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Here's the third edition of my ranking of the top rookies through Week 6 in the NFL, plus another group of guys who just missed the list. I've also included the rankings of where each player landed on
my final top 300 prospects list before the 2016 draft.
Here are the parameters, same as always:
- This is a measure for all games this season, not just last week.
- Total snap count matters. Staying on the field is a measure of value.
- Positional value matters, but overall performance and impact on the team matter more.
- Relative value matters. I ask: Would this player be a starter on most teams or on a good team?
1. Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys
Previously ranked: 2 |
Final 2016 Big Board rank: 114
How can Prescott not move up to No. 1? The fourth-round pick is No. 2 in the league in Total QBR, he just set the record for passes without an interception to open a career (176) and the Cowboys are 5-1. As
Tony Romo inches closer to a return from his back injury, an interesting QB1 decision looms.
2. Carson Wentz, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
Previously ranked: 1 |
Final 2016 Big Board rank: 7
The No. 2 overall pick has had some expected growing pains the past two weeks. Wentz's Total QBR has taken a plunge -- from No. 8 after Week 4 to No. 25 now -- and the Eagles have lost two straight after a 3-0 start. He completed just 50 percent of his passes in Philadelphia's loss to Washington last weekend. Wentz's future is bright, though. The tools are there.
3. Jack Conklin, OT, Tennessee Titans
Previously ranked: 5 |
Final 2016 Big Board rank: 4
Conklin is such a steady presence at right tackle. Tennessee, led by a much-improved offensive line, is up to No. 2 in the league in yards per carry (4.9). Conklin is going to have a long career in the NFL.
4. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys
Previously ranked: 8 |
Final 2016 Big Board rank: 8
Before the draft, I said Elliott was one of the best running back prospects to enter the league over the past decade, and he is already leading the league in rushing -- by more than 100 yards. He's also leading the league in carries. The Cowboys have relied on him too much so far. How about saving his legs when they're
up by two touchdowns?
5. Jatavis Brown, ILB, San Diego Chargers
Previously ranked: 6 |
Final 2016 Big Board rank: 248
Brown, filling in for
Manti Te'o, who's out for the season, leads the Chargers in tackles with 42. Brown was a fifth-round pick after earning the award for MAC defensive player of the year at Akron. He looks promising. After 11.5 sacks last season for the Zips, he has three for San Diego in limited snaps. He has also forced two fumbles.
6. DeForest Buckner, DE, San Francisco 49ers
Previously ranked: 7 |
Final 2016 Big Board rank: 9
After missing a game with a foot injury, Buckner returned in Week 6 and had two sacks -- the first of his career -- against the Bills. He leads 49ers defensive linemen in snaps and tackles. At 6-foot-7, 300 pounds, he has a unique combination of power and length, and he's still developing his pass-rushing skills.
7. Keanu Neal, S, Atlanta Falcons
Previously ranked: NR |
Final 2016 Big Board rank: 50
Neal missed the first two games of the season because of a knee injury. He has adjusted quickly to the speed of the league and is racking up tackles. He had 11 in the loss to the Seahawks last weekend. He also has two forced fumbles this season.
8. Hunter Henry, TE, San Diego Chargers
Previously ranked: NR |
Final 2016 Big Board rank: 54
Henry, a second-round pick out of Arkansas, has really been a factor while veteran
Antonio Gates has been banged up and not at full strength. My No. 2-ranked tight end in the draft has a touchdown in three straight games. His 59-yard run-and-catch against the Raiders showed off his tools. Henry's 16 first-down catches are tied for the team lead.
9. Yannick Ngakoue, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Previously ranked: 9 |
Final 2016 Big Board rank: 108
Who could have guessed Ngakoue would have been the top-rated Jaguars rookie? The third-round pick out of Maryland has been a bright spot on the Jags' defense. He has a sack in four straight games. He also has forced three fumbles and picked off a pass. And he's only 21.
10. Joey Bosa, DE, San Diego Chargers
Previously ranked: NR |
Final 2016 Big Board rank: 2
Bosa's holdout and hamstring injury kept him in the news but off the field until earlier this month. He has been fantastic in the two games he has played, with two sacks and multiple pressures. I said before the draft that the high-motor Bosa had a very high floor -- he's going to be really good for a Chargers team that has three rookies in my top 10.
11. Karl Joseph, S, Oakland Raiders
Previously ranked: 11 |
Final 2016 Big Board rank: 13
After playing no defensive snaps in Weeks 1 and 2, Joseph took over as the Raiders' starting strong safety. With ball skills and a physical edge, Joseph brings a fear factor to the defense as an explosive, controlled hitter. The No. 14 overall pick had an interception and fumble recovery in the win over the Chargers in Week 5.
12. Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints
Previously ranked: 14 |
Final 2016 Big Board rank: 67
Thomas is still raw, and his ceiling is very high. But he leads the Saints in catches and is second in targets in their pass-happy offense. He also has a touchdown in his past three games. The second-round pick was a big-play threat at Ohio State, but he's averaging just 11.8 yards per reception in the NFL. One interesting note: He has no catches between the hashes.
13. Cody Whitehair, C, Chicago Bears
Previously ranked: 13 |
Final 2016 Big Board rank: 57
When I scouted Whitehair before the draft, I thought he would need to move away from tackle and play guard or center in the NFL. I thought he could be an immediate starter on the interior. Now, he has thrived in the middle of the Bears' offensive line after they initially slated him at guard, then moved him over after signing
Josh Sitton. Chicago picked up a guy in the second round who can start for many years.
14. Sterling Shepard, WR, New York Giants
Previously ranked: 5 |
Final 2016 Big Board rank: 43
The second-round pick's production has taken a dive recently -- he has only 142 receiving yards in his past four games -- but he's still getting targeted by
Eli Manning. He's second on the Giants in targets with 41, and he has 26 catches and two touchdowns on the season. Sixteen of his catches have gone for first downs.
15. Rashard Robinson, CB, San Francisco 49ers
Previously ranked: NR |
Final 2016 Big Board rank: 245
The 49ers have allowed the seventh-fewest passing yards per game -- their No. 32-ranked rushing defense is another story -- and Robinson has been a solid addition. The fourth-round pick who played only 20 games at LSU filled in for an injured
Jimmie Ward and played well. After suffering a concussion in the loss to the Bills, the 6-foot-1 Robinson could be out this week.
16. Deion Jones, ILB, Atlanta Falcons
Previously ranked: 15 |
Final 2016 Big Board rank: 49
A second-round pick, Jones has been productive for the 4-2 Falcons. The 6-foot-1, 222-pound defender is undersized, but he can play the pass well in the middle of the Atlanta defense. He had a 90-yard pick-six in the Week 3 win over the Saints. He missed Atlanta's win over Denver because of an ankle injury, but he returned last week.
17. Cody Kessler, QB, Cleveland Browns
Previously ranked: NR |
Final 2016 Big Board rank: 184
Kessler, forced to play because of injuries to
Robert Griffin III and
Josh McCown, has been better than expected. I thought the undersized (6-1, 215 pounds) signal-caller would be a career backup -- he regressed as a senior at USC, and he doesn't have a big-time arm. But he has been efficient early on, completing 65.6 percent of his passes and throwing just one interception (with four touchdown passes). Now, Kessler's efficiency hasn't led to wins for the 0-6 Browns, but his play is one of the few bright spots so far. I ranked him as my No. 13 QB before the draft.
18. Will Fuller, WR, Houston Texans
Previously ranked: 4 |
Final 2016 Big Board rank: 31
Fuller has dropped here -- he has only one catch in the past two weeks and is dealing with a hamstring injury. He has made some big plays, though; he's averaging 16.4 yards per catch and has two touchdowns. He's a big-play threat on every route, and he has blinding speed when healthy (4.32-second 40-yard dash).
19. Jarran Reed, DT, Seattle Seahawks
Previously ranked: NR |
Final 2016 Big Board rank: 21
Don't judge Reed by the stat sheet, although he does have a sack. The second-round pick has played only 130 snaps in the Seahawks' defensive line rotation. The 6-3, 311-pound defensive tackle is a powerful guy up front who can control the line of scrimmage. I rated him as the best run defender in the draft among linemen.
20. Jalen Ramsey, CB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Previously ranked: 12 |
Final 2016 Big Board rank: 3
Ramsey has been good, not great. He has been burned a few times. He's a truly gifted player with the size and speed to be an All-Pro defender. The lack of interceptions was the only knock on Ramsey coming out of Florida State; he had only three in his college career, and he's waiting for his first pro pick.
Next in line
Su'a Cravens, LB,
Washington Redskins;
Blake Martinez, ILB,
Green Bay Packers;
Cory James, ILB,
Oakland Raiders;
Ryan Kelly, C,
Indianapolis Colts;
Jordan Howard, RB,
Chicago Bears;
Andy Janovich, FB,
Denver Broncos;
Darron Lee, ILB,
New York Jets;
Taylor Decker, OT,
Detroit Lions;
Alex Lewis, OT/OG,
Baltimore Ravens;
Adolphus Washington, DL,
Buffalo Bills;
Elandon Roberts, LB,
New England Patriots
