Chiefs or Vikings? Niners nonetheless a title contender? Proper time to start out Drake Maye?

Whereas the NFL’s solely remaining undefeated groups take their bye week, the talk continues concerning which is the league’s finest proper now: the back-to-back champion Chiefs or the upstart Vikings?Â

Heading into Week 6, FOX Sports activities’ NFL specialists deal with that matter and a number of other others, together with whether or not the banged-up 49ers are nonetheless a Tremendous Bowl contender, if Derrick Henry‘s success with Baltimore will change the panorama for working backs, whether or not Jayden Daniels has already locked up Offensive Rookie of the 12 months over Caleb Williams, and if that is the best time for the 1-4 Patriots to throw rookie quarterback Drake Maye into the fray.Â

Let’s get began.

Shopping for or promoting: The 49ers are nonetheless a Tremendous Bowl contender?

There’s loads of time for San Francisco to get wholesome and put collectively a successful streak that catapults them again among the many high groups within the NFL. The 49ers are solely a recreation behind the NFC West-leading Seahawks, they usually play at Seattle on Thursday night time. Kyle Shanahan may also lean on his expertise. In 2021, San Francisco began the season 2-4, bought scorching through the second half, snuck into the playoffs and superior to the NFC title recreation. There’s time to show issues round. —Eric D. Williams

Their schedule appears completely daunting to complete the season, however I refuse to depend them out. They’ve so many excellent gamers. They’ve a perennially profitable coach in Kyle Shanahan. Perhaps issues have gotten off to a cool begin, however Brandon Aiyuk is now clicking with Brock Purdy. Trent Williams appears like he is again in soccer form. George Kittle and Deebo Samuel are again within the lineup. Operating again Christian McCaffrey needs to be again within the coming weeks. They’ve handled a good quantity of adversity, however they’re simply too good — and too constant over the previous few years. They will make the playoffs someway someway.  —Henry McKenna

Which unbeaten group goes into its Week 6 bye in a greater state of affairs: the Chiefs or the Vikings?

I do not suppose it is significantly scorching take-y to say the Minnesota Vikings. Save for a little bit of a wonky efficiency abroad for Sam Darnold, all phases of this soccer group look seamless. Nobody has been ready to determine Brian Flores’ protection, together with probably the most skilled and intuitive quarterback within the league in Aaron Rodgers. He threw three picks final week, together with simply the fifth pick-six of his two-decade-long profession. Darnold has proved he can distribute the ball and exploit the favorable matchups created by all the eye on Justin Jefferson, after which, oh by the way in which, nonetheless get the ball to Justin Jefferson. The previous Offensive Participant of the 12 months has the third-most receiving yards and second-most receiving touchdowns within the league. Darnold himself has thrown for the second-most scores. The Vikings must also be getting tight finish T.J. Hockenson again after their bye week so as to add one other dimension to this already potent offense.Â

Attending to 5-0 hasn’t seemed significantly onerous for the Vikings, which may’t actually be stated for the Chiefs. And as a lot as I am not apprehensive concerning the Chiefs given their Tremendous Bowl success final yr with a questionable roster, Minnesota is working collectively in all aspects and simply appears like a extra full group. —Carmen Vitali

It is the Chiefs. As Patrick Mahomes has acknowledged, Kansas Metropolis’s protection beneath the path of DC Steve Spagnuolo doesn’t get sufficient credit score for conserving the group in video games. Kansas Metropolis ought to get high runner Isiah Pacheco again from harm sooner or later this season, and Kareem Hunt has been efficient in his absence. And the Chiefs nonetheless have the perfect quarterback within the league, one who executes all of the little issues through the crucial moments on the finish of video games that result in successful. —Eric D. Williams

