After two weeks of NFL experience under their belts, we at PFF have put together our list of the 10 highest-graded rookies following Week 2, and there happens to be a new number one.
10. WR D.K. Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks – 71.6
At the 2019 NFL Combine, D.K. Metcalf made people think he wasn’t human by running a 4.33s 40-yard time at 230 pounds, but he literally made people laugh with his 7.38s three-cone time. Consequently, those across the league and in the media labeled Metcalf a go-route-only receiver and said he wasn’t worth taking in the first-round – thus, he fell Seattle with the last pick of the second round. However, through two weeks of play, Metcalf has shown his inane go-route talent is well worth a first-round pick.
Seven of his 13 targets have been on go route, and his 91.1 receiving grade on those targets is the best in the league and his 86 yards are tied for the most. Overall, Metcalf has produced six explosive plays (second-most), 2.42 yards per route run, a 120.7 passer rating when targeted and three catches on four contested targets, all while catching 100% of his catchable targets.
9. S Taylor Rapp, Los Angeles Rams – 71.8
Serving as the Rams' primary dime defender, Taylor Rapp has stood his ground through two weeks of NFL plays with a 73.4 coverage grade. While he has been picked on with 16 targets on 59 coverage snaps, Rapp has come away with four stops in coverage. Collectively, Rapp has eight instances of being the first defender to contact and zero missed tackles on his 14 attempts. Nonetheless, if he can continue to develop as a slot defender and make more plays like the third-down forced incompletion against the Saints early in the fourth quarter, Rapp will become one of the league’s top defensive backs.