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Denver Broncos: Rookie report card through four weeks of 2018

By Sayre Bedinger

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 1: Running back Phillip Lindsay #30 celebrates after scoring a third-quarter touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on October 1, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 1: Running back Phillip Lindsay #30 celebrates after scoring a third-quarter touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on October 1, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 1: Running back Royce Freeman #28 of the Denver Broncos rushes for a second-quarter touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on October 1, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 1: Running back Royce Freeman #28 of the Denver Broncos rushes for a second-quarter touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on October 1, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

Royce Freeman, RB

Key Stats: 44 carries, 219 rushing yards, three touchdowns (5.0 yards per carry)

Through the first four games of the season, Royce Freeman has established himself as one of the best running backs in the NFL, at least on a per-snap basis. Freeman ranks tied for 22nd in the NFL with 44 run snaps played in four games (11 per game) yet is sixth in the NFL with 15 first down carries.

He ranks third in the NFL with 10 carries of 10 or more yards, and ranks fourth in the NFL (with backs who have at least 50 percent of their team’s touches) with 3.59 yards after contact per rush.

He’s forced 12 missed tackles, tied for third most in the NFL through four weeks.

To sum up, Freeman has been as effective with his touches (six touchdowns in seven games dating back to the preseason) as just about any back in the league.

At Oregon, Freeman looked like a man among boys, and he’s proving he was vastly underrated coming out of college as a high third-round pick.

Grade: A

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