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 top rookie performances from Week 6, including multiple rookie QBs facilitating production for their offenses.
Rookie quarterbacks ruled in Week 6. Five rookie signal callers started for NFL teams this past weekend. Three of them – Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix – have started since Week 1. Two – Drake Maye and Spencer Rattler –got the nod for the first time Sunday. Who says rookie QBs need time to ramp up? These rookies are producing early, and a couple of them have winning records and are positioning their teams for playoff runs. Below we check in on all the best rookie performances from Week 6 – players making a difference in real life and fantasy.
Rookie Performance of the Week
Caleb Williams | QB, Chicago Bears
Caleb Williams completed just 23 passes Sunday in London, but four of them were touchdowns. He was deft in the red zone, throwing two easy TD passes to Cole Kmet and two pinpoint dimes to Keenan Allen that the veteran reeled in for scores. The most tantalizing production for fantasy gamers, however, was Williams’ highest rushing total of the season (56 yards). A significant portion of those yards were on designed RPO looks which Williams took for decent gains. The former USC Trojan has come on as of late in fantasy. He was QB6 in scoring last week and is QB1 in scoring this week going into Monday Night Football.
Other Notable Rookie Performances
Drake Maye | QB, New England Patriots
Drake Maye got the nod in Week 6 after the Pats lost four in a row with Jacoby Brissett under center. Analysts can say what they want about starting the rookie QB behind a flimsy o-line and against a strong Texans defensive unit. The Patriots scored their highest point total of the season (21) and Maye accounted for all three touchdowns through the air.
The North Carolina product also threw two interceptions and was sacked four times, but his completion total (20), yardage total (243) and rushing total (34) were higher than any of Brissett’s single game totals this season. Maye has already thrown for more TDs (3) than Brissett (2) has on the season. It was time for Maye to start.
Jayden Daniels | QB, Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels is QB2 on the season in PPG scoring and has settled in as a fixture in this top rookie performances article. He went up against QB1 Lamar Jackson and the Ravens Sunday and gave a solid showing. He went 24-for-35 passing with two touchdowns and ran for 22 yards on six carries.
The Ravens controlled the game, however, putting together long drives and winning the time of possession battle 36:52 to 23:52. Still, Daniels has the Commanders at 4-2, dropping games to only the Ravens and a tough Bucs team.
Bo Nix | QB, Denver Broncos
Bo Nix’s path has been a little bumpier, but he has the Broncos at 3-3 and the former Oregon Duck appears to improve every week. He has thrown for two passing touchdowns each of the past two games and rushed for his highest total (61 yards) Sunday against the Chargers. The Broncos’ matchup against their division rival was rough, but Nix brought the team back from a 23-0 deficit to post a respectable 23-16 loss. Nix accounted for a large part of the scoring during the comeback, throwing TD passes to Courtland Sutton and Troy Franklin.
Bucky Irving | RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bucky Irving is undeniable. He has been one of the most efficient and shiftiest rushers in the league this season. He posted another 14 carries for 81 yards and a score and two receptions for 24 yards Sunday. That was 5.79 yards per carry versus the Saints and his YPC mark on the season is 5.7, No. 3 among qualified running backs behind Tank Bigsby and Derrick Henry.
Brock Bowers | TE, Las Vegas Raiders
Brock Bowers put up another double-digit target performance Sunday in a losing effort versus the Steelers. He caught nine of his 10 targets for 71 yards. Bowers was the No. 1 target for the Raiders with Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers and fellow TE Michael Mayer out.
That would be something to note, except that Bowers was producing in a similar fashion (9-for-98 in Week 2) with all three of those other pass catchers in the lineup. Bowers is a target hog with no signs of slowing down, despite a meager offensive environment.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. | RB, New York Giants
Tyrone Tracy Jr. is another rookie in an ineffective offense, and he just keeps producing when given volume. The Purdue product got another 17 carries and six targets Sunday with Devin Singletary out. He totaled 50 yards rushing (one TD) and 57 yards receiving. Tracy has earned himself a share of the backfield work when Singletary returns, and, being a converted wide receiver, has yet to find his ceiling as a rusher.
Kimani Vidal | RB, Los Angeles Chargers
Kimani Vidal showed up on Sunday with Gus Edwards now on IR. The rookie had just 11 yards on four carries, but caught two passes for 40 yards including a first quarter wheel route touchdown down the right sideline. JK Dobbins has been the team’s best rusher, and is not going anywhere, but Vidal put himself on the map Sunday. He will earn more reps going forward.
Isaac Guerendo | RB, San Francisco 49ers
Don’t forget Isaac Guerendo‘s 76-yard scamper on Thursday night. It was visible proof that the rookie RB can do what he was drafted to do – hit the hole and let the 4.33 speed take over.
If Guerendo gets into the open field, it’s lights out. Guerendo totaled 99 yards on 10 carries against the Seahawks. Christian McCaffrey is eyeing a November return and Jordan Mason has an AC sprain. It may be just the opening Guerendo needed to show off his abilities.
Other Key Usage Notes
Troy Franklin | WR, Denver Broncos – one carry, 25 routes, three targets, two catches, 31 yards, receiving TD with Josh Reynolds out
Ja’Tavion Sanders | TE, Carolina Panthers – 27 routes, seven targets (second-most on team behind Diontae Johnson), five catches, 49 yards with Tommy Tremble out
Bub Means | WR, New Orleans Saints – 32 routes, eight targets, five catches, 45 yards, TD with Chris Olave out
Devaughn Vele | WR, Denver Broncos – 26 routes, six targets, four catches, 78 yards with Josh Reynolds out
Xavier Legette | WR, Carolina Panthers – 31 routes, four targets, three receptions, 23 yards, TD
See all Joel’s PlayerProfiler articles here, including The Rookie Report from all weeks of the 2024 NFL season.
