'Gassed' Seahawks WR Tory Horton leads list of NFL Week 3 rookie standouts

"It was funny because I came to the sideline talking to [WR Jake] Bobo, and I was like, 'I'm still gassed from that punt return,' and then I looked on the little iPad, and I saw it was 95 yards, and I was like, 'No wonder I'm so tired. I just ran the whole field,'" Horton said, via John Boyle of the team website.

The punt return wasn't the only play the Colorado State product made during the 44-13 win: He also caught a 14-yard TD pass from QB Sam Darnold early in the second quarter. 

Horton's role should continue to increase after a hot start. Per Dante Koplowitz-Fleming of NFL Media, he's the only player in the Super Bowl era with multiple receiving TDs and a punt-return TD through his first three career games. The WR has five receptions for 64 yards and two TD catches during this span.   

Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Emeka Egbuka (first round)

Egbuka (pick No. 19) played in Sunday's home game against the New York Jets despite hip/groin injuries. You couldn't tell the WR wasn't 100 percent during a spectacular one-handed, 30-yard catch early in the second quarter.

The former Ohio State star also made a key 28-yard grab late in the fourth quarter, setting up kicker Chase McLaughlin's winning 36-yard field goal. Asked which catch was his favorite, Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield said it was a no-brainer.

"One-hand catch," Mayfield told the media after the 29-27 win. "He's disrespecting my passes downfield with one hand. Rookies." 

Egbuka should continue to make more game-changing plays after the best performance of his rookie season. Against New York, he finished with season highs in receptions (six) and receiving yards (85). 

Los Angeles Chargers RB Omarion Hampton (first round) 

Hampton (pick No. 22) had a breakout game Sunday against the Denver Broncos. In the 23-20 home victory, the North Carolina product rushed for a season-high 70 yards and one TD on 19 carries. 

"Man, what a game he had. How about that?" Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said in a postgame news conference. "He put that work in today, and he was running with purpose. Gritty performance by him. Just always lunging forward, surging forward." 

The Chargers will need more games like that from Hampton. Fellow RB Najee Harris suffered a non-contact Achilles injury on Sunday and probably will be out for an extended period. The former Pittsburgh Steelers star had 61 rushing yards through three games. 

New York Giants RB Cam Skattebo (fourth round)

Skattebo (pick No. 105) is one of few bright spots for a lackluster Giants offense that ranks 27th in the league in points (17.3 PPG). In a 22-9 home loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Arizona State product rushed for a season-high 60 yards and one TD on 10 carries. He also had six receptions for 61 yards. 

Giants starting RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. exited after suffering a shoulder injury against Kansas City. If he misses time, Skattebo should be in line for more touches. He has rushed for 40-plus yards for two consecutive games.  

And with the rookie RB looking like a steal, he deserves more carries. Through three weeks, Skattebo ranks third among rookies in yards per carry (4.4), behind Cleveland Browns RB Quinshon Judkins (5.5) and Washington Commanders RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt (5.7). 

Cleveland Browns DT Mason Graham (first round)

Graham (pick No. 5) was considered the best DT in a class deep at the position. The 2024 first-team All-American showed why in Sunday's 13-10 home upset over the Green Bay Packers. 

The Michigan product logged three tackles and a half-sack against Green Bay. His dominant performance helped Cleveland hold star Packers QB Jordan Love to a season-low 183 passing yards.

"The Browns drafted Graham for his ability to support [defensive end Myles] Garrett inside by being an interior game-wrecker," wrote The Draft Network's Justin Melo in a story published Monday. "That vision was on full display in Sunday's shocking upset over the Packers."