NFL1000: Rookie Review from Week 11

Though the Pittsburgh Steelers' Le'Veon Bell led all running backs (and all players) in this week's NFL1000 rankings, it could be argued that the Dallas Cowboys' Ezekiel Elliott had the more impressive performance when you adjust for opponent.

Bell went nuts on the Cleveland Browns defense for his first game with 200-plus total yards since 2014, but the Browns have one of the least impressive run defenses in the NFL. Elliott, on the other hand, had a real test when the Cowboys took on the Baltimore Ravens, owners of one of the league's stingiest defenses.

Dallas punted on its first four possessions (a first in 2016) but was able to maintain its bully-boy offense over time. That's what the Cowboys do—they just wear you out. Elliott is a major component of that attack, and his 25-carry, 97-yard game should be seen as highly valuable and impressive. Elliott's longest run was 14 yards, but this was more about pounding at Baltimore's front seven over and over.

The Cowboys scored on each of their last five drives and upped the play count as they went—from six plays, to eight, to 10, to 13 twice. They nearly doubled Baltimore's time of possession, with Elliott as the man driving the wagon as the Ravens started to see the game slip away. Nineteen of his carries came in the second half. It was a great old-school performance and yet another display of Elliott's ability to carry the water as often as needed.

More good news for the Cowboys: Quarterback Dak Prescott continued to grow as a player, showing impressive poise under pressure against Baltimore's attacking defense. Prescott finished his day with 27 completions in 36 attempts for 301 yards and three touchdowns.

Prescott completed 11 of 16 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns when the Ravens blitzed him. He's proved that unless you take him down, he's going to hurt you. Add in his mobility and ability to confuse defenses with the read-option game, and Prescott starts to look like the most impressive rookie quarterback since the 2012 haul that brought us Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Russell Wilson and Ryan Tannehill.

The most remarkable thing about Dallas' rookie class isn't that Prescott and Elliott are prolific stat collectors; it's that there's very little difference in their overall performance level when they're facing the best and toughest opponents. That's why Dallas' 2016 draft has to go down as one of the best in recent memory.

It was a great week for many of the NFL's first-year players. Here's how we saw their performances.

Advanced statistics via Pro Football Focus unless otherwise noted. Cornerback stats charted by B/R's scouts.

Biggest Movers Heading into Week 12

Larry French/Getty Images

Robert Kelley

How do you quantify the effect of the low-drafted or undrafted star? How do you chart the progress of those rookies who are struggling to make their way regardless of their draft position? With the weekly NFL1000 Rookie Review, we'll look to do both of those things while keeping track of the stars of the 2016 draft. Part of that process is to align players with their draft positions relative to their on-field performance.

It's what NFL teams do, and it's what we do.

Our Week 11 Rookie Review reveals a number of players who have taken major steps forward in their professional development.

1. Roberto Aguayo, K, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2016 Draft Position: 59 (second round, 28th pick)

Rank Last Week: 17

Rank This Week: 5

What Happened: Apparently, this isn't a fluke. After a first half of a rookie season that had many wondering if he was ready for the NFL at all (never mind deserving of a second-round pick), Aguayo has figured it out to a truly remarkable degree.

While other kickers were missing a record 12 extra points in Week 11, the formerly unreliable Aguayo had it on lock for the second straight week. He made all four of his field-goal tries against the Kansas City Chiefs in a 19-17 win over one of the AFC's best teams, putting him at 6-of-6 on field goals over the last two games. Yes, he started with a low bar, but it's encouraging to see Aguayo move past his early yips and show what kind of player he can be.

2. Karl Joseph, SS, Oakland Raiders

2016 Draft Position: 14 (first round, 14th pick)

Rank Last Week: NR

Rank This Week: 2

What Happened: Joseph has been an important point man in the Raiders' rise this season. He was excellent against the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football in Mexico City, with a career-high nine solo tackles and one completion allowed for 20 yards. Whether against the run or defending the short-to-intermediate passing game, Joseph is validating Oakland's faith in his potential.

3. Robert Kelley, RB, Washington Redskins

2016 Draft Position: UDFA 

Rank Last Week: NR

Rank This Week: 3

What Happened: As an undrafted player, Kelley had his work cut out for him when ascending Washington's crowded running back depth chart. But he's done everything possible to make his case as the starter over the last three weeks. He came close to the 100-yard mark in games against the Cincinnati Bengals and Minnesota Vikings' excellent defenses, and he picked apart the Green Bay Packers' disjointed unit Sunday for 137 yards and three rushing touchdowns on 24 carries. Quarterback Kirk Cousins got most of the attention after the Redskins deboned Green Bay, but Kelley was a red-zone force.

4. Taylor Decker, LT, Detroit Lions

2016 Draft Position: 16 (first round, 16th pick)

Rank Last Week: NR

Rank This Week: 4

What Happened: Detroit's offense resurgence is the main reason it's won five of its last six games and why it's in the NFC North driver's seat in a virtual tie with the Minnesota Vikings, given Green Bay's regression and the Chicago Bears' injury plague. Decker has matched his offense in overall improvement—against the Jacksonville Jaguars last Sunday, he didn't allow a single sack or quarterback hit, giving up just a handful of pressures. In fact, Decker hasn't allowed a sack since Week 3 and looks like he'll buck the trend of recent high-drafted offensive linemen who find the NFL a bit too complicated for their liking.

5. Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints

2016 Draft Position: 47 (second round, 16th pick)

Rank Last Week: NR

Rank This Week: 9

What Happened: The Saints lost a close one to the Carolina Panthers in Week 11, but Thomas did nothing but shine in that 23-20 defeat, catching all five of his targets and bouncing back well from a very rough Week 10 performance against the Denver Broncos in which he lost two fumbles and cost his quarterback an interception on a deflected pass. Such resilience is a hallmark of mentally tough players—and always good to see in a rookie.

Top 50 Rookies Overall from Week 11

Larry French/Getty Images

Karl Joseph (left)

Our Week 11 Top 50 rookie rankings are based on game-tape evaluation. We can now see how they shake out against preseason grades and expectations. Here's how things stand for the 2016 rookie class this week.

