Yardbarker highlights the most important people leading into the week’s NFL games each week.
From players to coaches and beyond, here are the 10 most important people to watch heading into Week 5.
Houston Texans WR Stefon Diggs
Diggs will play his former team, the Buffalo Bills, on Sunday. The Bills dealt Diggs to Houston in April after his relationship with the club seemingly soured. Are they better off without him?
Buffalo is 3-1 and second in the league in points scored (30.5), a slight improvement from last season, when it finished sixth in this category (26.5).
“Tremendous player,” a team source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler in a piece published Wednesday. “But the offense didn’t need him anymore.”
Four-time Pro Bowler Diggs will likely want to prove himself and help the Texans (3-1) upset the Bills. ESPN Analytics gives Buffalo a 56 percent chance to win its road game.
Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels
What a start for 2024 No. 2 overall pick Daniels. He set an NFL record for completion percentage (82.1 percent) through the first four games of a season (min. 75 attempts), guiding the Commanders to a 3-1 record. Additionally, he has passed for 897 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
On Monday, Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said, “There’s no magic pixie dust we’re throwing into [Daniels],” and his excellent work ethic should help him improve throughout the season.
Daniels will face one of his biggest tests in Sunday’s road game against the Cleveland Browns (1-3), who rank 10th in the league in passing yards allowed (175.8). If he excels, that should further his Offensive Rookie of the Year case. As of Wednesday, FanDuel lists him as the OROY favorite (-150).
Kansas City Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid confirmed on Monday that WR Rashee Rice (knee) will miss Oct. 7’s home game vs. the New Orleans Saints (2-2). Reid added tests have yet to determine the severity of his injury
Through four games, Rice leads K.C. in receptions (24), receiving yards (288) and TD catches (two). Can Worthy fill his shoes?
In his first four games, the rookie only has nine receptions for 154 yards and two TD catches. However, he has generated explosive plays, including 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 pass since a 56-yarder to RB Jerick McKinnon in 2022.
To start 5-0, the Chiefs may need Mahomes and Worthy to connect on more deep balls.
Pittsburgh Steelers QB Justin Fields
With QB Russell Wilson still rehabbing a calf injury, Fields is set to make his fifth straight start in Sunday’s home game against the Dallas Cowboys (2-2). Although he’s listed as QB2 on the team’s depth chart, has he already done enough to be named the full-time starter?
“There’s a potential for that. … Play well. Win. That’s our business,” Steelers HC Mike Tomlin said of promoting Fields Tuesday via Yardbarker’s Aaron Becker.
Fields should bolster his case if he helps Pittsburgh improve to 4-1. Expect him to exploit a Dallas defense that will probably be without its top pass-rushers, DE DeMarcus Lawrence (foot) and LB Micah Parsons (ankle).
On Tuesday, the Cowboys placed Lawrence on injured reserve, and HC Mike McCarthy told reporters they plan to play without Parsons.
Baltimore Ravens RB Derrick Henry
Henry’s finally finding his footing in Baltimore. Over his past two games, he’s run for 350 yards and three TDs on 49 carries. In Weeks 1 and 2, he only 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 rushing yards and two TDs on 24 carries. “If today doesn’t show I’m used to it [and] I’m comfortable, I don’t know what else to say,” he said of his fit in Baltimore’s offense in a postgame news conference.
Henry and the Ravens (2-2) could keep rolling in a road game against the Cincinnati Bengals (1-3). Cincinnati is tied for 25th in the league in rushing yards allowed (145.5).
New York Jets WR Garrett Wilson
On a Tuesday episode of ESPN New York Radio’s “Bart & Hahn,” Wilson suggested he’s displeased with Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett’s play calling.
“I know, personally, my route tree hasn’t been what it has been the last two years as far as the stuff I’ve been running,” Wilson said. “It’s just about figuring out if it’s the right identity and whether it’s going to win games.”
Wilson may have a point. He only has 20 receptions through four games for 191 yards and one TD catch. New York (2-2) ranks 21st in points scored (19 PPG).
Monitor whether Hackett gets Wilson going in Sunday’s neutral-site game vs. the Minnesota Vikings (4-0) in London, England. If he doesn’t, the unit may continue reeling.
Jacksonville Jaguars HC Doug Pederson
After a 24-20 Week 4 loss to the Texans, Pederson told the media he’s not worried about his job security. He probably should be, though, especially with Jacksonville (0-4) being the last winless team in the league.
On Tuesday, CBS Sports Jordan Dajani placed Pederson at No. 1 in his NFL coach hot-seat rankings. Dajani pointed out Jacksonville is 1-9 in its last 10 games since starting the 2023 season 8-3.
Pederson must turn the season around in Sunday’s home game against the Indianapolis Colts (2-2). Surprisingly, as of Wednesday, FanDuel lists the Jaguars as a 2.5-point favorite.
Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love
After returning from an MCL sprain in a 31-29 Week 4 loss to the Vikings, Love admitted the injury still bothers him.
“I hope it’ll continue to get better and heal, but at this moment, yeah, it’s definitely something that’s there,” Love said via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky. “And it’s one of those things, it’s football. We play a physical sport and there’s injuries, and you gotta fight through some stuff.”
Despite the nagging injury, Love passed for 389 yards, four TDs and three interceptions. He could reduce the turnovers and keep carrying the Packers (2-2) in Sunday’s road against the Los Angeles Rams (2-2). L.A. is second to last in the league in passer rating allowed (122.7).
Seattle Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III
After missing two games with an abdomen injury, 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 also did two somersaults on a broken tackle with 12:04 left in the second quarter.
Walker could keep powering the Seahawks (3-1) in Sunday’s home game vs. the New York Giants (1-3). Per Stathead, the third-year back rushed for 79 yards and one TD on 17 carries in his last matchup against New York in 2023.
Denver Broncos CB Patrick Surtain II
Through his first four games, Surtain has faced star WRs D.K. Metcalf (Seattle Seahawks), George Pickens (Pittsburgh Steelers), Mike Evans (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Wilson. He has allowed eight receptions for 87 yards and zero TD catches, per Pro Football Focus.
“Is there anybody [in the league] who’s better at their position than Pat Surtain is at his,” Sports Illustratred’s Albert Breer said on “The MMQB” podcast Monday.
Surtain may not face WR Davante Adams in Sunday’s home game vs. the Las Vegas Raiders (2-2). On Tuesday, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported Adams requested a trade. HC Antonio Pierce didn’t clarify if he’ll play in his Wednesday news conference. Regardless, the Broncos need Surtain to keep shutting down WRs to avoid falling to 2-3.
