NFL Power Rankings - Week 7: Every team's most improved player
NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors.
This week, we'll be picking the most improved player on every team so far.
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ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND | JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SEA | SF | TB | TEN | WAS
1. Kansas City Chiefs (5-0)
Previous rank: 1
Tershawn Wharton is emerging as an impact pass-rusher for Kansas City. The longtime backup has posted a career-high 11.5% pressure rate early in his fifth season.
2. Minnesota Vikings (5-0)
Previous rank: 2
Pat Jones II had five total sacks in his first 42 games. He's already tallied five this season to go along with six tackles for loss, seven quarterback hits, and a forced fumble.
3. Detroit Lions (4-1)
Previous rank: 3
It was only a matter of time until Jameson Williams turned into a weapon for offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. The speedster leads the Lions with 365 receiving yards after posting 354 a year ago.
4. Baltimore Ravens (4-2)
Previous rank: 4
Isaiah Likely has made Mark Andrews an afterthought through six games. Likely is on pace to record a new career high in receptions per game and receiving yards per contest. His run blocking has also received praise, courtesy of PFF.
5. Houston Texans (5-1)
Previous rank: 5
Will Anderson took home Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, but he's taken his game to another level in his second season. Anderson is already up to 5.5 sacks through six contests, while his nine tackles for loss lead the NFL.
6. Green Bay Packers (4-2)
Previous rank: 6
Green Bay has a bevy of viable receiving options, but Jayden Reed has separated himself from the pack. The 2023 second-rounder ranks seventh in the NFL with 442 receiving yards and has added 110 yards on the ground.
7. Atlanta Falcons (4-2)
Previous rank: 7
Drake London is primed to far outpace his stats from last season. The 2022 first-round pick and quarterback Kirk Cousins have been a scary tandem for opposing defenses.
8. Buffalo Bills (4-2)
Previous rank: 9
Dorian Williams is becoming a key contributor for the Bills' defense early in his second season. His emergence at linebacker alongside 2023 breakout star Terrel Bernard has allowed Buffalo's defense to stay afloat despite the injury absence of Matt Milano.
9. San Francisco 49ers (3-3)
Previous rank: 10
Jordan Mason has done a terrific job filling in for the injured Christian McCaffrey. He sits second in the NFL in rushing yards (609) while averaging 5.3 per carry.
10. Washington Commanders (4-2)
Previous rank: 8
Brian Robinson already has the same number of rushing touchdowns (five) in 2024 as he did last season. The 25-year-old has been critical for Washington's offense and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2)
Previous rank: 11
Chris Godwin is playing the best football of his career. Godwin is third in the NFL in receiving yards (511) while leading the team in targets (53) and receptions (43).
12. Philadelphia Eagles (3-2)
Previous rank: 13
Reed Blankenship has only surrendered nine receptions for 114 yards in coverage while allowing a 56.7 passer rating. He has a team-high two interceptions and has been the most consistent player in the Eagles' secondary.
13. Dallas Cowboys (3-3)
Previous rank: 12
Jalen Tolbert has become the Cowboys' No. 2 option in the passing game after CeeDee Lamb. He's already eclipsed his reception and yardage totals from last season.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)
Previous rank: 17
Dan Moore Jr. looked like he could be the odd tackle out entering 2024. Instead, he's been a valuable blind-side protector and the Steelers' best offensive tackle with Broderick Jones struggling on the right side and rookie Troy Fautanu injured.
15. Chicago Bears (4-2)
Previous rank: 19
Gervon Dexter has been a difference-maker for the Bears, tallying a team-high four sacks and three tackles for loss. He had just 2.5 and zero, respectively, as a rookie.
16. Cincinnati Bengals (2-4)
Previous rank: 16
Chase Brown was rarely used in 2023, but he's played his part beautifully in a backfield rotation alongside Zack Moss this season. The Canadian leads the team in rushing (283 yards) despite having fewer carries than Moss. He also holds an impressive 60.8% success rate on his rushing attempts.
