Week 3 NFL All Rookie Team

Every week, Withthefirstpick.com will be selecting a weekly All-Rookie team, featuring the stars of the previous weekends games. In addition to the Weekly All-Rookie team, keep an eye out for the Mid-season All-Rookie team and the regular season All-Rookie team later in the year.

Week 3 featured a head to head match up between rookie quarterbacks in AFC East and some strong offensive line play from the NFC North. A game losing turnover spoiled a 100 yard effort for an NFC North rookie running back, while the AFC dominated the offensive skill positions. Defensively, the Carolina Panthers rookie defenders came up huge against the Giants. We also saw the first multi sack performance out of the 2013 rookie class. 7 players total have made the All-Rookie team each of the first 3 weeks, 2 offensive players and 5 defenders.

Offense

Geno Smith – Quarterback, New York Jets

Smith threw for 331 yards, 2 touchdowns, and added a 3rd touchdown on the ground as the Jets beat the Buffalo Bills 27-20. The game winning 69 yards touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes was a thing of beauty.

Giovani Bernard – Running Back, Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals continue to feed Bernard more and more as the season wears on and the rookie from North Carolina is responding. 50 yards rushing and 49 yards receiving with a touchdown gave Bernard the edge over Packers rookie Jonathan Franklin’s 100 yard effort, a late 4th quarter fumble cost the Packers the game and his spot on the week 3 All rookie team.

DeAndre Hopkins – Wide Receiver, Houston Texans

His 3rd week on the list, Hopkins has been steady and consistent for the Texans and led the team with 6 catches for 60 yards in a loss against the Baltimore Ravens.

Aaron Dobson – Wide Receiver, New England Patriots

Steadily improving through the first 3 weeks, Dobson hauled in 7 passes from Tom Brady for 52 yards in the Patriots 23-3 victory at home over the Buccaneers.

Luke Wilson – Tight End, Seattle Seahawks

Caught all 5 of his targets and chipped in 76 yards in the Seahawks dismantling of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Jordan Reed – Tight End, Washington Redskins

Stepped in for the injured Fred Davis and reeled in 5 passes for 50 yards. His role should increase as long as his quadriceps injury does not slow him down.

David Bakhtiari – Left Tackle, Green Bay Packers

Had his hands full with a dominant Bengals front 4 but held his own and helped the Green Bay offense gain over 400 total yards.

Larry Warford – Right Guard, Detroit Lions

Continued his strong play against the Redskins and helped keep Matt Stafford clean as the Detroit offensive line surrendered only 1 sack in 42 drop backs.

Travis Frederick – Center, Dallas Cowboys

Spear headed an offensive attack which produced 193 yards on the ground and kept Tony Romo upright, enabling the Cowboys quarterback to throw for 3 touchdowns.

Kyle Long – Right Guard, Chicago Bears

Long has continued his dominant play all season and makes the list for the 3rd week in a row, as the Bears offensive line handled the aggressive Pittsburgh Steelers defense.

Jordan Mills – Right Tackle, Chicago Bears

Mills has been a pleasant surprise as a 5th rounder out of Louisiana Tech, playing a key role in keeping Jay Cutler clean in 2013. Faired reasonably well against Steelers edge rusher Lamarr Woodley and has been improving every week.

Defense

Ezekial Ansah – Defensive End, Detroit Lions

Ansah made his way onto the list for the 3rd week in a row and had his best game as a pro in the Lions 27-20 win over the Redskins in Washington. His 7 tackles, 2 sacks, and a tackle for loss were enough to earn him defensive rookie of the week honors.

Star Lotulelei – Defensive Tackle, Carolina Panthers

Lotulelei has proven a steal for the Panthers and while his run defense has been dominant all year, he registered his first career sack in the Panthers 38-0 beat down of the New York Giants.

Kawann Short – Defensive Tackle, Carolina Panthers

The other Panthers rookie defensive tackle also notched the first sack of his career against Eli Manning and the Giants. The Panthers defensive front controlled the game from the first whistle to the last.

Sheldon Richardson – Defensive Lineman, New York Jets

Richardson continues his disruptive play and was a key component of a Jets defense which sacked Bills quarterback E.J. Manuel 8 times. Richardson recorded a sack and 2 tackles for loss.

Barkevious Mingo – Outside Linebacker, Cleveland Browns

Mingo recorded a sack for the second week in a row and flashed big play ability after stepping in for the injured Jabaal Sheard. Mingo should make his first start of the season in week 4.

Kiko Alonso – Inside Linebacker, Buffalo Bills

Alonso continues to find the football and for the 3rd week in a row has led the Bills defense in tackles. He intercepted a pass for the 2nd consecutive week and has been a part of the All Rookie team 3 weeks in a row.

Alec Ogletree – Outside Linebacker, St. Louis Rams

The speedster out of Georgia has been a tackling machine and ranks 2nd in the NFL in total tackles. This is also his 3rd week in a row on the All Rookie team.

Jonathan Banks – Cornerback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Played a role in the Buccaneers efforts to keep Tom Brady under 250 yards passing. Patriots receivers averaged less than 10 yards per catch.

Robert Lester – Safety, Carolina Panthers

His 5 tackles and an interception of Eli Manning helped the Panthers defense shut out the Giants.

Kenny Vaccaro – Safety, New Orleans Saints

Vaccaro continues to make plays all over the field as the Saints held the Arizona Cardinals to just 7 points and less than 250 yards of total offense. The former Texas Longhorn had 7 tackles and an interception.

Desmond Trufant – Cornerback, Atlanta Falcons

Teamed with Asanta Samuel to hold the Dolphins starting receivers to just 6 catches for 78 yards. Trufant had 4 tackles and deflected a pass.