Midseason All-Rookie Team

Every year, the Pro Football Writers Association (PFWA) puts out their All-Rookie Team, highlighting the best rookies at every position. I like to make predictions as the season progresses, and have put together those guys if the season ended today. Here are my guys:

Offense

Quarterback: Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

Honorable mention: Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

If you asked me a couple weeks ago, my pick would’ve been Burrow, but Herbert has been unbelievable. After coming in for Tyrod Taylor after his lung got punctured by the team doctor, Herbert has been nothing but spectacular for a rookie. Having a mobile quarterback is something the Chargers fanbase has not seen in almost two decades. He’s got an incredible arm and some nice talent around him. He also has a bad offensive line, mostly due to injuries, but he’s played phenomenally.

Don’t get me wrong, Burrow has been playing great behind a terrible offensive line, but you see improvement from him every week. He’s got some good receivers, and is really building a rapport with fellow rookie Tee Higgins and veteran Tyler Boyd. He’s got all the tools to be great, putting up crazy passing numbers every week, and it’s only a matter of time before he takes the league by storm.

We’ll see how the season progresses, but keep an eye on these two, exciting things happening with these two franchises.

Running back: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs

Running back: Antonio Gibson, Washington Football Team

Honorable mention: Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts; James Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars

Edwards-Helaire was the top running back drafted with the final pick of the first round, and he’s living up to it. He hasn’t pulled off the massive big play yet, but you can feel it coming. He’s been very good in that offense, and his role is increasing in the passing game.
I initially had Taylor in for the second spot, but his role has decreased due to inefficiency, so I’m giving it to Gibson, who’s been dynamic since being named the full-time starter. He’s quickly become Washington’s best offensive player, and is a worthy starter on your fantasy teams. Originally in a crowded backfield before the season, Gibson is now the guy, and is showing off his ability all over the field.
Taylor gets honorable mention because of his workhorse ability. He’s seizing his opportunity following the season-ending injury to Marlon Mack, and has been living up to his college production at Wisconsin.
Following close behind Taylor is Robinson, who has unexpectedly exceeded expectations and is in fact the lead back in Jacksonville, and possesses skills to be an all-around great back. If he continues at this trajectory, I could see him taking one of the two spots.
Guys like J.K. Dobbins and D’Andre Swift are getting increased roles. Swift has quickly started to take the starting job, and an injury to Mark Ingram is opening the door for Dobbins.

Wide receiver: Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings

Wide receiver: Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh Steelers

Honorable mention: Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals; CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys; Laviska Shenault, Jacksonville Jaguars; Denzel Mims, New York Jets

This class was highly touted as the best wide receiver class in a very long time, and all of them are living up to the hype. My rankings have changed almost every week, and will likely continue in that trend the rest of the season.

Jefferson is my top rookie WR due to his explosive single-game performances. He’s been a bit inconsistent, but he has the clearest role of all the rookies as the No. 2 to Adam Thielen.
Claypool is the second WR almost solely because of that four TD performance in Week 5. He’s shown his ability as “Mapletron”, aka the Canadian Calvin Johnson. He’s been solid most of the season, and is a worthy fantasy flex player, but there’s a lot of mouths to feed in Pittsburgh with JuJu, Diontae Johnson, and James Washington.
There are several guys on the rise, most notably for me is Tee Higgins. Selected with the first pick in the second round, Higgins has really emerged as Joe Burrow’s top target. He looks like a young A.J. Green, who has taken a lesser role due to Higgins’ rise. Higgins will eventually take over as the No. 1, if he hasn’t already, and will pair nicely with Tyler Boyd for years to come.
Another guy who’s looked good the past few weeks has been Denzel Mims. He missed the first six weeks, but is starting to look like a No. 1 receiver for the Jets, which really isn’t saying much, but it’s something to look forward to for Jets fans.
Guys who I was really high on in the beginning but not so much now are CeeDee Lamb and Laviska Shenault. For Lamb, it’s not so much his play, it’s the situation in Dallas which lost Dak Prescott and is starting bums off the street. Lamb had a nice start, but isn’t really worth mentioning anymore. Shenault was emerging as a do-it-all threat, but has slowed down significantly, also mainly due to the fact that Jacksonville is a hot mess. I loved Shenault in college, and looked good in spurts, but I don’t think he’ll warrant a spot as a top rookie WR.

