NFL’s 10 most vital individuals in Week 8
Every week, Yardbarker highlights crucial individuals main into the week’s NFL video games.
From gamers to coaches and past, listed below are the ten most vital individuals to regulate in Week 8.
Head coach Jerod Mayo | New England Patriots
Mayo’s first season as head coach of the Patriots is forgettable to date. On Sunday, following a loss to Jacksonville in London, he known as New England (1-6) a “tender soccer staff throughout the board,” one thing former Patriots head coach Invoice Belichick took subject with. Mayo hasn’t earned the belief and respect of the gamers sufficient to name his staff out publicly in that method. If the Patriots lose to the 2-5 New York Jets on Sunday at dwelling, Mayo may very well be on his approach to shedding the locker room.
QB Brock Purdy | San Francisco 49ers
The Niners (3-4) are depleted on offense. The return of RB Christian McCaffrey (Achilles tendinitis) is nowhere in sight, WR Brandon Aiyuk suffered a season-ending knee damage in Week 7 and WR Deebo Samuel hung out this week within the hospital with pneumonia. So Purdy should produce with a extra restricted offense — one thing he did not do in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in Week 7 when he tossed three interceptions in a 28-18 loss.
Subsequent up for Purdy and the 49ers is a “Sunday Evening Soccer” matchup at dwelling in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys (3-3). This recreation may have huge playoff implications. Purdy ranks No. 3 in passing yards with 1,841, but when the 49ers are to beat the Cowboys, he’ll need to play a clear recreation.
QB Marcus Mariota | Washington Commanders
No. 2 total choose Jayden Daniels has performed sensationally, however he suffered rib accidents in Week 7, leaving his standing unknown for Sunday’s recreation at dwelling in opposition to Chicago (4-3). NFL Community insider Ian Rapoport reported that Daniels didn’t follow Wednesday and Mariota took first-team reps with issues “trending towards” him beginning.
In Week 7, Mariota was good in aid of Daniels through the Commanders’ 40-7 win over the Carolina Panthers, going 18-of-23 for 205 yards and two passing touchdowns and 34 yards speeding.
QB Daniel Jones | New York Giants
Jones was benched in favor of Drew Lock in a 28-3 loss in Week 7 to the Philadelphia Eagles. Nevertheless, he’ll begin on “Monday Evening Soccer” at Pittsburgh (5-2). Jones has performed poorly this season, and one other benching appears imminent as a result of there isn’t any proof his play will enhance.
Jones, who ranks twenty fifth in ESPN Whole QBR (47), has thrown simply six landing passes this season, tied for twenty first within the league. That is the sixth season within the NFL for Jones, a mean QB at finest. His time beginning within the league appears to be dwindling.
RB Jonathan Taylor | Indianapolis Colts
Taylor hasn’t performed since Week 4, when he suffered a high-ankle sprain in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers, however he may very well be again Sunday at Houston (5-2). The Colts (4-3) are 3-0 with out Taylor, however they are a significantly better staff with their franchise again on the sphere — particularly paired with a beginning QB in Anthony Richardson who’s thrown six interceptions and solely three TD passes this season.
Taylor’s manufacturing and presence take a few of the burden off Richardson and the Indianapolis passing recreation, which shall be a key to victory versus the Texans. In 2024, Taylor has 349 yards speeding (4.8 yards per carry) and 4 speeding TDs.
QB Tua Tagovailoa | Miami Dolphins
Tagovailoa has missed the previous 4 video games after struggling the third recognized concussion of his profession. The Dolphins (2-4), who face the 3-4 Arizona Cardinals at dwelling Sunday, are 1-3 with out him. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel mentioned he hopes Tagovailoa (40-for-62, 64.5 completion proportion, 483 yards) will clear concussion protocol and be able to play. Per ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques, Miami WR Tyreek Hill mentioned Tagovailoa’s return to follow this week “nearly made me cry.”
WR DeAndre Hopkins | Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
Tennessee traded Hopkins to the WR-needy Chiefs on Wednesday for a conditional fourth-round choose. It is unknown if he’ll play Sunday at Las Vegas (2-5), however QB Patrick Mahomes famous that head coach Andy Reid does an amazing job of getting gamers in control on the offensive schematics rapidly. Hopkins will bolster the Chiefs at wideout, a place that is depleted after season-ending accidents to Hollywood Brown and Rashee Rice. WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring) can be harm.
QB Bryce Younger | Carolina Panthers
Younger hasn’t began since Week 2 after his benching in favor of journeyman Andy Dalton. Nevertheless, Dalton suffered a sprained thumb in a automotive accident earlier this week and will not play Sunday at Denver (4-3). Younger, the No. 1 total choose in 2023, is off to an terrible begin to his profession (59.5 % completion proportion) and should not get many possibilities to get issues circled earlier than Carolina strikes on from him. His profession beginning file is 2-16.
QB Joe Burrow | Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals are 3-4, however Burrow has performed sensationally and Cincinnati is using a three-game profitable streak. Burrow ranks No. 4 in landing passes (14), No. 6 in passing yards (1,759) and No. 4 in QBR (72.6). On Sunday at dwelling, he faces the 4-2 Philadelphia Eagles, which crushed the lowly Giants 28-3 in Week 7.
RB Derrick Henry | Baltimore Ravens
Henry leads the league in carries (134), speeding yards (873) and speeding touchdowns (eight). He may surpass 1,000 yards on the season at Cleveland (1-6). Per Professional Soccer Discuss, Henry’s common of 124.7 yards per recreation has him on tempo for two,120 speeding yards, which might break Eric Dickerson’s season file of two,105 yards, set in 1984 throughout a 16-game season.
