Daniels will win OROY, and his team will reach the postseason. He’s arguably the top rookie success story in the sport. He’s on pace for 3,613 passing yards, 744 rushing yards, 21 touchdowns. Not bad for a rookie, huh?

2. Jared Verse (EDGE)

Team: Los Angeles Rams
PFF Grade: 86.5

The only stat you need to know about Verse is that he has 48 quarterback pressures in his first 10 career games. That’s it. Close the article; remember that takeaway.

He has the advantage of age — he’s 24. The man is a fully polished product at that age, unlike Minnesota Vikings rookie EDGE, Dallas Turner, for example, who is 21.

Verse will be a Ram for years. They finally used a 1st-Round pick and also knocked it out of the park.

1. Brock Bowers (TE)

Team: Las Vegas Raiders
PFF Grade: 88.3

Bowers’ pace of 119 receptions, 1,200 receiving yards, and 5 touchdowns is just mind-boggling, especially on a team led by quarterbacks Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell.

He should have half that production with poor quarterback play. But nope — Bowers is that NFL-ready.

Find a way to get him in fantasy football across the board. In that arena, he’s the NFL’s best TE through 11 weeks. The draft scouting reports nailed it.

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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the Minnesota Vikings, with 4-7 episodes per week. His NFL obsession dates back to 1989. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL. 

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.