Top Picks Deliver Immediate Returns for Contending Teams
Emeka Egbuka
Egbuka has stepped into Tampa Bay’s top receiver role after being drafted 19th overall. With Mike Evans and Chris Godwin dealing with injuries, Egbuka leads the team in catches (18), yards (282), and touchdowns (4). Through five weeks, he’s been targeted 31 times and moved the chains for 11 first downs.
Rob Gronkowski tried shouting him out on Fox NFL Sunday but butchered it. In his absolutely goofy style, he called him “Emeka Egbigboo.” The mispronunciation only amplified the buzz surrounding the rookie.
Jackson Hawes
Then there is Bills’ fifth-round pick Hawes, who owns the highest PFF grade among rookies (90.7). The 24-year-old tight end dominates in run-blocking and pass protection, allowing zero pressures through five games.
Heading into Week 6, the 173rd overall currently ranks fourth among all tight ends in run-blocking. He has been effectively erasing defenders in the trenches while protecting Josh Allen’s blind side.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt
Commanders’ 7th round pick has been the biggest surprise of the rookie class. After some modest output earlier in the season, Croskey-Merritt got 14 of the team’s 20 carries in Week 5 against the Chargers, which he converted into 111 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Currently, he averages 5.3 yards per attempt and stands fourth in the league in rushing. Not bad for a Day 3 flier.
These rookie performances aren’t just improving stat sheets — they’re shaking up betting markets too. Power rankings are shifting weekly, and oddsmakers are scrambling to keep up with which teams are truly for real. For fans tracking these changes, FanDuel Sportsbook is the go-to destination for updated NFL odds, rookie award futures, and team performance markets. Whether you’re curious about the Lions’ rise or the Commanders’ shock playoff push, FanDuel’s live odds paint the clearest picture of how much these first-year standouts are changing the balance of power.
Will Johnson
Johnson bounced back from injury to lock down Tennessee’s receivers in Week 5. Arizona’s cornerback allowed just two catches for eight yards and broke up a pass on Calvin Ridley. Johnson now leads all corners in PFF coverage grade (84.2). The knee concerns that tanked his draft stock are fading fast.
Jihaad Campbell
The 31st overall pick was all over the field in Week 5 with nine tackles and three stops. His 83.8 coverage grade is third among linebackers. Not surprisingly, Campbell has been a big part of the Eagles’ 4-1 start, cleaning up messes behind one of the stacked front seven.
Sometimes it feels like these rookies aren’t just filling roster spots; they’re moving the chains. Their production looks absolutely legitimate, and their teams are climbing power rankings because of it.
First-Round Flops Struggle to Find Their Footing
While day 3 fillers are shining in the top pick, some first-round flops really become a burden. Take the first overall pick, Cam Ward, as an example.
Five weeks later, the Titans sit 1-4, and Ward ranks near the basement in QB efficiency. He’s thrown seven interceptions and posted a negative EPA+CPOE composite. The Titans passed on trade-down offers for this and that, and the decision gets worse each Sunday.
The 27th overall pick Malaki Starks hasn’t helped Baltimore’s secondary despite a first-round pedigree. The Ravens are near the bottom of the league in pass coverage, and Starks hasn’t contributed much to change that. Through five games, he has no interceptions or pass breakups. The team’s defensive issues aren’t solely his fault, but he hasn’t helped improve them either.
Quite frankly, draft picks don’t matter as much as how well players fit the team’s style. Organizations reaching for positional need are scrambling to adjust. With 12 games remaining, the rookie class separates contenders from pretenders as depth charts get tested.
