Top five rookies from Week 16 of 2025 NFL season

Charlie Smyth (YouTube)

Week 16 of the 2025 National Football League regular season is now complete. Here are the top five rookies on winning teams.

5) Ryan Fitzgerald

The native of Coolidge, Georgia made three field goals and two converts in a 23-20 Carolina Panthers win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The field goals were from 27, 41 and 48 yards. Fitzgerald’s 48 yard field goal won the Panthers the game as it broke a 20-20 tie with with two minutes and 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter to close out the scoring. With the win, the Panthers are in first place all alone in the NFC South at eight wins and seven losses.

4) Omarion Hampton

The Los Angeles Chargers’s first round pick from Forest City, North Carolina had 16 rushes for 85 rushing yards and one touchdown, along with one catch for 10 receiving yards in a 34-17 Chargers win over the Dallas Cowboys. Hampton’s touchdown was a five yard run with four minutes and 48 seconds left in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring. With a win, and the Indianapolis Colts’s loss Monday night to San Francisco, the Chargers have clinched a playoff spot.

3) Tyler Shough

The New Orleans Saints youth movement is taking shape. On Sunday, we saw greatness from Saints quarterback Tyler Shough of Chandler, Arizona. Shough completed 32 of 49 passes for 308 passing yards and one touchdown in a 29-6 Saints win over the New York Jets. Shough’s touchdown pass was 23 yards to Chris Olave of San Ysidro, California and put the Saints up 16-6 with 41 seconds left in the third quarter. Shough also had two rushes for eight rushing yards.

2) Cam Ward

The first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft completed 21 of 28 passes for 228 passing yards and two touchdowns, along with four rushes for nine rushing yards in a 26-9 Titans win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Ward’s first touchdown pass went seven yards to tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo of Powder Springs, Georgia, and his second touchdown pass went one yard to rookie wide receiver Chimere Dike of Waukesha, Wisconsin.

1) Charlie Smyth

The Saints rookie phenom kicker is in the top five for the second straight week. On Sunday, Smyth of Newry, Northern Ireland made five field goals and two converts in their win over the Jets. Smyth’s field goals were of 35, 36, 39, 49 and 50 yards.