The end-of-season rookie awards have never been tighter as each week as the favorites for Rookie of the Year, Offensive, and Defensive Rookie of the Year continue to be separated by a margin that thins after every week. But, week 15 was highlighted by a returning player from injury and an extremely uncharacteristic performance from a quarterback leading a potential playoff team.
Dropped Out
Zach Frazier - The Pittsburgh Steelers offense could not stay on the field, so the Steelers' center dropped out of the rankings this week despite not allowing a sack, hit, or hurry on Russell Wilson. They were out-possessed by the Philadelphia Eagles by 20 minutes, had three, three-and-outs in the first half, and did not score on their two second-half possessions. In addition, they only managed 163 total yards, a dangerously low number for the AFC North leaders.
Joe Alt - Against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Los Angeles Chargers were outmatched for the first time this season. Joe Alt was responsible for a sack and pressure against Justin Herbert. Also, the Chargers only managed 32 total rushing yards, which is the fewest yards they have run for this season.
Just Missed the Cut
Caleb Williams - The Chicago Bears quarterback could not match his performance against the Minnesota Vikings he had in week 12. He was shut out in the first half and threw for a completion rate of 58.1%, down from the 68.1% against the Vikings three weeks ago.
10. Cooper DeJean - CB
Cooper DeJean had a week to forget, and everyone has a poor week once in a while. He had one tackle against the Steelers, which accounted for a stop, his 19th on the season.
Unfortunately, the Eagles' outstanding defensive effort went to the defensive line, which accounted for both sacks, three TFLs, three pass defensed, and four quarterback hits. As the special teams punt returner, DeJean had a muffed punt recovered by Pittsburgh, leading to a field goal for the Steelers.
9. Malik Nabers - WR
Malik Nabers had his best game since his injury in week four. Against the Baltimore Ravens, he had his third 10-reception game, the previous two during weeks two and four, totalled 82 receiving yards, and his first touchdown since the New York Giants week three win against the Cleveland Browns.
The Giants are in the running for the number one overall pick in the upcoming draft, and with Nabers returning to pre-injury form, that could, in turn, help the rest of the receiving core improve their game. He also is fourth in receptions this year with 90 through 12 games.
8. Bo Nix - QB
The Denver Broncos quarterback takes a massive fall in the rankings following an uncharacteristic outing against the Indianapolis Colts. Bo Nix had the highest completion rate in the past three games at 60.6% and threw for three touchdowns.
Also, he threw three interceptions and had 130 passing yards, his second-lowest this season. Despite Denver beating Indianapolis, a replicated performance could see the Broncos get eliminated from the playoffs early on, should they secure a Wild Card spot next week.
7. Edgerrin Cooper - LB
Edgerrin Cooper had one of the best performances across rookies in week 15, his first game back from injury. In the Green Bay Packers' win over the Seattle Seahawks, he had seven tackles (six solo), two passes defensed, two QB hits, one interception, one sack, and one stuff.
Cooper's standout performance shows why he is vital to Green Bay's playoff push. The linebacker could have been a serious contender for Defensive Rookie of the Year if he had not been injured the previous three weeks.
6. Brian Thomas Jr. - WR
The Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver had his first game this season with at least 10 receptions. This is a comforting sign for the Jaguars, which shows their trust in their young receiver to help rejuvenate a struggling offense over the next few seasons.
He also recorded his second 100-yard receiving game, totalling 105 receiving yards, and his first multi-touchdown game with two. Brian Thomas Jr. has been a reliable target this season and has had three outings that averaged less than 10 yards per reception, with the last being in week 10.
5. Brock Bowers - TE
Brock Bowers had his lowest-performing game since week four when he was held to 19 receiving yards. The Atlanta Falcons kept the best tight end in the league to three receptions on six targets for 35 yards.
The shock of last week's performance was that Bowers did not see a target in the second half, and five of his targets came in the second quarter. While the Las Vegas Raiders only have pride to play for, getting their top receiver in the game is crucial to winning.
4. Bucky Irving - RB
Tampa Bay's running back, Bucky Irving, has been an explosive offensive threat in two of the past three weeks, including being a top-three rusher last week and in week 13. He had his second 100-yard rushing game against the Chargers on 15 carries, where Irving ran for 117 yards and tied his season high on average yards per carry with 7.8.
He favoured the inside right gaps where he ran for 64 yards on four attempts against Los Angeles. Irving could be the key to the Buccaneers winning the NFC South; they have a one game advantage against the Falcons, but Atlanta holds the tiebreaker since the beat Tampa Bay both times this season.
3. Jared Verse - EDGE
A candidate for DROTY, Jared Verse, has impressed his season on his pressure stats, not his tackling stats, which totals 58 so far, or even his sack or stuff tackles. This season, he is fourth among EDGE rushers in hits with 14 and ranks third in hurries with 44 and total pressures with 64.
Verse had two tackles (one solo) against their division rival, the San Francisco 49ers. But he was explosive in his pressure rate, forcing five hurries and five pressures, and had a 3.82-yard average separation to Brock Purdy. Verse has made off-the-ball plays all season, which has contributed to their 7-2 record in the past nine games.
2. Quinyon Mitchell - CB
Quinyon Mitchell has been the most impressive defensive rookie this season, along with Verse. With three weeks left, Mitchell has made the race for DROTY as tight as it can be. Similarly to Verse, Mitchell had an overall quiet game against the Steelers because his defensive line broke down Pittsburgh's offensive line.
The receivers he matched up against were targeted three times and made two receptions for a total of 25 yards and zero touchdowns. Last week was the 10th straight game where Mitchell has allowed under 30 receiving yards, an impressive streak for not only a rookie but any top corner in the league.
1. Jayden Daniels - QB
Jayden Daniels has been the reason the Washington Commanders have had a drastically different season than last year. Last week, Daniels threw for an 80.7% pass completion rate, throwing six total incompletions, had 226 passing yards, two touchdowns, and ran for 66 rush yards.
The only negative to the nail-biting victory Washington had over the New Orleans Saints was that he was sacked eight times, a season-high. Daniels had an 80% completion rate or better in the past two weeks, a comforting sign with the NFC East on the line this week against the Eagles.
