Matt Forte is fourth in the NFL with 304 rushing yards; he also has 105 yards receiving. Getty Images

4. Drew Brees, QB, Saints (NR): Although he couldn't lead his team to a win on the road, Brees torched the Broncos' for 421 passing yards. He leads the league in passing yards (980) and has five touchdowns passes on the season.

5. Michael Turner, RB, Falcons (NR): The Falcons' workhorse bounced back from a disappointing Week 2 performance to top the 100-yard mark against the Chiefs. The speedster added three touchdowns en route to taking the lead in rushing with 366 yards.

Coach of the Year

1. Dick Jauron, Bills (Last week's rank: 1): The Bills' 3-0 start is their first since 1992, and they are in sole possession of first place in the AFC East.

2. Jeff Fisher, Titans (5): The Titans defense battered another opponent en route to a third victory. With the offense playing better under Kerry Collins' direction, the Titans have emerged as one of the top teams in the AFC.

3. Mike Shanahan, Broncos (NR): The Broncos' gutsy leader should have made the list last week after going for two at the end of regulation, but he clearly deserves a mention this week for guiding the Broncos to their undefeated start. Though his defense has underperformed at times, Shanahan's top-ranked offense has been rolling.

4. Tom Coughlin, Giants (NR): The defending world champions have weathered a series of offseason losses and key injuries to start 3-0. Though their stern leader rarely gets credit for a job well done, he certainly deserves kudos for this year's terrific start.

5. Mike Smith, Falcons (NR): The Falcons' 2-1 record is a testament to the outstanding coaching job that Smith has done in his first season. If the Falcons continue to play solid on both sides of the ball, they may continue the "worst-to-first" trend in the NFC South.

Offensive Rookie of the Year

1. Matt Forte, RB, Bears (Last week's rank: 3): The standout rookie pounded a formidable Bucs defense for 89 rushing yards, and added 66 receiving yards on seven receptions with a score. Despite his inexperience, Forte has been the Bears' most consistent offensive player and the main reason they have been competitive in every contest.

2. Chris Johnson, RB, Titans (1): The dazzling rookie led the Titans with 77 rushing yards against the Texans. Though he didn't add a score, Johnson's running this season has helped Titans to their first 3-0 start since 1999.

3. DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles (2): The flamboyant rookie had a quiet game against the Steelers (five receptions for 40 yards), but his big play potential has opened up the field for the Eagles' other receivers.

4. Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons (NR): The composed rookie effectively managed the Falcons' offense in their 38-17 win over the Chiefs. He completed 12 of 18 passes for 192 yards, including a 70-yard strike to Roddy White.

5. Felix Jones, RB, Cowboys (NR): The sensational multi-purpose threat tallied 76 rushing yards on only six carries, and his spectacular 60-yard touchdown run in the second quarter put the Cowboys ahead for good. Despite only receiving a handful of carries each week, Jones has put the ball in the end zone three times, including a 98-yard kick return touchdown in Week 2.

Defensive Rookie of the Year

1. Jerod Mayo, LB, Patriots (Last week's rank: 2): After watching the rookie rack up 12 tackles in the team's blowout loss to the Dolphins, I'd say it's apparent that Mayo has the talent and instincts to become a star in the Patriots' hybrid defense.

2. Antoine Cason, CB, Chargers (3): The instinctive cover corner didn't get his hands on any balls, but provided solid coverage on the Jets' receivers throughout the night.

3. Keith Rivers, LB, Bengals (1): He finished with only two assists and failed to make a significant impact against the Giants' formidable rush attack. Still, one bad game out of three isn't bad.

4. Curtis Lofton, LB, Falcons (NR): The rookie linebacker has quietly become one of the key players on a surprisingly tough Falcons' defense. With 18 stops on the year, Lofton ranks fourth among all rookies, and is fifth on his team in tackles.

5. Charles Godfrey, S, Panthers (NR): The unheralded playmaker has been solid as a first year starter. His six tackle, one-sack effort against the Vikings was his best game and could be the first of many standout performances from the former Hawkeye.