Top 50 Rankings

Rank	Player	Pos.	Team	Pick	NFL1000 Score	LW	Moving
1	Ezekiel Elliott	RB	DAL	4	82	1	↔
2	Karl Joseph	SS	OAK	14	77	NR	↑
3	Robert Kelley	RB	WAS	UDFA	76	NR	↑
4	Taylor Decker	LT	DET	16	76	NR	↑
5	Roberto Aguayo	K	TB	59	76	17	↑
6	Ronnie Stanley	LT	BAL	6	75	20	↑
7	Artie Burns	CB	PIT	25	74	72	↑
8	Kentrell Brice	FS	GB	UDFA	74	33	↑
9	Michael Thomas	WR	NO	47	74	NR	↑
10	Jack Conklin	RT	TEN	8	74	9	↓
11	Leonard Floyd	3-4 OLB	CHI	9	74	2	↓
12	Jordan Howard	RB	CHI	150	74	19	↑
13	Derrick Kindred	SS	CLE	129	74	36	↑
14	Su'a Cravens	ILB	WAS	53	73	3	↓
15	Dak Prescott	QB	DAL	135	73	27	↑
16	Vonn Bell	FS	NO	61	73	13	↓
17	Laremy Tunsil	LT	MIA	13	73	24	↑
18	Kevin Byard	FS	TEN	64	73	5	↓
19	Sean Davis	SS	PIT	58	73	4	↓
20	C.J. Prosise	RB	SEA	90	72	10	↓
21	Briean Boddy-Calhoun	CB	CLE	UDFA	72	92	↑
22	Malcolm Mitchell	WR	NE	112	72	82	↑
23	Wendell Smallwood	RB	PHI	153	72	30	↑
24	Caleb Benenoch	OG	TB	148	71	78	↑
25	Sterling Shepard	WR	NYG	40	71	NR	↑
26	Cody Whitehair	C	CHI	56	71	49	↑
27	Ryan Kelly	C	IND	18	71	NR	↑
28	Germain Ifedi	OG	SEA	31	71	32	↑
29	Halapoulivaati Vaitai	RT	PHI	164	71	12	↓
30	Kenneth Dixon	RB	BAL	134	71	21	↓
31	Michael Pierce	DT	BAL	UDFA	70	22	↓
32	Deon Bush	SS	CHI	124	70	NR	↑
33	Spencer Drango	OG	CLE	168	70	56	↑
34	Miles Killebrew	SS	DET	111	70	NR	↑
35	Joe Thuney	OG	NE	78	69	6	↓
36	Jalen Richard	RB	OAK	UDFA	69	NR	↑
37	Tajae Sharpe	WR	TEN	140	69	47	↑
38	Jason Spriggs	OG	GB	48	69	28	↓
39	Chris Jones	3-4 DE	KC	37	68	51	↑
40	Vincent Valentine	DT	NE	96	68	94	↑
41	Blake Martinez	ILB	GB	131	68	42	↑
42	Tyler Boyd	WR	CIN	55	68	61	↑
43	Kenny Clark	DT	GB	27	68	88	↑
44	Jonathan Williams	RB	BUF	156	68	NR	↑
45	Yannick Ngakoue	4-3 DE	JAX	69	67	48	↑
46	Noah Spence	4-3 DE	TB	39	67	29	↓
47	Andrew Adams	FS	NYG	UDFA	67	23	↓
48	Jarran Reed	DT	SEA	49	67	60	↑
49	Joshua Garnett	OG	SF	28	67	15	↓
50	Sheldon Rankins	DT	NO	12	67	41	↓

Quarterbacks

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Dak Prescott

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman had some quotes on Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz after their game this week.

Sherman told Tom Pelissero of USA Today: "He was poised. He wasn't shook. ... He's been kind of getting an easy walk through this league, and he ran into some people that we've been there before. We've seen your looks. We know your plays. ... You're not going to win a ballgame throwing slants the whole game.”

Sherman was optimistic about Wentz's potential to improve moving forward but expertly outlined his current limitations.

Sherman had one interception and should have had another when Wentz's pass floated down the sideline. Interception opportunities were a major problem for Wentz's grade this week. He was befuddled by the Seahawks coverages and didn't show off an ability to hit the soft spots in their zone coverages. For his other interception, Wentz stared down his receiver from the beginning of the play and allowed Kam Chancellor to cut underneath the pass.

Prescott continues to be consistently inconsistent. He struggled through the first half of the Cowboys' game against the Ravens. He rebounded after his initial struggles and showed off impressive arm strength and precision on some downfield throws. As long as the Cowboys continue to be so dominant in other areas, his play shouldn't hold the team back.

The Browns' Cody Kessler has shown off similar consistency but without the positives. Kessler was injured and replaced by Josh McCown again in Week 11, but he may have been replaced anyway for his performance. He continues to lack poise and precision as a passer.

Doug Farrar broke down Jared Goff's performance for the Los Angeles Rams. It was hard to disagree with his findings. Goff didn't show off a strong arm, accuracy or technical refinement as he hindered an already ineffective offense.

Grading Scale

Acc: Accuracy (Graded out of 25)

Arm: Arm Strength (Graded out of 25)

Press: Pressure/Run Threat (Graded out of 20) (Pressure weighted at 15, run threat at 5)

Dec: Decision-Making (Graded out of 20)

Pos: Positional Value (Graded out of 10)

Ovr: Top Possible Score of 100

LW: Rank Last Week

Rookie QB Rankings Week 11

Rank	Player	Team	Acc	Arm	Press	Dec	Pos	Ovr	LW	Trend
1	Dak Prescott	DAL	15	20	13	15	10	73	1	↔
2	Jared Goff	LA	13	15	11	11	10	60	NR	↑
3	Cody Kessler	CLE	12	16	11	10	10	59	3	↔
4	Carson Wentz	PHI	12	16	10	9	10	57	2	↓

Notable Omissions/Not Graded This Week

• None

Notable Performances

Jared Goff

Week 11 Stats: 17-of-31, 134 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT

If the Rams were looking for reasons to be optimistic about Goff during his debut, they won't have found any. Goff didn't show off any arm strength, overshot most of his passes and didn't diagnose coverages consistently. The offense scored 10 points as Todd Gurley ran for the only touchdown.

Cody Kessler

Week 11 Stats: 7-of-14, 128 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT

Cody Kessler's latest concussion should be the one that ends his chances of being the Browns starter in 2017. Those chances weren't very high either way because of his play, but head coach Hue Jackson's patience has all but run out. If Robert Griffin III returns, Kessler shouldn't play again during his rookie season.

Carson Wentz

Week 11 Stats: 23-of-45, 218 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT

If head coach Doug Pederson wants to run a more expansive passing game moving forward, he needs to see more from his rookie starter. Wentz's footwork has regressed, and his accuracy has remained problematic. Nelson Agholor had one highlight drop down the field that fans can point to, but the Seahawks had more dropped interceptions than the Eagles had dropped big plays.

Running Backs and Fullbacks

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Jordan Howard

The Cowboys took another test and passed it with flying colors. Elliott might not have had his best statistical game, but for my money it was his most consistent. He was very good against an elite run defense, utilizing his elite offensive line and wearing the Ravens out in the second half. Elliott has really become a top-three running back with Bell and David Johnson.

Kelley has become the starting running back in Washington and has absolutely excelled in his new role. A big powerful player who helped propel the Redskins offense to new levels the last several weeks, I don't see any reason why he shouldn't continue to play at a high level as the Redskins make their playoff push.

The Bears' Jordan Howard has become one of my favorite rookies in the NFL. He is a physical runner who has been one of the only bright spots for a team that is absolutely terrible on offense. The Seahawks' C.J. Prosise looked to be building off his success against the Eagles until a shoulder injury derailed his day and potentially his season. Jalen Richard made two huge plays for the Raiders that helped them get a big win Monday night against the Texans.

