10. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston Texans
DeAndre Hopkins emerged as a star player perhaps faster than any other player of 2013. In Hopkins’ first three games as a rookie he recorded a total of 243 receiving yards. He had 1 100-yard receiving game and 3 games where he averaged more than 20 yards/reception. His 15.4 yards/reception over the entire season were most by any rookie with more than 50 catches. As a partner to Pro Bowler Andre Johnson, Hopkins finished his rookie season with 802 receiving yards and 2 TDs.
Look for Hopkins to improve upon those numbers in 2014, especially with the possibility that Hopkins may take a larger share of the targets now that Andre Johnson is nearing retirement.
9. Kyle Long, G, Chicago Bears
The Bears needed vast improvements to their offensive line in 2013 and they got it with the help of rookie Guard Kyle Long. Even after starting QB Jay Cutler was injured, backup Josh McCown was able to thrive thanks to great pass protection provided by Long. Long became the first Guard to be named to the Pro Bowl as a rookie since Chris Hinton in 1983, and was the first Bears offensive player to go to a Pro Bowl as a rookie since Gale Sayers.
The outlook for Long is very good: Since 1964, 80% of offensive lineman that have made the Pro Bowl as a rookie have been named to the Pro Bowl again.
8. Giovani Bernard, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Bernard was the first RB drafted in 2013 and split carries with Bengals starter BenJarvus Green-Ellis. However Bernard quickly emerged as a very effective dual-threat for the Bengals rushing and passing game. Bernard had 3 games with over 100 yards from scrimmage and finished the season with over 1,200 yards from scrimmage and 8 TDs – both numbers 3rd among rookies.
He is expected to split carries with Green-Ellis again, but there is little doubt that he might quickly become one of the most effective backs in the AFC with a heavier workload.
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