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It's only a couple of weeks into the 2023 NFL season and already things are starting to get exciting. For the followers of college football, it's already known what to expect from a lot of the rookies breaking into the big league, but some of them are performing exceptionally well. There are several rookie sensations who have already caught the attention of fans, analysts and bettors alike. These young players are making waves, shining on the field, affecting the odds of online football betting and grabbing headlines with their impressive performances. While a lot of these names might be familiar to avid followers of college football, not everyone thrives under the pressure of the big leagues, but these names certainly do, and they bear remembering.
A fifth-round pick, Nacua is having a great season early. This rookie receiver is only the fourth player to hit 100 receiving yards and 10 plus receptions in their debut game and his next two games showed that the debut was no fluke. Making his drafting position look like some sort of joke, Nacua has come to lead the NFL in targets and is second and fourth in receptions and receiving yards respectively. To say the Rams got lucky with this one might be a stretch, he played well when he did play in the college league, but a history of injury and a poor showing at his pro day will have that effect. Here's hoping that Nacua remains injury-free and keeps up his fantastic start at the Rams.
Speaking of injuries, there's good news for Colts fans, as it looks like Richardson will only be missing one game after a concussion in week 2. As 4th overall pick in the draft, it seems the Colts expect big things from Richardson and after a poor 2022 season, their fans do as well. While he didn't produce anything magical in his first game, he did quieten detractors of his short-area accuracy by throwing very accurately when going short, which is a promising sign for the Colts. College football fans know that Richardson has a rocketship for an arm and are likely excited to see it in action for the Colts.
As overall draft pick 16, by the Washington Commanders, this cornerback pick came as a bit of a surprise this high on the draft. Someone at the Commanders' office has an idea of what this young man can do and so far he's shown that he wants to prove them right. Already having claimed an integral interception against the Broncos in week 2 and being important late against the Cardinals in week 1, things look pretty good for Forbes.
It's no surprise to see this name on the list. Robinson has been blowing up highlight reels after his opening games and is having one of the best performances in recent memory of a rookie running back with nearly 1,800 yards. After seeing what he could do at the Longhorns it's no surprise that he's performing well, but just how well is a little unexpected. With two solid wins under their belt already, the Falcons are shaping up to have a good season and Robinson is sure to be a part of it.
It's easy to build hype and get recognition for excellent offensive plays, not as easy to do it as a defensive player. This pick-45 rookie might not be featuring on lots of highlight reels, but he's having a hefty impact all the same. Despite the Lions lauding their offensive players and focusing their energy in that area, Branch has come out as an important part of their squad and is definitely having an impact on their game. Branch has shown that he's resilient as well, rolling an ankle in the game against the Packers in the middle of the third but returning to the field at the start of the fourth.
Another rising star in defense, Carter is just one piece of the Eagles' gameplan but it's an important piece. The Eagles ended last season having conceded the eight-fewest points and second-fewest yards and it seems as though they plan to keep playing to that strength this season. Using their number 9 pick of the draft to ensure that they maintain one of the best defenses in the league is potentially a winning strategy for the team from Philly. As for Carter, he's performing well, sitting at seventh in the league for quarterback pressure.
This list is by no means exhaustive, and some names you might expect to see here have been left off on purpose. It is also still very early days for the season and these rising stars who are performing so well might end up peaking too early, or others might be slow-starters that need to get acclimatized to the big leagues before they really show us what they have to offer. One thing is for sure, this season is going to be a joy to watch.