Cam Newton Getting All the Love, but These NFL Rookies Are Also Ballin'

Although Cam Newton did not put up his ridiculous passing numbers in Week 3, he led his Carolina Panthers to their first win of the 2011 NFL season.

Football fans have not stopped talking about the start of Newton's career. He became the first rookie in NFL history to throw for 400 passing yards in his Week 1 debut. As an encore, Newton topped his passing total with a 432-yard game against the returning Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers.

This past Sunday, the rookie had a solid performance to help the Panthers win for only the second time in the past 13 games.

As good as Newton has been, he is not the only rookie who has turned some heads this season.

There have been a number of players who have impressed critics in their first few career games. Here are 10 people who are on their way to stellar careers.

Daniel Thomas

After missing the first game of the season due to an injury, RB Daniel Thomas has come back strong in his past two games.

Combined, Thomas had 202 rushing yards in his first two career games. He does not possess great speed, but he hits the hole and takes every yard the defense will give him.

Coming into Week 2, many thought that Reggie Bush had a hold on the starting running back position. After Thomas' great showing so far, it is apparent that he is the No. 1 player in Miami's backfield.

Last week, the rookie out of Kansas State even had more receptions than his teammate, proving that he is a more valuable commodity than Bush at this point in his career. 

Denarius Moore

Denarious Moore was a fifth-round draft pick from Tennessee to the Oakland Raiders. He seemed very unlikely to become an impact player this early in his career.

However, injuries to Louis Murphy, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Jacoby Ford have forced Moore onto the playing field.

He made the best of it by filling up the stat sheet over the past few games. In Week 2, Moore finished with 146 receiving yards on five catches and a touchdown. Last Sunday with his receiving numbers down, Moore still made an impact with a reverse that he took the distance for an impressive 23-yard touchdown run.

When the other receivers for the Raiders return from injury, Moore should not be sent back to the bottom of the depth chart. He has proven he belongs in the NFL, and he should be able to help the team this season. 

Andy Dalton

As a second-round pick out of TCU, many quarterbacks were expected to have better starts than Andy Dalton.

Fortunately, different circumstances—including the Carson Palmer fiasco—have helped Dalton begin the season as the starting quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals.

While the team has started 1-2 so far, it's only a few points from being undefeated. A 13-8 loss home loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday was not as bad as the heartbreaking 24-22 loss at the Denver Broncos the week before. In that game, Dalton threw for 332 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

The Bengals might lose a number of games this season, but they have young talent that can build towards the future. Dalton to A.J. Green might be a frequent connection in the upcoming years. 

Mark Ingram

Running back Mark Ingram has not put up amazing numbers in his first few games, but he definitely shows the potential to be a star in the NFL.

In a crowded backfield with the New Orleans Saints, Ingram leads the team in carries over veterans Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles. Head coach Sean Payton believes in his abilities and will continue giving him the ball until he breaks out.

Ingram scored his first touchdown of his career on Sunday against the Houston Texans. This should be the first of many this season.

The former Heisman trophy winner has great speed and agility that will lead him to being a future Pro Bowl player. Hopefully he gets enough carries in a pass-heavy offense to let him keep improving.

AJ Green

After being drafted with the fourth overall pick, AJ Green was out to prove that he was worth it.

Despite having a rookie quarterback throwing him the ball, Green has put up solid overall numbers through the first three weeks of his career. Although he only had one catch in his first game, it was a 41-yard touchdown.

His breakout game came in Week 2 versus the Denver Broncos. Green had 10 receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown. He did everything he could to help the team win, but the Cincinnati Bengals came up short in a 24-22 defeat.

Green has a long career ahead of him, and he seems to have developed a good chemistry with teammate Andy Dalton. As they spend more time in the league together, it can become a dangerous combination for the rest of the league.

Ryan Kerrigan

In this short season, Ryan Kerrigan has shown a knack for getting in the way of the offense.

The Washington Redskins linebacker proved his skill in the season opener when he managed to return an interception for a touchdown. In the next two weeks, Kerrigan recorded a sack in each game and he is continuing to show what made him a first-round pick.

Even when he does not get to the quarterback, Kerrigan has the ability to get his hands up and knock down passes. The small things that do not get noticed are a big part of what has helped the Redskins start the season 2-1.

So far, Kerrigan has been a monster for his defense and he has done nothing but cause havoc on opposing teams.

Torrey Smith

For two games, Torrey Smith was the invisible man. Then with Lee Evans out, Smith breaks out and has one of the best games in history for rookies.

The second-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens was known for his speed out of the University of Maryland. Three minutes into Sunday's game, he showed that speed by burning the secondary of the St. Louis Rams for a 74-yard touchdown.

Smith did not stop after that. His next two receptions were a 41-yard touchdown and an 18-yard trip to the end zone. He became the first player ever to score a touchdown on his first three career receptions.

Although he injured his hamstring at the end of the game, Smith is a player to watch as the season progresses. The Ravens have needed a deep threat for years, and he could be a valuable weapon for a team looking to contend for the Super Bowl this year.

Von Miller

High draft picks are usually expected to make an immediate impact for their teams. The second overall pick in the 2011 draft Von Miller has not disappointed.

The linebacker out of Texas A&M already has two sacks on the year and looks to get many more as the season progresses. He also has two forced fumbles so far, which can be game-changers.

Miller will continue to be an impact player that will help a team struggling to find an identity with a new head coach and a quarterback controversy.

Julio Jones

The Atlanta Falcons gave up a lot to have the opportunity to draft Julio Jones last offseason. He was expected to complete the offense by giving Matt Ryan another receiving option opposite Roddy White.

So far, Jones is living up to his expectations.

He currently has 215 receiving yards and is on pace to break the 1,000-yard barrier. On Sunday, Jones had six receptions for 115 yards, proving that he belongs in the NFL.

The rookie from Alabama has had scouts salivating over his size and speed since before he arrived in college. The Falcons hope that he can continue to produce as they create one of the best receiving tandems in football.

Patrick Peterson

CB Patrick Peterson recorded his first career interception on Sunday. It will not be his last.

Peterson was the fifth overall pick in the 2011 draft by the Arizona Cardinals. He was known as being a great athlete who was solid in coverage.

His coverage has improved since the first game, but his work in the return game has been steady throughout. In his first career game, Peterson returned a punt 89 yards for a touchdown.

At 6'1", Peterson boasts great size for a cornerback. He should be able to use his strength and speed to stick with the top receivers in the NFL.