NFL Rookie Watch

SI Staff | Dec 6, 2006

NFL Rookie Watch /

NFL Rookie Watch

Matt Leinart

Last Week: 10 Leinart completed 15 of 24 passes for 186 yards, one touchdown and no picks in a 34-20 win over the Rams. He appears to have figured out how to run an NFL offense, and has led Arizona to wins in two of its last three games.

Kamerion Wimbley

Last Week: 8 The NFL took a sack away from Wimbley from Week 12, ruling it a quarterback running play, but the rookie out of Florida State got another one against the Chiefs in Week 13. He's now had at least one sack in four of his last five games (the streak would have been five straight). Wimbley has adjusted well to a 3-4 defense and appears to a great building block for the Browns.

Reggie Bush

Last week: Unranked Bush has been in and out of the top 10 in our Rookie Watch all season. But he'll probably stay after last Sunday's masterful four-touchdown performance against the 49ers. Bush showed the explosiveness and the moves everyone expected all season. Hopefully for New Orleans, he'll build on that contest and continue to break big plays throughout the rest of the season.

Marques Colston

Last Week: 3 Once the heavy front-runner for Offensive Rookie of the Year, Colston has missed two games and barely played in another after spraining his ankle on the first offensive series of a Week 11 loss to the Bengals. He still has an impressive 869 receiving yards and seven touchdown catches.

Laurence Maroney

Last Week: 5 Maroney was injured on a helmet-to-helmet hit early in the first quarter of New England's win over Detroit last Sunday. The rookie's absence was easy to notice as the Patriots moved away from the running game and stressed Tom Brady's passing.

Devin Hester

Last Week: 9 Hester leads the NFL with a 14.3-yard punt-return average and three punt returns for touchdowns. Last Sunday, his 45-yard punt return touchdown helped the Bears top the Vikings 23-13. With the offense sputtering, Hester is a life-saver in the Windy City.

Marcus McNeill

Last Week: 4 Even though San Diego's offense wasn't as electrifying as usual in a win over Buffalo last Sunday, LaDainian Tomlinson had several holes to run through last and Philip Rivers had pretty good protection. McNeill is good enough to make you forget he's a rookie on most plays. The Chargers are very comfortable with him at this crucial position.

Joseph Addai

Last Week: 1 After running for 171 yards two weeks ago, Addai was held to 56 yards on 16 carries in a loss to the Titans last Sunday. Addai still leads all rookie running backs by a long ways with 845 yards.

DeMeco Ryans

Last Week: 6 Ryans had 15 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble, a recovery and a sack in Houston's 23-14 win over Oakland. He displayed his ability to rush the passer, stop the run and cover receivers in his virtuoso performance. Right now, Ryans has to be considered a front-runner for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Vince Young

Last Week: 2 Young led the Titans past the Colts to improve to 5-4 as a starter. Folks across the NFL are starting to realize his mediocre passing numbers aren't that significant, in part because he's so dangerous as a runner. If he continues to improve as a passer the remaining few weeks of the season, he has a good shot at being Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Published Dec 6, 2006

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