Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate: Who’s looking good after three weeks?

Three weeks into an NFL career is no time to judge a player but for the sake of fun, let’s take a look a the top 10 preseason Offensive Rookie of the Year candidates (per NFL.com) and see how they’re getting on.

Zay Flowers has settled in quickly in Baltimore, becoming a key cog in the Raven’s scheme already. Lamar Jackson clearly trusts the youngster from Boston College who has caught 21 passes already. He has arguably been the best rookie wide receiver so far.

The Giants are playing very badly through three weeks and a large part of that is due to incompetent QB play from Daniel Jones. This certainly doesn’t help a rookie wideout much, meaning Hyatt’s involvements have been few and far between. His 58-yard catch showed his deep-threat ability but there’s a long way to go.

Ending up in Los Angeles with the Chargers always felt like a bad match for Johnston given his similarities to players already on their roster. So far he hasn’t seen the field much but with Mike Williams tearing his ACL, he has a real chance to impress as a key part of the offense.

Viewed by many as the best WR in the draft, Jaxon Smith-Njigba has not exactly set the world on fire so far, reeling in nine receptions for just 57 yards. The Seahawks are blessed with so many receiving options, that becoming a reliable target for Geno Smith may take some time. The talent is there for the ex-Buckeye, so expect to see production increase soon.

Gibbs was over-drafted by the Lions, taken with the 12th overall pick, yet expectations were high for the running back. So far he has reached the lofty heights he will need to justify his selection. The explosiveness is there when he gets in space and he has a real chance to grow into a bigger role as the season progresses.

Jordan Addison is battling with Zay Flowers for the ‘best rookie wide receiver so far’ award. He has looked a perfect, complementary piece for the Vikings, catching a couple of long TDs as the attention from defenses is drawn towards Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson. An incredibly talented player who is living up to the hype early.

Richardson missed week three with a concussion, showcasing a potential weakness in his game so far, an inability to avoid the big hits. His athleticism and arm talent is obvious for all to see, so if he can stay on the field, he will be set to lead the Colts forward for a decade or more.

Stroud has been dealing so far in his rookie season, completing 64.5% of his passes for 906 yards, four TDs, and no picks. He has looked composed in the pocket and has shown flashes of creativity when plays have broken down. The Texans may have had the best QB in the draft fall into their laps at number two.

Like Richardson, Young missed week three through injury, yet the first two weeks have been cause for some concern. Completing under 60% of his passes, Young has only thrown two TDs but matched that with two picks. His size could well become a problem as he is unable to force throws into tight windows and downfield. The Panthers were surely hoping for more.

Screw positional value, Robinson is as good as advertised. Despite being taken with the eighth overall pick, he has looked every bit the elite running back so far, his agility and quickness is impossible to stop in the open field, and his power between the tackles is more than good enough. His 5.5 YPC is elite, currently the comfortable favorite for the OROY.