QB
Joe Burrow / CIN – Round 1
In a tying effort, yes a tie, Burrow completed 31 passes on 44 attempts. He threw a pair of touchdowns to fellow rookie Tee Higgins, a duo worth keeping an eye on moving forward. Even though this is a weekly team we put together, it is worth noting that Burrow set a NFL rookie record with 91 completions through the first 3 weeks of the season.
RB
James Robinson / JAX – UDFA
Don’t send it in yet, but to this point in the year Robinson appears to be the most productive rookie running back in the league. On short rest, he finished with 46 yards on 11 carries and 2 hard-earned touchdowns in addition to 83 yards on 6 catches. JAX was banged up at wide receiver in this one and it was Robinson who led the team in that department.
WR
Justin Jefferson / MIN – Round 1
The trade of Stefon Diggs was a head scratcher for some but MIN had a clear plan to get similar production from a similar skill set for a fraction of the salary cap cost. Jefferson used week 3 as his breakout performance, reassuring MIN that their 1-2 punch at receiver lives on. He finished with 175 yards on 7 catches, including a 71-yard touchdown. They lined him up all over the formation and he produced from each spot.
TE
Adam Trautman / NO – Round 3
When Jared Cook went down with an injury Sunday night, Trautman stepped up. He had 17 yards on 2 catches/2 targets. He looked fluid and fast and for a guy who was drafted for his receiving prowess, he held his own as a blocker.
OT
Tristan Wirfs / TB – Round 1
The Bucs went on the road to a place that is never easy to win, Denver. While there may be an issue on the left side of the line, Wirfs controlled the right side for the entire game. His force in the running game is noteworthy as well, particularly in short yardage situations. He consistently creates push at the point of attack.
OG/OC
Michael Onwenu / NE – Round 6
With the injury to center David Andrews, Joe Thuney moved to center which created the opportunity at guard for Onwenu. His role for the first two weeks was that of an extra blocker, sixth lineman, which was a part-time role. He played well but in his first start at his natural spot, Onwenu excelled. This may be the start of a very long, successful career in the NFL for the grizzly bear.
EDGE
Alton Robinson / NE – Round 5
Seattle is riding high but largely because of their soaring offense. They still have issues along their defense and they are still trying to figure out their edge rushing situation. Robinson made his case in week 3. While playing just over a third of the snaps, he finished with 3 tackles, 1 sack, and 2 TFL. Not bad for a kid who was inactive both weeks 1 and 2.
DT
Derek Brown / CAR – Round 1
Brown was a key cog in the CAR upset at LAC. He had 5 tackles and 3 TFL with a powerful first step and sturdy base. He has already shown dominant flashes similar to what we saw on a weekly basis last year at Auburn.
LB
Mykal Walker / ATL – Round 4
Atlanta seems to blow double digit leads more often than not these past few years. There are several defensive issues but Walker is one of their few bright spots. He led the team with 8 tackles while adding 1 TFL, 1 forced fumble, and a QB hit. He excelled in coverage and appears to be one of the top values in the class.
CB
Kristian Fulton / TEN – Round 2
The Vikings got off to a hot start but it wasn’t Fulton that was at fault. He excelled at nickel and came up with a key 3rd down sack late in the game as TEN was mounting their comeback. He did a great job setting the edge a few times against the potent MIN rushing attack.
S
Jeremy Chinn / CAR – Round 2
Chinn is the team’s leading tackler after 3 weeks. The hybrid safety/linebacker finished with 12 tackles, 1 TFL, and 1 QB hit. The Chargers had a hard time getting the screen game going thanks to Chinn sniffing them out and exploding to the action and finishing. He is all over the field on a young defense that is building.