NFL Week 5 Power Rankings: Ravens’ fall continues, Giants head over heels after first win

Sports

Editor’s note: Every​ week, Josh Kendall and Chad Graff rank and analyze all 32 teams from first to worst.

It’s Week 5 of the power rankings, and the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills look like they’re getting very comfortable at the top. The Los Angeles Chargers and, oh my, the Baltimore Ravens, are giving us a chance to shake things up this week.

And, while we’re at it, we’ll check in on the rookies around the league. The Cleveland Browns, New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons don’t always get a lot of love in this space, but all three look like they put together really good draft classes. Plus, we’ll take any excuse to talk about Cam Skattebo. Hurray!

1. Philadelphia Eagles (4-0)

Last week: 1

Sunday: Beat Buccaneers 31-25

Rookie spotlight: Jihaad Campbell

Second-round safety Andrew Mukuba has been good, but Campbell, the first-round linebacker, is coming on fast. Campbell had a fourth-quarter interception, a pass deflection and four tackles Sunday. He was Pro Football Focus’ top-ranked defensive rookie in Week 3 and might be again this week. The Eagles got a steal with the 31st pick.

Up next: vs. Broncos, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

2. Buffalo Bills (4-0)

Last week: 2

Sunday: Beat Saints 31-19

Rookie spotlight: Jackson Hawes

The Bills have a couple of defensive tackles — T.J. Sanders and Deone Walker — who are contributing, but it’s Hawes, a fifth-round tight end, who is turning heads. Hawes, who played collegiately at Yale and Georgia Tech, has already proved he’s an NFL-ready blocker, and he has four catches for 54 yards, including a 15-yarder Sunday.

Up next: vs. Patriots, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET

3. Detroit Lions (3-1)

Last week: 5

Sunday: Beat Browns 34-10

Rookie spotlight: Tate Ratledge

The mulleted second-round guard has started all four games and has been one of the best rookie offensive linemen in the league. He also has a sweet John Wayne tattoo that takes up most of the upper part of his left arm. Third-round wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa has two catches this season, both of which have been one-handed showstoppers. He also just signed a marketing deal with Ford, which earns him bonus points.

Up next: at Bengals, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

4. Los Angeles Rams (3-1)

Last week: 9

Sunday: Beat Colts 27-20

Rookie spotlight: Josaiah Stewart

The third-round edge rusher is sixth among rookies with six quarterback pressures, but he’s the only rookie making much of an impact. First-round tight end Terrance Ferguson didn’t have a catch in the first two weeks and has been a healthy scratch the last two weeks, leading to some frustration for Rams fans. But how frustrated can they be at 3-1?

Up next: vs. 49ers, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1)

Last week: 6

Sunday: Lost to Eagles 31-25

Rookie spotlight: Emeka Egbuka

The first-round wide receiver is 10th in the league in receiving yards (282) and tied for third in receiving touchdowns (three). With Mike Evans out Sunday, Tampa Bay fed Egbuka 10 targets. He only caught four of them, but took those for 101 yards, including a 77-yard touchdown. Third-round cornerback Jacob Parrish is the starting nickel.

Up next: at Seahawks, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

6. Green Bay Packers (2-1-1)

Last week: 7

Sunday: Tied Cowboys 40-40 (OT)

Rookie spotlight: Matthew Golden

The first-round wide receiver had career highs in catches (five) and yards (58) Sunday night against the Cowboys, but he’s still looking for his first NFL touchdown. Third-round receiver Savion Williams had a career-best three catches against Dallas. Second-round tackle Anthony Belton has started one game but was inactive Sunday due to an ankle injury.

Up next: Bye

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-1)

Last week: 16

Sunday: Beat 49ers 26-21

Rookie spotlight: Travis Hunter

As promised, the Jaguars have tried a little bit of everything with the second pick. He has played 250 snaps so far, according to TruMedia, 152 on offense, 95 on defense and three on special teams. On Sunday, he concentrated on offense, playing 38 snaps there against only nine on defense, and had three catches for 42 yards, including a career-long 28-yarder. He is the team’s second-leading receiver with 13 catches for 118 yards and has 11 tackles on defense. Fourth-round running back Bhayshul Tuten has 21 carries for 88 yards.

