Life in the NFL is hard, as rookies everywhere are finding out after their first taste of action. While in your typical year rookies have the preseason to be phased into the realm of professional football, the rookie class of 2020 has to endure a baptism by fire. We're playing for keeps right out of the gate.

Which rookie performers were able to make the most of the pro action in Week 8? We, along with our partners at Panini, are recognizing the best of the best each week. Here are the Offensive Rookies of the Week from each conference for Week 8 of the 2020 NFL season.

AFC OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

QB Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

In what is becoming a familiar theme, Joe Burrow wins Offensive Rookie of the Week for the AFC once again. It seems as if every week he puts the team on his back and somehow wills them to victory. This one was in impressive fashion.

The Bengals were missing three of their five starting offensive linemen and were facing Tennessee’s formidable front. They were also without their starting running back, Joe Mixon. All things considered, it’s pretty safe to assume no one expected the Bengals to beat the division-leading Titans. After all, the Titans have been on a tear as of late. However, they may have entered the game underestimating the undermanned Bengals.

Burrow finished the day 26-of-37 for 249 yards, with two touchdowns and a 106.7 quarterback rating. For the fourth time in his young career, he has led the offense to 30 points. He is currently third in the NFL in passing yardage.

Burrow has come exactly as advertised and then some for the Bengals. He is on pace to break the Bengals’ single-season passing yardage mark—as a rookie. Cincinnati’s offense could very well have two 1,000-yard receivers and none of them named A.J. Green. The Bengals are in good hands when Burrow has the ball in his.

NFC OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

WR Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers

Brandon Aiyuk seems to be settling into a groove. He continues to impress whenever he takes the field. He continues to find ways to get open, find the holes in zones, and catch the football when thrown to him. On Sunday, he was targeted 11 times and made eight catches for 91 yards and a touchdown against the Seahawks. This was on the heels of another outstanding performance against the Patriots in which he had his highest yardage total to date.

Aiyuk is confirming what many evaluators and Kyle Shanahan himself believed all along. Coming out of Arizona State, Aiyuk demonstrated the skill set and the intelligence to play any of the three wide receiver positions. He’s quick enough to play in the slot, he has the speed to threaten corners deep, and the toughness to catch the football in traffic—not to mention his amazing ability with the football in his hands. It seems as if Shanahan and the 49ers’ offensive staff is finally settling into a comfort zone and finding creative ways to get him the football and ultimately maximizing his potential for their offense.