Jake’s Takes: Top 10 Must-See NFL Rookies

Jake Moszkowski takes a look at some of the most exciting rookies to keep an eye on for the upcoming NFL season. We’re closing in on the season starting so it will pay to keep a close track on these young players in preseason with your Week 1 bets in mind! 

Some of the rookies and second-year players may only get a few looks at live, in-game action in the preseason, but I’ve ranked my top-10 “must-see” NFL rookies below.

1. Bijan Robinson: The first running back taken off the board, Robinson joins a suddenly fearsome offensive triumvirate in Atlanta featuring wideout Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts. Only Robinson will likely get preseason reps, but he’s going to star in a run-first offensive scheme as a bonafide RB1 from the get-go.
2. Will Anderson: A terrifying pass rusher from Alabama, I fully expect Anderson to challenge for double digit sacks as a rookie. If he gets extended looks in the preseason, I expect a few sacks for him. He’s too athletic and too strong not to overwhelm at least one non-starter offensive tackle.
3. Anthony Richardson: The Indianapolis Colts took the inexperienced quarterback in the first round, but Richardson’s ceiling is impossibly high. The dual-threat passer will likely have some jaw-dropping plays in the preseason, particularly with new HC Stane Steichen at the helm. I’m hoping we get to see at least one tackle-shedding run and one 40+ yard frozen rope of a pass.
4. Jalen Carter: Carter fell into a perfect situation, as the projected #1 overall draft pick fell all the way to Philadelphia at 10th overall. Now, Carter gets to learn from perennial defensive line stars like Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat. I hope we get to see him flatten an offensive lineman. 
5. Rashee Rice: The Chiefs added this YAC monster from SMU, and I’m super curious to see how he performs in the preseason. Kansas City won a Super Bowl with less-than-stellar WR play, and Rice will hope to change that. He’s built not dissimilarly to 49ers WR Deebo Samuel - sort of a WR in a running back’s frame. 
6. Zay Flowers: An electric wide receiver out of Boston College, reports are coming in that Flowers is the best wideout at Ravens camps at the moment. I’m very curious to see how much of the new-look Ravens offense, schemed by new offensive coordinator Todd Monken, is revealed in the preseason. Check out Baltimore Ravens Preseason Streak – How Does It Impact Betting?
7. Sam LaPorta: Rookie tight ends don’t get mentioned much, but Iowa is about as close of a school to a tight end factory as you’ll find. The Hawkeyes have four (five, including LaPorta) active tight ends in the NFL. LaPorta should be an immediate TE1 for the Detroit Lions. 
8. Deonte Banks: Banks was favorably compared to Marlon Humphrey during pre-draft analysis, and now he gets to play for Humphrey’s old defensive coordinator in Wink Martindale for the New York Giants. Banks is a truly ridiculous athlete, boasting a 42-inch vertical leap and a 4.35 40-time. 
9. Jakorian Bennett: Two Maryland corners in a row? Yes. I think Bennett can be this year’s iteration of Tariq Woolen, a toolsy, enormous cornerback that can be a ball magnet and playmaker from Day 1 onward. 
10. Daxton Hill: Hill is a second-year player, but he only played 131 defensive snaps in Year 1 despite being a first round pick. Both of the Bengals starting safeties (Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates) left in free agency, leaving the versatile Hill with big shoes to fill. He can play almost any secondary role that DC Lou Anarumo will ask of him, and I expect us to see some of that playmaking in the preseason. 

Check out how do Huddle’s traders approach NFL preseason in our recent blog to learn more!