Note: Both rookie fullbacks—Derek Watt (San Diego Chargers) and Andy Janovich (Broncos)—had a bye week.

Grading Scale

In: Inside Running (Graded out of 25)

Out: Outside Running (Graded out of 25)

Rec: Receiving (Graded out of 20)

Blk: Blocking (Graded out of 20)

Pos: Positional Value (Graded out of 10)

Ovr: Top Possible Score of 100

LW: Rank Last Week

Rookie RB Rankings Week 11

Rank	Player	Team	In	Out	Rec	Blk	Pos	Ovr	LW	Trend
1	Ezekiel Elliott	DAL	22	20	17	17	6	82	1	↔
2	Robert Kelley	WAS	20	18	16	16	6	76	NR	↑
3	Jordan Howard	CHI	19	17	16	16	6	74	4	↑
4	C.J. Prosise	SEA	19	17	16	14	6	72	2	↓
5	Wendell Smallwood	PHI	18	17	16	15	6	72	6	↑
6	Kenneth Dixon	BAL	18	17	15	15	6	71	5	↓
7	Jalen Richard	OAK	15	15	18	15	6	69	NR	↑
8	Jonathan Williams	BUF	17	15	15	15	6	68	NR	↑
9	Paul Perkins	NYG	15	14	16	15	6	66	7	↓
10	Kenyan Drake	MIA	15	16	15	14	6	66	NR	↑
11	Peyton Barber	TB	16	14	15	14	6	65	8	↓
12	Dwayne Washington	DET	15	14	15	15	6	65	NR	↑
13	DeAndre Washington	OAK	14	14	15	14	6	63	NR	↑

Notable Omissions/Not Graded This Week

• Devontae Booker—bye
• Daniel Lasco—inactive
• Derek Watt—bye
• Andy Janovich—bye

Notable Performances

Ezekiel Elliott

Week 11 Stats: 25 carries, 97 yards; 4 receptions, 30 yards

While Elliott has had better games in terms of the box score, this was one of his better ones. Playing a top run defense, Elliott was great between the tackles, running hard and fighting for every yard. He helped wear down the Ravens as the game went on.

Robert Kelley

Week 11 Stats: 24 carries, 137 yards, 3 TD

Kelley was awesome Sunday night. He's an excellent inside runner who is a natural in the zone scheme and a consistent physical presence for the Redskins. He destroyed the Packers and was dominant on the goal line with three red-zone touchdowns.

Jordan Howard

Week 11 Stats: 17 carries, 77 yards

Howard continues to be the full-time starter for the Bears and helps put them in a position to win games. He runs as hard as anyone in the league and is excellent between the tackles. But he also has the speed to get outside the edges of the defense. He gets better by the week.

Wide Receivers

Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

Michael Thomas

The New England Patriots' Malcolm Mitchell tallied his first NFL touchdown on a long catch-and-run where the rookie adjusted his route as quarterback Tom Brady was flushed from the pocket. Perhaps more impressive was his effort as a blocker throughout the day, as he helped spring LeGarrette Blount on a long run early in the game.

After A.J. Green suffered an early injury, rookie Tyler Boyd played more of a role for the Bengals, catching six passes for 54 yards and a touchdown, which was his first NFL scoring play.

The Texans' Will Fuller V managed one catch Monday night, but that reception showed continued uncertainty with his hands, as he fought the football a bit on a dig route over the middle.

Outside of Mitchell, the Saints' Thomas posted the most yards of a rookie receiver this week with 68 off five receptions. Elsewhere in the NFC, Sterling Shepard is starting to come along, as he caught five balls for 50 yards, including a go-ahead score, in the New York Giants' 22-16 win over the Bears.

Grading Scale

Route: Route-Running (Graded out of 25)

Hands: Hands (Graded out of 25)

YAC: Yards After Catch (Graded out of 20)

Blk: Blocking (Graded out of 20)

Pos: Positional Value (Graded out of 10)

Ovr: Top Possible Score of 100

LW: Rank Last Week

Rookie WR Rankings Week 11

Rank	Player	Team	Route	Hands	YAC	Blk	Pos	Ovr	LW	Trend
1	Michael Thomas	NO	18	19	16	12	9	74	NR	↑
2	Malcolm Mitchell	NE	18	17	13	15	9	72	7	↑
3	Sterling Shepard	NYG	19	18	15	10	9	71	NR	↑
4	Tajae Sharpe	TEN	18	18	12	12	9	69	2	↓
5	Tyler Boyd	CIN	18	17	12	12	9	68	5	↔
6	Braxton Miller	HOU	16	17	11	13	9	66	6	↔
7	Corey Coleman	CLE	16	18	11	11	9	65	3	↓
8	Tyreek Hill	KC	16	16	11	12	9	64	1	↓
9	Will Fuller V	HOU	16	14	11	13	9	63	NR	↑
10	Pharoh Cooper	LA	15	14	13	10	9	61	NR	↑
11	Alex Erickson	CIN	15	15	11	11	9	61	NR	↑
12	Rashard Higgins	CLE	15	14	11	11	9	60	NR	↑
13	Ricardo Louis	CLE	14	14	11	11	9	59	NR	↑
14	Maurice Harris	WAS	12	14	14	10	9	59	NR	↑
15	Bryce Treggs	PHI	16	10	14	9	9	58	NR	↑

Notable Omissions/Not Graded This Week

• Demarcus Robinson—insufficient snaps
• Chris Moore—insufficient snaps
• Chester Rogers—insufficient snaps
• Leonte Carroo—insufficient snaps
• Jakeem Grant—insufficient snaps

Notable Performances

Malcolm Mitchell

Week 11 Stats: 4 receptions, 98 yards, 1 TD

Mitchell played a big role in the Patriots' victory over the San Francisco 49ers, both as a receiver and a blocker.

Tyler Boyd

Week 11 Stats: 6 receptions, 54 yards, 1 TD

Following Green's injury, Boyd played a bigger role in the Bengals offense and notched his first NFL touchdown.

Tajae Sharpe

Week 11 Stats: 4 receptions, 68 yards, 1 TD

The Tennessee Titans' Sharpe continued his strong rookie season, catching four passes for 68 yards and a touchdown. The score came on a well-run post route where he outran the coverage.

Michael Thomas

Week 11 Stats: 5 receptions, 68 yards

The Saints leaned more on the success of their ground game than in their first matchup with the Panthers this year, but it didn't cut into Thomas' production. After catching all of his five targets, one has to start to wonder if he, not Brandin Cooks, is the No. 1 receiver in New Orleans long-term.

Sterling Shepard

Week 11 Stats: 5 receptions, 50 yards, 1 TD

Shepard's touchdown was the difference between winning and losing against the Bears for the Giants. If Shepard, Odell Beckham Jr. and Victor Cruz can all mesh at the same time, the Giants have a shot to upset some real contenders in the postseason.

Tight Ends

Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

Tyler Higbee

Rookie tight ends were fairly quiet this week.

