Rookie Report: Prescott continues surge during 5-game winning streak

Each week, Rookie Report provides a running look at first-year standouts, surprises, and Rookie of the Year candidates.

Offense

Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys

Few imagined that Dak Prescott would continued to dominate after an outstanding preseason, but the Cowboys quarterback led his team to a fifth consecutive victory Sunday, outshining Aaron Rodgers in a 30-16 win. Prescott broke Tom Brady's record for most consecutive pass attempts without an interception to begin his career, and featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated prior to the game.

Tony Romo is expected to return from a broken collarbone soon, but Prescott's likely earned the starting quarterback job for the remainder of the season based off his outstanding form through six weeks.

Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints

Michael Thomas continues to play an increasingly large role in the Saints' offense, recording a touchdown in three consecutive games. Thomas is asked to run a number of different routes throughout a game, and his wide catch radius, combined with Drew Brees' clinical accuracy, makes him an easy target.

In the below clip, Thomas runs a crossing route to perfection, sprinting past an overwhelmed Panthers defensive back. Thomas leads the Saints with 26 receptions and is poised to become the next offensive star for the team during the Brees era.

Chester Rogers, WR, Indianapolis Colts

It's hard to find a bright spot for the Colts after blowing a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter against the Texans and then succumbing in overtime, but Rogers may be it. He signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent out of Grambling State in May, and caught four passes for a team-high 63 yards in the loss. It'll be compelling to see whether Rogers will gain more targets, but he could emerge as the Colts' third receiver behind T.Y. Hilton and Phillip Dorsett.

Defense

Yannick Ngakoue, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars

Ngakoue continues to be the most impressive defensive lineman among a group that features Malik Jackson, Dante Fowler Jr., and Sen'Derrick Marks. The 21-year-old recorded a sack in four consecutive games. At this rate, he could distinguish himself as the premier pass-rusher of his draft class, despite being selected in the third round.

Here, Ngakoue never gives up on the play and kills what was a promising drive for the Bears:

DeForest Buckner, DE, San Francisco 49ers

DeForest Buckner is finally on the board, recording the first two sacks of his career during a 45-16 loss to the Bills. Buckner is displaying top-end speed for his position and beginning to capitalize on opportunities created by the rest of his teammates. He appears to be growing more confident by the game, tapping into his potential in spite of his team's five-game losing streak.

Tyler Matakevich, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Matakevich won the Chuck Bednarik Award as the best defensive player in college football last season, and could end up a steal for the Steelers after being picked in the seventh round. The 23-year-old recorded nine tackles in a 30-15 loss to the Dolphins, and played a season-high 18 snaps. With Ryan Shazier still recovering from a knee injury, Matakevich's snap count could keep rising.

Your introduction to ...

Anthony Brown, CB, Dallas Cowboys

Brown is featuring heavily within the Cowboys' base defense, playing over 50 snaps over the team's last four games. During a 30-16 victory over the Packers, Brown recorded 11 tackles and a forced fumble while making Aaron Rodgers' life miserable due to his strong coverage. The sixth-round pick is ranked 41st among 112 eligible cornerbacks by Pro Football Focus, and shouldn't be the forgotten man among the Cowboys' standout rookie class.