Up next: vs. Chiefs, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET

8. San Francisco 49ers (3-1)

Last week: 4

Sunday: Lost to Jaguars 26-21

Rookie spotlight: Mykel Williams

The 11th pick in the draft is third among rookies in quarterback pressures with nine and second in tackles for loss with three, and he’s a big part of a 49ers run defense that is 12th in EPA (5.0 per 100 snaps). Third-round cornerback Upton Stout grabbed his second interception of the season Sunday, but it was overturned by a pass-interference flag.

Up next: at Rams, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET

The Chargers lost to the Giants on Sunday, but rookie running back Omarion Hampton broke out with 128 yards and a touchdown. (Ishika Samant / Getty Images)

9. Los Angeles Chargers (3-1)

Last week: 3

Sunday: Lost to Giants 21-18

Rookie spotlight: Omarion Hampton

In his first game since Najee Harris was lost for the season due to an Achilles tear, Hampton responded with 12 carries for a career-high 128 yards and a touchdown. He only had 142 yards combined in the first three games. Hampton, who also had five catches for 37 yards Sunday, was the 22nd pick in the draft. Fifth-round tight end Oronde Gadsden II has seven catches for 62 yards.

Up next: vs. Commanders, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

10. Kansas City Chiefs (2-2)

Last week: 12

Sunday: Beat Ravens 37-20

Rookie spotlight: Josh Simmons

The first-round tackle has started every game and played almost every snap in Kansas City, and he may finally stabilize the left tackle spot for the Chiefs. However, he hasn’t been perfect. Simmons has allowed nine pressures this year, which is the seventh most among rookies with at least 100 pass-blocking snaps. Still, the Chiefs put up a season-high 382 yards on Sunday.

Up next: at Jaguars, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET

11. Indianapolis Colts (3-1)

Last week: 8

Sunday: Lost to Rams 27-20

Rookie spotlight: Tyler Warren

Warren, the No. 14 pick, leads all tight ends this year with 263 receiving yards. Only two rookie wide receivers (Egbuka and Tetairoa McMillan) have more yards than the Penn State product. He got his first career touchdown on Sunday against the Rams with a 2-yard rush. Fifth-round running back DJ Giddens has 13 carries for 44 yards but didn’t get a carry Sunday.

Up next: vs. Raiders, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

12. Seattle Seahawks (3-1)

Last week: 13

Thursday: Beat Cardinals 23-20

Rookie spotlight: Tory Horton

First-round offensive lineman Grey Zabel has been as good as expected, playing every offensive snap so far, and tight end Elijah Arroyo has been good, too. But it’s Horton, the fifth-round wide receiver, who has been the biggest surprise. He has six catches for 74 yards and two touchdowns. Third-round quarterback Jalen Milroe has only played two snaps.

Up next: vs. Buccaneers, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

13. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1)

Last week: 15

Sunday: Beat Vikings 24-21

Rookie spotlight: Derrick Harmon

The big defensive tackle missed his first two professional games due to a knee injury, but in the two games since he returned, he has a sack and four tackles. Sunday in Ireland, he tipped a pass that turned into a Pittsburgh interception. Third-round running back Kaleb Johnson has had the worst rookie moment of the season so far, botching a Week 2 kickoff return that became a Seattle touchdown. He has only eight carries for 21 yards.

Up next: Bye

14. Minnesota Vikings (2-2)

Last week: 14

Sunday: Lost to Steelers 24-21

Rookie spotlight: Tai Felton

The third-round wide receiver only has one catch for 9 yards, but has been a standout on special teams, which is enough to stand out in this Minnesota rookie class. First-round guard Donovan Jackson started in the first three games but is out with a wrist injury. He and Felton were the Vikings’ only picks in the first four rounds.

Up next: at Browns, Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET (London)

15. Baltimore Ravens (1-3)

Last week: 10

Sunday: Lost to Chiefs 37-20

Rookie spotlight: Malaki Starks

The Ravens drafted 11 players this spring, but only six made the 53-man roster. Starks, the first-round safety, is third on the team with 24 tackles and has a tackle for loss. Second-round edge rusher Mike Green had five tackles Sunday but is still looking for his first sack. He’s tied for 11th among rookies with five quarterback pressures, and his pressure rate is only 5.6 percent.

Up next: vs. Texans, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

16. Denver Broncos (2-2)

Last week: 17

Monday: Beat Bengals 28-3

Rookie spotlight: RJ Harvey

On the night J.K. Dobbins became the first Broncos running back to surpass 100 yards in a game under Sean Payton, Harvey, the Broncos’ second-round running back, also managed to get 14 carries and 58 yards. He added four catches for 40 yards and his first NFL touchdown in the passing game. Harvey only had 10 rushing yards combined in Weeks 2 and 3, so Monday night was a nice step forward.