Seth DeValve caught one pass for eight yards for the Browns in their loss to the Steelers. Stephen Anderson ran some good routes for the Texans on Monday night and caught one pass for 14 yards, but with only three offensive snaps he did not qualify for grading.

Grading Scale

Route: Route-Running (Graded out of 20)

Hands: Hands (Graded out of 25)

YAC: Yards After Catch (Graded out of 20)

Blk: Blocking (Graded out of 25)

Pos: Positional Value (Graded out of 10)

Ovr: Top Possible Score of 100

LW: Rank Last Week

Rookie TE Rankings Week 11

Rank	Player	Team	Route	Hands	YAC	Blk	Pos	Ovr	LW	Trend
1	Tyler Higbee	LA	12	16	11	15	6	60	6	↑
2	Ben Braunecker	CHI	12	15	12	15	6	60	NR	↑
3	Seth DeValve	CLE	12	15	11	16	6	60	4	↑

Notable Omissions/Not Graded This Week

• Stephen Anderson—insufficient snaps

Offensive Tackles

Leon Halip/Getty Images

Taylor Decker

Taylor Decker of the Lions notched his 10th straight start and was outstanding against the Jaguars. I cannot express enough how Decker continues to improve the consistency of his technique and his overall play speed, which is translating into solid performances.

The Ravens' Ronnie Stanley started his third consecutive game since returning from injury and was very good against the Cowboys. His first game back in Week 9 against the Steelers was a bit shaky, but his last two outings have been solid.

The Miami Dolphins' Laremy Tunsil got his second start at left tackle against the Rams and was faced with the task of blocking Robert Quinn. He had his hands full on many occasions before he exited the game with a shoulder injury after just 25 snaps.

Seattle's George Fant registered his fourth straight start as the Seahawks battled the Eagles. Fant ranked at the bottom of our overall list in Week 11, but the former WKU tight end and basketball player is still learning the nuances of one of the most difficult positions in all of football and has showed weekly improvement.

The Titans' Jack Conklin notched his 11th start. As we've highlighted in previous weeks, Conklin continues to be a mauler in the run game but needs to continue to develop in the finer nuances of pass protection, which was evident in many situations against the Indianapolis Colts.

Philadelphia's Halapoulivaati Vaitai registered his sixth consecutive start in place of the suspended Lane Johnson. Vaitai continues to show improvement in all aspects of his game, but he did struggle at times against the tough defense of Seattle.

Indianapolis' Joe Haeg once again started at right tackle for the Colts and had big-time struggles in pass protection. There are moments where it looks as if the game is moving a step faster than Haeg can process.

Grading Scale

OT: Left or Right Tackle Designation

Pass: Pass Protection (Graded out of 25)

Run: Run-Blocking (Graded out of 25)

Power: Power (Graded out of 20)

Agl: Agility (Graded out of 20)

Pos: Positional Value (Graded out of 10)

Ovr: Top Possible Score of 100

LW: Rank Last Week

Rookie OT Rankings Week 11

Rank	Player	Team	OT	Pass	Run	Power	Agl	Pos	Ovr	LW	Trend
1	Taylor Decker	DET	LT	19	19	15	15	8	76	NR	↑
2	Ronnie Stanley	BAL	LT	19	19	14	15	8	75	3	↑
3	Jack Conklin	TEN	RT	17	20	16	14	7	74	1	↓
4	Laremy Tunsil	MIA	LT	17	18	14	16	8	73	NR	↑
5	Halapoulivaati Vaitai	PHI	RT	18	18	14	14	7	71	2	↓
6	George Fant	SEA	LT	16	16	13	14	8	67	5	↓
7	Joe Haeg	IND	RT	16	18	13	13	7	67	NR	↑

Notable Omissions/Not Graded This Week

• None

Notable Performances

Jack Conklin

Week 11 Stats: 71 snaps (47 pass), 2 sacks, 1 pressure

Impressive as always when asked to be a run-blocker, Conklin must continue to build his pass protection skill set. Conklin is inefficient with his kick, which makes it extremely difficult for him to effectively gain ground and create the space needed to take away edge-rushers' angles. This was evident against the Colts.

Offensive Guards

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Caleb Benenoch

We are starting to get some exposure to new players as the weeks roll on. This week we had seven guards play substantive snaps, and only two of those seven were opening day starters.

With only one grade below 65 this week, we are seeing decent play from this group as well.

Grading Scale

Pass: Pass Protection (Graded out of 25)

Run: Run-Blocking (Graded out of 25)

Power: Power (Graded out of 20)

Agl: Agility (Graded out of 20)

Pos: Positional Value (Graded out of 10)

Ovr: Top Possible Score of 100

LW: Rank Last Week

Rookie OG Rankings Week 11

Rank	Player	Team	Pass	Run	Power	Agl	Pos	Ovr	LW	Trend
1	Caleb Benenoch	TB	16	17	16	15	7	71	7	↑
2	Germain Ifedi	SEA	15	18	18	13	7	71	4	↑
3	Spencer Drango	CLE	16	15	17	15	7	70	6	↑
4	Joe Thuney	NE	15	17	14	16	7	69	1	↓
5	Jason Spriggs	GB	17	14	15	16	7	69	NR	↑
6	Joshua Garnett	SF	15	14	16	15	7	67	2	↓
7	Graham Glasgow	DET	15	14	13	14	7	63	NR	↑

Notable Omissions/Not Graded This Week

• Alex Lewis—injury
• Isaac Seumalo—insufficient snaps
• Rees Odhiambo—insufficient snaps

Notable Performances

Germain Ifedi

The Seahawks got back to running the football this week, and a lot of that had to do with Ifedi on the right side. While his pass protection is still a work in progress, he set the tone up front against a good Eagles defensive line.

Jason Spriggs

Green Bay's Spriggs stepped in for an injured Don Barclay on Sunday night and looked pretty smooth in pass protection. I worry about his functional strength in the run game at guard, but because the Packers were one-dimensional against Washington, we didn't get a chance to see that in action.

Graham Glasgow

Glascow has been wildly inconsistent for the Lions. He gave up a ton of pressure in pass protection this week.

Centers

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Cody Whitehair

Our two-horse rookie center race was neck and neck this week. Unfortunately, we still don't have any new blood, but the guys we do have are still playing well.

Grading Scale

Pass: Pass Protection (Graded out of 25)

Run: Run-Blocking (Graded out of 25)

Power: Power (Graded out of 20)

Agl: Agility (Graded out of 20)

Pos: Positional Value (Graded out of 10)

Ovr: Top Possible Score of 100

LW: Rank Last Week

Rookie C Rankings Week 11

Rank	Player	Team	Pass	Run	Power	Agl	Pos	Ovr	LW	Trend
1	Cody Whitehair	CHI	18	17	15	15	6	71	1	↔
2	Ryan Kelly	IND	17	16	16	16	6	71	NR	↑

Notable Omissions/Not Graded This Week

• None

Notable Performances

Cody Whitehair

The Bears' Whitehair had a nice week in both phases. Josh Sitton's brief return clearly helped him early on.

