NFL Rookie Rankings: Marvin Harrison Jr., Top Performers After 2024 Week 2

Brent SobleskiSeptember 17, 2024NFL Rookie Rankings: Marvin Harrison Jr., Top Performers After 2024 Week 20 of 11

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. squashed any doubts with his Week 2 performance against the Los Angeles Rams. Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The first two weeks of NFL play for rookies can be easily summed up by the Marvin Harrison Jr. experience.

Everyone viewed Harrison as an elite talent through the entire 2024 draft cycle. He ranked No. 1 overall on Bleacher Report’s final rankings. Yet he struggled to find his footing in Week 1, with only one reception for four yards.

Questions arose. People openly wondered if Harrison wasn’t the talent they thought. Maybe he was going to glide his way through an NFL career instead of dominating.

Nope, the Cardinals just needed to get their young receiver more involved. Harrison responded with four receptions for 130 yards in the first quarter Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.

A one-game sample size is exactly what it says it is. How first-year players stack games throughout the season determines who is the league’s newest stars.

B/R is ranking the rookies each week based on their cumulative performance. The rankings are volatile at the start but will even out as the season progresses.

Who Missed the Cut1 of 11

New York Jets running back Braelon AllenJustin Ford/Getty Images

Off the List

WR Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs: Last week’s No. 1 didn’t provide the same explosive approach in Week 2. Feast-or-famine expectations make sense considering the nature of Worthy’s game and his standing within the Chiefs offense. Three touches per game simply isn’t good enough to make the list when the 28th overall pick isn’t creating chunk plays.

DT T’Vondre Sweat, Tennessee Titans: The second-round rookie simply didn’t have the same impact in Week 2 compared to his debut.

C Zach Frazier, Pittsburgh Steelers: Frazier will be a longtime starter in the middle of the Steelers offensive line. He’s going to have plenty of good and bad games. He played better in the season opener than he performed against the Denver Broncos.

Edge Marshawn Kneeland, Dallas Cowboys: Kneeland played far fewer snaps against the New Orleans Saints and provided little impact.

S Caleb Bullock, Houston Texans: Bullock was good in Week 1, but he’s being overshadowed by a teammate (more on that in a bit).

Names to Watch

RB Braelon Allen, New York Jets: Allen became the youngest NFL player—he doesn’t turn 21 until January—to score a pair of scrimmage touchdowns when he did so against the Tennessee Titans. Breece Hall is the lead back for Gang Green, but Allen can provide an excellent alternative when Hall needs a break.

TE Erick All Jr., Cincinnati Bengals: All is seemingly growing each week. After playing only a handful of snaps in Week 1, his four receptions tied with Ja’Marr Chase for the second-most on the squad during Sunday’s matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs. He’s also a competent blocker.

OT JC Latham, Tennessee Titans: This year’s seventh overall pick is quickly adjusting to left tackle. His improvement in pass protection was noticeable between the first two weeks of play. If Latham continues on this upward trajectory, he’ll end up on the list.

CB Andru Phillips, New York Giants: Phillips played extensively in Week 2 after a smaller role in his debut. The third-round pick rewarded the Giants with 12 total tackles, two tackles for loss, a quarterback hit and solid coverage. New York may have found something in its new nickel corner.

S Javon Bullard, Green Bay Packers: Bullard remains on the fringe. His tackle numbers were down this past weekend, but he was better in coverage. He’s putting it all together, which is worthy of a mention.

10. OG Dominick Puni, San Francisco 49ers2 of 11

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Dominick Puni had to wait until Monday Night Football to make his professional debut as the starting right guard for the San Francisco 49ers. The blocker shined brightly in prime time.

“I had flashes for sure, I had good moments, but at the same time a lot to clean up,” Puni said, per Jordan Elliott of NBC Sports Bay Area. “You could tell they were throwing some looks, I feel like for me on the D-line, they were trying to get some guys [to] get me out of position a little bit. Definitely a lot of things to learn from, but all the guys do a hell of a job keeping me in the mix and letting me know.”

The New York Jets have a really good defensive front. So Puni’s downturn against the Minnesota Vikings came as somewhat of a surprise. The offensive tackle convert struggled in Week 2.

Puni allowed three pressures and mentioned he had “a lot of things to learn” when playing on the road and dealing with a silent count. A shorter practice week probably didn’t help matters, either.

Even so, Puni clearly has the chops to be a rookie standout throughout the entire campaign.

9. CB Kamari Lassiter, Houston Texans3 of 11

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The Houston Texans seem to be pretty good at drafting. Last year, the organization added two cornerstone pieces in quarterback C.J. Stroud and edge defender Will Anderson Jr., who are the reigning NFL Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year, respectively. In that same class, general manager Nick Caserio chose wide receiver Tank Dell and linebacker Henry To’oTo’o.

This year, the Texans didn’t have a first-round pick after moving one opening-round selection as part of the Anderson draft-day trade and then dealing another—originally from the Cleveland Browns—to the Minnesota Vikings.

