THE FUTURE IS NOW: Through the first six weeks of the 2020 NFL season, rookies are making immediate impacts around the league.
Entering Week 7, Kansas City running back CLYDE EDWARDS-HELAIRE leads the NFL in scrimmage yards (682) and ranks second in rushing yards (505). Pittsburgh wide receiver CHASE CLAYPOOL ties for fifth in the NFL with six touchdowns (four receiving, two rushing), while Minnesota wide receiver JUSTIN JEFFERSON ranks fifth in the league with 537 receiving yards.
Including Jefferson, four rookie wide receivers have at least 300 receiving yards this season [Dallas’ CEEDEE LAMB (497), Cincinnati’s TEE HIGGINS (339) and Claypool (335)], tied with the 2013 and 1986 seasons for the most though Week 6 since 1970.
Overall, rookies have combined for a total of 8,509 scrimmage yards in 2020. With at least 1,305 combined scrimmage yards in Week 7, 2020 will surpass the 2017 season (9,813) for the most combined scrimmage yards by rookies through Week 7 since 1970 (not including the 1987 season with replacement players).
The seasons with the most combined scrimmage yards by rookies through Week 7 since 1970 (not including 1987):
| SEASON | SCRIMMAGE YARDS | |
| 2017 | 9,813 | |
| 2018 | 9,239 | |
| 2014 | 9,027 | |
| 2020 | 8,509* | |
| 2019 | 8,253 | |
| *Through Week 6 | ||
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YOUNG SLINGERS: In addition to rookie backs and receivers taking the league by storm, rookie quarterbacks are also finding success early in their careers. Cincinnati quarterback JOE BURROW ranks second in the NFL in completions (160) and eighth in passing yards (1,617). Los Angeles Chargers quarterback JUSTIN HERBERT ranks ninth among qualified passers with a 107.1 passer rating through his first four career starts.
If Burrow reaches the 300-yard passing mark at Cleveland on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), he will become the fourth rookie quarterback with at least five 300-yard passing games in NFL history.
The rookies with the most 300-yard passing games in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | SEASON | GAMES | |
| Andrew Luck | Indianapolis | 2012 | 6 | |
| Daniel Jones | New York Giants | 2019 | 5 | |
| Kyler Murray | Arizona | 2019 | 5 | |
| Joe Burrow | Cincinnati | 2020 | 4* | |
| *Entering Week 7 | ||||
Herbert needs at least three touchdown passes on Sunday against Jacksonville (4:25 PM ET, CBS), to join DESHAUN WATSON (four consecutive games in 2017) as the only rookie quarterbacks in NFL history with at least three touchdown passes in three consecutive games. Herbert threw three touchdown passes in Week 4 and four touchdown passes in Week 5.
With at least 250 passing yards, Herbert can join PATRICK MAHOMES as the only players in NFL history with at least 250 passing yards in each of their first five career games. Mahomes had at least 250 passing yards in each of his first 10 games.
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FEELING 100: Las Vegas quarterback DEREK CARR enters Week 7 leading all qualified passers in completion percentage (73.1), while ranking second in passer rating (115.9). In 99 career starts, Carr has 24,235 passing yards, 2,248 completions and 154 touchdown passes, all the most in Raiders franchise history.
With at least 15 completions against Tampa Bay on Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, NBC), Carr will surpass TONY ROMO (2,262 completions) for the second-most career completions by a player through his first 100 starts in NFL history. Only MATTHEW STAFFORD (2,410) has more.
The players with the most career completions through their first 100 starts in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | COMPLETIONS | ||
| Matthew Stafford | Detroit | 2,410 | ||
| Tony Romo | Dallas | 2,262 | ||
| Derek Carr | Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders | 2,248* | ||
| *Expected to make his 100th career start on Sunday night | ||||
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HISTORIC CONNECTION: Last week, Tampa Bay quarterback TOM BRADY and tight end ROB GRONKOWSKI connected for their first touchdown as members of the Buccaneers. It marked the 91st touchdown connection in their careers, including the postseason, surpassing PHILIP RIVERS and ANTONIO GATES (90 touchdowns) for the third-most touchdowns by a quarterback-receiver pairing in NFL history.