Tight end: Harrison Bryant, Cleveland Browns

Honorable mention: Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears

This is by far the weakest rookie position in 2020. Little to no production from these rookie tight ends, so I’m literally just looking at the stats at this point. Bryant was the sixth tight end selected, and is outplaying the rest. The first guy was Kmet, and that’s the only reason I’m including him as an honorable mention.

Center: Lloyd Cushenberry, Denver Broncos

Guard: Tyre Phillips, Baltimore Ravens

Guard: Michael Onwenu, New England Patriots

Tackle: Mekhi Becton, New York Jets

Tackle: Tristan Wirfs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Honorable mention: T Jedrick Wills, Cleveland Browns; G Solomon Kindley, Miami Dolphins; G Jonah Jackson, Detroit Lions; G Damien Lewis, Seattle Seahawks

The offensive line portion of this all-rookie team is always the most difficult. I usually rely on playing time and consistent starting jobs.

Cushenberry has been the lone rookie center to start every game. Cowboys’ Tyler Biadasz took over in Week 5 due to injuries, but he doesn’t warrant a mention.
The guard spot is interesting. This wasn’t considered a strong interior line class, so this is just going by playing time and hype from Pro Football Focus. Onwenu was been unbelievable as a sixth-round pick out of Michigan. He’s had an inconsistent role in New England, starting games at LG, RG, and RT, so I’m hesitant to include him, but I will.
Phillips has been a Week 1 starter at RG, but has missed a couple games with injury and COVID-19 exposure. Also in consideration are Solomon Kindley, Damien Lewis, and Jonah Jackson, who’ve all started every game at guard.
The tackle spot is a little more clear with much more talent. Becton has been the apple of film-junkies’ eyes, just mauling people in the run and pass games. He’s dealt with injuries, which could hurt his value, but he’s just too good.
It’s a toss up between Wirfs and Wills as the second spot, but they’re both in heavy consideration. The one name not mentioned is the top tackle selected: Andrew Thomas, who’s been one of the worst tackles in football, which isn’t what you want with the fourth overall pick.

Defense

Defensive line: Chase Young, Washington Football Team

Defensive line: Javon Kinlaw, San Francisco 49ers

Defensive line: Derrick Brown, Carolina Panthers

Defensive line: K’Lavon Chaisson, Jacksonville Jaguars

Honorable mention: Yetur Gross-Matos, Carolina Panthers

This position group is tough, as no one’s really stuck out in this draft class. Young is really the only one, as expected, but the other guys have been solid. Kinlaw and Brown have been starters in the middle of their defensive lines so they deserve a spot as the top defensive tackles selected in the draft. The fourth and final spot is very much up for grabs. Chaisson has gotten the most playing time of the bunch, but Yetur Gross-Matos has played well despite missing several weeks with injury. Keep an eye on this race the second half of the season.

Linebacker: Patrick Queen, Baltimore Ravens

Linebacker: Kenneth Murray, Los Angeles Chargers

Linebacker: Logan Wilson, Cincinnati Bengals

Honorable mention: Isaiah Simmon, Arizona Cardinals; Jacob Phillips, Cleveland Browns, Krys Barnes, Green Bay Packers

