Two players considered small for their positions made a big enough impression in their first NFL season to be selected offensive and defensive Rookies of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America

New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who raised the bar for highlight reel catches, and defensive tackle Aaron Donald, a hyper-active tackling machine for the St. Louis Rams, were announced Tuesday as Rookie Players of the Year by the PFWA.

Beckham, a 5-foot-11, 198-pound first-round draft pick (No. 12 overall) out of LSU, caught 91 passes for 1,305 yards and a dozen touchdowns — including an unforgettable, one-handed (actually three fingered) grab that has been called one of the best in NFL history.

Donald, a 6-1, 285-pound defensive tackle drafted in the first round (13th overall), led all NFL rookies in sacks with nine.

Beckham’s average of 108.8 receiving yards per game is the highest figure by a rookie in NFL history.

After fighting through injuries early in the season, Beckham led the league in game receiving yards in each of his last six contests, the longest streak ever by a NFL rookie. Beckham had 130, 143, 148 and 185 yards in his last four games to become the first NFL rookie with four consecutive 100-yard games since Pittsburgh’s Jimmy Orr in 1958.

He also had 10 or more receptions in a game four times, the first rookie in NFL history to accomplish the feat.

Donald set a Rams rookie record and was second among all NFL defensive tackles with nine sacks for minus-68 yards. He also led St. Louis with 17 tackles for loss. He was credited with 47 total tackles, 12 quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles.

The PFWA All-Rookie team was full of good news for the Rams as they fight for success in an NFC West division many consider the toughest in the NFL.

The Rams led all clubs with three All-Rookie selections — Donald, cornerback E.J. Gaines and running back Tre Mason.

Six clubs — Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders — each had two players on the squad. In all, 19 teams are represented among the 27 players honored.

The All-Rookie offense includes Minnesota quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, Cincinnati’s Jeremy Hill and Mason at running back, Beckham and Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans at wide receiver, New York Jets tight end Jace Amaro, Green Bay center Corey Linsley, Cleveland’s Joel Bitonio and Dallas’ Zach Martin at guard and Tennessee’s Taylor Lewan and Miami’s Ja’Wuan James at tackle.

The All-Rookie defense includes Donald, Baltimore’s Timmy Jernigan, Carolina’s Kony Ealy and Oakland’s Justin Ellis on the defensive line, Alonso, San Francisco’s Chris Borland, Oakland’s Khalil Mack and Baltimore’s C.J. Mosley at linebacker, Chicago’s Kyle Fuller and Gaines at cornerback and Arizona’s Deone Bucannon and Green Bay’s Ha Ha Clinton-Dix at safety.

The All-Rookie special teams is Philadelphia place-kicker Cody Parkey, Chicago punter Pat O’Donnell, Miami kickoff returner Jarvis Landry, Kansas City punt returner De’Anthony Thomas and Philadelphia special teamer Trey Burton.

The Honors:

2014 PFWA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: WR Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants

2014 PFWA OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: WR Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants

2014 PFWA DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: DT Aaron Donald, St. Louis Rams

2014 PFWA ALL-ROOKIE TEAM

Offense

QB – Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings

RB – Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals; Tre Mason, St. Louis Rams

WR – Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants; Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

TE – Jace Amaro, New York Jets

C – Corey Linsley, Green Bay Packers

G – Joel Bitonio, Cleveland Browns; Zach Martin, Dallas Cowboys

T – Taylor Lewan, Tennessee Titans; Ja’Wuan James, Miami Dolphins

Defense

DL – Aaron Donald, St. Louis Rams; Timmy Jernigan, Baltimore Ravens; Kony Ealy, Carolina Panthers; Justin Ellis, Oakland Raiders

LB – Chris Borland, San Francisco 49ers; Khalil Mack, Oakland Raiders; C.J. Mosley, Baltimore Ravens

CB – Kyle Fuller, Chicago Bears; E.J. Gaines, St. Louis Rams

S – Deone Bucannon, Arizona Cardinals; Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Green Bay Packers

Special Teams

PK – Cody Parkey, Philadelphia Eagles

P – Pat O’Donnell, Chicago Bears

KR – Jarvis Landry, Miami Dolphins

PR – De’Anthony Thomas, Kansas City Chiefs

ST – Trey Burton, Philadelphia Eagles

ABOUT THE PFWA: The Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) is the official voice of pro football writers and is made up of accredited writers who cover the NFL and the 32 teams on a daily basis.