Time for a new Rookie Big Board, my ranking of the best rookies of the 2017 NFL season. You won't find first-round picks Deshaun Watson, Dalvin Cook, Jonathan Allen or Malik Hooker here, as all four are out for the season with injuries. That's the tough part of this -- they flashed their talent at times, but health and consistency really matter. So here's my top 25, plus where each player landed on my final top 300 prospects list before the 2017 draft.
Here are the parameters (same as always):
This is a measure for all games played this season -- not just last week.
Total snap count matters. Staying on the field is a measure of value.
Positional value matters, but overall performance and impact on the team matter more.
Relative value matters. I ask: Would this player be a starter on most teams or on a good team?
1. Marshon Lattimore, CB, New Orleans Saints
Previously ranked: 4 | Final 2017 Big Board rank: 9 | Where he was drafted: 11
Lattimore has been one of the best cornerbacks in the league, and he's my pick to be Defensive Rookie of the Year. He has two interceptions (one for a touchdown), eight pass breakups, 36 tackles and a forced fumble, and he has been a huge part of the Saints' defensive improvement. New Orleans' 2017 draft class looks really solid. Lattimore is a ridiculous athlete. He ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash and had a 38½-inch vertical and 11-foot broad jump at the combine. He also has a high ceiling. Remember: He started only one season at Ohio State.
2. Kareem Hunt, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Previously ranked: 1 | Final 2017 Big Board rank: 82 | Where he was drafted: 86
Hunt is in a touchdown slump -- he hasn't scored in six games. He's averaging just 3.7 yards per carry in those six games, and he has nine fewer receptions than Alvin Kamara over that span. Hunt is still averaging 5.2 yards per carry and has six total touchdowns on the season, and he ranks No. 2 in rushing with 800 yards. Plus, his eight rushes of 20 yards lead the league. But he and the Chiefs, who have lost three of four, have struggled lately, and Hunt needs to get going down the stretch if Kansas City wants to get a first-round bye in the playoffs.
3. Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints
Previously ranked: 16 | Final 2017 Big Board rank: 88 | Where he was drafted: 67
When the Saints traded running back Adrian Peterson to the Cardinals, Kamara's play was the reason most thought it was the right move. Since Peterson was dealt during New Orleans' bye week in Week 5, Kamara has four touchdowns while averaging 6.8 yards per carry, and his 560 yards from scrimmage ranks No. 3 in the league behind the Steelers' Le'Veon Bell and Saints teammate Mark Ingram. Kamara ranks No. 1 in percentage of first downs (41.9) during that span, too. Kamara was my eighth-ranked running back before the draft, as he split time in the Tennessee backfield and had only 210 carries from 2015-16. The Alabama transfer led all running backs with a 39½-inch vertical leap and 10-foot-11 broad jump at the combine.
4. Tre'Davious White, CB, Buffalo Bills
Previously ranked: 3 | Final 2017 Big Board rank: 32 | Where he was drafted: 27
Like Lattimore, White has had a fantastic season. White's 13 pass breakups are tied for the league lead. He also has an interception, forced fumble, 35 tackles and a fumble return for a touchdown. A four-year starter at LSU who had six career interceptions, White was one of the most consistent prospects I graded in the Class of 2017. He became Buffalo's No. 1 corner after Ronald Darby was traded to the Eagles.
5. Ryan Ramczyk, OT, New Orleans Saints
Previously ranked: 20 | Final 2017 Big Board rank: 29 | Where he was drafted: 32
This makes three Saints rookies in my top five. It's one of the best rookie classes in a long time. Ramczyk got my midseason offensive lineman of the year award. He hasn't missed a snap, starting at left tackle for a few games in place of Terron Armstead and now moving to the right side to replace injured Zach Strief. I thought he might be better as a right tackle in the NFL because of his run blocking, and Armstead, who is signed through 2021, is locked into the left tackle spot, barring injury.
