NFL Power Rankings: 3 Rookies Most Affecting Their Teams' Standings

Anytime there's a highly touted rookie entering the NFL, they're expected to make an immediate impact. Otherwise, why would a team draft that player in the first round?

That said, here are three rookies whose impact has affected their respective team's standings.

Nick Fairley: DT, Detroit Lions

After missing the first four games, Lions' rookie DT Nick Fairley finally was healthy enough to get on the field and earn some playing time in games five, six, and seven. However, Fairley didn't play in the Denver game (not like it mattered anyway), but for Detroit it's still unfortunate.

Currently the Lions rank No. 30 in rush defense, so can you imagine how much better that would be if Fairley was healthy from the start? Detroit would be much better at stopping the run, and they definitely would have slowed down 49ers' RB Frank Gore a little bit.

Fairley is affecting the Lions by being injured, because when he gets healthy enough to really contribute on a consistent basis, their front seven immediately becomes elite.

Mark Ingram: RB, New Orleans Saints

Thanks to rookie RB Mark Ingram, the Saints have had the luxury of a diverse array of RBs to possess a dynamic offense. Ingram currently is the team's leading rusher and has clearly been of good use to coach Sean Payton's squad.

And although he's not 100 percent right now after missing last week's game, Ingram will still have a solid impact whenever he does return.

New Orleans is in the playoff race as well as the divisional, and Ingram's services will be needed going forward if the Saints want to remain a dual-offensive threat. By season's end expect Mark to finish as the Saints' leading rusher.

A.J. Green: WR, Cincinnati Bengals

Had it not been for rookie WR A.J. Green, the Cincinnati Bengals would not have an offense good enough to methodically move the ball down field.

He's a threatening WR that can stretch the field, force DBs to play off him thus leaving the underneath routes open, and can leap over anyone to catch a fade inside the red-zone.

Green leads Cincy in receiving yards (516), catches (33), targets (59), and TDs (five). He takes pressure off the ground game, which will bode well for when they play the Steelers and Ravens. Cincinnati has a shot at the postseason thanks to Green, and his efforts deserve much recognition.

Week 9 NFL Power Rankings (LW = Last Week's Rank)

1. Green Bay Packers (7-0) (LW 1)	17. San Diego Chargers (4-3) (LW 13)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) (LW 6)	18. Oakland Raiders (4-3) (LW 17)
3. Baltimore Ravens (5-2) (LW 5)	19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3) (LW 18)
4. San Francisco 49ers (6-1) (LW 4)	20. Dallas Cowboys (3-4) (LW 15)
5. New England Patriots (5-2) (LW 2)	21. Tennessee Titans (4-3) (LW 21)
6. New York Giants (5-2) (LW 7)	22. Minnesota Vikings (2-6) (LW 28)
7. Houston Texans (5-3) (LW 8)	23. Carolina Panthers (2-6) (LW 22)
8. Buffalo Bills (5-2) (LW 9)	24. Cleveland Browns (3-4) (LW 24)
9. Detroit Lions (6-2) (LW 10)	25. Washington Redskins (3-4) (LW 25)
10. New Orleans Saints (5-3) (LW 3)	26. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6) (LW 26)
11. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2) (LW 14)	27. St. Louis Rams (1-6) (LW 30)
12. Chicago Bears (4-3) (LW 11)	28. Seattle Seahawks (2-5) (LW 27)
13. New York Jets (4-3) (LW 12)	29. Arizona Cardinals (1-6) (LW 29)
14. Atlanta Falcons (4-3) (LW 16)	30. Denver Broncos (2-5) (LW 23)
15. Philadelphia Eagles (3-4) (LW 19)	31. Indianapolis Colts (0-8) (LW 31)
16. Kansas City Chiefs (4-3) (LW 20)	32. Miami Dolphins (0-7) (LW 32)

Be sure to check out John on Bleacher Report. 

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