Rookie Report: Rawls does it again; Winston has Bucs in playoff hunt

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

Offense

Thomas Rawls, RB, Seattle Seahawks

Opportunity knocked again for Rawls with Marshawn Lynch sidelined, and he took full advantage. Rawls rushed for a whopping 209 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries and added three catches for 46 yards and another score in the Seahawks' 29-13 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

Rawls is the first rookie in NFL history with at least 250 scrimmage yards and a rushing and receiving touchdown in the same game.

Jameis Winston, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers are in the playoff hunt right now, and Winston's rapid improvement is the biggest reason why. The former Heisman Trophy winner tied an NFL rookie record in Week 11 with five touchdown passes, each thrown to a different receiver.

With that performance, Winston's quarterback rating improved to 86.5, the best ever for a rookie drafted No. 1 overall, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post notes. He's on pace to finish the season with 24 touchdowns, which would rank as the third-highest total in NFL history for a rookie.

J.J. Nelson, WR, Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals had several rookies step up against the Cincinnati Bengals, but it was Nelson who stood out the most. The fifth-round pick caught four passes for 142 yards, including a 64-yard touchdown bomb from Carson Palmer.

"I think everybody expected him to make the plays that he did, and I'm just glad to see him do it," Palmer said of Nelson's breakout performance. "I think he started to realize he's not just a player, he's a big-time player."

Defense

Adrian Amos, S, Chicago Bears

Amos had a season-high seven tackles in the Bears' 17-15 loss to the Denver Broncos and took down quarterback Brock Osweiler for the first sack of his career. It was also the first sack by a Bears defensive back this season.

The fifth-round pick has proven to be a steal so far, starting all 10 games and continually putting up a solid effort at a position that's been an issue for the Bears over the last couple of seasons.

Damarious Randall, CB, Green Bay Packers

Randall's Week 11 availability was put into question because of a hamstring injury, but he was able to play through the ailment, finishing with seven tackles and a pass defensed in a 30-13 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

The Arizona State product leads the Packers with 12 passes defensed through 10 games and is tied for the team lead in interceptions with two.

Arik Armstead, DE, San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers' first-round pick saw his most extensive action of the season in Week 11 due to Glenn Dorsey suffering a torn ACL, including his first snaps in the base defense. He finished the game with six tackles and a quarterback hit.

With Dorsey lost for the season, Armstead should continue to receive more playing time down the stretch.

Quick Hits

• Panthers head coach Ron Rivera used the term "Kelvin-esque" to describe wide receiver Devin Funchess's Week 11 performance, a reference to Carolina's 2014 first-round pick Kelvin Benjamin.
• Indianapolis Colts safety Clayton Geathers was the talk of the locker room after his impressive first start.
• Drops have been a big issue for Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper of late.
• New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles didn't hide his frustration with Devin Smith's disappointing performance against the Houston Texans.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Kwon Alexander took full responsibility for his performance-enhancing drug violation, which resulted in a four-game suspension.