NFL Rookie Report Week 9: Top 20 Players to Collect

Week 9 rookie rankings shift as the trade deadline nears

The NFL trade deadline adds another layer of uncertainty to rookie collecting, with possible roster changes capable of reshaping value across the hobby. After Week 9, the top of the rookie board remains largely stable, but a few players are making moves as the season enters a more decisive stretch.

The latest top 20 features the same names near the top, while a handful of risers in the middle and lower tiers are starting to separate themselves. A few rookies have already established clear collecting appeal through production, while others remain speculative options tied to team context, opportunity, and long-term upside.

Tier 1: The stalwarts remain on top

The top four stayed unchanged after Week 9, with Fernando Mendoza holding the No. 1 spot, followed by Jeremiyah Love, Carnell Tate, and Jordyn Tyson. That stability reflects how firmly these players have already established themselves in the rookie market, even as the season continues to create new storylines.

Tyson’s debut did not deliver the immediate breakout some collectors may have hoped for. The No. 8 overall pick had a chance at his first career touchdown late in the game, but a fumble in the first 30 minutes of action created an uneven introduction. Even so, the ranking remains steady for now, with the expectation that his role could grow over time.

• 1. QB Fernando Mendoza - Raiders
• 2. RB Jeremiyah Love - Cardinals
• 3. WR Carnell Tate - Titans
• 4. WR Jordyn Tyson - Saints

Tier 2: Comfortable value with room to climb

The second tier continues to offer some of the most appealing collecting value in the class. Denzel Boston remains the top player in this group after leading all rookie pass catchers with 507 receiving yards. His production has come in an inconsistent Cleveland offense, but the explosive plays have been enough to keep him ahead of the pack for now.

Jonah Coleman is the most notable mover in this tier. The Broncos rookie helped extend Denver’s winning streak to five games with a go-ahead fourth-quarter touchdown and finished with 88 yards. Over the last two weeks, he has nearly reached 200 total scrimmage yards, giving collectors a strong reason to track his rise closely.

KC Concepcion also moved up after climbing from No. 10 to No. 7, while Jadarian Price, Carson Beck, and Omar Cooper round out the rest of the tier. The group reflects a mix of steady production and developing opportunity, which has become a defining theme for the rookie class as a whole.

• 5. WR Denzel Boston - Browns
• 6. RB Jonah Coleman - Broncos
• 7. WR KC Concepcion - Browns
• 8. RB Jadarian Price - Seahawks
• 9. QB Carson Beck - Cardinals
• 10. WR Omar Cooper - Jets

Tier 3: Speculative options with changing outlooks

Tier 3 is where the rankings begin to reflect more uncertainty. Ty Simpson took the biggest tumble in this section, dropping from No. 6 to No. 12. The fall is less about team performance and more about the reality that he may not see the field soon, with Matthew Stafford continuing to play through injuries and keep the Rams in the hunt.

Related coverage includes NFL Rookie Card Report After Week 9: 20 Players Collectors Are Watching Closely.

The Rams remain just above .500, but the broader NFC picture makes their playoff path less certain than it may appear on the surface. That matters for a rookie quarterback whose collecting case depends heavily on future opportunity. In a weekly ranking built around current relevance, Simpson’s value is harder to justify than players already producing on the field.

Makai Lemon, Germie Bernard, Kenyon Sadiq, and Emmett Johnson fill out the rest of the tier. Johnson is the notable riser here, moving from No. 17 to No. 15 after a small but meaningful jump.

• 11. WR Makai Lemon - Eagles
• 12. QB Ty Simpson - Rams
• 13. WR Germie Bernard - Steelers
• 14. TE Kenyon Sadiq - Jets
• 15. RB Emmett Johnson - Chiefs

Tier 4: Keep tabs on these rookies

The final tier is where defensive rookies enter the conversation, and that is always notable in a hobby that tends to focus most heavily on quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers. This week, David Bailey and Arvell Reese joined the rankings for the first time.

Reese’s three-sack performance stood out enough to push the Giants further into the playoff picture in the NFC East race. While defensive rookies are often overlooked in the market, performances like that can create short-term attention and potentially strengthen long-term collecting interest if the production continues.

Bailey also enters the list as a player worth monitoring, especially in a class where historical production markers can matter more than usual. The rest of the tier remains unchanged at the bottom of the board, with Kaelon Black, Mike Washington, and De'Zhaun Stribling holding their spots.

• 16. RB Kaelon Black - 49ers
• 17. RB Mike Washington - Raiders
• 18. WR De'Zhaun Stribling - 49ers
• 19. DE David Bailey - Jets
• 20. LB Arvell Reese - Giants

What the Week 9 rookie board says about the hobby

The current rookie landscape is defined by stability at the top and movement in the middle. Fernando Mendoza, Jeremiyah Love, Carnell Tate, and Jordyn Tyson continue to anchor the class, while Jonah Coleman and KC Concepcion are among the players gaining momentum through recent production.

At the same time, the rankings show how quickly a rookie quarterback can slide when opportunity becomes less certain. Ty Simpson’s drop is a reminder that collecting value is often tied as much to timing and team context as it is to raw talent. With the trade deadline now in play and the regular season entering a more consequential phase, the rookie market could shift again quickly depending on injuries, roster moves, and late-season roles.

For collectors tracking the class week by week, the current board offers a clear snapshot of where the strongest attention is concentrated and which names may be on the verge of a larger move.