It is the Chiefs. Look, they’ve Patrick Mahomes. It is kind of that easy. I do know they’re coping with a rash of accidents on the receiver place — however that does not appear to matter a lot. And whereas Sam Darnold is beginning to play just like the previous model of himself (and making errors that allow opponents stage comebacks), Mahomes is beginning to play just like the previous model of himself (and play with endurance that makes him unbeatable). What the Vikings protection is doing is particular, nevertheless it’s solely been just a few weeks. What Mahomes is doing is particular. And he is proved he can keep that over years. So he and Andy Reid will take inventory of what labored and what did not over the primary 5 weeks of the season. They will come out of the bye extra harmful, they usually’ll in all probability work out methods to get one other bye within the first spherical of the playoffs. —Henry McKenna

TheRavens have outrushed their opponents by at the least 100 yards in all 5 video games this season. Will Derrick Henry’s success make groups rethink how they worth working backs?

I doubt it. I feel what they will see is that the Ravens bought Derrick Henry for $9 million assured they usually’ll all suppose they’ll discover an inexpensive working again, too. They will additionally see the Ravens as a novel state of affairs — a group that has at all times been a great dashing group beneath John Harbaugh, with a great offensive line, and a cell (and particular) quarterback who can preserve defenses off steadiness. Henry’s energy was actually an ideal match there. And whereas he thrived throughout his time with lesser groups in Tennessee, too, that did not at all times translate into wins.

Henry can be distinctive as a result of he is extra sturdy than most working backs. Typically, their shelf life is not lengthy, which is an enormous purpose why they’re not often price an enormous funding. Sure, each on occasion one or two will actually receives a commission — like Saquon Barkley, who bought $26 million assured from Philadelphia. However for probably the most half, working backs are typically replaceable components, they usually want a great group round them to essentially succeed. —Ralph Vacchiano

I hope so. However Ralph makes good factors. 1) There’s just one Derrick Henry. 2) There’s just one Lamar Jackson. And three) there’s just one Ravens offense. Put all of it collectively and you’ll see why Baltimore valued Henry greater than the opposite 31 groups. And you may also see why these 31 groups are skeptical about whether or not they’d be maximizing Henry just like the Ravens are.Â

However let’s zoom out. It is a copycat league. And we’re seeing working backs buoy offenses. Take a look at Saquon Barkley in Philly. Take a look at Jordan Mason in San Francisco. Take a look at Josh Jacobs in Inexperienced Bay. Take a look at Alvin Kamara in New Orleans. Each a kind of working backs is lifting his quarterback — somewhat than the opposite method round. In some unspecified time in the future, we’ll see this pattern begin to reverse. As a result of working backs matter! They matter this yr greater than final yr and greater than the yr earlier than that. The market will start to mirror that financially.  —Henry McKenna

I agree with what’s been acknowledged above. The NFL is cyclical in nature. Simply as we noticed an explosion of passing assaults only a few years in the past, we have now seen defensive coordinators modify with two deep security appears to remove the deep ball, pushing the significance of working backs into the highlight. Henry’s success in Baltimore emphasizes that time. The Titans legend-turned-Ravens star is an anomaly in fact, however ground-and-pound is again “in” — whether or not that is with one man or by a committee. That needs to be mirrored within the working again market shifting ahead. —Ben Arthur

Is that this the best time for the Patriots to start out rookie quarterback Drake Maye?

I do not suppose so. And it is not as a result of I do not suppose he needs to be enjoying. Maye is the No. 3 general decide, in spite of everything. It’s essential know what you’ve in him in a season going nowhere. However to offer him his first profession begin towards the Texans of all groups might be a catastrophe. Houston ranks sixth in stress price. The NFL world noticed what DeMeco Ryans’ protection did to Caleb Williams in his second profession begin — sacking him seven occasions and registering 11 quarterback hits. It is not tough to think about an identical destiny for Maye, who has a horrible offensive line that ranks lifeless final in stress price allowed. New England’s instability offensively plus Houston’s well-coached, aggressive protection may smash Maye’s confidence earlier than it may even be constructed up. —Ben Arthur

