My Top Three Rookies of the 2018 NFL Season so far
1. Baker Mayfield
The first overall pick and he’s playing like it. Pulling Cleveland out of the NFL’s bottom drawer and has them being more competitive than they have been since they reformed. The Browns have been screaming out for an on-field leader for a hell of a long time, Mayfield’s entrance to the Cleveland faithful in the game at home against the New York Jets made a sound like nothing else. He has a team that has won a single game in the last two years to 4-6-1, defeating two division rivals in the process. Going into Week 13 Mayfield has a 67.1% completion rate and thrown for 17 touchdowns. Though these numbers are not top end NFL statistics the impact Mayfield has had on this team is exactly what the number one draft pick should have, its lifted everyone involved with the franchise. Given the weapons, a coach that believes in him and a good defence, Mayfield can take this team back to the playoffs in the next few years.
2. Saquon Barkley
The second overall pick, I can promise you I have not put Sam Darnold at number three on this list. If I had of curated this on statistics alone there is no question Barkley would have been number one. Barkley is currently sitting fourth in Rushing yards with 829 yards, only below Ezekiel Elliott, likely MVP Todd Gurley and Pittsburgh’s saviour James Conner. Barkley is on course to put up 1,206 rushing yards in his rookie season and score 12 touchdowns, matching how many Adrian Peterson got in his rookie season. With Eli Manning’s struggles this season Barkley has become New York’s shining light and I’m not talking about his smile. Barkley has been their go-to man and with him averaging 4.8 yards a carry making him the Giants most influential player on offence. Admittedly the Giants are sitting at 3-8 and Barkley’s numbers have not been enough to hide the NYG’s problems, but he has given fans something to look forward to. The addition of Barkley just increases the flair to their offence, especially when you have a receiver as good as Odell Beckham Jr. Barkley will be an integral part of this Giants team to come and if he improves on his rookie season in years to come and New York acquire the successor to Eli, he can be the centre piece for the Giants to return to the playoffs.
3. Nick Chubb
This is the one that will be the most debated, I could have picked so many rookies at number three. But the Cleveland Browns revival has been a story of youngsters and team play, I couldn’t overlook Baker Mayfield’s backfield hero. Nick Chubb, the 35th pick in the second round out of Georgia and has helped Mayfield turn this team around. Chubb averages 5.4 yards a carry and has rushed for 663 yards this season and is projected to finish the season with just under 1000 yards. Chubb’s 92-yard touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons was the longest touchdown run in Browns history. With Chubb as Mayfield’s right hand, they have collectively revolutionised the Browns offence and led them to 4 wins. The young Browns team is going from strength to strength, with Jarvis Landry, Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward and David Njoku the only way is up for Cleveland. Mayfield along with Chubb are lighting up the Browns and Chubb himself can be a Pro Bowl Running Back and will be a big part of the team for years to come.
There has been a hell of a lot of good rookies in 2018 and there was a lot more I could of chosen such as Sony Michel, Josh Allen and Leighton Vander Esch who are all playing really well, but this is my top three.
