Standout rookie performers in the 2020 NFL season
The 2020 NFL season has seen incredible rookie performances so far. Justin Jefferson, a rookie receiver for the Minnesota Vikings, is among the leaders for receiving yardage in the entire NFL, racking up 848 yards in his first 10 games and doing so with only 45 receptions. His average yardage per catch is an impressive 18.8 — higher than many franchise names such as Tyler Lockett and Davante Adams. Another outstanding rookie receiver has been Abbotsford’s own Chase Claypool, whose eight touchdown catches have him in the top 10 in that category. 2020’s rookie quarterbacks have also been significantly outperforming prior draft classes; in my experience, few rookie quarterbacks, and almost never more than one per year, if any, truly settle into the role in their first season, often using it as an opportunity to acquaint themselves with the pace of the league. This year, however, there are three rookie quarterbacks firmly in the race for the rookie of the year award. The front-runner is Los Angeles Chargers’ Justin Herbert, a rookie QB from Oregon, who has accumulated 22 touchdown passes, stunningly establishing himself in the entire NFL’s top 10 despite having played in only nine games, compared to the 10 played by most leading quarterbacks as of Sunday.
These are just a few of the standout rookie performances, which are staggering in themselves. Justin Jefferson’s performance in particular has earned him one of the highest grades ever achieved by a rookie in the NFL’s popular Fantasy Leagues. However, it’s the volume of star rookies that has many of us fans and analysts baffled, leaving me to wonder if these young stars are experiencing an easier transition to professional football as they feel less pressure due to 2020’s empty stadiums — a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. I can only imagine that roaring NFL crowds are often a part of what makes the first-year transition so difficult. No matter the case, there is no denying that among the chaos of 2020, the NFL’s newest additions have been phenomenal — a feat nothing can take from them.