17. Seattle Seahawks (3-3)
Previous rank: 14
Derick Hall leads the team in sacks (5) while racking up 15 pressures. The 2023 second-rounder has shown he can get after the quarterback after not recording a sack in his rookie season.
18. Los Angeles Chargers (3-2)
Previous rank: 20
Quentin Johnston's disappointing rookie campaign had many throwing around the bust label. A fresh start with a new coaching staff has done wonders, though, as he's already topped last year's scoring total with three touchdowns.
19. New York Jets (2-4)
Previous rank: 18
Allen Lazard looked like a disaster free-agent signing last year. As it turns out, all he needed was to be reunited with Aaron Rodgers. The veteran wideout has been a reliable target for his longtime quarterback, hauling in a team-high five touchdowns.
20. New Orleans Saints (2-4)
Previous rank: 15
Rashid Shaheed has become New Orleans' go-to receiver. He's leading the team in targets (41), receiving yards (349), and receiving touchdowns (3).
21. Denver Broncos (3-3)
Previous rank: 21
Riley Moss couldn't get on the field as a rookie. One year later, he's established himself as a legitimate starting cornerback opposite Patrick Surtain Jr. This is an extremely exciting tandem.
22. Indianapolis Colts (3-3)
Previous rank: 25
How is it possible a six-time Pro Bowler like Quenton Nelson can improve? The talented guard is PFF's second-highest-rated guard, which would be the first time he'd crack the top three since 2020.
23. Los Angeles Rams (1-4)
Previous rank: 23
Quentin Lake has played in 100% of Los Angeles' defensive snaps through five games. He leads the team in tackles after only getting four starts at safety in 2023.
24. New York Giants (2-4)
Previous rank: 24
Wan'Dale Robinson is second in the NFL in targets through six weeks. He's on pace for career highs in yards and receptions and has been Daniel Jones' go-to receiver outside of rookie Malik Nabers.
25. Arizona Cardinals (2-4)
Previous rank: 22
Paris Johnson has been much better in his sophomore season than in his rookie campaign. He has PFF's highest pass-blocking grade among Cardinals offensive lineman and looks like their left tackle of the future.
26. Miami Dolphins (2-3)
Previous rank: 26
Emmanuel Ogbah, 30, has 12 pressures and two sacks through five games after being released and re-signed by the Dolphins this offseason. His 18 tackles are only two shy of his total from last campaign.
27. New England Patriots (1-5)
Previous rank: 31
Keion White already has four sacks and one forced fumble through six weeks after a quiet rookie season. The 2023 second-round pick looks like a critical building block in New England's rebuild.
28. Las Vegas Raiders (2-4)
Previous rank: 28
Jakorian Bennett has been a bright spot for the Raiders' defense. The 2023 fourth-round pick earned a starting job out of camp this year and hasn't looked back. He's allowed a passer rating of just 59.1, according to PFF.
29. Tennessee Titans (1-4)
Previous rank: 30
Harold Landry had himself a fine 2023 campaign with 10.5 sacks, but he's on pace to set a new career best by quite some margin. Landry is already up to four sacks through five games.
30. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5)
Previous rank: 29
There isn't a lot to be happy about in Jacksonville, but Tank Bigsby's emergence has been spectacular. The second-year pro is averaging a league-high 7.2 yards per carry as he continues to come into his own as home-run threat.
31. Carolina Panthers (1-5)
Previous rank: 27
Chuba Hubbard has been extremely efficient this season. The 25-year-old is averaging 5.6 yards per carry, ranking third among all running backs with at least 50 attempts this year.
32. Cleveland Browns (1-5)
Previous rank: 32
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah has always been talented, but he's playing at a top-five level in 2024. The Browns linebacker has already accumulated seven tackles for loss, two sacks, one forced fumble, and one interception.