Week 13 is in the books in the National Football League and there are some fresh faces among the top five rookies on winning teams for the week.
5) Jaylen Waddle–Miami Dolphins
Don’t look now but the Miami Dolphins are red hot and are winners of five straight games after beginning the season with a record of one win and seven losses. On Sunday, Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle had nine catches for 90 yards in a 20-9 win over the New York Giants.
4) D’ Wayne Eskridge–Seattle Seahawks
In the 30-23 Seattle Seahawks win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Seahawks rookie wide receiver D’Wayne Eskridge of Winona, Mississippi made his first career touchdown catch. It came 12 seconds left in the second quarter from Russell Wilson. In addition to the seven-yard major, Eskridge had two other catches for 28 yards to finish the game with three catches for 35 yards.
3) Najee Harris–Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers won a critical AFC North Divisonal battle against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. Steelers running back Najee Harris had 21 rushes for 71 yards and five rushes for 36 yards as the Steelers beat the Ravens 20-19. The Crimson Tide product now has 779 rushing yards, and 387 yards receiving on the season to go along with seven touchdowns. The Steelers are at 6-5-1, and back in the hunt for a playoff spot.
2) Kenneth Gainwell–Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles this year have either been good or bad. On Sunday, we saw the good. Eagles rookie running back Kenneth Gainwell of Yazoo City, Mississippi had 12 rushes for 54 yards and one touchdown, along with five catches for 33 yards in a 33-18 win over the New York Jets. The Eagles bounced back following a 13-7 loss to the New York Giants a week before.
1) Amon-Ra St. Brown–Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions finally got in the win column on Sunday after beginning the year at 0-11-1. Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown had his best game of the season. The product of USC, who was the Lions’ fourth round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, had 10 catches for 86 yards and one touchdown in a 29-27 Detroit win over the Minnesota Vikings. St. Brown had the first touchdown catch of his NFL career and it came with no time left on the clock to give Detroit a two-point win. St. Brown also helped Dan Campbell win his first game as a NFL head coach.
