WINNERS
Josh Jacobs
Jacobs was terrific again on Sunday in a huge Raiders win against the Texans in Week 7. After the organization declined his fifth-year option this offseason, there were many questions surrounding the running back’s future with the team. However, at this point, he’s been the most valuable player in an offence that has Davante Adams lining up at receiver. Jacobs has now rushed for over 140 yards in each of the Raiders’ last three games and has visited the endzone a combined six times. If the Raiders want to get back into AFC relevancy, they may have to lean on their surprising running game to help them get there.
Travis Etienne
The Travis Etienne Show officially started last week as the second-year runner played 82% of snaps and carried the ball 14 times for 114 yards and a touchdown. It was the first game this season where Etienne had dominated the snap count over fellow Jaguars RB James Robinson and with Robinson being traded the very next day, it looks like the Jags are all in on Etienne. After suffering a Lisfranc injury and missing all of his rookie season last year, Etienne will look to continue the success he’s had in both the rushing and passing game to help turn Jacksonville’s season around.
Kenneth Walker
Kenneth Walker may have been a little late to the scene, but he’s officially here after Week 7. Seattle’s rookie running back was the best player on the field on Sunday as he dominated the Chargers for 168 yards and two scores. His only other career start was the week before against Arizona, where he ran for 97 and a touchdown. Losing a starter for the season is never a good thing, but with Rashaad Penny going down a few weeks ago, Walker has been able to truly emerge as a frontrunner for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Somehow, some way, Seattle is rolling.
LOSERS
Veteran Quarterbacks
It was a very tough go for veteran quarterbacks in the NFL in Week 7, specifically for Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan. Brady and Rodgers continue to lose games at an alarming rate with stagnant offences that cannot score touchdowns. For Brady, the Bucs now have losses in four of their last five games, none worse than the 21-3 dismantling at the hands of the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. In Green Bay, some real questions are arising as the Packers have lost three straight to the Giants, Jets and Commanders. It won’t get any easier this week either, as the team is in Buffalo to take on the Bills on Sunday Night Football.
Finally, former NFL MVP Matt Ryan will be benched for the rest of the season. Things have never looked right for Ryan in Indianapolis, and now he’ll be watching Sam Ehlinger take control of the offence from the sidelines.
Denver Broncos
The Broncos fell to 2-5 in Week 7 after losing to the Jets with a total of nine points scored. Brett Rypien threw the ball 46 times but only mustered up 225 yards and one interception on the day, while Melvin Gordon and Latavius Murray split duties in the backfield. Defensively, the team continues to look great, but the offence is still a very large concern. What’s also concerning is the fact that the farther this team falls, the better draft pick they’ll be giving Seattle. With so much given up and not much received as of yet in the Wilson trade, fans are rightfully very anxious in Denver.
Los Angeles Chargers
The L.A. Chargers aren’t here because they lost to the Seahawks. They’re here because they might be victims of a curse. Keenan Allen made his return after missing five games with a hamstring injury just to grab two balls for eleven yards, but that wasn’t close to the worst injury-related news to come out of the game for Los Angeles. Newcomer corner JC Jackson will be out for the year after rupturing his patellar tendon and Mike Williams suffered a high ankle sprain, and “will miss some time” according to the team. These latest injuries just add to the problems the Chargers have already had, and if Williams and Allen are out for a longer period of time, Justin Herbert may just run out of guys to throw the ball to.
