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Rookie Report: Watkins, West, Fuller among Week 2 standouts

Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

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

Here's who stood out during the second week of the season, including some of the names to watch heading into Week 3.

Offense

Sammy Watkins
WR, Buffalo Bills

The No. 4 overall pick led all rookie wide receivers with eight catches for 117 yards in Week 2 and recorded the first touchdown of his career on a 12-yard pass from E.J. Manuel. He is the first Bills rookie since Lee Evans in 2004 to post 100 receiving yards in a game.

Terrance West
RB, Cleveland Browns

Starting in place of the injured Ben Tate, West rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries against the New Orleans Saints. The third-round pick leads all rookies with 168 rushing yards through two games and is tied with Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell for fourth place in the NFL.

Jeremy Hill
RB, Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals' decision to increase Hill's workload in Week 2 paid off, as the second-round pick rushed 15 times for 74 yards and a touchdown, and added two catches for 22 yards. He saw less touches than Giovani Bernard, but figures to be a big part of the Bengals' gameplan moving forward.

Silas Redd
RB, Washington Redskins

Redd entered Washington's Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars as the No. 3 running back, but was bumped up after Roy Helu Jr. went down with a knee injury. The undrafted rookie made the most of the opportunity, rushing eight times for 41 yards and a touchdown – the first of his career.

Gabe Jackson
OG, Oakland Raiders

Despite sitting at 0-2, the Raiders have a lot to be optimistic about when it comes to the play of their rookies. Jackson was matched against Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt in Week 2 – a task difficult for any player, let alone a rookie. Jackson held his own, though, and has offensive coordinator Greg Olson singing his praises.

Defense

Kyle Fuller
CB, Chicago Bears

Fuller broke out in a big way in Week 2, intercepting San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick twice in the fourth quarter to help the Bears to a 28-20 comeback victory. The No. 14 overall pick played 43 snaps, and figures to play a more prominent role moving forward following the loss of Charles Tillman.

Jason Verrett
CB, San Diego Chargers

With Brandon Flowers on the sideline, Verrett made his first start of the season against the Seattle Seahawks. The first-round pick played all 40 of the Chargers' defensive snaps in the 30-21 victory and is currently tied for second on the team with nine tackles.

C.J. Mosley
LB, Baltimore Ravens

Mosley made nine tackles during the Ravens' 26-6 pounding of the Steelers, bringing his season total to 16. He also forced and recovered a fumble at the Pittsburgh 20-yard line, which led to a fourth-quarter field goal by Justin Tucker.

Ryan Shazier
LB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Following up his six-tackle performance in Week 1, Shazier posted 11 tackles and two hurries – the first of his career – against the Ravens. He was impressive against the run, but struggled at times in coverage.

Anthony Barr
LB, Minnesota Vikings

Barr saw time at both linebacker and defensive end against the New England Patriots, and while he struggled in pass coverage, he is becoming a versatile defensive weapon for the Vikings. The No. 9 overall pick played all 65 defensive snaps in the 30-7 loss and recorded five tackles.

Quick Hits

  • After racking up 110 yards and two touchdowns in the Jaguars' season opener, rookie wide receiver Allen Hurns was limited to two catches for 13 yards against Washington. To make matters worse, he also suffered an ankle injury on the final play of the game.
  • Kelvin Benjamin dropped three passes in the Carolina Panthers' 24-7 victory over the Detroit Lions, which has head coach Ron Rivera concerned. "They're little small things, different details that he's got to get better at," Rivera said.
  • Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel made his much-anticipated NFL debut against the New Orleans Saints in Week 2, though there wasn't a whole lot to get excited about. On his first official play, Manziel handed the ball off to running back Isaiah Crowell for a three-yard gain.
  • New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks wasn't quite as flashy against the Browns as he was in Week 1, but he did have an impressive 28-yard run on an end-around.
  • Patriots defensive tackle Dominique Easley had one of the team's four interceptions against the Vikings. Not only was it the first of his career, it was also the first he's recorded since high school.

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