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7 NFL Rookies to Know Heading Into Week 2
Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

7 NFL Rookies to Know Heading Into Week 2

Originally posted on Athlon Sports  |  By Luke Easterling  |  Last updated Sep 16, 2026 3:36 PM ET
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Now that Week 1 of the 2026 NFL regular season is officially in the books, we’ve got a better idea at the kind of impact we’re going to see from this year’s rookie class.

The 2026 NFL Draft was full of promising talent, and while the big names will continue to steal most of the headlines, there were a handful of under-the-radar players who made an instant splash in their pro debuts last week.

Here are seven rookie fans should be keeping an eye on the rest of the way after the performances they delivered in Week 1:

WR Caleb Douglas, Dolphins

After moving on from both Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill this offseason, the Dolphins drafted a trio of wide receivers, spending a third-rounder on Douglas. The former Texas Tech standout made an immediate impact Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders, leading the team with five receptions for 94 yards, and showing off his big-play ability by averaging just shy of 19 yards per catch. It’s a wide-open race for anyone to establish themselves as the Dolphins’ new No. 1 receiver, and Douglas has gotten off to an early lead with a highly productive performance in Week 1.

LB Josiah Trotter, Buccaneers

I wrote Sunday about Trotter’s impressive debut , one that proved the Bucs might have found the next in a long line of legendary linebackers to play for the franchise. Since sacks became an official NFL stat in 1982, Trotter is the first NFL player to register a sack and a pick-six in his pro debut. The second-round pick from Missouri was all over the place against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, making splash plays against both the run and pass, and showing a punishing style of play the Tampa Bay defense has been missing. Don’t be surprised if he’s a household name by season’s end, and ends up being one of the best linebackers in the league sooner than later.

OT Khalil Benson, Chiefs

When you ask an undrafted free agent to start at left tackle in Week 1 of their rookie season, it’s usually not a great idea, especially when they’ve never played left tackle before, and you’re facing one of the league’s best defensive fronts. Thankfully for the Chiefs, Benson appears to be the exception to the rule. The Indiana product held his own against Nik Bonitto and a formidable Denver Broncos defense in Monday night’s dominant win for Kansas City, keeping Patrick Mahomes’ blind side well protected, and showing a mauling presence in the run game. Recent first-round pick Josh Simmons is still working his way back from a back injury, but if Benson keeps playing like this in his absence, the depth chart moving forward might just have to flip in Benson’s favor.

WR Antonio Williams, Commanders

It was already looking like Williams would have the inside track to be Washington’s WR2 across from Terry McLaurin this season, but the third-round pick out of Clemson proved to be the team’s top target Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. While McLaurin was shut out of the stat sheet for most of the game, Williams tied for the team lead with four receptions and turned them into a team-high 64 yards through the air, including his first career NFL touchdown on an impressive catch that barely snatched the ball right off the grass late in the game. The route-running skills and reliable hands were always obvious on Williams’ tape, and if he keeps getting consistent looks from Jayden Daniels, it’s not unreasonable to think he’s capable of a 1,000-yard season as a rookie.

LB Anthony Hill Jr., Titans

Heading into the 2026 NFL Draft cycle, Hill was getting a ton of buzz as a potential top-15 pick. He managed to slip to the second round instead, and the Titans jumped at the chance to add him to Robert Saleh’s defense. That proved to be a smart move in Week 1, as Hill made the most of Cedric Gray’s absence, lighting up the box score with 16 total tackles and a pair of pass breakups. A ton of tackles doesn’t always mean a stellar performance from a linebacker, but the tape showed Hill flying all over the field against the New York Jets, showing the same three-down skill set he displayed at Texas. Even when Gray returns, it’ll be hard for the Titans to keep this stud rookie off the field moving forward.

OL Olaivavega Ioane, Ravens

It might seem odd to include a first-round pick on this list, but interior offensive linemen don’t get the same attention as most other positions, so I’m gonna make sure everyone knows how dominant Ioane was in his NFL debut. A top-10 player on my board heading into the draft, Ioane fell to Baltimore at No. 14 overall, and they were more than happy to shore up the trenches with his massive frame, destructive power, and nonstop motor. He helped pave the way for a fantastic day for the Ravens’ offense through the air and on the ground, and his tape was full of crushing blocks that showed his willingness to finish through the whistle with the utmost physicality. This guy is gonna be an unsung hero because of the position he plays, but he’ll go down as a long-term fan favorite by the time his career in Baltimore is over.

LB Jacob Rodriguez, Dolphins

Despite being a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate as one of the most productive and impactful defenders in all of college football last season at Texas Tech, Rodriguez still managed to slide to the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, where the Dolphins wisely snatched him up. His combination of impressive athletic traits and high-level football IQ were evident right away in Sunday’s debut against the Raiders, and Rodriguez lit up the stat sheet with a ton of big plays. It’s only one game, but Rodriguez is already having a seismic impact on the Miami defense, and it looks like they may have found a valuable defensive cornerstone they can build around for years to come.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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