We’re back with the NFL stock watch for the 2023 rookie class, and there are a few themes emerging.
On the positive side, C.J. Stroud is dominating. Last week, it was a 470-yard, five-touchdown performance in a wild comeback win over the Buccaneers. This Sunday, it was an upset victory over the Bengals, with Stroud leading a game-winning drive in the final moments.
As for the negative, Bryce Young continues to struggle mightily for the Panthers. Carolina has watched Young play poorly throughout, totaling eight touchdown passes against seven interceptions, all while averaging a paltry 5.4 yards per attempt.
But who else rose and fell this week? Who made it onto the watch? Let’s take a deep dive.
Rising
Bijan Robinson, RB, Falcons
Matt Kartozian/USA TODAY Sports
Last Week: Holding steady
Robinson finally got a real workload this weekend, rushing 22 times and amassing 106 total yards, including a touchdown. While the Falcons lost to the Cardinals, the first-round back from Texas was a bright spot with his first 100-yard game since Week 4 against the Jaguars.
Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Lions
Last Week: Not rated
Gibbs was phenomenal Sunday in a 41–38 win over the Chargers. The Alabama product ran for 77 yards and two touchdowns while notching three catches for 35 yards. In terms of total yardage, Gibbs ranked third on Detroit behind only Amon-Ra St. Brown and David Montgomery, helping the Lions produce 533 yards of offense.
C.J. Stroud, QB, Texans
Last Week: Rising
Stroud is not only going to be the Offensive Rookie of the Year; he might end up with legitimate MVP consideration. The Texans beat the Bengals 30–27, and Stroud led the way with 356 yards (9.1 YPA) and a touchdown, albeit with a hideous interception. It’s not always perfect, but Stroud is already a top-10 quarterback.
Jayden Reed, WR, Packers
Last Week: Not rated
Not much has gone right for the Packers this season, but Reed is quietly doing a nice job. The second-round pick out of Michigan State found the end zone Sunday in Pittsburgh, part of a five-catch, 84-yard day. All told, Reed is pacing the Packers with 417 receiving yards.
Demario Douglas, WR, Patriots
Last Week: Not rated
New England’s offense is an unmitigated tire fire, but Douglas has been a bright spot. The sixth-round pick out of Liberty caught six passes for 84 yards in Germany on Sunday, leading the Patriots in receiving. While Douglas is still searching for his first touchdown, he’s enjoying a quality rookie campaign.
Calijah Kancey, DT, Buccaneers
Last Week: Not rated
Kancey was a late first-round pick without a ton of national fanfare, but he’s an intriguing prospect. In a 20–6 win over the Titans, Kancey dominated the interior, registering two quarterback hits and a pair of tackles for loss. Alongside Vita Vea, the Buccaneers are hoping Kancey becomes a weekly problem on the inside.
Holding steady
Tank Dell, WR, Texans
Kareem Elgazzar/USA TODAY Sports
Last Week: Rising
Dell has been awesome as a third-round rookie, and he had another productive day in Cincinnati. The former University of Houston star caught six passes for 56 yards and a touchdown, giving him 34 receptions for 510 yards and five scores this year.
Jordan Addison, WR, Vikings
Last Week: Holding steady
Addison has been a stud all year, particularly with Justin Jefferson on the shelf with a balky hamstring for the past five weeks. Against the Saints, Addison totaled four catches for 69 yards, helping the Vikings win their fifth consecutive game, the longest in the NFL. While there have been many terrific rookie wideouts, Addison is the best.
Falling
Will Levis, QB, Titans
Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK
Last Week: Holding steady
Levis will have some good and bad days as he gets used to NFL-level competition. On Sunday, it was a struggle against the Buccaneers, who picked off the second-round selection while holding him to 199 yards on 5.1 yards per attempt. Levis’s arm is beyond reproach, but he needs to learn from inevitable days like this.
Bryce Young, QB, Panthers
It feels like piling on at this point, but Young isn’t finding success. While the Panthers are hapless around him, Young is the No. 1 pick. He’s supposed to elevate people, as Stroud is doing in Houston. Instead, Carolina has one win, and Young threw for 185 yards on 4.9 YPA in a loss to the equally inept Bears.