Up next: at Eagles, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

17. Chicago Bears (2-2)

Last week: 18

Sunday: Beat Raiders 25-24

Rookie spotlight: Luther Burden III

Ben Johnson is trying to scheme up touches for the second-round wide receiver, but it’s going slowly. Burden has seven catches for 99 yards and one carry for 7 yards. On Sunday, he had two catches on two targets, but they went for minus-4 yards. Using the 10th pick on tight end Colston Loveland (three catches, 43 yards) doesn’t look great considering Warren went four picks later, but seventh-round running back Kyle Monangai is third on the team with 17 carries for 62 yards.

Up next: Bye

18. Dallas Cowboys (1-2-1)

Last week: 22

Sunday: Tied Packers 40-40 (OT)

Rookie spotlight: Tyler Booker

It’s been a tough go for Dallas’ rookie class, and it got worse last week when Booker, the first-round offensive lineman, suffered a high ankle sprain that could put him on IR through the midpoint of the season. Second-round edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku had a career-high four tackles against Green Bay but also had a costly personal foul. Only four of the Cowboys’ nine picks are on the 53-man roster.

Up next: at Jets, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

19. Atlanta Falcons (2-2)

Last week: 23

Sunday: Beat Commanders 34-27

Rookie spotlight: Xavier Watts

The third-round safety had his second interception of the season Sunday. That’s tied for second in the league and gives him a slight edge in what has been an impressive rookie class for Atlanta. First-round edge rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. have combined for 1.5 sacks and 13 pressures, and fourth-round defensive back Billy Bowman is the starting nickel and also has an interception.

Up next: Bye

20. Washington Commanders (2-2)

Last week: 11

Sunday: Lost to Falcons 34-27

Rookie spotlight: Jacory Croskey-Merritt

The seventh-round pick out of Arizona, New Mexico and Alabama State was the feel-good story of the preseason, playing so well that Washington traded Brian Robinson Jr. before Week 1. Croskey-Merritt leads the Commanders with 29 carries, 172 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. He had seven carries for 47 yards against the Falcons. First-round tackle Josh Conerly has started all four games.

Up next: at Chargers, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

21. Arizona Cardinals (2-2)

Last week: 19

Thursday: Lost to Seahawks 23-20

Rookie spotlight: Jordan Burch

Burch gets the nod here almost by default. First-round pick Walter Nolen, a defensive tackle out of Ole Miss, started the season on the PUP list due to a calf injury but could return as early as this week. Second-round cornerback Will Johnson has missed the last two games due to a groin injury. Burch, a third-rounder, has played almost half the defensive snaps and had a career-best three tackles against Seattle.

Up next: vs. Titans, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

22. New England Patriots (2-2)

Last week: 26

Sunday: Beat Panthers 42-13

Rookie spotlight: TreVeyon Henderson

It looked like the second-round running back might have a breakout game in Week 4 after Rhamondre Stevenson couldn’t hold onto the ball in Week 3. Instead, he only got seven carries for 32 yards (compared to Stevenson’s nine carries for 38 yards). Henderson had 100 yards on his first NFL touch because he returned a preseason kickoff for a touchdown, but he has only 97 rushing yards through four games. First-round offensive tackle Will Campbell has started all four games.

Up next: at Bills, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET

23. New York Giants (1-3)

Last week: 30

Sunday: Beat Chargers 21-18

Rookie spotlight: Cam Skattebo

Sure, second-round rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart made his first NFL start Sunday (and got a win with an efficient 165-yard day), but this is a Skattebo space. The fourth-round bowling-ball back had 25 carries for 79 yards Sunday, and he’s fourth among rookie rushers with 48 carries for 181 yards. First-round edge rusher Abdul Carter looks like he’s going to be good, too.

Up next: at Saints, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

Texans rookie Woody Marks scorched the Titans for 119 total yards and two touchdowns in Sunday’s 26-0 win. (Tim Warner / Getty Images)

24. Houston Texans (1-3)

Last week: 27

Sunday: Beat Titans 26-0

Rookie spotlight: Woody Marks

The fourth-round running back had a breakout game Sunday, carrying the ball 17 times for 69 yards and a touchdown and catching four passes for 50 yards and another touchdown. He’ll take over the starting job until Joe Mixon comes back. Second-round wide receiver Jayden Higgins also scored his first NFL touchdown. Second-round offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery has started every game but has struggled.

