Yardbarker highlights crucial individuals main into the week’s NFL video games every week.
From gamers to coaches and past, listed here are the ten most vital individuals to look at heading into Week 5.
Houston Texans WR Stefon Diggs
Diggs will play his former group, the Buffalo Payments, on Sunday. The Payments dealt Diggs to Houston in April after his relationship with the membership seemingly soured. Are they higher off with out him?
Buffalo is 3-1 and second within the league in factors scored (30.5), a slight enchancment from final season, when it completed sixth on this class (26.5).
“Large participant,” a group supply advised ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler in a chunk printed Wednesday. “However the offense did not want him anymore.”
4-time Professional Bowler Diggs will doubtless wish to show himself and assist the Texans (3-1) upset the Payments. ESPN Analytics offers Buffalo a 56 % probability to win its highway recreation.
Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels
What a begin for 2024 No. 2 general decide Daniels. He set an NFL file for completion share (82.1 %) by the primary 4 video games of a season (min. 75 makes an attempt), guiding the Commanders to a 3-1 file. Moreover, he has handed for 897 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
On Monday, Commanders head coach Dan Quinn mentioned, “There is no magic pixie mud we’re throwing into [Daniels],” and his glorious work ethic ought to assist him enhance all through the season.
Daniels will face considered one of his largest exams in Sunday’s highway recreation in opposition to the Cleveland Browns (1-3), who rank tenth within the league in passing yards allowed (175.8). If he excels, that ought to additional his Offensive Rookie of the Yr case. As of Wednesday, FanDuel lists him because the OROY favourite (-150).
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid confirmed on Monday that WR Rashee Rice (knee) will miss Oct. 7’s residence recreation vs. the New Orleans Saints (2-2). Reid added exams have but to find out the severity of his harm
By way of 4 video games, Rice leads Ok.C. in receptions (24), receiving yards (288) and TD catches (two). Can Worthy fill his footwear?
In his first 4 video games, the rookie solely has 9 receptions for 154 yards and two TD catches. Nevertheless, he has generated explosive performs, together with a 54-yard TD catch in a 17-10 Week 4 win over the L.A. Chargers. Per ESPN’s Adam Teicher, it was Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes longest TD go since a 56-yarder to RB Jerick McKinnon in 2022.
To begin 5-0, the Chiefs might have Mahomes and Worthy to attach on extra deep balls.
Pittsburgh Steelers QB Justin Fields
With QB Russell Wilson nonetheless rehabbing a calf harm, Fields is ready to make his fifth straight begin in Sunday’s residence recreation in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys (2-2). Though he is listed as QB2 on the group’s depth chart, has he already achieved sufficient to be named the full-time starter?
“There is a potential for that. … Play effectively. Win. That is our enterprise,” Steelers HC Mike Tomlin mentioned of selling Fields Tuesday through Yardbarker’s Aaron Becker.
Fields ought to bolster his case if he helps Pittsburgh enhance to 4-1. Count on him to take advantage of a Dallas protection that may in all probability be with out its prime pass-rushers, DE DeMarcus Lawrence (foot) and LB Micah Parsons (ankle).
On Tuesday, the Cowboys positioned Lawrence on injured reserve, and HC Mike McCarthy advised reporters they plan to play with out Parsons.
Baltimore Ravens RB Derrick Henry
Henry’s lastly discovering his footing in Baltimore. Over his previous two video games, he is run for 350 yards and three TDs on 49 carries. In Weeks 1 and a pair of, he solely rushed for 130 yards and two TDs on 31 carries.
In a 35-10 Week 4 win over Buffalo, he logged a season-high 199 speeding yards and two TDs on 24 carries. “If right now would not present I am used to it [and] I am snug, I do not know what else to say,” he mentioned of his slot in Baltimore’s offense in a postgame information convention.
Henry and the Ravens (2-2) may preserve rolling in a highway recreation in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals (1-3). Cincinnati is tied for twenty fifth within the league in speeding yards allowed (145.5).
New York Jets WR Garrett Wilson
On a Tuesday episode of ESPN New York Radio’s “Bart & Hahn,” Wilson prompt he is displeased with Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett’s play calling.
“I do know, personally, my route tree hasn’t been what it has been the final two years so far as the stuff I have been operating,” Wilson mentioned. “It is nearly determining if it is the suitable identification and whether or not it may win video games.”
Wilson could have some extent. He solely has 20 receptions by 4 video games for 191 yards and one TD catch. New York (2-2) ranks twenty first in factors scored (19 PPG).
Monitor whether or not Hackett will get Wilson moving into Sunday’s neutral-site recreation vs. the Minnesota Vikings (4-0) in London, England. If he would not, the unit could proceed reeling.
Jacksonville Jaguars HC Doug Pederson
After a 24-20 Week 4 loss to the Texans, Pederson advised the media he is not apprehensive about his job safety. He in all probability needs to be, although, particularly with Jacksonville (0-4) being the final winless group within the league.
On Tuesday, CBS Sports activities Jordan Dajani positioned Pederson at No. 1 in his NFL coach hot-seat rankings. Dajani identified Jacksonville is 1-9 in its final 10 video games since beginning the 2023 season 8-3.
Pederson should flip the season round in Sunday’s residence recreation in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts (2-2). Surprisingly, as of Wednesday, FanDuel lists the Jaguars as a 2.5-point favourite.
Inexperienced Bay Packers QB Jordan Love
After getting back from an MCL sprain in a 31-29 Week 4 loss to the Vikings, Love admitted the harm nonetheless bothers him.
“I hope it will proceed to get higher and heal, however at this second, yeah, it is undoubtedly one thing that is there,” Love mentioned through ESPN’s Rob Demovsky. “And it is a type of issues, it is soccer. We play a bodily sport and there is accidents, and also you gotta struggle by some stuff.”
Regardless of the nagging harm, Love handed for 389 yards, 4 TDs and three interceptions. He may scale back the turnovers and preserve carrying the Packers (2-2) in Sunday’s highway in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams (2-2). L.A. is second to final within the league in passer ranking allowed (122.7).
Seattle Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III
After lacking two video games with an stomach harm, Walker rushed for a season-high 103 yards and one TD on 20 carries in a 42-29 Week 4 loss to the Detroit Lions (3-1). He additionally did two somersaults on a damaged deal with with 12:04 left within the second quarter.
Walker may preserve powering the Seahawks (3-1) in Sunday’s residence recreation vs. the New York Giants (1-3). Per Stathead, the third-year again rushed for 79 yards and one TD on 17 carries in his final matchup in opposition to New York in 2023.
Denver Broncos CB Patrick Surtain II
By way of his first 4 video games, Surtain has confronted star WRs D.Ok. Metcalf (Seattle Seahawks), George Pickens (Pittsburgh Steelers), Mike Evans (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Wilson. He has allowed eight receptions for 87 yards and nil TD catches, per Professional Soccer Focus.
“Is there anyone [in the league] who’s higher at their place than Pat Surtain is at his,” Sports activities Illustratred’s Albert Breer mentioned on “The MMQB” podcast Monday.
Surtain could not face WR Davante Adams in Sunday’s residence recreation vs. the Las Vegas Raiders (2-2). On Tuesday, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported Adams requested a commerce. HC Antonio Pierce did not make clear if he’ll play in his Wednesday information convention. Regardless, the Broncos want Surtain to maintain shutting down WRs to keep away from falling to 2-3.