It is a misplaced season for New England, so within the least, you wish to begin the method of letting Maye develop on the sphere. The Patriots have given up 19 sacks, second-most within the NFL, so there’s some harm threat there, however you need to transfer ahead. With Jacoby Brissett, they’ve two touchdowns in 5 video games, tied for fewest within the league, and simply six move performs of 20 yards or longer, additionally tied for the fewest. With Maye, you possibly can shift the main focus to the long run and never the current, and it is a good time to start out that now. —Greg Auman

It wasn’t honest to ask Jacoby Brissett to face in there and take the hits — and work with a crappy supporting forged. However that was what the QB signed up for. And I feel the Patriots ought to stick with their veteran. There’s a probability that Drake Maye is a generational expertise who can overcome all adversity. Like Peyton Manning was. Nevertheless it’s more likely that he is the kind of prospect whose early assist may dictate the pace and high quality at which he develops. Like Andrew Luck (whose accidents led to an early retirement). Like Zach Wilson. Like Trevor Lawrence. And like Bryce Younger.Â

I am going to admit it: I am apprehensive for Maye. Even when he lights it up this week and/or subsequent week, the Patriots drafted him to be their quarterback for a decade (or two). It feels silly to trot him out behind an offensive line that has allowed the second-most sacks within the league (19). It feels silly to ask Maye to throw to a gaggle of pass-catchers led by tight finish Hunter Henry and receiver Demario Douglas. It feels silly to ask Maye to work beneath this rookie teaching employees that has made a mind-numbingly massive set of playcalling and recreation administration errors to start out the yr. So, I might have favored for the Patriots to have waited till subsequent yr. I do not love them throwing Maye into the fireplace now. —Henry McKenna

Now that Caleb Williams has joined the fray, who do you consider would be the NFL’s finest rookie by season’s finish?

Jayden Daniels is to this point forward of the sphere on this race proper now, he has an opportunity to lock it up earlier than the halfway level of the season. He is simply been unbelievable to observe. All the pieces about him has exceeded expectations. He is extremely correct. His decision-making is near-perfect. He is as harmful as marketed as a runner. And better of all, he is taken what ought to have been a mediocre-to-bad Commanders group and turned it right into a critical contender at 4-1. Washington is well the most important shock within the NFL to this point this season.

Caleb Williams did have a pleasant recreation on Sunday, and if he strings collectively a bunch of these, he is actually gifted sufficient to get again within the race. I am undecided the Bears have sufficient expertise to be a contender, however there’s undoubtedly sufficient round Williams to assist him out. However he is bought an extended approach to go to make this a two-way race. And the way in which Daniels is enjoying proper now, it is onerous to see him falling again to the pack. —Ralph Vacchiano

Caleb Williams had a pleasant recreation Sunday towards a foul group, however I nonetheless suppose Washington’s Jayden Daniels is the perfect of this rookie class. He is an electrical, thrilling participant, and he is made the Commanders the shock group of the primary month of the season. He is carried out this as each an environment friendly passer and a harmful runner — he has extra dashing yards than any rookie working again on this class. Maybe Williams can maintain the excessive stage of play he confirmed Sunday towards the Panthers, however Daniels has already turn out to be a must-watch participant. One other month like this and he’ll come up increasingly more as a legit MVP contender. —Greg AumanÂ

It is onerous to not decide Daniels right here. He at the moment leads all rookies in passing (1,135) and dashing yards (300). The Commanders have began 4-1 by driving the dynamic playmaking capacity of Daniels along with his arm and his toes. And he has an skilled teaching employees main him in head coach Dan Quinn, offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and run recreation coordinator Anthony Lynn. Washington set Daniels up for fulfillment by placing him in an offense during which he feels snug and might play quick, and the outcomes to this point for the Commanders are electrifying. —Eric D. Williams

The next writers contributed to this story: Ben Arthur (@benyarthur); Greg Auman (@gregauman); Henry McKenna (@McKennAnalysis); Ralph Vacchiano (@RalphVacchiano); Carmen Vitali (@CarmieV); Eric D. Williams (@eric_d_williams).

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