Eventually, the Texans chose Kamari Lassiter as their top pick with the 42nd overall selection.

Prior to the draft, Lassiter didn’t test well, particularly with his 4.65-second 40-yard-dash at Georgia’s pro day. It’s not a good number. At the same time, the run doesn’t fully encapsulate the player. The Texans were patient and apparently wise to select Lassiter where they did.

The 21-year-old cornerback has been stellar so far this season. He posted a 90.9 coverage grade and snagged an interception Sunday against the Chicago Bears, according to Pro Football Focus.

Houston Texans @HoustonTexans.@kamari_lassiter’s INT From the rafters 🤯🔥 pic.twitter.com/8jiwoIctUI

Right now, Lassiter is arguably the NFL’s best rookie coverage defender.

8. CB Quinyon Mitchell, Philadelphia Eagles4 of 11

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After a strong debut, Philadelphia Eagles cornerback showed the extreme swings that can occur for a rookie during his second appearance.

Mitchell is at his best when the ball is in front of him and he can drive on passes. His ball skills are tremendous. This year’s 22nd overall pick nearly snagged an interception Monday against the Atlanta Falcons.

NFL @NFLQuinyon Mitchell PBU

📺: #ATLvsPHI on ESPN
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/TEinyhk3Zd

Still, the Falcons decided to attack the rookie during what turned out to be their game-winning drive. Mitchell allowed a pair of catches before Drake London beat veteran cornerback Darius Slay for a seven-yard touchdown reception.

“I put him in a tough spot to begin with,” Mitchell told reporters after the game. “I gave up the deep ball and then I gave up the out cut. So I just put it on myself.”

A strong start with a disappointing ending became somewhat of a theme among this week’s top rookies. Malik Nabers experienced something similar. Spoiler alert: The New York Giants wide receiver also made the list. Again, this is a cumulative evaluation.

Mitchell is a playmaker on a back end. But he’s going to give up a few catches. Overall, the Eagles should be quite happy with the flashes already seen from this year’s CB1.

7. WR Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars5 of 11

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Every week, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ opponent must account for wherever wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is and what he can do at a moment’s notice.

Last week, Thomas found his way into the end zone. Against the Cleveland Browns, the first-year target showed exactly how he can ignite the Jags offense.

As the third-quarter clock continued to wind down, Jacksonville struggled to build any sustainable offense against Cleveland’s standout defense. However, momentum shifted quickly when Trevor Lawrence connected with Thomas on a 66-yard pass.

Jacksonville Jaguars @Jaguars.@Trevorlawrencee with a beautiful long ball to @BrianThomas_11!#CLEvsJAX on CBS pic.twitter.com/ZSlA0WzeNy

Two plays later, Jacksonville found the end zone for the first (and only) time.

“Yeah, I was just trying to go out there and make a play and get the crowd involved,” Thomas told reporters after the game. “Trying to give us that spark that we needed to come out in the second half and push through.”

The Jaguars offense can be more effective if it doesn’t go long stretches without involving Thomas, as it has through the first two games. Clearly, he can make plays if provided with an opportunity. The team drafted him in the first round for a reason. It’s time to fully unlock what the rookie can do.

6. Edge Jared Verse, Los Angeles Rams6 of 11

Cooper Neill/Getty Images

The Arizona Cardinals embarrassed the Los Angeles Rams this past weekend. The team won’t have many good things to say about the performance after losing by 31 points. Someone should speak up for this year’s 19th overall pick, Jared Verse.

While working off the edge, Verse is third on the Rams in total tackles. His four tackles are one behind league leaders Maxx Crosby, Aidan Hutchinson and Alontae Taylor.

Verse may not be posting gaudy numbers, but he’s creating an impact along the defensive front. His overall pass-rush production is bounds better than any other first-year defender. He easily graded as the Rams’ best player against the Cardinals. The performance included a forced fumble.

At this juncture, the biggest gripe anyone can make about Verse is needing to get better at finishing plays, especially when attacking the quarterback. But his relentless nature has allowed him to be a presence consistently.

5. WR Malik Nabers, New York Giants7 of 11

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One fourth-down drop doesn’t completely mar how good New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers has been.

“I mean, obviously,” Nabers responded when asked if he needs to make that play every time. “They’re high on me. They’re passing me the ball. They know I can make plays, I’m sure. Out of a thousand times, they’re going to continue to call that play and go at me on fourth down again. So, obviously I want to make that play.”

Unfortunately, the current disarray state of the organization only magnifies the situation. Nabers wasn’t on last week’s top-10 list. He played well. The rest of his team didn’t, which undercut the performance.

Still, this year’s sixth overall draft pick finds himself as a top-four wide receiver in yards after his 127-yard performance against the Washington Commanders. He’s getting open and making plays. According to Pro Football Focus’ Mark Chichester, 83 of his receiving yards came after the catch.