Ryan Kelly

The Colts' Kelly had a worse week than Whitehair from a technical standpoint, but his superior natural traits and strength at the point of attack allowed him to come in with the same overall grade.

3-4 Defensive Ends

George Gojkovich/Getty Images

Chris Jones

This rookie 3-4 defensive end class has responded with added opportunities.

The Chiefs' Chris Jones has taken full advantage of injuries in front of him and looks like every bit of the player he was at Mississippi State.

The Browns' Emmanuel Ogbah continues to play the run well while being an adequate power pass-rusher. Carl Nassib, on the other side, has the athleticism but often looks too stiff, unbalanced and unaware. His growth hasn't been as easily seen on tape. 

Grading Scale

Snap: Snap Explosion (Graded out of 15)

Rush: Pass Rush (Graded out of 25)

Run: Run Defense (Graded out of 30)

Tkl: Tackling (Graded out of 20)

Pos: Positional Value (Graded out of 10)

Ovr: Top Possible Score of 100

LW: Rank Last Week

Rookie 3-4 DE Rankings Week 11

Rank	Player	Team	Snap	Rush	Run	Tkl	Pos	Ovr	LW	Trend
1	Chris Jones	KC	12	18	19	12	7	68	4	↑
2	DeForest Buckner	SF	12	13	20	14	7	66	1	↓
3	Carl Nassib	CLE	12	14	19	13	7	65	6	↑
4	Emmanuel Ogbah	CLE	11	16	18	13	7	65	3	↓
5	Adolphus Washington	BUF	10	14	17	14	7	62	NR	↑

Notable Omissions/Not Graded This Week

• Robert Nkemdiche—inactive

Notable Performances

Chris Jones

Week 11 Stats: 1 tackle

Jones doesn't stand out on the stat sheet, but he consistently beat the man in front of him and had a handful of pressures and hits.

DeForest Buckner

Week 11 Stats: 4 tackles

The 49ers' DeForest Buckner was his usual self when it comes to run defense and tackling. Without the splash plays this week, his grading came out a little lower, but it wasn't a bad performance.

Adolphus Washington

Week 11 Stats: 2 tackles, 0.5 sack

The Buffalo Bills' Adolphus Washington doesn't get as much playing time as other rookies on this list, but he did split a sack on the first play of the game.

4-3 Defensive Ends

Frederick Breedon/Getty Images

Yannick Ngakoue

This isn't a deep 4-3 defensive end class, but Yannick Ngakoue and Noah Spence have both been solid contributors. 

Grading Scale

Rush: Pass Rush (Graded out of 25)

Run: Run Defense (Graded out of 25)

Snap: Snap Explosion (Graded out of 20)

Tkl: Tackling (Graded out of 20)

Pos: Positional Value (Graded out of 10)

Ovr: Top Possible Score of 100

LW: Rank Last Week

Rookie 4-3 DE Rankings Week 11

Rank	Player	Team	Rush	Run	Snap	Tkl	Pos	Ovr	LW	Trend
1	Yannick Ngakoue	JAX	21	12	14	12	8	67	2	↑
2	Noah Spence	TB	18	15	12	14	8	67	1	↓

Notable Omissions/Not Graded This Week

• None

Notable Performances

Yannick Ngakoue

Week 11 Stats: 1 sack

The Jaguars' Ngakoue added a sack to his season total of five. Add in another pressure, and it was another solid performance.

Noah Spence

Week 11 Stats: 4 tackles

The Bucs' Spence didn't add to his four total sacks this week, but he was active all game and seems to be getting everything together.

Defensive Tackles

Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

Michael Pierce

The Ravens' Michael Pierce finished as the top rookie defensive tackle yet again.

He continued his stout run defense against a Cowboys offensive line that's steamrolled just about every opponent it's gone against.

The Patriots' Vincent Valentine performed well against the 49ers, causing disruption against the run and routinely showing sound gap discipline. Teammate Alan Branch faces a four-game suspension for violating the league's drug policy, so be on the lookout for Valentine to take on an increased workload. 

Grading Scale

Snap: Snap Explosion (Graded out of 25)

Rush: Pass Rush (Graded out of 25)

Run: Run Defense (Graded out of 25)

Tkl: Tackling (Graded out of 15)

Pos: Positional Value (Graded out of 10)

Ovr: Top Possible Score of 100

LW: Rank Last Week

Rookie DT Rankings Week 11

Rank	Player	Team	Snap	Rush	Run	Tkl	Pos	Ovr	LW	Trend
1	Michael Pierce	BAL	17	13	20	13	7	70	1	↔
2	Vincent Valentine	NE	16	16	17	12	7	68	9	↑
3	Kenny Clark	GB	16	16	17	12	7	68	8	↑
4	Jarran Reed	SEA	15	17	16	12	7	67	4	↔
5	Sheldon Rankins	NO	18	13	17	12	7	67	2	↓
6	D.J. Reader	HOU	16	13	19	11	7	66	5	↓
7	Javon Hargrave	PIT	15	16	17	11	7	66	11	↑
8	Hassan Ridgeway	IND	16	14	16	11	7	64	NR	↑
9	Sheldon Day	JAX	15	14	16	11	7	63	NR	↑
10	Darius Latham	OAK	16	14	15	11	7	63	NR	↑
11	Maliek Collins	DAL	15	14	15	11	7	62	3	↓
12	Vernon Butler	CAR	14	15	15	11	7	62	7	↓
13	Austin Johnson	TEN	14	15	14	10	7	60	12	↓
14	A'Shawn Robinson	DET	13	14	14	11	7	59	NR	↑
15	Jihad Ward	OAK	14	14	13	11	7	59	NR	↑
16	Destiny Vaeao	PHI	14	12	12	10	7	55	6	↓

Notable Omissions/Not Graded This Week

• Adam Gotsis—bye

Notable Performances

Javon Hargrave

Week 11 Stats: 1 tackle, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery, 1 TD

The Steelers' Javon Hargrave didn't have the most grueling matchup against the Browns offensive line, but he still turned in a solid performance with decent gap discipline against the run and put up a sack. He also scored his first career touchdown on a fumble recovery late in the game.

Michael Pierce

Week 11 Stats: 5 tackles

Pierce had a difficult matchup against the Cowboys' vaunted offensive line. He more than held his own as he beat center Travis Frederick a few times and made most of his stops within two yards of the line of scrimmage.

3-4 Outside Linebackers

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Leonard Floyd

Only three rookie 3-4 outside linebackers qualified for our rankings this week.

The Bears' Leonard Floyd was once again the standout, especially with the Bills' Shaq Lawson and Ravens' Matt Judon having mostly quiet performances. Floyd applied constant pressure on Giants quarterback Eli Manning, but he left in the fourth quarter with a scary neck injury. Fortunately, Bears head coach John Fox told reporters Monday that Floyd is doing much better.

