PlayerProfiler is home to the award winning redraft rankings and tools. Our Player Rankings are second to none, and the World Famous Draft Kit contains detailed player write ups and cheat sheets to help You dominate fantasy drafts! Check it out. Below, Joel Ybarra details the rookie performances from Week 3, including another dominating performance by Malik Nabers, Giants electric new weapon.
NFL Week 3 is in the books, save for two Monday night games in which some exciting rookies – Jayden Daniels and Brian Thomas Jr. – are playing. Some rookie QBs got rolling this week, and some other rookie RBs gained meaningful work in their team’s backfields – not purely due to injury. Here is the Week 3 Rookie Report.
Rookie Performance of the Week
Malik Nabers | WR, New York Giants
Malik Nabers continues to be a target hog, earning another 12 targets (a 36.3-percent Target Share). He could realistically end his rookie season with a better than 40-percent Target Share on the Giants. The LSU product had another huge day, catching eight balls for 78 yards and two TDs. The Giants are force-feeding their most electric weapon the ball, also giving him two end around carries he took for four yards (one first down).
Other Notable Rookie Performances
Braelon Allen | RB, New York Jets
Braelon Allen has earned a sizeable share of the Jets’ backfield alongside Breece Hall. Allen continues to get work, earning 11 carries to Hall’s 13 Thursday night. The rookie continues to be efficient, turning his carries into 55 yards rushing (five yards per carry).
Allen also earned three targets to Hall’s five, reeling in all three for 13 yards. Allen is a useful flex play and will be a total smash if Hall misses time.
Bucky Irving | RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bucky Irving continues to solidify himself as equal to Rachaad White in the Bucs’ backfield, if not the lead rusher. Irving rushed the ball nine times Sunday – to White’s six. The University of Oregon product is a better rusher than White, earning 70 yards to White’s 16. We know Irving is not just a between-the-tackles grinder, however. He is a valuable piece in the pass game, as well, earning three targets and catching all three for 14 yards in Week 3. White earned six targets, catching five of them for 18 yards.
Bo Nix | QB, Denver Broncos
Bo Nix got his first NFL win Sunday, as the Broncos defeated the Bucs 26-7. Nix was 25-for-36 for 216 yards passing and, while he did not throw for any touchdowns, he also did not give up any interceptions – after throwing two in each of the first two weeks.
The former Oregon Duck also showed off his speed on the ground, rushing nine times for 47 yards and a rollout touchdown in the first quarter.
Rome Odunze | WR, Chicago Bears
Rome Odunze had his coming out party in Week 3, earning a team high 11 targets. He caught six of them for 112 yards and a one-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. The connection with fellow rookie Caleb Williams is growing, although Williams missed him on a few deep balls which would have made Odunze’s day even better. Luke Getsy is trying to get the rookie receiver going: he also got an end around carry.
Carson Steele | RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Carson Steele got the most work in the Chiefs’ backfield Sunday night, toting the rock 17 times for 72 yards and receiving one target for two yards receiving. He out-touched Samaje Perine, 18-to-9, getting mostly work on the ground, but the rookie was serviceable, hitting the holes on up-the-middle runs.
Steele ended the day with 3.8 yards per carry and a 69.2-percent Success Rate.
Marvin Harrison Jr. | WR, Arizona Cardinals
Marvin Harrison Jr. continued to lead the Cardinals in targets, earning 11 Sunday and catching five for 64 and a score. Kyler Murray missed him on a few throws, including a couple end zone targets.
Caleb Williams | QB, Chicago Bears
Caleb Williams threw the ball 52 times on Sunday, completing 33 passes for 363 yards and two TDs (two interceptions). He fueled productive days for Cole Kmet (10-197-1), Rome Odunze (6-112-1) and DJ Moore (8-78-0).
The Bears did not get the win, but Williams showed more comfortability as a passer.
Other Key Usage Notes
Ladd McConkey led all Chargers in targets (6), earning five from Justin Herbert before the QB went out injured. McConkey finished with three catches for 44 yards.
Theo Johnson has run the fourth-most routes for the Giants this season and the most of the Giants’ tight ends, playing ahead of Daniel Bellinger. The rookie drew three targets Sunday.
See all Joel’s articles here, including all weekly Rookie Reports.
