Week 5 NFL Power Rankings: Ravens’ fall continues, Giants head over heels after first win
The Week 5 NFL Power Rankings find the Eagles and Bills still on top, with the Ravens falling. A surprising win has the Giants on the rise.
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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: 1Sunday: 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: 2Sunday: 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: 5Sunday: Beat Browns 34-10
Rookie spotlight: Tate Ratledge
The mulleted second-round offensive tackle 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: 9Sunday: 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: 6Sunday: 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: 7Sunday: 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: 16Sunday: 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: 4Sunday: 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: 3Sunday: 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: 12Sunday: 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