Nabers simply whiffed on one critical one.

“I thought he played well,” head coach Brian Daboll told reporters. “… What did he have 18 targets? 10 catches. The last one, he is as competitive as can be. I appreciate how competitive he is and how much he cares.”

4. WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals8 of 11

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

To paraphrase the misunderstood genius of Victor Frankenstein, “Look. Marvin Harrison Jr. is moving. He’s alive. He’s ALIVE!”

After an underwhelming and, frankly, disappointing debut, Harrison looked the part of a monstrous talent capable of electrifying the Arizona Cardinals offense.

Harrison had himself a day in one quarter of play. The Cardinals made sure to integrate this year’s fourth overall pick into the offense as a primary target. He responded with four receptions for 130 yards and two touchdowns as Arizona ran away from the rival Los Angeles Rams.

In doing so, he became the first rookie wide receiver with at least four catches and two touches in the opening frame since his father achieved the same feat 28 years earlier. MHJ also graded as the weekend’s best wide receiver, per Pro Football Focus.

Arizona Cardinals @AZCardinalsMARVIN HARRISON JR.’S FIRST NFL TOUCHDOWN HAS ARRIVED pic.twitter.com/EFquDWaM8V

“I never lacked confidence in myself or the rest of the team,” Harrison told reporters. “I’ll continue to get better each week and continue to grow.”

Clearly, Harrison’s latest effort helped offset the poor start. The Cardinals realized he needs to be involved early. Expect much of the same approach as the season progresses.

3. TE Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders9 of 11

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The NFL is quickly finding out what college football defensive coordinators already knew: Brock Bowers will get open and make plays.

The Las Vegas Raiders found themselves in the unfortunate position of not being able to select a quarterback with this year’s 13th overall draft pick. Instead, they choose to do the smart thing by surrounding what they have at quarterback with the best possible talent the organization could acquire.

Bowers was the most decorated tight end prospect to ever leave the collegiate ranks and a legitimate top-three talent in this year’s draft class. His production may be held down to some degree because of the Raiders’ quarterback situation. Still, he’s already functioning as a high-level weapon.

Through two games, Bowers has 156 receiving yards. It’s the most ever by a Raiders tight end in their first two career appearances. His 15 receptions are the most by a rookie tight end since at least 1960, per Levi Edwards of the Raiders’ official site. Bowers currently leads all NFL tight ends in receiving yards, while ranking second overall in receptions.

Unlike at Georgia, Bowers isn’t the Raiders’ top target. Davante Adams is. But the tight end can be Gardner Minshew II’s best friend with how he works the middle of the field and creates after the catch.

2. OT Joe Alt, Los Angeles Chargers10 of 11

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Offensive linemen playing at a high level aren’t sexy, and rookies who do so are even less so. Sure, Trent Williams or even Zack Martin garner plenty of attention because of their greatness. First-year blockers must prove they’re simply good enough to hold up against the NFL’s amazing athletes along the defensive line. For one to flourish (let alone two atop these rankings) is special.

The Los Angeles Chargers are somewhat used to it, though.

As a rookie in 2021, left tackle Rashawn Slater became a second-team All-Pro. When the Chargers then drafted Joe Alt in this year’s class, the elite tackle prospect was forced to flip sides.

Now at right tackle, Alt hasn’t missed a beat. According to Pro Football Focus, Alt graded as the NFL’s best offensive tackle in Week 2. He allowed only one pressure.

The 21-year-old is rewarding the Chargers by proving their philosophical approach right. Los Angeles passed on elite wide receiver prospects to take Alt. Despite moving on from the likes of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, the team trusted in Quentin Johnston’s development and the selection of Ladd McConkey a round later. It’s worked so far.

Alt has been fantastic as a critical component to another Jim Harbaugh offense led by its offensive line.

1. OT Taliese Fuaga, New Orleans Saints11 of 11

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Imagine the pressure of being asked to play a premium position from the onset of your NFL career. Not only are you being asked to play said position, but the team plans to flip you from your natural spot to the other side of the line of scrimmage. Oh, you’re also being tasked with the protecting the quarterback’s blind side on what turns out to be the NFL’s top team (so far).

Sounds impossible, right? Well, everything stated is exactly what the New Orleans Saints’ Taliese Fuaga is doing—and at a high level.

The left tackle was a game-time decision against the Dallas Cowboys’ ferocious front because of some back tightness. Fuaga played and didn’t allow a single pressure, according to The 33rd Team.

Considering the rookie faced the likes of Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence after not even knowing he’d be available, his performance was staggeringly good.

“When he stepped out there, I said, ‘Hey, are you going to be good?’ And without hesitation he’s like, ‘Yeah, I’ll be good. I’ll be there,'” quarterback Derek Carr told reporters. “He went out and competed and he played really well.

“To see that from a rookie in his second game against a really good defense … it says a lot about him, and our teammates should be really thankful that he’s on our football team.”