They were taken within 10 picks of each other during this year’s draft -- Juju Smith-Schuster at the end of the second round and Cooper Kupp at the beginning of the third.

Kupp started fast, almost immediately making an impact in the Los Angeles Rams' lineup. Smith-Schuster took a couple of weeks to work his way in, but he has found a way to become a reliable enough option for Pittsburgh, tying Antonio Brown for the team lead in touchdown receptions.

And together, Kupp and Smith-Schuster have begun to separate themselves from the other receivers in the class.

What was expected to be a strong receiver group has fizzled over a third of the way through the season due to injuries and ineffectiveness. Top picks Corey Davis, John Ross and Mike Williams have all missed significant time. So has Kenny Golladay, who looked like he might join Kupp and Smith-Schuster as instant impact Day 2 draft players this year before a hamstring injury sidelined him for the last four games.

And Zay Jones, while getting every chance to impress, has struggled, catching a quarter of his 28 targets despite running a rookie-best 194 routes.

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But Kupp and Smith-Schuster have turned into early playmakers. The West Coast receivers (Kupp is from Washington, Smith-Schuster from California) had different paths to the NFL. Smith-Schuster was the No. 24 player in his class out of famed Long Beach Poly in high school and played at powerhouse USC. Kupp was not rated in the Class of 2012, ended up at Eastern Washington and redshirted his first season before racking up four 1,400-yard seasons with 73 career touchdowns. Three of those seasons he had over 100 catches.

Yet both are making early differences on teams fighting for playoff berths, once again showing the disparate ways players can end up reaching pro football.

With that in mind, here’s a look at rookie receivers through seven weeks in the NFL with every receiver targeted this year included (according to ESPN Stats & Information):

Corey Davis, Tennessee (YTD stats: 7 rec., 73 yards, 13 targets, 51 routes): Davis was again inactive as he recovers from a hamstring injury.

John Ross, Cincinnati (YTD stats: 1 carry, 12 yards; 0 rec., 0 yards, 0 targets, 2 routes): Ross was again inactive as he recovers from a knee injury.

Mike Williams, Los Angeles Chargers (YTD stats: 1 rec., 15 yards, 3 target, 13 routes): He was targeted twice by Philip Rivers on Sunday but did not catch either pass. He did have one drop.

Zay Jones, Buffalo (YTD stats: 7 rec., 83 yards, 28 targets, 194 routes): It’s continuing to be a struggle for Jones. He was targeted eight times Sunday, second-most among rookies. But he had two catches for 17 yards. His 35 routes were more than any other rookie.

Curtis Samuel, Carolina (YTD stats: 5 rec., 32 yards, 11 targets, 77 routes): Samuel caught his lone target for a 20-yard gain Sunday, including 12 yards after the catch.,

Juju Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh (YTD stats: 17 rec., 231 yards, 3 TDs, 26 targets, 189 routes): He had the best touchdown celebration of the day -- a game of hide-and-seek with Le'Veon Bell -- after Smith-Schuster scored his third touchdown of the season. The rookie had two catches for 39 yards and has been consistently useful every week.

Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams (YTD stats: 23 rec., 316 yards, 3 TDs, 42 targets, 184 routes): Not the best ratio for Kupp against the Cardinals with only four catches for 51 yards on 10 targets. He did score his third touchdown of the year, though, and three of his catches went for first downs.

Taywan Taylor, Tennessee (YTD stats: 10 rec., 178 yards, 16 targets, 114 routes): With Corey Davis still out, Taylor continues to find ways to make a difference. He had three catches for 45 yards against Cleveland on four targets.

Kenny Golladay, Detroit (YTD stats: 7 rec., 102 yards, 2 TDs, 14 targets, 79 routes): The Lions were off in Week 7.

Mack Hollins, Philadelphia (YTD stats: 6 rec., 134 yards, 1 TD, 4 targets, 39 routes): Hollins was targeted once -- and caught a 64-yard touchdown pass from Carson Wentz in the first quarter of the Eagles' win over Washington.

Josh Reynolds, Los Angeles Rams (YTD stats: 1 rec., 28 yards, 1 target, 22 routes): Reynolds played but was not targeted and did not run a route Sunday.

Amara Darboh, Seattle (YTD stats: 5 rec., 55 yards, 9 targets, 44 routes): Darboh caught both of his targets for 29 yards against the Giants. Not bad, considering he only ran nine routes in the game, second-fewest of any rookie who caught a pass this week.

Chad Williams, Arizona (YTD stats: 2 rec., 23 yards, 3 targets, 17 routes): He was again inactive for Arizona.

Trent Taylor, San Francisco (YTD stats: 19 rec., 149 yards, 1 TD, 32 targets, 192 routes): He’s not an explosive receiver, but he’s becoming a reliable possession man for the winless Niners. He had five catches for 39 yards on six targets.

Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay (YTD stats: 6 rec., 66 yards, 9 targets, 52 routes): He caught his only target for five yards. It seems difficult for him to find true footing in the Tampa Bay offense.

ArDarius Stewart, New York Jets (YTD stats: 4 rec., 36 yards, 7 targets, 50 routes): He ran five routes Sunday but was not targeted.

Isaiah McKenzie, Denver (YTD stats: 1 rec., 0 yards, 4 targets, 33 routes): He has a sprained ankle and was one of three receivers inactive for the Broncos.

Noah Brown, Dallas (YTD stats: 1 rec., 13 yards, 1 target, 9 routes): He ran six routes against San Francisco without a target.

Stacy Coley, Minnesota (YTD stats: 1 target, 11 routes): He ran two routes and was not targeted.

Ryan Switzer, Dallas (YTD stats: 1 catch, 2 yards, 1 target, 12 routes): He had his first career catch on his first career target Sunday against San Francisco and finished with one reception for two yards.

Josh Malone, Cincinnati (1 target, 8 routes): He was targeted once on eight routes but did not have a reception.

Also: The New York Jets' Chad Hansen (19) has run routes but has yet to be targeted this season. Kansas City's Jehu Chesson has played in one game but has not run a route.