Other rookies at the position either didn't play or received limited snaps. The Titans made the struggling Kevin Dodd inactive, and both Joe Schobert and Kyler Fackrell failed to play enough defensive snaps to be included. 

Grading Scale

Rush: Pass Rush (Graded out of 25)

Run: Run Defense (Graded out of 25)

Cvg: Coverage (Graded out of 15)

Tkl: Tackling (Graded out of 25)

Pos: Positional Value (Graded out of 10)

Ovr: Top Possible Score of 100

LW: Rank Last Week

Rookie 3-4 OLB Rankings Week 11

Rank	Player	Team	Rush	Run	Cvg	Tkl	Pos	Ovr	LW	Trend
1	Leonard Floyd	CHI	25	13	10	18	8	74	1	↔
2	Shaq Lawson	BUF	18	12	9	17	8	64	NR	↑
3	Matt Judon	BAL	19	11	9	16	8	63	2	↓

Notable Omissions/Not Graded This Week

• Joe Schobert—insufficient snaps
• Kyler Fackrell—insufficient snaps
• Aaron Wallace—insufficient snaps
• Curt Maggitt—inactive
• Dadi Nicolas—inactive
• Kevin Dodd—inactive
• Chris Landrum—bye

Notable Performances

Leonard Floyd

Week 11 Stats: 2 tackles

Floyd didn't fill up the box score, but he was a big problem for the Giants on Sunday. Our charting had him down for five hurries or pressures. His speed around the edge can be overwhelming, especially as he learns more about countering opposing offensive tackles.

Floyd also made a tackle for loss when the Giants left him unblocked on the back side. His head/neck injury is concerning, but hopefully he'll be able to make it back and build on his progression to end 2016.

4-3 Outside Linebackers

Leon Halip/Getty Images

Myles Jack

Half of the normal group of rookies had bye weeks, including Jordan Jenkins and Darron Lee of the New York Jets and De'Vondre Campbell of the Atlanta Falcons. 

Jacksonville's Myles Jack took advantage of the byes and asserted himself as Week 11's best rookie linebacker. He did not put on a great show, but he did have arguably his best day in run defense and showed further improvement of his understanding of the speed of the game. As encouraging as this progress is, Jack still has a long way to go.

Behind Jack is Josh Forrest from the Rams, who suffered a knee injury Sunday that will likely sideline him for the rest of the season. Forrest had been getting base-formation snaps throughout Sunday's game, as is usual for him, and was looking functional in that role. He did not make any splash plays, but he did a fine job handling blockers and executing his assignments. As one of the Rams' few "true" linebackers, Forrest's presence will be missed.

Raiders linebacker Cory James saw real action at outside linebacker on Monday night. James has been used sparingly this season, making his appearance a nice surprise. He didn't do much to prove he should see more snaps, but with the state of Raiders linebackers not named Bruce Irvin, James may stumble into more snaps anyway.

Grading Scale

Cvg: Coverage (Graded out of 25)

Run: Run Defense (Graded out of 25)

Rush: Pass Rush (Graded out of 15)

Tkl: Tackling (Graded out of 25)

Pos: Positional Value (Graded out of 10)

Ovr: Top Possible Score of 100

LW: Rank Last Week

Rookie 4-3 OLB Rankings Week 11

Rank	Player	Team	Cvg	Run	Rush	Tkl	Pos	Ovr	LW	Trend
1	Myles Jack	JAX	15	17	7	16	6	61	3	↑
2	Josh Forrest	LA	15	16	7	16	6	60	5	↑
3	Cory James	OAK	14	14	7	16	6	57	NR	↑

Notable Omissions/Not Graded This Week

• Darron Lee—bye
• De'Vondre Campbell—bye
• Jordan Jenkins—bye
• Jaylon Smith—injury

Notable Performances

Myles Jack

Week 11 Stats: 3 tackles, 1 TFL

It's all starting to come together for Jack. He is still out of position, but he's making the most of it.

Josh Forrest

Week 11 Stats: 2 tackles

Forrest had two tackles before sustaining what could be a season-ending knee injury. Without him, the Rams may not have a functional third linebacker.

Cory James

Week 11 Stats: 3 tackles

Though he was not on the field for long, James did not do anything to help the Raiders on Monday night. He was not an abysmal liability, but he was not good.

Inside Linebackers

Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Su'a Cravens

When the Washington Redskins selected USC's Su'a Cravens in the second round of the 2016 draft, they did so because he perfectly fit the role of the hybrid safety/linebacker that's becoming a very common position in the league today.

Such players as Arizona's Deone Bucannon and Landon Collins of the Giants pinball between the two positions perfectly, and at 6'1" and 226 pounds, Cravens matches the physical profile. He was able to run with tight ends and outside receivers in college, but the one question was how he'd face up against running backs who outweigh him and offensive linemen who win the power battle.

Cravens' pro transition has been fairly seamless because he's been able to improve his coverage skills, and he's also learning how to shoot gaps against the run and make plays that way. He had three solo tackles and two stops against the Packers in Week 11, and though he wasn't quite as present against the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day, Cravens has fit incredibly well into a projected role that's very hard to balance.

Grading Scale

Pass: Pass Defense (Graded out of 25)

Run: Run Defense (Graded out of 35)

Rush: Pass Rush (Graded out of 15)

Tkl: Tackling (Graded out of 15)

Pos: Positional Value (Graded out of 10)

Ovr: Top Possible Score of 100

LW: Rank Last Week

Rookie ILB Rankings Week 11

Rank	Player	Team	Pass	Run	Rush	Tkl	Pos	Ovr	LW	Trend
1	Su'a Cravens	WAS	18	27	11	11	6	73	1	↔
2	Blake Martinez	GB	16	26	9	11	6	68	2	↔

Notable Omissions/Not Graded This Week

• Deion Jones—bye
• Jatavis Brown—bye
• Joshua Perry—bye
• Nick Kwiatkoski—insufficient snaps
• Antonio Morrison—insufficient snaps
• Tyler Matakevich—insufficient snaps

Notable Performances

Su'a Cravens

Week 11 Stats: 5 tackles

The Redskins' Su'a Cravens has effectively become the starter alongside Will Compton and looked nothing but confident on Sunday Night Football. Cravens has displayed an ability to diagnose interior runs and shows no fear in attacking offensive linemen at the line of scrimmage. As he learns to use his hands to disengage superior competition, he'll only improve. The Redskins grabbed a potential steal of the 2016 draft.

Blake Martinez

Week 11 Stats: 5 tackles

The Packers' Blake Martinez is playing in the middle of a defense that has allowed 30-plus points in four consecutive weeks. Fair or not, he's being judged by the success of that unit. Despite improved play, he will have to become more consistent if the Packers are to build around him.

Cornerbacks

Jason Miller/Getty Images

Artie Burns

Steelers first-rounder Artie Burns mainly shadowed fellow first-round pick Corey Coleman against the Browns. Burns was targeted a whopping 10 times and did not disappoint.

