Clutch Jets TE Mason Taylor, Broncos RB RJ Harvey headline list of NFL standout rookies from Week 8

The clutch TD should help Taylor continue to solidify himself as a key piece in the Jets' passing game. Through eight games, he ranks second on the team in receptions (29) and receiving yards (242).

Denver Broncos RB RJ Harvey (second round)

Aric DiLalla of the team website reported that leading up to the team's win over Dallas in Week 8, Denver head coach Sean Payton played clips of 11 plays that could've been TDs by Broncos. They featured a player's college fight song as background music. 

The coach subsequently discovered most of the players, including Central Florida product Harvey, didn't know the songs. Only wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr., a former Oklahoma star, knew his fight song: "Boomer Sooner." 

"I thought it was the UCF fight song," Harvey said following the 44-24 win over the Cowboys, via The Athletic's Nick Kosmider. "That's all I got for you." 

The name of Central Florida's fight song is "Charge On." Harvey (pick No. 60) certainly gave the Broncos offense a jolt in Week 8. Against Dallas, he had three TDs (two rushing and one receiving). According to DiLalla, he became the first Broncos rookie to score three TDs in a game since former RB Clinton Portis in 2002. 

Cleveland Browns TE Harold Fannin Jr. (third round) 

Fannin (pick No. 67) may make fellow TE David Njoku — who's in the last year of his contract —replaceable.

In a 32-13 loss to the New England Patriots, Fannin had six receptions for a team-high 62 yards and one TD catch. Njoku, meanwhile, had four receptions for 37 yards and one TD catch.

Fannin has outplayed Njoku throughout the season. Through eight weeks, the former Bowling Green star has 38 receptions for 352 receiving yards and two TD catches, while the nine-year veteran has 27 receptions for 260 yards and two TD catches. 

Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com has reported the Browns have "no intention" of dealing Njoku before the trade deadline on Nov. 4 at 4 p.m. ET. But with Fannin looking like the TE of the future, Cleveland may let Njoku walk during free agency. 

New England Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson (second round) 

Rhamondre Stevenson remains the RB1 in New England, but expect Henderson (pick No. 38) to start challenging him for more carries after a breakout performance against Cleveland. 

In the win, the former Ohio State standout finished with a season-high 75 yards on 10 carries. The only negative for Henderson was losing a fumble, but that shouldn't overshadow an excellent day against an elite defense. The Browns rank ninth in the league in rushing yards allowed (94.3 YPG). 

After the win, Henderson told CBS Sports' Tyler Sullivan he has grown "more comfortable" throughout the season. Now that he's getting a grip on the team's offense, the RB's workload may continue to increase. 

Tennessee Titans WR Chimere Dike (fourth round)

The speedy wideout — who ran a 4.34 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine — continues to be one of few positives for the blundering Titans.

In a 38-14 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, Dike (pick No. 103) had seven receptions for 93 yards. The former Florida star has now had two consecutive games with 70 receiving yards or more. 

Following the loss, Dike indicated he wasn't satisfied with his performance because the team still isn't finding ways to win. The Titans (1-7) have now lost three straight games. 

But if Dike keeps improving each week, that could help the Titans land an offensive guru as their next head coach, perhaps Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady or Kansas City Chiefs OC Matt Nagy.