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NFL: Top five offensive and defensive rookies of 2017

Roar Guru
4th October, 2017
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Fournette has been an offensive standout so far this season. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Roar Guru
4th October, 2017
1

With the completion of Week 4 we’re now a quarter of the way through the 2017 NFL regular season.

I thought it would be time to share my top ten rookie players of the season so far, five offence and five defence. In no particular order here they are.

Offence
Leonard Fournette – RB Jacksonville Jaguars
The former LSU product has been a revelation for the Jags in 2017. He ran through college defences like they were made from paper. It’s always hard to convert that skill to the NFL – but not this guy. He currently has 81 carries for 285 yards, averaging 3.5 yards a carry. He also has three touchdowns to his name, one a game winner in Week 3.

Kareem Hunt – RB Kansas City Chiefs
Hunt went to high school in Willoughby, Ohio, where he once ran 700 yards in a single game. Despite that effort, he didn’t receive a college offer until he had already signed with Toledo. This is where he made his mark on the footballing world. He was taken in the third round with pick 83 by the Chiefs and has been sensational since. Hunt is currently the NFL’s rushing leader, with 502 yards from 68 carriers and averaging a whopping 7.4 yards a carry. Couple that with four touchdowns and he is looking like the best draft pick of the season. Hunt is the fourth rookie in NFL history with at least 100 yards from scrimmage in four consecutive games to begin a season.

DeShaun Watson – QB Houston Texans
After three years at Clemson culminating in a national championship win over Alabama, Watson was picked up by the Houston Texans with the 12th overall pick. His NFL career started slowly, averaging only 100 yards after the first two weeks, but in Week 3 against Super Bowl champions New England Patriots he rose to the occasion. Despite losing by three points, he showed class beyond his age. In Week 4 he stepped it up again. With 25/34 for 383 yards, he threw for four touchdowns and ran for another, which tied hall of famer Fran Tarkenton for the rookie record for touchdowns in a game.

Cooper Kupp – WR Los Angeles Rams
Kupp has solidified himself as the Rams number one slot receiver. Having been picked up in the third round after breaking nearly every record there was at Eastern Washington, Kupp has stepped into the big time nicely. He has reliable hands, excellent field awareness and elite route-running ability. He is great after the catch, picking up plenty of yards after contact. He has 14 receptions for 186 yards and two touchdowns, averaging a huge 13.3 yards a catch.

Dalvin Cook – RB Minnesota Vikings
Let me start by saying, I know Cook has torn his ACL and is out for the season – but these stats need to be mentioned. Since being picked up in the second round of the draft, Cook shone for his new outfit before a season-ending ACL injury last week against the Detroit Lions. In the opening four games Cook had 74 carries for 354 yards with two touchdowns. Averaging 4.8 yards per carry. He was looking like a gem for the Vikings before the injury. Adrian Peterson will need to step up now.

Honourable mentions: Samaje Perine, Joe Mixon, Chris Carson, Elijah McGuire, Tarik Cohen.

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(Image: AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Defence
Solomon Thomas – DE San Francisco
Thomas went third overall in the draft to the 49ers and has lived up to all the hype. The Aussie – yes, he only lived here for five years, but I’m claiming him – has been terrorising offensive lines all season and that doesn’t look like stopping now. He has 12 tackles and one sack through four games so far, but it’s what he does off the ball, like holding up the offence, assisting in tackles, keeping the QB on his toes. This kid will go places in the NFL. No offence to 49ers fans, but hopefully he ends up on a great team soon.

Tre’Davious White – CB Buffalo Bills
White has started each game this season for the Bills and made perhaps his biggest play in Monday’s (AEDT) 23-17 win over the Falcons. Early in the third quarter White made the heads-up play of scooping the loose ball after a spill from Alex Smith and ran 52 yards for a touchdown. He was named the NFL’s defensive rookie of the month last week and has not looked out of place as a starter. To date his tally reads well: 17 tackles and one intercept for a TD.

Jamal Adams – Safety New York Jets
Equally as impressive has been White’s former LSU teammate, Jamal Adams. With the sixth overall pick in the draft, the Jets found themselves with a very good strong safety. Adams is still finding his feet in the NFL, but already has 14 tackles to his name and a big sack on Dolphins Jay Cutler in week three.

Malik Hooker – Safety Indianapolis Colts
Hooker, the free safety from Ohio State, has taken the NFL by storm. He already has three intercepts to his name, along with 12 tackles. Hooker has been a shining light in a dour season so far for the Colts. Expect this kid to get better week in week out.

Kendell Beckwith – OLB Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Beckwith has played all three of the Bucs games in 2017 and has an incredible 22 tackles to his name. He leads all rookies with that figure. This guy can find the man, and he usually nails him into the turf. Offences fear him, and even his own team don’t want to play opposite him in training.
Watch for him to put the pressure on Tom Brady on Friday (AEDT).

Honourable mentions: Shaq Griffin, Marcus Williams, Tyus Bowser, TJ Watt, Alex Anzalone

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