Rookie Report: Matthews, Brown, Hitchens shine in Week 3

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 third week of the season, including some of the names to watch heading into Week 4.

Offense

Jordan Matthews
WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Matthews broke out with a two-touchdown performance against the Washington Redskins, after a relatively slow start to the season, becoming the eighth Eagles rookie in history to score twice in a game. His eight catches were the most by an Eagles rookie in nearly 26 years.

John Brown
WR, Arizona Cardinals

Brown, one of the most talked about rookies during training camp, has flown under the radar so far this season. The speedy playmaker caught four-of-six passes for 52 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Cardinals' Week 3 victory. He ranks second on the team with 109 receiving yards.

Kelvin Benjamin
WR, Carolina Panthers

Benjamin caught eight passes for 115 yards and a touchdown in the Panthers' Week 3 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He leads all rookies with 253 receiving yards through three games, and has seen the most targets (27) of any Panthers receiver.

Isaiah Crowell
RB, Cleveland Browns

Crowell and Terrance West have both stepped up in the absence of injured running back Ben Tate, giving the Browns plenty to be optimistic about. Crowell, an undrafted rookie out of Alabama State, was the more flashy of the two in Week 3, rushing for 55 yards and one touchdown on 11 carries. 

Terrance West
RB, Cleveland Browns

West, continuing his strong start to the season, rushed for 36 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries against his hometown Baltimore Ravens. He ranks first among rookies and 10th in the league with 204 rushing yards.

Defense

Anthony Hitchens
LB, Dallas Cowboys

Hitchens led the Cowboys with 13 tackles in Week 3, making his first start at middle linebacker in place of the injured Rolando McClain. Hitchens also made a crucial play midway through the third quarter, taking down St. Louis Rams running back Zac Stacy for a one-yard loss to give Dallas the ball back.

Kyle Fuller
CB, Chicago Bears

Fuller had another big performance in Week 3, recording seven tackles, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and an interception (his team-high third of the season) against the New York Jets. Brandon Marshall was right, this kid can play.

Anthony Barr
LB, Minnesota Vikings

Barr struggled in pass coverage against the New Orleans Saints, but had an impressive game overall. The first-round pick finished with one sack - the first of his career - and five tackles, bringing his total to 17. He also added a quarterback hit and hurry.

Khalil Mack
LB, Oakland Raiders

The Raiders made a wise decision selecting Mack fifth overall. The rookie linebacker has racked up 19 tackles in three games and has been unstoppable against the run. He has also caught the attention of opposing coaches, including Bill Belichick.

Calvin Pryor
S, New York Jets

Pryor's pass-coverage ability was on full display in the Jets' 27-19 loss to the Bears. He made a big touchdown-saving play while covering wide receiver Alshon Jeffery in the second quarter. Then, on a 3rd-and-3 from the Jets' six-yard line, the trash-talking rookie forced an incompletion and a field-goal attempt. 

Quick Hits

• After three consecutive losses under a struggling Chad Henne, the Jacksonville Jaguars named rookie Blake Bortles their starting quarterback. His first test comes on the road against the San Diego Chargers.
• The Teddy Bridgewater era is officially underway in Minnesota, as the Vikings placed starting quarterback Matt Cassel on season-ending injured reserve Wednesday. Bridgewater will make his first NFL start Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.
• The Pittsburgh Steelers lost three defensive starters to injuries in Week 3, including rookie linebacker Ryan Shazier. He will miss at least one game as he recovers from sprained right knee.
• Former Atlanta Falcons tackle and 2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame nominee Mike Kenn thinks rookie Jake Matthews is "a 10-plus year player barring injury." He also declared Matthews the top-rated offensive tackle in this year's draft.
• Sammy Watkins, after leading all rookie receivers with eight receptions for 117 yards in Week 2, caught only two-of-eight targets for 19 yards in the Buffalo Bills' 22-10 loss to the San Diego Chargers. Watkins owned up to his mistakes afterwards, admitting he took a play off.