2017 NFL season: Top 10 week 1 rookie performances

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CHICAGO, IL – SEPTEMBER 10: Tarik Cohen #29 of the Chicago Bears eludes Brooks Reed #50 of the Atlanta Falcons during the season opening game at Soldier Field on September 10, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Falcons defeated the Bears 23-17. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

8. Tarik Cohen, RB, Chicago Bears

This Tarik Cohen is an exciting playmaker for the Bears.

Drafted out of North Carolina A&T, he drew some comparisons to Darren Sproles coming out for his shiftiness in space, speed, quickness, and toughness to size ratio.

Cohen may not be the biggest back on the field, but he’s really, really good.

How do you know he’s good?

Well, the Chicago Bears’ coaching staff took Jordan Howard off the field at a critical juncture in the fourth quarter in favor of Cohen, which should really tell you all you need to know.

Cohen really does look a lot like Sproles, even just in this shorter clip. He’s got that open field shiftiness and some of these pass plays look like they were taken out of the old New Orleans Saints playbook.

The rookie running back displays an ability to run routes out of the slot as well as out of the backfield, and gives the Bears a much needed weapon they can move all over the offensive formation.

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