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Mel Kiper Jr., Football analyst 9y

Ranking a loaded rookie WR class

NFL

One of the remarkable things about this rookie class of wide receivers, which is the most productive group I've seen in years, is that the guy currently leading all rookies in receptions not only didn't play this week, but he's out for the season with an injury. That's right, Brandin Cooks of New Orleans finishes the season with 53 catches. And he isn't even among my top five rookies at the position. Odell Beckham Jr.'s version of "the catch" this week hasn't just brought attention to him, it's made people realize this has been a huge year for rookie wide receivers.

How would I rank them based on performance so far? I took a stab at the top five followed by honorable mentions, and have also included my updated overall rookie rankings below. The same usual rules apply:

• This is a measure for all games this season, not just last Sunday.
• Total snap count matters. Being kept on the field is a measure of value.
• Relative value matters. I ask: Would this player be a starter on most teams, or on a good team? Remember, I've hit reset on these players as far as future value; this is all about production.

Here's my ranking of the top five rookie receivers in the NFL, followed by my rank of the top 15 overall rookies: 


1. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

While Evans doesn't have a singular moment, he has a better overall profile than Beckham right now -- and that's even before you consider the QB situation in Tampa.

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