We've seen some great rookie performances so far in 2023 and said performances have given us plenty of data and film to where we can now start previewing the top rookie matchups each week.

Not every matchup will be of the traditional variety where each player is lined up across from each other on the opposite side of the ball – some will simply be two guys playing the same position, but competing to see who can have the better day. It's almost impossible to find quality matchups that strictly adhere to actually playing against one another.

Either way, the following four matchups will be fun to keep an eye on when things kick off on Sunday:

OLB Tuli Tuipulotu vs. RT Darnell Wright

Tuipulotu is tied for the third-most sacks (2.0) among all rookies. His five quarterback hits are tied for third-best and his five tackles for loss are tied with Philadelphia Eagles rookie Jalen Carter for the league lead. Per Pro Football Focus, his pass rush productivity (8.4%) and pass rush win rate (12.3%) are both second-best, while his total number of pressures (21), are third-best among rookie EDGEs with at least 62 pass rushing snaps on the year.

He's also been really good against the run. The second-round pick currently has a stop rate of 12.5%, which is second-best out of 11 qualifying rookie EDGE players.

Wright has been pretty solid himself, though his pass protection could certainly use some work. The Los Angeles Chargers like to line Tuipulotu up on both sides of the defense, so the Chicago Bears' first-round pick will certainly see him throughout the game.

Make no mistake, Wright will have to help corral Tuipulotu along with the rest of the Chargers' pass rush if the Bears want to win this game.

QB C.J. Stroud vs. QB Bryce Young

Like it or not, the winner of this game will receive some serious bragging rights when it comes to who currently is -and could be- the best draft pick of the two. Young went No. 1 overall to the Carolina Panthers and Stroud followed up right behind him at No. 2 to the Houston Texans, which immediately created this storyline that will follow both players throughout their respective careers. 

There was plenty of smoke surrounding the Panthers and Stroud during the early draft process, but Scott Fitterer and Frank Reich ended up taking Young. 

So far, Stroud clearly looks like the better player, both in terms of film and stats. Obviously, both players are in different environments when it comes to their respective teams, but it's easy to see why Stroud is receiving his flowers. Especially when considering his 3-3 record as a starter compared to Young's 0-6 record.

Player	QBR	ANY/A	Turnover-Worthy Play %	Adjusted Completion %
Bryce Young	57.1	3.93	3.1%	75.5%
C.J. Stroud	32.1	7.43	2.4%	72.0%

There is still plenty of time for Young to close the gap when it comes to the 2023 season and beyond, however, and a win on Sunday would be a great starting point. 

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WR Jordan Addison vs. WR Jayden Reed

Addison is having a really good year and he's helping the Vikings overcome the loss of Justin Jefferson, which obviously isn't easy to do, whatsoever. His seven-catch, 123-yard, two touchdown performance against the San Francisco 49ers is easily the best game of his young career and is the highlight of a three-game stretch that has seen him record a total of 16 receptions for 215 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns. Overall, Addison has amassed the sixth-most receptions (29) and the fifth-most receiving yards per game (57.1) among all rookie wideouts and tight ends. He leads all rookies with six receiving touchdowns, as well.

Reed, while not as accomplished, has had a pretty solid year, so far. His 16 receptions rank 14th among all rookies, his 38.5 yards per game are ninth, and he's tied for second with three receiving touchdowns. His 14.4 yards per reception also ranks third-best among all rookies with at least 15 targets.

Both players can take the top off the defense and they are also used on end-arounds and other similar-type plays. Expect each of them to record at least one big play this week.

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WR Rashee Rice vs. WR Marvin Mims

Rice is really starting find his groove in the Kansas City Chiefs offense and Mims is just a big play waiting to happen in the Denver Broncos offense, which makes this matchup all the more enticing. 

Mims' numbers are pretty damn impressive, so far. He averages 24.6 yards per catch off his 10 receptions, which obviously leads all rookies with at least 13 targets on the year. But it's not like the Broncos are just taking deep shots and hoping they work: Mims' 53.6% success rate is ninth-best out of the 25 qualifying receivers mentioned earlier and his 76.9% catch rate is sixth-best. For a deep threat, that's excellent efficiency

Like Addison, Rice is riding a successful three-game streak. He ranks sixth with 13 receptions among all rookies over Weeks 5, 6, and 7. His 165 receiving yards are good for fifth-best, and his two receiving touchdowns are tied for second-most. Rice's 86.7% catch rate is second only to Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid when shrinking the sample size down to rookies with at least 10 targets over the previous three weeks.

What makes this matchup even more intriguing is the fact both guys are different types of players. Rice is a smooth route-runner that can really make plays in space and gain some serious yards after the catch while Mims is a big-time deep threat.

Marvin Mims Jr. and Rashee Rice are two of the highest-graded rookie receivers in the league so far this season at Pro Football Focus. They’re vastly different types of receivers with Mims Jr. being a deep threat and Rice excelling at middle-of-field, yards-after-catch, and red zone work. That said, they’ll always be compared because they were selected within eight picks of each other (Rice at No. 55 and Mims Jr. at No. 63). – Charles Goldman, A to Z Sports Kansas City

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In all, these four matchups will be fun to watch and will certainly help define the outcome in their respective matchups. 

Be sure to check back in next week for the Week 9's edition.