Every week, Yardbarker highlights a very powerful folks main into the week’s NFL video games.
From gamers to coaches and past, listed here are the ten most necessary folks to control in Week 9.
QB Jayden Daniels | Washington Commanders
In an 18-15 Week 8 win over the Chicago Bears, Jayden Daniels threw a successful 52-yard Hail Mary to vast receiver Noah Brown. Will the rookie ship extra late-game heroics in Sunday’s highway sport in opposition to the New York Giants?
Though the Giants (2-6) have misplaced three straight video games, they may current a difficult matchup for Daniels. New York leads the league in sacks (35) and ranks eighth in passing yards allowed (189.4).
Daniels — who has the league’s fifth-best QBR (72.7 in eight video games) — might nonetheless lead the Commanders (6-2) to a 3rd consecutive win and additional his MVP case. As of Wednesday, FanDuel offers him the fifth-best odds (+900) to win the award.
QB Joe Flacco | Indianapolis Colts
On Wednesday, Colts HC Shane Steichen confirmed Joe Flacco will substitute QB Anthony Richardson in a Week 9 highway sport in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings (5-2), through JJ Stankevitz of the crew web site.”This isn’t only a one-week change,” the coach mentioned.
Indianapolis could also be making the fitting resolution. Via six video games, Richardson has accomplished a league-low 44.4 p.c of his passes for 4 TDs and tossed seven interceptions. Flacco, in the meantime, has accomplished 65.7 p.c of his passes for seven TDs and one choose in 4 video games.
Final season, Flacco went 4-1 in 5 begins whereas filling in for injured Browns QB Deshaun Watson, main Cleveland to the postseason. Maybe the 2023 Comeback Participant of the 12 months will assist Indianapolis (4-4) vie for a playoff spot.
WR DeAndre Hopkins | Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
DeAndre Hopkins — whom the Chiefs (7-0) just lately acquired in a commerce with the Tennessee Titans — had two receptions for 29 yards in a 27-20 Week 8 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Okay.C. head coach Andy Reid indicated he ought to have a bigger position in Monday’s dwelling sport vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4).
“He was chomping on the bit on the sideline desirous to play,” Reid told the media earlier this week. “And on the identical time understanding that he did not have all of it down so there was a persistence there. However he was into the sport, and I feel you’ll see extra within the subsequent sport.”
5-time Professional Bowler Hopkins might be in retailer for a dominant efficiency in opposition to Tampa Bay’s Twenty ninth-ranked go protection (255.4 YPG).
QB Bo Nix | Denver Broncos
Over his previous 4 video games, Nix has seemed just like the man for Denver. Throughout this stretch, the rookie has a 3-1 beginning file and accomplished 66.6 p.c of his passes for 870 yards, seven TDs and one interception.
Can Nix hold rolling on Sunday on the Baltimore Ravens? As of Wednesday, ESPN Analytics offers the Ravens (5-3) a 74.4 p.c likelihood to win their dwelling sport.
Whether or not the Broncos (5-3) pull off an upset or not, do not be stunned if Nix has one other spectacular efficiency. Baltimore’s passing protection ranks final in yards allowed (291.4).
RB Josh Jacobs | Inexperienced Bay Packers
Packers QB Jordan Love suffered a groin harm in a 30-27 Week 8 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. It is nonetheless unclear whether or not he or backup QB Malik Willis will begin in Sunday’s dwelling sport in opposition to the Detroit Lions (6-1).
Anticipate the Packers (6-2) to depend on Josh Jacobs, even when Love performs. Via eight video games, Jacobs has the league’s fourth-most speeding yards (667 on 145 carries).
Since star defensive finish Aidan Hutchinson suffered a fractured tibia and fibula in Week 6 in opposition to the Cowboys, Detroit has struggled to cease the run. Over their previous two video games, the Lions allowed 297 rushing yards.
HC Mike McCarthy | Dallas Cowboys
Mike McCarthy is within the closing 12 months of a five-year contract, and his future appears much more unsure after a 3-4 begin.
“Until there may be an abrupt and dramatic reversal in efficiency and outcomes, we might be approaching McCarthy’s closing 10 video games as head coach of the Cowboys,” wrote longtime NFL reporter Ed Werder of WFAA-TV in Dallas on Wednesday. “That is the furthest right into a season that the Cowboys are under .500 since McCarthy’s first in Dallas.”
Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones just lately instructed KRLD-FM in Dallas he wouldn’t hearth McCarthy in the course of the season. Regardless, Sunday’s highway sport in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons (5-3) looks as if a must-win for McCarthy.
QB Jalen Hurts | Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Hurts has seemingly erased his turnover drawback. Over his past three games, he has 9 TDs (4 passing and 5 speeding) and no turnovers. In his first 4 video games, Hurts had 5 turnovers (4 interceptions and one misplaced fumble).
Based on NBC Sports activities Philadelphia’s Reuben Frank, that is the primary time Hurts has had three straight video games and not using a turnover since Weeks 5-7 in 2022.
The Eagles (5-2) want Hurts to maintain enjoying mistake-free in Sunday’s dwelling sport in opposition to the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6).
QB Joe Burrow | Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow stays assured about Cincinnati’s playoff possibilities regardless of a 3-5 begin.
“I feel 10 wins often get you in,” Burrow said following a 37-17 Week 8 loss to the Eagles. “So, we have got to win seven out of 9. That is doable, so we’ll go from there.”
According to Tankathon, the Bengals have the league’s 18th-toughest remaining schedule. Maybe Burrow and the Bengals will catch hearth in Sunday’s dwelling sport in opposition to the Raiders (2-6), whose go protection is seventh-best within the NFL (189.1).
WR Ladd McConkey | Los Angeles Chargers
Ladd McConkey’s nine-yard TD catch in a 26-8 Week 8 win over the New Orleans Saints reminded Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh of former Carolina Panthers star Steve Smith Sr. (The previous QB performed with Smith in 2001.)
“It is like they each had this means and this talent virtually to look a technique after which catch it just a few ft the opposite method,” Harbaugh just lately mentioned, through ESPN’s Kris Rhim. “It is actually delicate, it is actually good.”
If McConkey retains residing as much as the lofty comparability in Sunday’s highway sport in opposition to the Browns (2-6), that might be wonderful for the Chargers (4-3). Smith made 5 Professional Bowls in 16 seasons with the Panthers and Ravens.
HC Mike Macdonald | Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks (4-4) have misplaced 4 of their previous 5 video games, forcing Mike Macdonald to ditch a few of his plans. He just lately told KIRO-AM in Seattle the Seahawks will deal with areas the place they thrive as an alternative of “sunk prices.”
The coach mentioned Seattle plans to “double down” on its up-tempo offense, that means the Seahawks will doubtless run extra no-huddle to catch opponents off guard.
Monitor whether or not the rookie HC’s technique works in Sunday’s dwelling sport in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams (3-4).
