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We’ve hit the holiday season, and with the playoffs right around the corner, we’ve seen a lot of rookies make key contributions to their teams’ runs. With Week 16 being so critical for many playoff hopes, we’re going to look at which rookies made the biggest impacts.
A reminder that in order to qualify for this list, a player must have played at least 10 snaps.
Quarterback: Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans – 89.9
The Titans’ playoff hopes ended weeks ago but don’t tell that to Cam Ward, who looked every bit like the first pick in the draft against the Chiefs. The 89.9 PFF grade and 88.0 PFF passing grades smashed his previous career highs, as he was dynamite through the air. Ward completed 21-of-29 passes for 228 yards and two scores. He also added three big-time throws and had zero turnover-worthy plays.
Running Back: Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers – 84.9
Hampton has missed a good chunk of the season due to injury, but on Sunday against the Cowboys, we got a glimpse at what we had been missing during his absence. Hampton carried the ball 18 times for 103 yards and a score while also forcing eight missed tackles. Hampton also recorded four explosive runs, or carries of at least 10 yards.
Wide Receiver: Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers – 85.3
One of the more shocking developments of the 2025 NFL season has been the Carolina Panthers’ ascension to the top of the NFC South, which they achieved with Sunday’s win over the Buccaneers. Perhaps nobody has made a bigger difference than former eighth overall pick Tetairoa McMillan, who continued to be a steady presence in the Panthers’ offense. McMillan caught six passes for 73 yards and a touchdown in the win.
Wide Receiver: Elic Ayomanor, Tennessee Titans – 80.0
Ayomanor may not have blown up the stat sheet in the Titans’ win over the Chiefs, as he caught three passes for 58 yards on the day, but his impact was also felt outside of the box score. Ayomanor had a 71.0 PFF run-blocking grade on the day, a huge step up for him considering he carries a 29.7 grade in that field on the season.
Wide Receiver: Kyle Williams, New England Patriots – 79.4
The former third-round pick out of Washington State has struggled to see consistent playing time in a crowded Patriots receiver room, but he made his presence felt on Sunday night. Williams caught two passes for 46 yards and his third touchdown on the season, a 37-yard over-the-shoulder grab with Marlon Humphrey draped all over him.
Tight End: Mitchell Evans, Carolina Panthers – 91.1
Evans only saw the field for 16 snaps, but he was efficient in his limited playing time. He caught all three of his targets for 23 yards on just six receiving snaps while also grading well in pass protection (72.2 grade) and as a run-blocker (68.4).
Offensive Tackle: Ozzy Trapilo, Chicago Bears – 79.5
Trapilo finally started seeing consistent playing time in Week 12, and he’s been a revelation protecting Caleb Williams’ blind side. Saturday’s win over the Packers was his best performance since taking over the starting job, allowing just three pressures on 42 pass-blocking snaps for a 72.0 grade. He was even better blocking for the run, posting a career-high 82.9 figure that included 84.4 on 10 outside zone runs.
Offensive Tackle: Josh Fryar, Arizona Cardinals – 74.2
The undrafted rookie out of Ohio State has played sparingly this season. But on Sunday against the Falcons, he experienced a career-high 43 snaps while producing PFF pass- and run-blocking grades over 70.0. On 25 pass-blocking snaps, Fryar permitted just one pressure for a 73.7 grade. As a run-blocker, he was equally impressive, carrying 70.4 grade.
Interior Offensive Line: Wyatt Milum, Jacksonville Jaguars – 87.4
Milum only played 10 offensive snaps in the Jaguars’ win over the Broncos, lining up exclusively as an extra offensive lineman. Nine of those snaps came as a run-blocker, and he performed at a high level — securing a 77.4 grade.
Interior Offensive Line: Hayden Conner, Arizona Cardinals – 74.3
Like Milum, Conner didn’t see the field often, suiting up on just 11 snaps against the Falcons. However, he was good in his limited stint. The former sixth-rounder out of Texas won all of his pass-blocking reps for a 79.3 grade while also being solid as a run-blocker, receiving a positive grade on two of the three inside zone runs the Cardinals deployed.
