The clear frontrunner to earn Offensive Rookie of the Year, Jayden Daniels, exited the Washington Commanders’ 40-7 victory over the Carolina Panthers early due to a rib injury.
According to reports, the No. 2 overall pick’s injury is not life-threatening, but he will undergo additional testing in order to get ready for his matchup with the Chicago Bears and 2024 No. 1 pick Caleb Williams. You may wager on any rookie quarterback on our list at the best sportsbooks in Pennsylvania.
In the meantime, Drake Maye looks the part despite being surrounded by a terrible team, Williams, whose Bears had a bye, is breathing down Daniels’ neck for ROY, and Michael Penix Jr. made his NFL debut on Sunday in the Atlanta Falcons’ crushing defeat to the Seattle Seahawks.
Following Week 7, here are the NFL rookie power rankings.
Rookie QB Power Rankings
(The rating from last week is indicated in parenthesis.)
1. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
Week 7:2 for 2 yards (100%) 3 rushes for 50 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT
Season statistics: 1,410 yards at 127 for 168 (75.6%) 372 yards, 66 rushes, 2 INTs, and 6 touchdowns Four TDs
Why he s ranked #1
Although Daniels is reportedly fine after playing less than a quarter of Washington’s home victory over the Panthers on Sunday, his rib injury sent shockwaves through the league and caused anxiety throughout the DMV.
As the most accurate quarterback among football rookies and veterans, Daniels will still be the front-runner to earn Rookie of the Year if he is healthy. Washington is currently 5-2 and leads the NFC East, one half game ahead of the Cowboys and Eagles.
However, a much-anticipated matchup versus Williams and the Bears on Sunday in Landover, Maryland, might result in the Rookie of the Year award.
2. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
Week 7: Farewell Week
Season statistics: 1,317 yards at 130 for 199 (65.3%) 25 rushes for 169 yards, 5 INTs, and 9 TDs
Why he s ranked #2
primarily because he didn’t play. Williams is coming off a strong three-game run in which quarterback completed 60 for 81 passes (74.1 percent), seven touchdowns with just one interception, and 102 rushing yards on 14 runs. quarterback will now face Daniels and the Commanders.
More significantly, though, Chicago has won all three of those games and is two games above.500 per season after winning just seven games and finishing 3-14 the previous two years. The Bears’ much-improved defense is partly to blame, but they are also seeing quarterback play of the highest caliber for the first time since at least Jay Cutler, who last wore a Bears suit in 2016.
However, a game and a half behind the Lions-Vikings tie, Williams and the Bears are in last place in the fiercely contested NFC North. To earn Rookie of the Year, Williams will probably need to make it to the playoffs at the very least. He might also need to outperform Daniels and the Commanders on Sunday.
3. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Week 7:26 for 276 yards at 37 (70.3%) 3 rushes for 18 yards, 2 TDs, and 0 interceptions
Season statistics: 541 yards at 50 for 78 (64.1%) 10 rushes for 68 yards, 2 INTs, and 5 TDs
Because Maye may already be the genuine thing. Maye has been outstanding in his two starts, completing nearly 66 percent of his passes and throwing more than twice as many touchdowns as former starter Jacoby Brissett did in his first five games, even though they had to travel across the pond to play the Jacksonville Jaguars after facing the AFC South-leading Houston Texans.
Given that the Pats will visit the Jets this weekend, Maye won’t have the same reprieve that Williams did upon his return from London. However, since making his NFL debut by mopping up in New England’s 24-3 loss, Maye has already faced New York.
4. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Week 7:16 for 164 yards on 26 (61.5%) Rushes for 75 yards, 10 TDs, and 0 INTs
Season statistics: 1,246 yards at 137 for 224 (61.2%) Runs for 255 yards, 5 touchdowns, 5 interceptions Three TDs
because he continues to win with the Broncos. Even though Nix hasn’t thrown for more than 246 yards, Denver’s 33-10 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night has them 3-1 in their last four games and tied for the seventh-and-final AFC playoff place at 4-3.
Nix isn’t losing games, even though the Broncos are primarily winning on defense. With Javonte Williams leading Denver’s running assault and scoring over 60 yards in each of the team’s three victories in the last four games, Nix has also joined in on the fun.
Nevertheless, Nix has a unique opportunity to develop while also experiencing what it’s like to be a young quarterback in the middle of a postseason chase. If Denver can upset the Panthers at home, it will have another fantastic chance to move up to two games over.500.
5. Spencer Rattler, New Orleans Saints
Week 7:25 for 172 yards at 35 (71.4%) 5 rushes for 34 yards, 0 TD, and 0 INTs
Season statistics: 415 yards at 47 for 75 (62.7%) 9 rushes for 61 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
Rattler was the fourth quarterback to start a game after replacing Derek Carr, who has been out since Week 5 due to an oblique injury he suffered against the Chiefs, despite being the seventh pick overall in the 2024 selection. Carr has occasionally shown promise in two starts.
Because he was without his top two receivers, Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, Rattler was hung out to dry against Nix and the Broncos, taking six sacks. Before losing Olave and Shaheed to injuries, the 150th pick, who is presently the only rookie quarterback selected outside the first round to play this season, had good, if not exceptional, numbers in the Saints’ loss to the Bucs last weekend.
When Carr returns, Rattler is probably going to be benched again, but the rookie will probably earn another start on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
6. Michael Penix Jr, Atlanta Falcons
Week 7: 1 (100%) for 14 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions.
Season stats: 14 yards, 0 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 1 for 1 (100%) yards.
Because, barring an injury, Penix is still far down the list of quarterbacks even though he saw his first action and finished the first half of his young career.
The Falcons are only a half-game behind the Bucs for first place in the NFC South, and Kirk Cousins is the clear favorite to win NFL Comeback Player of the Year. However, Penix connected with fellow rookie Casey Washington for a first down in Atlanta’s 34-14 loss despite trailing by 20 points in the fourth quarter.
Falcons supporters hope this is Penix’s final game for some time since Cousins gives Atlanta the best opportunity to win right now, and if Cousins suffers a serious injury, Atlanta’s dreams of winning the title will be scuppered.
Nevertheless, if Penix ends up being the franchise quarterback Atlanta hopes for, all of his experience will be valuable. For now, if you’re a Falcons fan, you should celebrate his perfect completion percentage and 118.8 rating.
Less than three weeks ago, on October 3, Cousins threw for 509 yards and four touchdowns against the division-rival Buccaneers, who Penix and Atlanta will play in Tampa on Sunday.