Top 10 Rookie of the Year candidates: CeeDee Lamb rising

After his play in September, Antoine Winfield Jr. was named the Defensive Rookie of the Month. Here is some All-22 film on the former Minnesota Golden Gopher through his first four NFL games. Through four games, he has racked up 25 tackles, two pass deflections, two sacks and a forced fumble. As one of the best performers so far, Winfield Jr. has a great chance to win NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year.

9. Jerry Jeudy, wide receiver, Denver Broncos (LW: 10)

Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy has undeniable talent. It’s only a matter of time before he has a true breakout game in the NFL. Once Drew Lock gets back under center, Jeudy will have more opportunities thrown his way. Through four games, the former Alabama Crimson Tide star is up to 234 receiving yards on 15 catches, along with this incredible touchdown catch.

8. Jonathan Taylor, running back, Indianapolis Colts (LW: 8)

Since Taylor took over as starter after Marlon Mack was lost to injury, the Colts have not lost a game. Showing the power to run through players at the NFL level, Taylor also has great speed, running a 4.39 at the NFL Scouting Combine this past spring. Tallying 250 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns after three starts, the sky’s the limit for the former Wisconsin star. 

7. Chase Young, defensive end, Washington Football Team (LW: 5)

After performing well his first two weeks, in his third start Chase Young suffered a minor groin injury and had to leave the game. With 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble and eight tackles, Young showed he can be a difference-maker in the NFL. Unfortunately, the Ohio State product’s groin injury caused him to miss Week 4. Hopefully he can go in Week 5, so fans can see more plays like this. 

6. Justin Herbert, quarterback, Los Angeles Chargers (LW: 7)

Justin Herbert joined Patrick Mahomes as the only other quarterback since the 1970 merger to throw for 850 passing yards with a passer rating over 100 in his first three career games, including this absolute bomb he threw in Week 4 that was in the air for 62 yards. Can he surpass another top rookie quarterback as the year goes on?

5. James Robinson, running back, Jacksonville Jaguars (LW: 6)

Through four games, James Robinson is eighth in the NFL in rushing yards (285) and fourth in yards from scrimmage (446). He also has as many rushing touchdowns (three) as Leonard Fournette had all last season for the Jacksonville Jaguars. It’s incredible what the undrafted rookie has been able to do, starting from day one, despite not having a preseason to work with. Robinson looks like a legitimate ROY candidate. It is interesting to note that an undrafted player has never won Rookie of the Year in the NFL.

4. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, running back, Kansas City Chiefs (LW: 3)

After starting four games, Clyde Edwards-Helaire has compiled 304 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. A dual-threat out of the backfield, CEH has also hauled in 14 receptions for 129 yards. With those numbers, the former LSU Tiger finds himself fifth in the NFL in all-purpose yards with 433 so far. He’s a perfect fit in the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense, and as long as he continues to show effort like this, he could be a special player for a long time.

3. CeeDee Lamb, wide receiver, Dallas Cowboys (LW: 4)

Despite the Dallas Cowboys having two 1,000-yard receivers already in Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup, CeeDee Lamb continues to make an instant impact. After compiling five catches for 79 yards and scoring two touchdowns in Week 4, the former Oklahoma Sooner’s stock continues to rise. Through four games, Lamb has 21 catches for 309 yards and two touchdowns. If the Cowboys can string some wins together and if Lamb keeps finding the end zone, he certainly can win Rookie of the Year.

2. Justin Jefferson, wide receiver, Minnesota Vikings (LW: 2)

The past two games Justin Jefferson has shown exactly what he meant when he said he was going to exact vengeance upon those who chose not to select him in the 2020 NFL Draft. My question is, why didn’t the Minnesota Vikings get him more involved from the jump? After two starts, Jefferson has churned out two straight 100-plus yard games. Not only that, but through four weeks PFF has him graded as the top wide receiver in the game. Heading into Week 5, Jefferson is eighth in the league in receiving yards with 348. Not bad for a rookie.

1. Joe Burrow, quarterback, Cincinnati Bengals (LW: 1)

With four games played thus far, Joe Burrow has lived up to his lofty draft standards. Fans in Cincinnati have a lot to be excited about what they’ve seen. We mentioned before how the Bengals had to protect Burrow more. His last game, against Jacksonville, he was sacked just once — a huge improvement over previous weeks that saw him average nearly five sacks per game.