PlayerProfiler is home to award winning dynasty rankings and tools. Our Dynasty Deluxe package includes complete Dynasty Rankings, Rookie Rankings, Trade Analyzer, Draft Planner, Mock Drafts, and more. Check it out. Below, Joel Ybarra highlights rookie performances from Week 4, including Jayden Daniels, the Commanders QB sensation, plus other key stat lines and promising usage trends.
NFL action heated up in Week 4 with several high-scoring matchups. The Bengals-Panthers, Vikings-Packers, Saints-Falcons and Steelers-Colts matchups all hit overs and exceeded 50 points. The highest scoring team of the week going into Monday Night Football, however, was the Washington Commanders. The Commanders feature one of the league’s hottest young rookies, who also earned the Rookie Performance of the Week.
Rookie Performance of the Week
Jayden Daniels | QB, Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels‘ Monday night performance last week would have earned him a shout out on The Rookie Report, but it was published beforehand. The No. 2 NFL Draft pick had the best game of his young career in Week 3 versus the Bengals, going 21-for-23 passing for 257 yards and two TDs. He also added another 39 yards and a score on the ground. Week 4 might have been an even better performance, even while Daniels threw his first interception of the season and had one less touchdown. He went 26-for-30 for 233 yards passing and one TD in Week 4, while dismantling the Cardinals 42-14. The rookie signal caller also ran for another 47 yards and one more score.
Other Notable Rookie Performances
Brian Thomas Jr. | WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars are winless through four games. The promising rookie Brian Thomas Jr. has been the only bright spot. Thomas Jr. drew another nine targets Sunday, catching six of them for 89 yards and a first-half score. The Jags are going to have to figure some things out, but the front office hit on their first round pick.
Ladd McConkey | WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Ladd McConkey is the Chargers’ most exciting pass catcher and the production shows it. He notched another 67 yards on five receptions and a touchdown in a 17-10 loss to the Chiefs.
The Chargers offense has struggled against two tough defenses (the Chiefs in Week 4 and the Steelers last week). If the Justin Herbert-led unit settles into a groove, McConkey could be the biggest beneficiary.
Marvin Harrison Jr. | WR, Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray targeted Marvin Harrison Jr. six times out of 22 pass attempts. Harrison Jr. turned it into a 5-for-45, one TD performance. The downside is that the Cardinals offense struggled against a bad Commanders defense. That casts a shadow on the case for Harrison Jr.’s high end outcomes, but he is the most talented pass catcher on the team.
Keon Coleman | WR, Buffalo Bills
It was a tough night for the Bills against the Ravens, but Josh Allen was looking for Keon Coleman deep down the sideline. Coleman drew four targets, winning in contested catch situations and catching three passes for 51 yards – two for 20-plus yards.
Xavier Worthy | WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Xavier Worthy drew four targets in a low-scoring game (29 Patrick Mahomes pass attempts). The speedy rookie caught three for 73 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown bomb in the second quarter. Unfortunately, Rashee Rice may have suffered a serious knee injury, but that means Worthy may be in a position to step up and handle more targets.
Xavier Legette | WR, Carolina Panthers
The Carolina offense is revitalized with Andy Dalton under center. With Adam Thielen out, Xavier Legette ran 36 routes, tied with Diontae Johnson and Jonathan Mingo for the most on the team. The rookie earned 10 targets, catching six of them for 66 yards and a touchdown.
Dave Canales also schemed the electric athlete two end around rush attempts which he took for eight yards and two yards, respectively.
Ja’Lynn Polk | WR, New England Patriots
Ja’Lynn Polk ran the most routes on the team and also received the most targets on Sunday. He caught only three passes for 30 yards, but that included a 21-yard back shoulder completion from Jacoby Brissett down the left sideline in the third quarter. Polk is a capable receiver. His upside is just capped in an offense limited by middling quarterback play.
Bucky Irving | RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Barring injury, Bucky Irving will probably not fully take over the Tampa Bay backfield, but he is in a 50/50 split with Rachaad White. They both carried the ball 10 times for 49 yards on Sunday and Irving got three targets to White’s two. Irving is a better runner and a decent flex play.
Braelon Allen | RB, New York Jets
Braelon Allen just keeps doing it in the ground game. He carried the ball eight times for 34 yards in what was a low volume game environment. That was while Breece Hall carried it 10 times for four yards.
It is unlikely Allen will usurp Hall as the team’s lead back, but he has been too productive to not have a good share of the backfield touches.
Other Key Usage Trends
Erick All | TE, Cincinnati Bengals – 11 routes, four targets, four receptions, 28 yards
Jordan Whittington | WR, Los Angeles Rams – led team in routes (32) and targets (8), six receptions, 62 yards
See all Joel’s Playerprofiler articles here.
