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Between franchise mode and Ultimate Team, there are plenty of ways to build a dream roster and score touchdowns with fan-favorite players across the league. The 2022 NFL Draft class is full of rookies with the potential to become true superstars, and there are more than a handful who have the chance to help their team win games while also becoming nominees for the 2022 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

8 Velus Jones Jr., WR (Bears)

The Chicago Bears have been lamented during the 2022 NFL Offseason for what analysts perceive to be a lack of weapons surrounding second-year quarterback Justin Fields. Drafted in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Tennessee’s Velus Jones Jr. is a dynamic returner and wide receiver who possesses wonderful yards after catch potential. His older age as a rookie has been pointed to as a flaw, but reporters have noted his heightened maturity.

Fields told management Jones Jr. was someone he’d love to play with during the pre-draft process and if the quarterback believes in him, there’s a chance the two have a special year with one another.

7 Garrett Wilson, WR (Jets)

Quarterback Zach Wilson’s freak injury during the preseason is a bummer for the New York Jets, but the young roster still has a ton of potential. Garrett Wilson, the rookie wide receiver from Ohio State, is one of two Jets rookies on the list. The truth is that it’s unclear how the Jets’ offense will function with or without Zach Wilson behind center.

Defenses the Jets face will likely look to eliminate Elijah Moore from the passing game, which leaves Garrett Wilson with plenty of opportunities. He possesses much more natural talent and upside than fellow wideout Corey Davis, so the Jets staff might look to prioritize youth and give Garret Wilson plenty of reps.

6 Drake London, WR (Falcons)

There’s some worry surrounding the Atlanta Falcons that Drake London’s knee injury might carry into the regular season. London sustained the injury during the team’s first preseason game and hasn’t practiced yet. The Falcons will look for London to be a contributing factor in a rebuilding offense that lacks any threatening receiving options outside of phenom second-year tight end Kyle Pitts.

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London is a big-bodied receiver known for his hands and has drawn comparisons to Tampa Bay Bucs wideout Mike Evans and Los Angeles Ram Allen Robinson. If he is healthy to start the year, it’s safe to say he’ll see plenty of targets in an offense looking for players to step up.

5 Kenneth Walker III, RB (Seahawks)

Sure, Kenneth Walker III currently sits as the backup running back of the Seattle Seahawks. Starter Rashaad Penny is plenty talented, but he’s had a career plagued by injury. Even then it’s safe to assume that Head Coach may implement a heavy run-centric gameplan with deficiencies at the quarterback position in Russell Wilson’s absence.

This means that Walker III could be the backup the entire year, but could still get plenty of carries to make a difference. In a split Denver Broncos backfield in 2021 rookie running back, Javonte Williams rushed for almost 1,000 yards ad scored 7 touchdowns. This is enough statistical proof that optimism for Walker III should be high in 2022 and beyond.

4 Breece Hall, RB (Jets)

After drafting running back Michael Carter in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the New York Jets took Breece Hall in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Hall was considered by many to be the top running back in the draft.

Since the Jets’ offensive coordinator comes from the Shanahan coaching tree, it’s safe to assume they’ll use both running backs in tandem as each one offers a different challenge for defenses. Carter is a shiftier back more aligned with the modern game, while Hall provides the classic skills of the running back position and could see a lot of the goal-line and redzone work for a team looking to punch in touchdowns.

3 Kenny Pickett, QB (Steelers)

Kenny Pickett, the rookie quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, has both one of the easiest and most difficult paths to winning Offensive Rookie of the Year. The positive for Pickett is that the quarterback position is almost always prioritized when it comes to award voting, so if he’s even close production-wise to other guys on this list, he’ll likely get the nod simply due to perceived position value.

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His uphill battle will simply be playing. Pickett currently sits as the backup quarterback for the Steelers, so barring terrible play or an unforeseen injury to Mitch Trubisky, Pickett will have a tough time getting on the field. If he does though, look for him to be the front-runner for the award, provided he plays well.

2 Chris Olave, WR (Saints)

Michael Thomas has been a bit of an enigma for the New Orleans Saints during the 2022 NFL Offseason. It felt as though the star wideout was fully healthy and ready to help his team contend for an NFC South division title and a playoff spot. Recently it was announced Thomas was currently dealing with a hamstring issue experts believe to be a side effect of his previous ankle injury’s recovery.

Enter Chris Olave, the rookie wideout from Ohio State, taken by the Saints with the 11th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. The team moved up five spots to take Olave, something analysts believe is an indication of their hesitancy in regards to Thomas’ potential availability. With Jameis Winston at quarterback their offense will air the ball out, and Olave could very easily be on the receiving end of a lot of balls.

1 Dameon Pierce, RB (Texans)

Few other rookies have made an impression during the 2022 NFL Preseason like Dameon Pierce of the Houston Texans has. He’s quickly emerged as the likely favorite to be the team’s starting running back in Week 1. This is quite the feat for a fourth-round pick, but the Florida Gator has demonstrated his potential in the NFL.

Winning awards is all about making the most out of opportunities and Pierce will have plenty of that from the very first week of the season. With nothing but aging veterans behind him on the depth chart, Pierce could command the role of a three-down back and contribute both on the ground and through the air as a check-down option for second-year quarterback Davis Mills.

Madden NFL 23 is available on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC.

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