NFL Rookie Watch

NFL Rookie Watch

Marques Colston

Bob Rosato/SI

Last Week: 7<br><br>The impressive rookie out of Hofstra kicks off our Rookie Watch this week. Unfortunately for Colston, he's fallen back in the race for Rookie of the Year. He finally returned to the lineup after a nagging ankle injury last week against Dallas and caught five passes for 48 yards. However, the Saints' continued to put up a ton of points without Colston, which might signify he's not as important to the offense as he appeared to be before the injury.

Matt Leinart

Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

Last Week: 10<br><br>Leinart is starting to get what it takes to be a good NFL quarterback. He completed 21 of 34 passes for 232 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in the Cardinals' 27-21 win over the Seahawks. Now the big question is will his former USC coach Pete Carroll join him in Arizona next season?

Mark Anderson

Scott Rovak/US PRESSWIRE

Last Week: Unranked<br><br>Anderson had two sacks in the Bears' 42-27 win over St. Louis on Monday night. He also got flagged for hitting Marc Bulger in the head, which wasn't smart, but it's not a huge surprise considering how hard Anderson rushes the quarterback.

Joseph Addai

Bill Frakes/SI

Last Week: 3<br><br>Addai still leads all rookies with 867 rushing yards, but he's slumped a bit as the Colts have hit hard times. Last week, Addai was stuffed by the Jags' swarming defense, but that's to be expected going up against Jacksonville.

Marcus McNeill

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Last Week: 4<br><br>Give McNeill and the rest of the Chargers' line a lot of credit for LaDainian Tomlinson's NFL-record 29th touchdown last Sunday. Somehow, San Diego's offense seems to get better as the season goes along, and it's already the best in the NFL.

Reggie Bush

Tim Heitman/US PRESSWIRE

Last Week: 8<br><br>Bush is drawing comparisons to Marshall Faulk because of his ability to dominate a game catching the ball out of the backfield. Bush caught six passes for 125 yards and a touchdown in New Orleans' 42-17 victory over Dallas last Sunday night.

Maurice Jones-Drew

Bill Frakes/SI

Last Week: Unranked<br><br>The Colts' run defense stinks, but you still have to give Maurice Jones-Drew credit for his masterful performance last Sunday against Indy. Jones-Drew ran for 166 yards and two touchdowns and returned a kick for a score in Jacksonville's 44-17 victory. Jones-Drew leads all rookies with 12 touchdowns.

DeMeco Ryans

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Last Week: 2<br><br>Ryans now leads the NFL with 127 tackles and his speed and tenacity has been the key to an improved Texans defense. Ryans did whiff on Vince Young on the final play of Houston's loss to Tennessee last Sunday, but the talented linebacker will have lots of chances to make big plays in his career.

Devin Hester

AP

Last Week: 5<br><br>Hester set an NFL record with his fifth and sixth returns for touchdowns this season against the Rams on Monday night. He has three punt returns for TDs, two kickoff returns and a return of a missed field goal. Hester is already being mentioned in the same class of all-time return greats such as Deion Sanders and Billy "Whiteshoes" Johnson.

Vince Young

Thomas B. Shea/US PRESSWIRE

Last Week: 1<br><br>Young's hot streak continued as he led the Titans to their fourth straight win with a 39-yard touchdown dash in overtime to beat the Texans. The win was especially sweet for Young because it was in his hometown of Houston and the Texans passed on him at No. 1 overall, opting to take defensive end Mario Williams.