Pro Football Focus is a real litmus test for NFL fans. You either really love it and swear by every single ranking they put out, or you absolutely hate it and spend your entire time online Tweeting about how stupid their criteria and grades are. In a way, they're truly the NFL's 33rd team.
Fortunately for Green Bay Packers fans, PFF did them a favor this week. For now, they're safe from Green Bay's wrath. The numbers people over there released their most recent Rookie Rankings, which have been updated after Week 6's performances. And, if you can believe it, the Packers have the best rookie in football! It's not Jayden Daniels, or Caleb Williams, or Brock Bowers. All three of those guys aren't nearly as good as Packers safety Evan Williams (PFF's words, not mine. But also kinda mine?).
Williams forced a fumble and made a key third-down stop in the Packers' win over the Arizona Cardinals as he continues to make an impact as a starter in Jeff Hafley's defense.
Not only is Williams the highest-graded rookie through six weeks, but he's the highest-graded safety. Xavier McKinney's having an All-Pro caliber season and he's not even the best safety on his own team! (Again, PFF's words, not mine. And this time, really not mine.)
Evan Williams is the best rookie in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus
"After stepping into a larger role over the past two weeks, Williams is now the NFL's highest-graded safety, though on a smaller sample size than some of his counterparts. This past week, he earned a 93.3 PFF grade, allowing just nine yards in coverage and forcing a fumble."
Ughhhh sample sizes ruin everything. For the sake of this exercise, let's ignore them. Watching Williams grow into his role with the Packers has been one of the most enjoyable parts of the early season, and it never hurts seeing that PFF's first- and second-ranked safeties both play in the same secondary.
It gets better! Kinda. Williams isn't even the only Packers rookie to make the list – linebacker Edgerrin Cooper came in at 11 after having his breakout game against the Cardinals. And people were worried about the Packers defense this year.
Who am I to argue with PFF, or with math? Besides, if I'm going to argue with PFF, I'm obviously going to do it under an anonymous burner account.