NFL: 10 Most Impressive Rookies of the 2011 Season so Far

Despite the NFL lockout that preceded this year's regular season, there has been plenty of impact made from this year's rookie class.

Cam Newton has proven his worth as the first-overall pick in Carolina, but there is stiff competition for this season's Rookie of the Year award.

Here are the top 10 rookies of the season so far.

10. Marcell Dareus-Buffalo Bills

Dareus and Kyle Williams were a big part of the Bills' early-season success.

The loss of Williams to a season-ending injury has really hurt the rookie's performances as of late because of the lack of quality around him in the team's front seven.

Nonetheless, his stout play against the run cannot be denied, and Dareus has shown more than enough for Bills fans to be delighted that they drafted him.

Dareus figures to be a permanent fixture in Buffalo over the coming years—he will only improve with more experience and with a better supporting cast.

9. Stefen Wisniewski-Oakland Raiders

Overlooked in Darren McFadden's dominance early in the season and Michael Bush's impressive play since then is the impact of rookie left guard Stefen Wisniewski.

Wisniewski, who has also played center, has been in fine form for the Raiders, replacing the departed Robert Gallery.

His aggressive play and sheer size (6'3", 315 pounds) has allowed him to repeatedly blow open holes in the running game while providing solid pass protection for Carson Palmer and Jason Campbell before him.

8. Aldon Smith-San Francisco 49ers

Aldon Smith, at one point in the season, was being considered by some for Rookie of the Year honors.

However, his production has dropped off slightly since then, and it's impossible to put a situational pass-rusher ahead of a guy like Brooks Reed, who is playing every down for the Texans.

Still, Smith's 7.5 sacks have been huge for the 49ers defense this season.

7. Brooks Reed-Houston Texans

Texans fans feared the worst when Mario Williams went down with a season-ending injury earlier in the year.

Rookie Brooks Reed has started six games since then and has impressed immensely.

Reed has a high motor that has led him to six sacks for one of the best defenses in the league.

Reed shows no susceptibility to the run, either, and is arguably playing the position better than Williams was.

6. DeMarco Murray-Dallas Cowboys

DeMarco Murray may have only started five games this year, but he has still managed to rack up 834 yards—including a record-breaking 253 yards against the St. Louis Rams.

Murray has made the Cowboys offense balanced with his 5.7 yards per carry, and it's easy to see why.

No running back has entered the league with such a violent running style as Murray has since Adrian Peterson.

Murray is a downhill runner that can make defenders miss with ease.

He has the power and strength to run between the tackles and the explosion and speed to take it to the outside for big gains.

5. AJ Green-Cincinnati Bengals

AJ Green may have only had one reception in his debut as Bengal, but that reception was a game-winning touchdown.

Green hasn't looked back since, making it to 41 receptions for 635 yards and six touchdowns.

He leads all rookie receivers in receptions, yards, touchdowns and first downs.

This, despite being the first-choice receiver in a spread offense catching passes from a quarterback who doesn't focus in on any single receiver.

4. JJ Watt-Houston Texans

The Houston Texans defense is leading the league in total defense and is second in scoring defense.

Significantly, Wade Philips' group is ranked fourth against the run.

Watt has played a pivotal role in those numbers, although he doesn't receive the acclaim of other rookies.

Being a 3-4 defensive end, that is something that he will have to get used to.

Regardless, Watt's ability to take on double-teams and get penetration into the backfield hasn't gone unnoticed.

3. Andy Dalton-Cincinnati Bengals

As Cam Newton racks up the statistics and breaks more rookie records than Randy Moss, Andy Dalton just keeps on winning.

The former TCU product has led the upstart Bengals to a 7-4 record in a tough AFC North division.

The Bengals were expected to be bottom-feeders in the AFC coming into the season but are now on the precipice of the playoffs.

That is largely due to the play of Dalton.

2. Cam Newton-Carolina Panthers

The first-overall pick from this year's draft has made an unbelievable start to his NFL career.

Opening the season with back-to-back 400-yard passing games has led to Newton eclipsing 3,000 yards after 11 games.

Newton is carrying the Panthers offense on his shoulders accounting for 22 touchdowns—12 through the air and 10 with his feet.

His rushing touchdown total is already a rookie record and is only two shy of the record for any quarterback running the football.

Newton's intelligence, accuracy and velocity in the passing game is a large reason why Steve Smith has returned to all-pro form.

The only reason this team is 3-8 is because of an injury-ravaged defense.

1. Von Miller-Denver Broncos

While Tim Tebow may be all over the back of every Broncos jersey in Colorado, as well as every newspaper, Von Miller has been everywhere on the field for John Fox's side.

Miller, the second-overall pick in this year's draft, has shown off his freakish athleticism and relentless motor to consistently disrupt opposing offenses.

He has played as big a part in the Denver Broncos' revival as Tim Tebow has.

Miller's 10.5 sacks and three forced fumbles don't even take into account the huge amount of plays he disrupts as a pass-rusher.

He has also racked up four pass deflections, which is no surprise, considering that he has excelled in both man and zone coverage for the AFC West side.