Through the first four games of his NFL career, former Washington Huskies wide receiver Denzel Boston has been one of the league's best rookies.
The second-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in April's draft has pulled in 13 catches for 284 yards (a number that leads all rookies and ranks No. 11 in the NFL), good for 21.8 yards per reception, and a pair of touchdowns while working with quarterback Deshaun Watson, as the team has gotten off to a 3-1 start thanks in large part to Boston's production.
On the NFL Stock Exchange podcast, draft analyst Connor Rogers named the 6-foot-4 wide receiver as the early favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
"Denzel Boston is playing a role of an alpha wide receiver in terms of what they're asking of him,
the usage, the plays he can make," Rogers said. "I think some of the plays that haven't ended up in the box score have been impressive as well."
"What's impressive when you watch him: his size allows him to draw targets down the field. He has that build-up speed, and you trust him to play above the rim, but he can go over the middle and break a tackle, and create a big play. We know he can impact the game as a blocker; it feels like he's quickly, quickly transitioning into that role as, 'I'm the guy' in this offense, especially when you're a perimeter threat like him."
Boston will have his next opportunity to assert himself as one of the NFL's top rookies on Sunday against the New York Jets, who have one of the league's best pass defenses, as it ranks No. 6, allowing just 193.3 yards per game.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Denzel Boston named early favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year