6. Carl Lawson, DE, Cincinnati Bengals
Previously ranked: 6 | Final 2017 Big Board rank: 52 | Where he was drafted: 116
Lawson is playing only part time in the Bengals' pass-rushing rotation -- he has played 41.7 percent of defensive snaps so far -- but he's up to 5.5 sacks and 14 quarterback knockdowns. A former five-star recruit, he missed a season-and-a-half at Auburn because of injuries and returned as a senior in 2016 with nine sacks and 12 tackles for loss. He could be a 10-sack-a-season guy if he stays healthy (which includes taking better care of his teeth). The 3-6 Bengals are out of the playoff picture, but they got a steal in the fourth round in Lawson.
7. T.J. Watt, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Previously ranked: 7 | Final 2017 Big Board rank: 48 | Where he was drafted: 30
The younger Watt brother had a dynamic debut with two sacks and an interception against the Browns in Week 1. He missed most of the Steelers' Week 2 victory over the Vikings and all of the Week 3 loss to the Bears, but he has been disruptive in his return from a groin injury since, though he has only two more sacks. Pittsburgh's defense is second in the NFL in sacks (29) and has been one of the best units in the league. I noted before the draft that Watt likely would start out as a situational pass-rusher in a 3-4 defense, but it has been tough to keep him off the field. He has 30 total tackles.
8. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers
Previously ranked: 24 | Final Big Board rank: 6 | Where he was drafted: 8
McCaffrey has had a tough time running the ball -- he has only 206 yards while averaging 3.0 yards per carry -- but he has 57 catches, and the Panthers have targeted him 79 times in the passing game. They're using him all over the field. He has five total touchdowns, though he hasn't made much of an impact in the return game like I thought he might. I still think he's going to be a really good NFL player. He led the nation in all-purpose yards per game with 211.6 last season at Stanford, and he can be a weapon. I called him one of the safest picks in the draft, and he could end up making the Pro Bowl if he gets close to 100 catches.
9. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Previously ranked: NR | Final Big Board rank: 39 | Where he was drafted: 62
The league's youngest player broke out in Week 8 with a seven-catch, 193-yard performance that included a 97-yard touchdown. He has five touchdowns and is averaging almost 18 yards per catch, and has eaten into the playing time of uber-talented wideout Martavis Bryant. Smith-Schuster had 20 touchdowns his last two seasons at USC, and he was in the first-round discussion for much of 2016. A 4.54-second 40-yard dash at the combine dropped him a little bit. He was my fifth-ranked receiver.
10. Jamal Adams, S, New York Jets
Previously ranked: 23 | Final Big Board rank: 3 | Where he was drafted: 6
The Jets' rookie safety duo of Adams and Marcus Maye has been solid but unspectacular. Adams has 48 total tackles, two sacks, seven tackles for loss and has recovered two fumbles while playing almost every snap on defense. He's a stud. Adams, my No. 1-ranked safety before the draft, can play in the box and help out on blitzes, and he can go cover tight ends and slot receivers.
11. Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland Browns
Previously ranked: 9 | Final 2017 Big Board rank: 1 | Where he was drafted: 1
Yes, this is high for an edge rusher who has played in only four games, but Garrett has been really good when he has played. He has four sacks and eight quarterback knockdowns in only 141 defensive snaps. The No. 1 overall pick is a bright spot for the 0-9 Browns, who might undergo a regime change after the season -- again. Garrett is an athletic specimen (4.64-second 40-yard dash and 41-inch vertical at 6-foot-4, 272 pounds at the combine) who spent the entire 2016 season atop my Big Board. He was the No. 1 pass-rusher in a really good class of them; he had 32.5 sacks in his three seasons at Texas A&M.
