NFL's Top Rookies of the Year

[ragecage]

Who do you guys say would be your top 10?

I did a little research cuz of my boredom. Here are the ones that stand out basically from 2008 until the NFL AFL Merger. You would be surprised.

2008: Matt Ryan took the league by storm in his rookie year, setting a standard for rookie QB's who normally struggle in their first year in the league. Though his numbers are above average, they are gauty when it comes to rookies.

61% Completion rate, 3,440 Yards 16/11 TD/INT

2007: Adrian Peterson burst onto the scene in 2007 and quickly became what many heralded as the best back in the league. He only started 9 games (played 14), but ammassed over 1300 yards rushing. Also lead the league with 95.8 yards rushing a game.

238 ATT 1341 YDS 12 TD

2004: Ben Roethlisberger, I believe an injury to Tommy Maddux gave Ben the starting job he wouldnt relinquish. He had a 13-0 record as a starter this year and was another rarity of rookie QB's playing at an exceptional level.

66% Completion rate, 2621 YDS 17/11 TD/INT

2003: Anquan Boldin. Had a great year at WR and posted sterling numbers on a bad team.

101 Receptions 1377 YDS 8 TD's

2002: Clinton Portis, numbers wise one of the best rushing rookie seasons of all time.

273 ATT 1508 YDS 15 TD's

2000: Mike Anderson, very scary how similar in numbers he is to Clinton Portis. Though he never really had the success Portis did after.

297 ATT 1487 YDS 15 TD's

1999: Edgerrin James, was scary good in 1999 ammassing over 2,000 total yards of offense. No rookie outside of QB has done that since Edge.

369 ATT (Led League) 1553 YDS 13 TD's 586 RCV YDS 4 TD's

1998: Randy Moss, kind of hard not to compare him to Rice when he had these numbers in his rookie year.

69 REC 1313 YDS 17 TD's

1995: Curtis Martin, kind of surprised he was this good in New England. Though never really flashy his results in his rookie season were outstanding as well as the other guys.

368 ATT 1487 YDS 14 TD's

1989: Barry Sanders in a league in this time where offense wasnt as explosive as today its quite exceptional how well he did in starting 13 games.

280 ATT 1470 YDS 14 TD's

1983 Eric Dickerson LAR: Ummm wow. By far the sickest Rookie numbers by a running back.

390 ATT (Lead League) 1808 YDS (Lead League) 18 TD 113 YD's Rushing per game (lead league)

1981: George Rogers NO: Had a Dickerson esque year, very surprising as I never heard of this guy.

378 ATT (Lead League) 1674 YDS (Lead League) 13 TD

1979 Ottis Anderson: Many may remember when he was with the Giants, but he had his best season as a rookie with the St. Louis Cardinals.

331 ATT 1605 YDS 8 TD

1978 Earl Campbell HOU: Ah he was such a beast in his first 3 seasons, he had a great rookie season and only started 14 games.

302 ATT 1450 YDS Lead League 13 TD's

[ragecage]

Basically everyone is below Eric Dickerson to me.

[SirKodiak]

1981: Ronnie Lott, 7 INT (3 for TD), 89 tackles (LT was Defensive ROY though)
1985: Reggie White, in 13 games had 13 sacks, and 100 tackles (very impressive for a DE, but Duane Bickett won the Defensive ROY))
1990: Mark Carrier, 10 INT, 5 FF, 122 tackles

LT might be up there too if they kept stats back then.

[grasshopper]

What about Tony Dorsett? Probably the greatest Heisman to rookie ever.

[ragecage]

What about Tony Dorsett? Probably the greatest Heisman to rookie ever.

His rookie campaign was good, but compared to the other guys I posted, didnt quite measure. I give him credit for only starting 4 games though.

1977 Tony Dorsett: 208 ATT 1,007 YARDS 12 TD's

[Rexington]

Nice work Rage. I am also going with Dickerson on offense. I think Mark Carrier's 1990 is maybe the best all-around defensive rookie season

[gRYFYN1]

1981: Ronnie Lott, 7 INT (3 for TD), 89 tackles (LT was Defensive ROY though)
1985: Reggie White, in 13 games had 13 sacks, and 100 tackles (very impressive for a DE, but Duane Bickett won the Defensive ROY))
1990: Mark Carrier, 10 INT, 5 FF, 122 tackles

LT might be up there too if they kept stats back then.

estimates for Taylor's rookie year

133 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 8 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception, he was also named the AP defesive player of the year.

[Wassit3]

Basically everyone is below Eric Dickerson to me.

agreed

[OregonDuck1989]

Eric Dickerson. By a mile.

[SirKodiak]

just no love for the defensive players, like they are not just as important as the offensive.

[ragecage]

just no love for the defensive players, like they are not just as important as the offensive.

Well I only did go through the AP Offensive ROY.

[Arctic Blast]

The only guy I immediately thought of who I would list is Fred Taylor.

264 carries, 1,223 yards, 14TDs, 44 catches, 421 yards, 3TDs.

In the end though, gotta go with Dickerson. That is just a sick rookie year.

If there was a good way to measure offensive linemen, several of them would make the list, too.

As for George Rogers, he could have had a monster career. Big, fast, tons of talent...unfortunately, he also had a massive coke problem and ended up being a flash in the pan because of it.