While he did give up a touchdown to Gary Barnidge, which he was in position for, Burns only allowed two other receptions. He did a great job of jumping routes and being aggressive in coverage. He had an interception where he played a deep route perfectly and almost had another where he jumped Coleman's slant but dropped the ball. If the Steelers are going to make a run in the playoffs, they will need their young secondary to come through. Burns did that against Cleveland. 

After a couple of strong weeks in a row, Baltimore's Tavon Young came back to earth against Dallas. Young was beaten for a touchdown, allowed a first down, had a couple other blown coverages, had a penalty and missed a tackle.

Basically, he looked like a rookie.

Our second-ranked player is Cleveland's Briean Boddy-Calhoun. He was targeted three times and broke up two of those. He didn't allow a catch. More impressively, Boddy-Calhoun stayed in phase with the speedy Steeler receivers all day, as he didn't have a blown coverage. However, he did have an outing-marring penalty.

The struggles of being a rookie cornerback in the NFL have continued for the 2016 class. Even our third-highest-graded player of Week 11, the Bucs' Vernon Hargreaves, has had trouble in off coverage, which was his biggest strength coming out of Florida.

There's not a better example of rookie struggles than Eagles corner Jalen Mills. The 6'0" Mills has great length and straight-line speed, but he is undisciplined in both coverage and against the run. His limitations moving horizontally also show an issue with his fluidity and foot quickness. His poor positioning, effort and recovery ability was a major factor on C.J. Prosise's 72-yard touchdown run for the Seahawks. Prosise made a great play, but Mills' poor effort cannot be ignored.

Kendall Fuller's role continues to grow with Washington despite uneven play. The slot corner gave up three of five targets in 38 snaps, registering two blown coverages and allowing three first downs. It's fair to wonder whether Fuller is suited to be a full-time slot player, but with Josh Norman and Bashaud Breeland penciled in long term on the outside, Fuller will have to make it work.

Grading Scale

Cvg: Coverage (Graded out of 30)

React: Reaction/Recovery (Graded out of 30)

Slot: Slot (Graded out of 20)

Tkl: Tackling (Graded out of 10)

Pos: Positional Value (Graded out of 10)

Ovr: Top Possible Score of 100

LW: Rank Last Week

Rookie CB Rankings Week 11

Rank	Player	Team	Cvg	React	Slot	Tkl	Pos	Ovr	LW	Trend
1	Artie Burns	PIT	22	24	15	4	9	74	3	↑
2	Briean Boddy-Calhoun	CLE	21	21	15	6	9	72	8	↑
3	Vernon Hargreaves	TB	16	17	17	6	9	65	4	↑
4	Eli Apple	NYG	16	17	16	5	9	63	6	↑
5	Rashard Robinson	SF	16	16	16	5	9	62	NR	↑
6	Kendall Fuller	WAS	14	16	15	6	9	60	10	↑
7	Kevon Seymour	BUF	14	16	15	4	9	58	NR	↑
8	Ken Crawley	NO	14	14	15	5	9	57	NR	↑
9	Daryl Worley	CAR	14	14	15	5	9	57	9	↔
10	Tavon Young	BAL	15	13	14	5	9	56	1	↓
11	Jalen Ramsey	JAX	14	13	15	4	9	55	5	↓
12	James Bradberry	CAR	12	13	13	6	9	53	7	↓
13	Jalen Mills	PHI	11	11	13	3	9	47	2	↓

Notable Omissions/Not Graded This Week

• None

Notable Performances

Jalen Ramsey

It was a rough day for the Jaguars' Jalen Ramsey, as he allowed four of five targets thrown his way to be caught. He also allowed two first downs—one by way of a missed tackle. In addition, he got run over on the sideline.

Rashard Robinson

Though he played in limited snaps while coming back from a knee injury, Rashard Robinson was the top San Francisco cornerback this week. He gave up just one reception on three targets but was in great positioning on both targets in press coverage. The 49ers must continue to emphasize his development now that he's healthy.

Ken Crawley

In a season with mostly low grades, Week 11 featured redemption for the Saints' Ken Crawley. He played in just 12 coverage snaps but was in excellent position on both of his targets, which fell incomplete. Without Delvin Breaux in the lineup due to a fibula injury, Crawley showed why there's reason to believe he can develop into a more consistent contributor.

Kevon Seymour

The Bills' sixth-rounder looks more like a safety. He is interesting, however. He allowed only one of four passes thrown in his direction to be caught. He was streaky and looked to be benched at one point, though. He also had a play where he jumped a route and dropped an interception.

Free Safeties

Jason O. Watson/Getty Images

Vonn Bell

Inconsistency has been the main issue for the Saints' Vonn Bell. He's had plenty of flash plays but also plenty of mistakes. This week, he was more good than bad. In the second half, he did a good job of staying with Panthers tight end Greg Olsen on a play-action pass that saw Olsen leak out to the back side. Bell recognized the threat and broke quickly to make the tackle before his opponent could pick up extra yards after the catch. 

He also had a fantastic read in the end zone, effectively running Devin Funchess' post route for him and breaking up the pass. However, there was still the occasional mistake. In the second quarter, Bell played as the "robber" defender and correctly read that Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was throwing over the middle.

However, Bell took his eyes off the ball and instead went for a big hit on the closest receiver. He landed a hit on Funchess, but he didn't realize the ball had been thrown to Kelvin Benjamin behind him, who ran past to pick up additional yards after the catch.

Kentrell Brice has seen his workload increase in recent weeks due to a large number of injures to the Packers secondary. His best role right now appears to be as a third safety in dime packages, allowing Morgan Burnett to shift down to dime linebacker.

In coverage, Brice looks solid. He's always aware of his assignment and reads the game well. He spent the majority of this contest playing as part of a two-deep safety alignment, giving him deep-half responsibilities.

From there, Brice did a good job of staying on top of routes on his side of the field and breaking on anything thrown underneath. He made a good open-field tackle on Redskins tight end Jordan Reed after he made a catch on a dig route over the middle. Brice's effort is also worth noting. He did a fantastic job to chase down receiver Jamison Crowder from the far side of the field to make a tackle at the 1-yard line and save a touchdown.

Grading Scale

Cvg: Coverage (Graded out of 30)

Rec: Recovery (Graded out of 30)

Slot: Slot/LB (Graded out of 10)

Tkl: Tackling (Graded out of 20)

Pos: Positional Value (Graded out of 10)

Ovr: Top Possible Score of 100

LW: Rank Last Week

Rookie FS Rankings Week 11

Rank	Player	Team	Cvg	Rec	Slot	Tkl	Pos	Ovr	LW	Trend
1	Kentrell Brice	GB	22	24	5	15	8	74	4	↑
2	Vonn Bell	NO	23	22	6	14	8	73	2	↔
3	Kevin Byard	TEN	22	22	6	15	8	73	1	↓
4	Andrew Adams	NYG	20	20	5	14	8	67	3	↓
5	T.J. Green	IND	18	19	4	15	8	64	NR	↑

Notable Omissions/Not Graded This Week

• Justin Simmons—bye

Notable Performances

Vonn Bell

Week 11 Stats: 7 tackles, 1 pass breakup

Bell was more consistent in coverage this week, making a great play on a post route in the end zone to break it up. He also did a good job of sticking close to Olsen on a few of his man-coverage reps, while always being aware of where the tight end was when in zone.