12. Reuben Foster, LB, San Francisco 49ers
Previously ranked: NR | Final Big Board rank: 8 | Where he was drafted: 31
Like Garrett, Foster has played in only four games because of injury, but he has been fantastic, particularly the past two games. He had 24 total tackles against the Cardinals and Giants. Foster was one of my favorite 2017 prospects and my top-ranked inside linebacker. He's the reason the 49ers parted ways with longtime stalwart NaVorro Bowman earlier this season. I though Foster might be picked in the middle of the first round -- I projected him to the Colts at No. 15 in my two-round mock -- but he dropped to No. 31 overall, in part because of some off-field concerns. He has a chance to be one of the steals of the early rounds.
13. Leonard Fournette, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Previously ranked: 5 | Final 2017 Big Board rank: 7 | Where he was drafted: 4
Since back-to-back weeks with more than 130 rushing yards in Weeks 5 and 6, Fournette has missed one game with a sprained ankle, missed another due to suspension, then had only 33 yards in an overtime win over the Chargers. He's averaging 4.3 yards per carry -- this 90-yard touchdown definitely helped -- and he has six rushing touchdowns. Fournette, a former No. 1 overall recruit out of high school, is also contributing in the passing game, with 17 catches and a touchdown. He had only 41 catches in his three seasons at LSU, where he looked like a first-round pick from the minute he stepped on the field as a freshman. Fournette's 28.5-inch vertical jump at the combine was the lowest by a first-round running back since 2011, but his 4.51-second 40-yard dash was phenomenal for a 240-pound back.
14. Kendell Beckwith, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Previously ranked: 10 | Final 2017 Big Board rank: 77 | Where he was drafted: 107
The third-round pick out of LSU won a starting job in training camp and has played almost 85 percent of the Bucs' defensive snaps. He's second on the team in tackles (50) and has five tackles for loss and a sack. Beckwith was a three-year starter for the Tigers who dropped in the draft because he tore his ACL in November. Kwon Alexander, another midround steal, and Lavonte David have each missed time, but Tampa Bay has a solid linebacker corps, though the Bucs have been one of the most disappointing teams in the league.
15. Evan Engram, TE, New York Giants
Previously ranked: 25 | Final Big Board rank: 21 | Where he was drafted: 23
Engram was the fastest tight end at the combine (4.42-second 40), which pushed him into the first round. Engram has played a bigger role for the Giants than expected after Odell Beckham Jr. was injured. Engram has 40 catches for 443 yards and five touchdowns. At this stage of his career, he's much better as a receiver than a blocker; the Giants' staff must see the same thing, as he has run 305 routes already. At 6-3, 240 pounds, however, he has the frame to be a decent blocker.
Best of the rest
16. Jourdan Lewis, CB, Dallas Cowboys: The third-round pick has 31 total tackles and an interception while playing a big role due to injuries.
17. Dalvin Tomlinson, DT, New York Giants: Tomlinson, who has played 53.7 percent of the Giants' defensive snaps, has 22 total tackles.
18. Solomon Thomas, DE, San Francisco 49ers: He could have surged up this list but has missed the past two games with a knee injury. Thomas has eight tackles for loss.
19. Nazair Jones, DT, Seattle Seahawks: The third-round pick had an interception on his first career snap. He also has two sacks and a fumble recovery in the Seahawks' D-line rotation.
20. Eddie Jackson, S, Chicago Bears: The fourth-round pick had two 75-yard-plus touchdowns (one interception, one fumble return) in Week 7, and he has 32 total tackles.
21. Zach Cunningham, ILB, Houston Texans: Cunningham has 35 total tackles and a forced fumble but hasn't played as much in recent weeks.
22. Derek Barnett, DE, Philadelphia Eagles: Barnett has 2.5 sacks, six quarterback knockdowns and a fumble recovery in only 251 defensive snaps. He could play more down the stretch.
23. Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams: The former Eastern Washington star has 32 catches and three touchdowns while being the Rams' top slot wideout.
24. Marlon Humphrey, CB, Baltimore Ravens: The first-round pick is starting to come on. He has 15 total tackles and has broken up three passes.
25. Jarrad Davis, LB, Detroit Lions: Davis has 45 total tackles, a sack and an interception.