by Stephen Barston
There has been no shortage of surprises thus far in the 2013
NFL season. The Houston Texans went from 12-4 last year, even winning their
first game in the playoffs, to the unequivocal loser of the league. Nick Foles
of the Philadelphia Eagles has overtaken the versatile Michael Vick and become
one of the best passing quarterbacks in the NFL, simultaneously leading his
team to a first place position in the NFC East (at the time of publication).
There have been some incredible performances by rookies so far as well; below I
have listed the top three rookies in the league this season.
1. Sheldon Richardson, New York Jets DL
Richardson has been the number one rookie on Bleacher Report's rankings since Week 7 and has proved to be a spark on an otherwise-lackluster Jets team. He has had a Pro Bowl-caliber season, currently ranking third out of all defensive lineman in terms of combined tackles (70). He consistently stops the run, and for the 13th overall pick in the draft, has easily had the greatest impact on his respective team. Although everything else about this season has been bleak for Rex Ryan's squad, Jets fans have something to cheer about for years to come, as Richardson is currently locked in to a four-year contract, with an option for a fifth.
2. Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers RB
With Aaron Rodgers' injury, several other players on the
Packers have had to step up to compensate for his absence; Eddie Lacy is one of
these players. He is the only rookie with over 1000 yards rushing this season
(and seventh overall in the league), with eight touchdowns as well. He has
carried the load on a team usually known for a dominant tendency to pass and
has allowed for some pressure to be taken off of the shoulders of replacement
quarterback Matt Flynn. At this point, Lacy looks like a lock for 2013
offensive rookie of the year.
3. Keenan Allen, San Diego Chargers WR
Allen has been an integral part of the Chargers relative
success this season and has kept them in playoff contention despite a 4-6 start
to the year. With a somewhat-reliable running attack, Philip Rivers has been
able to find Allen time and time again, who has been targeted 90 times and has
accumulated 931 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. If he can continue to
perform as he did in the much-needed victory against the Broncos (scoring twice
on two receptions—talk about efficiency), the Chargers might secure a wild card
spot and make a surprising run in the playoffs.
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| Jets lineman Sheldon Richardson has been a formidable presence for a disappointing Jets team this season |
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