Rookie Rankings Week 6: Players to watch in the NFL

Rookies ranked 11 to 19

11. Chase Claypool, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Chase Claypool makes the biggest leap on this week’s NFL rookie rankings list ahead of Week 6, as he jumps up an astounding ten spots. This, of course, was fueled by his four-touchdown performance against the Eagles, where he registered seven receptions for 110 yards and three receiving touchdowns and registered his fourth touchdown as a rusher. Claypool has been one of the NFL’s elite deep threats this season, currently ranking third in yards per reception. I’d like to see the Steelers involve Claypool more frequently.

Pre-draft ranking: Top 125, WR15

12. Patrick Queen, LB, Baltimore Ravens

Patrick Queen has put up back to back dominant performances and has seemed to catch up to the speed of the NFL. He’s still a tier below guys like Young, Winfield, and Johnson for the DROY award, but if he can continue to play like he has the last two weeks, he’ll have a strong argument. He has a very difficult test this week against the Eagles, who are known for abusing linebackers in the passing game.

Pre-draft ranking: Top 125, WR15

13. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Denver Broncos

Sadly the Broncos didn’t have an opportunity to play in Week 5 due to the NFL’s decision to postpone the game to Week 6, so Jerry Jeudy didn’t have an opportunity to improve or regress; therefore, his ranking does not rise or fall this week.

Pre-draft ranking: Top 15, WR2

14. Henry Ruggs III, WR, Las Vegas Raiders

We finally got our Henry Ruggs coming out game, and it confirmed all of our previous expectations. Ruggs will be one of the top deep threat receivers for the majority of his career, despite not always impacting the box score. In the Raiders game against New Orleans, Ruggs was one of the team’s most impactful players despite only registering one catch for four yards.

Against Kansas City, he was the team’s most impactful offensive weapon by posting a stat line of two receptions for 118 yards and one touchdown. He’ll never be a heavy volume receiver, but he’ll always provide an impact.

Pre-draft ranking: Top 25, WR3

15. Laviska Shenault, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

Laviska Shenault had another very productive game for Jacksonville, posting 79 receiving yards in the Jaguar’s loss to Houston. He wasn’t utilized as a rusher for the first time this season, but it was hard to justify running with him when Houston jumped out to an early lead. Shenault has been a model of consistency for Jacksonville and will continue to be a weapon for Gardner Minshew.

Pre-draft ranking: Top 75, WR11

16. Jonah Jackson, iOL, Detroit Lions 

Jonah Jackson is in contention for my best draft ranking this past draft season. I viewed him as a high-floor prospect who would come in and help a team immediately. That’s exactly what he’s done. The Lions’ offensive line has been a much-improved unit this season, and he’s at the epicenter as to the reason why.

Pre-draft ranking: Top 50, iOL5

17. James Robinson, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

James Robinson drops because he had a poor game against the NFL’s worst run defense. In a game where many expected him to have his best performance of the season, he fell very short. Could this be the start of Robinson’s almost inevitable regression, or was it just a mishap for one week?

Pre-draft ranking: Unranked

18. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

Clyde Edwards-Helaire hasn’t been much of a productive rusher this season. That trend continued against the Raiders. He’s still a quality offensive weapon, but the Chiefs must find better ways to get him the ball in space. The run blocking hasn’t been good enough, and Edwards-Helaire isn’t physically talented enough to create for himself.

Pre-draft ranking: Top 50, RB5

19. Jeremy Chinn, LB/S, Carolina Panthers

Jeremy Chinn continues to be a tackling machine, but he’s also continued to struggle in coverage. The tackle numbers are impressive and something that fans can cling to, but he’s been a below-average player on vital passing downs. He must improve in this area before I can consider moving him up.

Pre-draft ranking: Top 100, S5

NFL Rookies Rankings | 20 – 25

20. C.J. Henderson, CB, Jacksonville Jaguars

C.J. Henderson missed this week’s game, and stronger performances from other rookies caused him to slip a bit. Ideally, he returns from injury and plays how he did in the first two weeks of the season. If that happens, you’ll see him consistently rise in these NFL rookie rankings after Week 6.

Pre-draft ranking: Top 15, CB2

21. Jeff Okudah, CB, Detroit Lions

Similarly to Henderson, Jeff Okudah did not play this week. However, this was due to Detroit’s bye week, as opposed to injury. Okudah has improved every week that he’s played, and I expect him to continue to play even better as he comes off of the bye week.

Pre-draft ranking: Second overall, CB1

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

The Patriots didn’t play this week, but they still have arguably the steal of the draft in Michael Onwenu. He’s played whatever they’ve asked and has flourished. He’ll likely start rising up this list once he gets back on the field in Week 6.

Pre-draft ranking: Top 200, iOL20

23. Solomon Kindley, iOL, Miami Dolphins

Solomon Kindley abused the San Francisco defensive line on Sunday and has continued to be a strong player for the Miami offensive line. He’ll be a quality guard for the majority of his career, and Miami was the perfect landing spot. He was an excellent find for the rebuilding Fins, who I feel are capable of contending as soon as next season, assuming Tua Tagovailoa is who the team hopes he is.

Pre-draft ranking: Top 200, iOL18

24. Javon Kinlaw, IDL, San Francisco

Javon Kinlaw continues to fall down this list as he’s yet to make the impact as a pass rusher I hoped he could during the pre-draft process. The times he impacts the plays are there, but the timing is too inconsistent to warrant him in a place in the top 20. He’s one more quiet week from likely falling off of these rookie rankings.

Pre-draft ranking: Top 10, IDL1

25. Michael Ojemudia, CB, Denver Broncos

With Denver not playing, I felt keeping Michael Ojemudia on the list was warranted due to his strong performance against the Jets in Week 4. Hopefully, he can continue his quality play and potentially rise up the list as the season continues. For now, he is the final entrant on the NFL rookie rankings list for Week 6.

Pre-draft ranking: Top 150, CB16