Interior Offensive Line: Donovan Jackson, Minnesota Vikings – 71.9
In the team’s victory over the Giants, Jackson continued to be a reassuring presence along the Vikings’ offensive line — particularly as a run-blocker. Jackson set a career-high in run blocking grade with a 70.8 score, including 72.2 on 10 outside zone runs.
Edge Defender: Nic Scourton, Carolina Panthers – 77.9
The former second-rounder out of Texas A&M has been a force along the Panthers’ defensive line, and he was a key contributor in Carolina’s huge win over the Buccaneers. Scourton recorded two stops as a run-defender and added another while in coverage. Scourton also tallied his sixth sack of the year while contributing another pressure to the mix.
Edge Defender: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Dallas Cowboys – 72.6
Ezeiruaku has been a steal for a Cowboys defense that has needed a steady pass-rusher in the worst way. Despite the loss to the Chargers, Ezeiruaku wasn’t part of the problem, particularly as a run-defender. Ezeiruaku recorded a stop and received a positive grade on 11.8% of his run-defense plays, totaling a 70.9 grade. He also consistently got after the quarterback, totaling three pressures and a 25% pass-rush win rate.
Defensive Interior: Yahya Black, Pittsburgh Steelers – 82.6
Black has had a very up-and-down rookie season, carrying a 50.3 grade on the year. However, that grade includes three games with PFF grades of at least 80.0 — two of which even went over 90.0. Sunday against the Lions was another strong performance for the former Hawkeye, including a 7.7% pass-rush win rate — the second-best figure of his career.
Defensive Interior: Eric Gregory, New England Patriots – 74.7
After prize free-agent signing MiltonWilliams landed on injured reserve, the Patriots have needed guys to step up in his absence. On Sunday against the Ravens, the undrafted rookie out of Arkansas answered the call. He set a career-high 74.7 PFF grade on 22 snaps, including a 73.9 mark against the run.
Linebacker: Carson Schwesinger, Cleveland Browns – 71.5
Schwesinger continues his hot streak of big games, as Sunday was his fourth consecutive matchup with a PFF grade of at least 70.0 — and fifth straight with a PFF run-defense grade that high. He also recorded his second career sack, as the Browns nearly pulled off the upset over the Bills.
Linebacker: Jihaad Campbell, Philadelphia Eagles – 67.9
It’s been a while since we’d seen Campbell on this list, as his role has diminished somewhat throughout the season. However, he did have a bounce-back performance in the win over the Commanders, helping the Eagles to another division crown. Campbell was at his best in coverage, not getting targeted on 18 such snaps. In fact, Campbell hasn’t allowed a catch into his coverage since Week 12.
Cornerback: Trikweze Bridges, Dallas Cowboys – 75.7
Bridges has been inconsistent as a rookie, but that’s to be expected from the draft’s penultimate selection. Sunday against the Chargers was his strongest performance, though, as he didn’t allow a single catch into his coverage. Bridges broke up a pass the only time he was targeted for a career-high 76.5 PFF coverage grade.
Cornerback: Jacob Parrish, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 75.2
The Buccaneers lost a heartbreaker to the Panthers, but Parrish was one of their bright spots. Bryce Young tried picking on him often, as Parrish was targeted seven times on the day. However, he only allowed four of those to be caught for 40 yards while forcing two incompletions and amassing two stops.
Cornerback: Denzel Burke, Arizona Cardinals – 72.3
Burke has quietly put together a nice rookie season, particularly in coverage. He’s recorded a PFF coverage grade of at least 70.0 in three of his last four games, and Sunday against the Falcons was the best of the bunch at 77.1. Burke permitted just one reception into his coverage for four yards while also recording his third career interception.
Safety: Jonas Sanker, New Orleans Saints – 92.3
Sanker was a beast in the Saints’ win over the Jets, setting career highs in both PFF grade and coverage grade (90.1). Sanker was targeted twice, but both times proved to be a mistake: He forced an incompletion on one pass and intercepted the other, his third in 2025.
Safety: Lathan Ransom, Carolina Panthers – 75.7
Another Carolina Panther on this week’s list, Ransom has typically been stronger in run defense — he carries an 85.2 grade in that field on the season. But Sunday against the Buccaneers was his best day in coverage. Ransom intercepted his only target, which wound up being the game-winner that put the Panthers in the driver’s seat in the NFC South.
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