With another touchdown pass from Brady to Gronkowski at Las Vegas on Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, NBC), the pair will tie the Pro Football Hall of Fame combination of STEVE YOUNG and JERRY RICE (92 touchdowns) for the second-most touchdowns by a quarterback-receiver pairing in NFL history, including the postseason. Only PEYTON MANNING and Pro Football Hall of Famer MARVIN HARRISON (114) have more.
The quarterback-receiver pairings with the most touchdowns in NFL history, including the postseason:
| QUARTERBACK | RECEIVER | TOUCHDOWNS |
| Peyton Manning | Marvin HarrisonHOF | 114 |
| Steve YoungHOF | Jerry RiceHOF | 92 |
| Tom Brady | Rob Gronkowski | 91 |
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SECOND-YEAR SURGE: Through five games, Seattle wide receiver DK METCALF is averaging 99.2 receiving yards per game, the second-highest mark in the league this season, and has recorded at least 90 receiving yards in each game.
With at least 90 receiving yards on Sunday at Arizona (4:05 PM ET, FOX), Metcalf will become the fifth player to record at least 90 receiving yards in each of his team’s first six games of a season in NFL history.
The players with at least 90 receiving yards in the most consecutive games to begin a season in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | SEASON | GAMES | ||
| Michael IrvinHOF | Dallas | 1995 | 9 | ||
| Dwight Clark | San Francisco | 1982 | 8 | ||
| Adam Thielen | Minnesota | 2018 | 8 | ||
| Charley Hennigan | Houston Oilers | 1961 | 7 | ||
| DK Metcalf | Seattle | 2020 | 5* | ||
| *Active streak | |||||
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125 IN 35: Last week, Atlanta wide receiver JULIO JONES recorded eight receptions for 137 yards and his first two touchdowns of the season, his 34th-career game with at least 125 receiving yards.
With at least 125 receiving yards on Sunday against Detroit (1:00 PM, FOX), Jones will tie Pro Football Hall of Famer RANDY MOSS (35 games) for the second-most games with at least 125 receiving yards in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer JERRY RICE (49) has more such games.
The players with the most career games with at least 125 receiving yards in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM(S) | GAMES |
| Jerry RiceHOF | San Francisco, Oakland, Seattle | 49 |
| Randy MossHOF | Minnesota, Oakland, New England | 35 |
| Julio Jones | Atlanta | 34 |
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A FANTASTIC FIRST 50: In four games this season, San Francisco tight end GEORGE KITTLE has totaled 30 receptions for 380 yards, ranking third and second among tight ends, respectively. In 49 career games, Kittle has 246 receptions for 3,325 receptions.
With at least 112 receiving yards on Sunday at New England (4:25 PM ET, CBS), Kittle will surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer MIKE DITKA (3,436 receiving yards) for the most receiving yards by a tight end through his first 50 career games in NFL history.
The tight ends with the most receiving yards in their first 50 career games in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | RECEIVING YARDS | |
| Mike DitkaHOF | Chicago | 3,436 | |
| Kellen Winslow Sr.HOF | San Diego Chargers | 3,420 | |
| George Kittle | San Francisco | 3,325* | |
| *Appearing in 50th game on Sunday | |||
With at least three receptions on Sunday, Kittle will surpass KELLEN WINSLOW JR. (248 receptions) for the third-most receptions by a tight end through his first 50 career games in NFL history. Only JORDAN REED (266) and Pro Football Hall of Famer KELLEN WINSLOW SR. (262) have more.
The tight ends with the most receptions in their first 50 career games in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | RECEPTIONS | |
| Jordan Reed | Washington | 266 | |
| Kellen Winslow Sr.HOF | San Diego Chargers | 262 | |
| Kellen Winslow Jr. | Cleveland, Tampa Bay | 248 | |
| George Kittle | San Francisco | 246* | |
| *Appearing in 50th game on Sunday | |||
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