Patrick Queen has been unbelievably great for the Ravens, and I still can’t believe that he fell to them in the back end of the first round. He’s literally the perfect Raven, and will be for the next decade.
Kenneth Murray has been a day one starter, and played a majority of the defensive snaps, and is playing well. I haven’t really heard his name this season, which leads me to think that maybe he’s not playing phenomenally, but he was one of my favorite players coming out of the draft, so I’m keeping him here.
A name many people might not know is my final linebacker on the list, Bengals third-rounder Logan Wilson. He’s only played about 50% of the defensive snaps, but from what I’ve seen, he’s been fantastic.
Other top guys like Jordyn Brooks and Josh Uche have had injuries and haven’t had a chance to make an impact, but we’ll see as the season progresses.
Some undrafted love: Krys Barnes is currently second among rookies in tackles and has played great for Green Bay.
Somewhat surprisingly, the top linebacker in this draft class is not part of my list, but there is reason: Simmons is not being used correctly, which was his knock coming into the draft. He’s a super athletic and talented, but poses a rare skill set that is difficult to find an exact role for him. I worry for his overall career if he can’t find a coaching staff that will figure out how to use him correctly, but it’s only his rookie season, so give him time.

Cornerback: Jeff Okudah, Detroit Lions

Cornerback: C.J. Henderson, Jacksonville Jaguars

Honorable mention: A.J. Terrell, Atlanta Falcons; Jaylon Johnson, Chicago Bears; Michael Ojemudia, Denver Broncos; Trevon Diggs, Dallas Cowboys

The rookie cornerbacks have not been great this season, often getting beat and giving up big plays, but many have shown flashes of playmaking ability.

Okudah missed the first few games, and got burned his first few games, but has been solid from what I’ve seen. Nothing special yet, but the third overall pick will hopefully turn into a stud, despite being on the Lions.
Henderson really impressed me in Week 1 with a pick and three pass breakups, but hasn’t been consistent since. The second CB selected will get better, but again, lack of consistency, and he’s on the Jaguars.
While the first two players have the draft pedigree and high upside, the best cornerback play I’ve seen has been Jaylon Johnson, a second-rounder for the Bears. He’s got decent stats, and has started every game, and has just been a consistent player. Good find for the Bears.
I’ve seen a lot of Trevon Diggs and the Cowboys this season (unfortunately) but Diggs has impressed me, but when he gets beat, he gets beat badly.
Guys like Michael Ojemudia and A.J. Terrell are getting their opportunities, and have been solid for their teams, so they’re worth keeping an eye on.

Safety: Antoine Winfield, Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Safety: Jeremy Chinn, Carolina Panthers

Honorable mention: Julian Blackmon, Indianapolis Colts

Antoine Winfield Jr may very well win defensive rookie of the year. He’s been so freaking good as an all-around safety, a Tyrann Mathieu-type of player for the best defense in the NFL. He tackles, intercepts, deflects, sacks, and punches the ball out, he’s the perfect safety. Everyone is obsessed with Winfield and deservedly so. He’s gonna be a very good player for a very long time.
The second safety is Jeremy Chinn, who’s a linebacker/safety hybrid type of player who reminds me of a young Kam Chancellor. He leads all rookies in tackles and is a player for the Panthers to build their defense around.
Julian Blackmon deserves some love as the starting free safety after taking over for the injured Malik Hooker. The Colts always seem to find guy these guys on the second day of the draft that turn into studs.

Special Teams

Placekicker: Tyler Bass, Buffalo Bills

Punter: Braden Mann, New York Jets

Kick returner: Isaiah Rodgers, Indianapolis Colts

Punt returner: James Proche, Baltimore Ravens

Special teamer: Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh Steelers

Honorable mention: KR Devin Duvernay, Baltimore Ravens; PR CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys

Bass is the only rookie kicker with a starting job, so he runs unopposed.
Mann has punted a lot this season, because you know, he’s on the Jets, so he’s getting the nod. He currently leads ALL punters in total punts and yardage. There you go Jets, you won best rookie punter.
Rodgers, a sixth-rounder for the Colts, leads all rookies in kick return yards ahead of Devin Duvernay, and he has a touchdown, so that’s what pushes Rodgers of the edge.
Proche has the most punt return yards among rookies, ahead of CeeDee Lamb.
Claypool currently leads all rookies in special teams tackles, that’s really the only reason I have him here. I have no other metric to go by.