NFL Rookie Rankings: Who Makes The Midseason All-Rookie Team?
The latest NFL Rookie Rankings calls an audible, and gives out midseason awards in the form of the All-Rookie team halfway through 2021.
The NFL season always flies by, and we’ve reached the midpoint of the season, and it’s aesthetically pleasing this time around (with 17 weeks it never was). The wispy winds of fall are howling just a bit extra now that the calendar has hit November, and for those of us lucky enough (yes I said lucky) the snow will be falling any day now. The stretch run is about to begin, and it’s time for contenders and those on the playoff push to put up or shut up.
NFL Rookie Rankings: All-Rookie Team
The rookie class has been a blast to watch so far, and it’s been near-advertised in terms of the talent on offense. The rookie quarterbacks aren’t living up to their billing quite yet, but most of them are on struggling teams right now. The skill positions are thriving, and the offensive line group has been stellar. Even top defenders are succeeding, especially at corner, one of the hardest to jump in and play.
Since we’ve reached this much-heralded halfway point, instead of NFL rookie rankings this week, it’s a perfect time to reveal the All-Rookie team through nine weeks! Let’s roll!
QB/Skill Positions
Quarterback: Justin Fields, Bears
This may shock many, and it’s fair to say Mac Jones deserves consideration here, as he’s played steady football. However, Justin Fields has been extremely impressive the last couple weeks and flashed throughout his early games.
Sure, turnovers have been a problem, but when the Bears have started to let him cut it loose deep, incorporate rollouts into the offense, and move towards his strengths, things are clicking. His arm talent was on display Monday Night against Pittsburgh, and he engineered a drive to take the lead late, capped by a great touchdown pass on the move.
Running Back: Najee Harris, Steelers
Another position where an argument can be made, but Najee Harris is leading the clubhouse in terms of production (over 100 yards/scrimmage per game). Yes, a majority of his receiving yards are dump-offs from Ben Roethlisberger, but he’s creating after the catch with his lateral toolbox and contact balance. His processing is starting to get better in the Steelers offense as well.
Wide Receiver: Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals
He’s the offensive rookie of the year favorite at this point, and Ja’Marr Chase is currently averaging a mammoth-like 19 yards per reception and has seven touchdown receptions to this point. He’s been incredible at using his hands more to win quickly versus press, and the speed and physicality he uses to stack vertically and win after the catch has been outstanding thus far.
Wide Receiver: Devonta Smith, Eagles
His production has been a little spotty this season, but Devonta Smith is doing everything right to be considered the WR1 in Philadelphia. He’s still separating at a great clip every week, from attacking blind spots to leveraging open space and staying crisp at the top of his routes. As the offense gets better in Philly, so will Smith’s numbers.
Flex: Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins
The “flex” position is new on All-Pro teams, so why not here? The Dolphins are utilizing Jaylen Waddle enough deep or in the intermediate area of the field, two places he dominated at Alabama, but he’s still showing the explosion and burst to separate underneath. He made a big play at the catch point in last night’s win over Baltimore, something else he was known for at Bama.
Tight End: Kyle Pitts, Falcons
What can you even say here? Kyle Pitts is the unicorn we thought he was! He’s winning on the outside, up the seam, and picking up big chunks of yardage when he’s targeted. Pitts could easily break rookie tight end records in 2021.