NFL Rookie Rankings Week 10: Wirfs holds on to the top spot

It was another impressive week for some of the NFL’s top rookies. This class has been one of the more impressive rookie classes in the past few seasons. We’ve witnessed some excellent play on both sides of the ball, and it seems as though the future of the league is in good hands. Did the Week 9 performances cause any major change in these rookie rankings for Week 10?

NFL Rookie Rankings Week 10 | Top 10 NFL Rookies

1. Tristan Wirfs, OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tristan Wirfs has a case as the best right tackle in football as a rookie. Something like that only happens once every couple of years. The last time a first-year player had a case at the top of his position was Quenton Nelson, and he’s now one of the best players in the NFL. Wirfs is setting up to be a multi-time All-Pro and, thanks to his strong start, will probably be considered the best tackle in the NFL for many years in his career. Even as the Bucs got embarrassed by the Saints, Wirfs continued his stretch of dominant play. Wirfs holds on as one of the top NFL rookies.

Pre-draft ranking: Fifth overall, OT1

2. Chase Young, EDGE, Washington Football Team

We’re now six games into the career of Chase Young, and he’s already received his first triple team. The Giants game-plan ensured that Young would not beat them himself as they took major effort to nullify the impact he could have on the game. He still registered a sack and was a presence in the backfield, but he only netted one total tackle. Young is opening up opportunities for his teammates; they just need to take advantage.

Pre-draft ranking: Top player, EDGE1

3. Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers

Justin Herbert once again filled up the box score but failed to lead his team into the win column. Throwing for 326 yards and two touchdowns should be enough, but the Chargers find themselves at 2-6 heading into a game against fellow rookie QB Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins. Can Herbert find a way to pull out the win?

Pre-draft ranking: Top 15, QB3

4. Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals

Off a bye this past week, Joe Burrow faces one of the top defenses in the NFL when he travels to Pittsburgh to take on the divisional rival Steelers. It will be the first time they face off in Burrow’s career. Burrow has been everything the Bengals wanted when they took him first overall, but the talent around him is obviously lacking. If the Bengals win this week, it’s because Burrow carried the team to a victory.

Pre-draft ranking: Top 10, QB1

5. Mekhi Becton, OT, New York Jets

The only thing more depressing than the Jets’ season is Mekhi Becton’s injury issues this year. One of the very, very few bright spots in New York this season, Becton has played like a top 5-10 left tackle when he’s on the field. He’s dominant in the run game and has been a quality and consistent pass protector. The Jets are well on their way to Trevor Lawrence, and having Becton protecting his blind side is a recipe for success.

Pre-draft ranking: Top 25, OT4

6. Jedrick Wills, OT, Cleveland Browns

Along with Wirfs and Becton, Jedrick Wills has been one of the top NFL rookies at the tackle position. Expect all three to be the best tackles in the NFL for a majority of their career, and for the 2020 class to be famous for the trio of elite offensive tackles it produced. Wills has been excellent for Cleveland and is the left tackle of the future they desperately needed after Joe Thomas retired.

Pre-draft ranking: Top 10, OT2

7. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys

CeeDee Lamb was a major reason the Cowboys’ offense was able to move the ball against the Steelers’ defense in what was looking like the biggest upset of the season for awhile there. The Steelers wound up winning the game, but not after Lamb went for 71 yards and a touchdown on four receptions. He’s on bye this upcoming week but follows it with a game against Minnesota and fellow star rookie wide receiver Justin Jefferson.

Pre-draft ranking: Fourth overall, WR1

8. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

Jefferson registered 64 yards on three receptions against the Lions. This was the kind of game I wanted to see from Jefferson. For the first half of the season, Jefferson was either having an explosion of a game, or he was an afterthought. This type of game showed that he can be an effective piece on the offense without being the go-to player. This week he faces the Chicago Bears and their vaunted pass defense; how will he perform?

Pre-draft ranking: Top 50, WR5

9. Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It was an overall rough day for the entirety of the Tampa Bay defense, and they received no help from the turnover heavy offense. Antoine Winfield was still productive, registering seven total tackles, but could have positioned himself better in coverage on occasional plays. Overall though, he was asked to do a lot given the poor cornerback play on the night. Winfield has still been one of the top defensive rookie performers.

Pre-draft ranking: Top 50, S4

10. Michael Onwenu, iOL/OT/TE, New England Patriots

Michael Onwenu has officially cracked the top 10 of these rookie rankings. He’s been outstanding for New England this year, playing whatever they ask of him. He’s moving defenders off the line of scrimmage with ease and has shown the ability to move up and block linebackers on the second level. This was something I didn’t think he was proficient at in college. He’s also playing right tackle, after having started at guard, and played some jumbo set tight-end. Onwenu is another elite day three find for the Patriots and deserves to be one of the top NFL rookies.

Pre-draft ranking: Top 200, iOL20