His tackling form needs to improve, though. He can't continue trying to be a headhunter and land big hits, as he doesn't have the frame to back that up (5'11", 205 lbs). He needs to be smarter and learn that sometimes he has to settle for wrapping up and keeping the gain to a minimum.

Andrew Adams

Week 11 Stats: 3 tackles

The Giants' Andrew Adams has been impressive this season, especially considering he was an undrafted free agent. But he struggled at times against the Bears and saw his reps limited by Nat Berhe's return from a concussion.

Adams had trouble in the run and screen game. He got caught on a block by an offensive lineman on a bubble screen and couldn't disengage as the receiver ran past him. Later, he tried to fill on a run play but got chipped by a wide receiver. That was enough to force him out of the gap he was trying to fill, and the running back burst through it on a long run.

Strong Safeties

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Karl Joseph

Karl Joseph had a noticeable impact for the Raiders this week. His 10 total tackles were tied for the most by any Oakland defender. He had a couple of strong plays against the run, filling in well to make tackles to hold the Texans to minimal gains. He also managed to work from a deep position to catch up to Houston running back Lamar Miller and force him out of bounds on one rush, saving a touchdown. 

Joseph still needs to improve in man coverage, as he gave up a big play on a tight end crossing route. He allowed his opponent to cut across his face and never recovered, giving up a first down and plenty of yards after the catch. He's more comfortable in zone, staying on top of routes in deep zones and breaking quickly on checkdowns in underneath zone coverage.

Derrick Kindred was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise poor Browns performance. He had perhaps his best game in coverage. He did a good job sticking to his assignment when he needed to, but he also read danger and helped teammates when he could.

On a 3rd-and-short play in the fourth quarter, Kindred made an excellent read on an Antonio Brown crossing route, breaking on it quickly and forcing Ben Roethlisberger to go away from his favored target on third down.

He contested a couple of catches, too. In the second quarter, Kindred stayed over the top of a deep crossing route and did just enough at the catch point to force an incompletion. Later in the third quarter, Kindred managed to stay with a stick-and-nod route that has claimed many safeties as its victim. But he didn't bite, contesting the catch in the end zone and forcing the Steelers to resort to a field goal.

Bears rookie Deon Bush saw significant action for the first time. He had the usual ups and downs expected of a rookie, but he didn't embarrass himself. He stayed on top of most routes when playing in the deep half of the field. He also did a solid job filling in on a few run plays and making tackles, though he missed one open-field tackle, allowing the runner to cut back behind him.

It'll be interesting to see how he develops as he sees more playing time.

Grading Scale

Cvg: Coverage (Graded out of 25)

Rec: Recovery (Graded out of 25)

Slot: Slot/LB (Graded out of 20)

Tkl: Tackling (Graded out of 20)

Pos: Positional Value (Graded out of 10)

Ovr: Top Possible Score of 100

LW: Rank Last Week

Rookie SS Rankings Week 11

Rank	Player	Team	Cvg	Rec	Slot	Tkl	Pos	Ovr	LW	Trend
1	Karl Joseph	OAK	19	20	16	16	6	77	NR	↑
2	Derrick Kindred	CLE	19	18	15	16	6	74	4	↑
3	Sean Davis	PIT	18	18	15	16	6	73	1	↓
4	Deon Bush	CHI	18	17	14	15	6	70	NR	↑
5	Miles Killebrew	DET	17	17	14	16	6	70	NR	↑

Notable Omissions/Not Graded This Week

• Keanu Neal—bye
• Will Parks—bye

Notable Performances

Karl Joseph

Week 11 Stats: 10 tackles

Joseph was a constant factor in the run game, which was reflected in the stats column. He was equally adept at lining up in the box or starting from deeper. He reads the run well and is quick to sift through the traffic to find the runner and make a sound tackle. He had a solid game in coverage as well, particularly in zone, doing a good job of reacting to any underneath throws and rallying to the ball to secure the tackle.

Derrick Kindred

Week 11 Stats: 6 tackles, 2 pass breakups

Kindred had two standout plays, breaking up passes on a deep crossing route and a stick-and-nod route in the end zone. The latter was particularly impressive, given how Kindred has had trouble diagnosing misdirection plays like play-action passes and double moves. He did well to avoid biting on the fake, which should give the Browns encouragement.

Special Teams

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Roberto Aguayo

Kickers

This was Roberto Aguayo's best performance, as the Tampa Bay rookie made all four of his field-goal attempts, though none was longer than 41 yards. This is a step forward, as Aguayo had struggled even from short distance.

Building consistency is critical for him. Aguayo still lags behind the pack with his 72.2 percent accuracy on field-goal attempts, but as he tries to dig out from a difficult first half, this is the type of performance he can build on. He hasn't missed a field goal since October 23. 

The Saints' Wil Lutz made his two extra points this week but had a 38-yard field-goal attempt blocked. While there was penetration on the play, the kick trajectory was below the preferred angle and contributed significantly to the block.

This type of strike is something Lutz will have to continue to work through, as his raw technique will produce struggles as he refines his mechanics. Lutz might have a more talented leg than Aguayo, but the question is whether he can harness it and repeat his mechanics on a consistent basis.

Kicker Grading Scale

Pwr: Kick Power (Graded out of 40)

Acc: Kick Accuracy (Graded out of 40)

Tkl: Tackling (Graded out of 10)

Pos: Positional Value (Graded out of 10)

Ovr: Top Possible Score of 100

LW: Rank Last Week

Rookie Kicker Rankings Week 11

Rank	Player	Team	Pwr	Acc	Tkl	Pos	Ovr	LW	Trend
1	Roberto Aguayo	TB	32	36	5	3	76	1	↔
2	Wil Lutz	NO	32	23	5	3	63	2	↔

Notable Omissions/Not Graded This Week

• None

Notable Performances

Roberto Aguayo

Week 11 Stats: 4-4 FG

This was his third straight week of perfect accuracy. His mechanics continue to improve, with his follow-through heading through the target with more consistency. He has been a different kicker in the second half of the season.

Wil Lutz

Week 11 Stats: 2-3 FG, 2-2 XP

There was a low trajectory on the blocked field goal, but he continues to flash a powerful leg that typically generates good height. He's mechanically more varied than the ideal kicker, but there's too much talent to be too bothered by this week's performance.

Punters

All three rookie punters were on a bye. They likely played punt golf, stretched and possibly ordered pizzas to practice, drawing the ire of the rest of their teammates.

Notable Omissions/Not Graded This Week

• Riley Dixon—bye
• Lachlan Edwards—bye
• Drew Kaser—bye