Up next: at Ravens, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

25. Cincinnati Bengals (2-2)

Last week: 24

Monday: Lost to Broncos 28-3

Rookie spotlight: Demetrius Knight

The second-round linebacker out of South Carolina got his first NFL interception Monday, but it was about the only highlight for a Cincinnati defense. Knight also tied for the team lead with 10 tackles. First-round defensive lineman Shemar Stewart was inactive Monday night due to an ankle injury and has had a quiet start so far.

Up next: vs. Lions, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

26. Miami Dolphins (1-3)

Last week: 31

Monday: Beat Jets 27-21

Rookie spotlight: Ollie Gordon

Miami tried to get Gordon, its sixth-round running back, going on Monday night. He had six carries and one catch but only totaled 10 yards. It’s been that kind of year for this Dolphins rookie class. First-round defensive tackle Kenneth Grant has been a regular in the lineup but said last week he’s been disappointed that he hasn’t made much of an impact yet. Second-round offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea is probably the best of the bunch so far.

Up next: at Panthers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

27. Cleveland Browns (1-3)

Last week: 20

Sunday: Lost to Lions 34-10

Rookie spotlight: Quinshon Judkins

The second-round running back and the rest of his rookie class might be the only bright spots for the Browns this season. Judkins missed Week 1 but leads Cleveland with 49 carries for 237 yards and two touchdowns. He’s 16th in the league among players with more than 25 carries with a 4.8-yard average. Third-round tight end Harold Fannin leads the Browns with 17 receptions for 160 yards, and first-round defensive tackle Mason Graham and second-round linebacker Carson Schwesinger have also been really good.

Up next: vs. Vikings, Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET (London)

28. Las Vegas Raiders (1-3)

Last week: 25

Sunday: Lost to Bears 25-24

Rookie spotlight: Ashton Jeanty

There were some whispers after Jeanty, the No. 6 overall pick, had only 144 yards in his first three games, but he broke out with 21 carries for 138 yards and a touchdown Sunday. He also caught two touchdown passes, almost single-handedly keeping the Raiders in the game. Fifth-round receiver Dont’e Thornton didn’t have a catch Sunday but has five receptions for 94 yards on the season.

Up next: at Colts, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

29. Carolina Panthers (1-3)

Last week: 21

Sunday: Lost to Patriots 42-13

Rookie spotlight: Tetairoa McMillan

The No. 8 pick is second among rookies with 18 catches for 178 yards. His 24.5 percent target share is 19th in the league. On Sunday, he had four catches for 62 yards to lead the Panthers again. Defensive linemen Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen, a second- and third-rounder, have been solid contributors, but the Panthers defense is still bad.

Up next: vs. Dolphins, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

30. New York Jets (0-4)

Last week: 28

Monday: Lost to Dolphins 27-21

Rookie spotlight: Mason Taylor

The only real bright spot Monday night for the Jets was Taylor, the second-round tight end. He had only six catches for 43 yards through the first three weeks but caught five balls for 63 yards against the Dolphins. Those are the same numbers Garrett Wilson had, and the Jets have to be hoping Taylor can become a complement to Wilson to give this offense a fighting chance. First-round tackle Armand Membou has started all four games and is having a typically up-and-down rookie year.

Up next: vs. Cowboys, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

31. New Orleans Saints (0-4)

Last week: 32

Sunday: Lost to Bills 31-19

Rookie spotlight: Kelvin Banks Jr.

Remember that 2017 New Orleans draft class that was so good? This isn’t that. Seven of the Saints’ nine picks are on the 53-man roster, and all nine are still with the team, but none are making major impacts. The biggest disappointment has been second-round quarterback Tyler Shough, who has only two attempts this season despite the fact that starter Spencer Rattler fell to 0-10 in his career as a starter Sunday. First-round tackle Kelvin Banks has started every game.

Up next: vs. Giants, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

32. Tennessee Titans (0-4)

Last week: 29

Sunday: Lost to Texans 26-0

Rookie spotlight: Cam Ward

The first-round quarterback has shown flashes on the field and takes the Week 4 candor award for saying about his team after Sunday’s loss: “We ass.” Fourth-round wide receiver Elic Ayomanor has been a bright spot and was targeted seven times Sunday. He only caught two of those passes, but he still led the team with 44 receiving yards. He has 12 catches for 151 yards on the season.

Up next: at Cardinals, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

(Photo of Cam Skattebo: Ishika Samant / Getty Images)




Source link

Tags

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *