NFL Week 6 Crew of the Week: Rico Dowdle Stays Scorching; Smith-Njigba Continues Rise

[ad_1] Every week, we’ll supply up the perfect of the NFL for a given week, sort of just like the fantasy soccer group you wished you had.

We’ll decide one quarterback, two working backs, two receivers and a decent finish – OK, that is sounding loads like a super-hindsight fantasy soccer group – as a option to look again on the weekend that was.

An unlikely working again returns to the group, whereas broad receiver options two gamers who're ascending to stardom:

QB: Drake Maye, Patriots The second-year quarterback already has 4 multi-touchdown video games in six weeks this season – Sunday was 18-for-26 for 261 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions, and he led the Patriots in dashing with 28 yards.

New England is off to a 4-2 begin after ending 4-13 final season. Few quarterbacks within the league have much less to work with at receiver, with two touchdowns Sunday to Kayshon Boutte and a 3rd to DeMario Douglas. Maye now has the third-best season passer ranking within the league, behind solely Jared Goff and Sam Darnold.

RB Rico Dowdle, Panthers Once more? Actually?!

Dowdle took it to his previous group, main Carolina to a 30-27 win over the Panthers and dashing 30 instances for 183 yards, plus one other 4 catches for 56 yards and a rating. He has totaled 473 yards from scrimmage within the final two weeks, an unimaginable stretch for a backup who hadn't proven a lot within the first 4 weeks of the season.

The Panthers are 3-3 and exhibiting life on offense. Dowdle has been an sudden spark, however he did rush for greater than 1,000 yards final yr in Dallas, so it will possibly solely be so stunning.

Panthers' Rico Dowdle: 'Enjoying with that chip on my shoulder' after win over former group, Cowboys Carolina Panthers working again Rico Dowdle stated he was "enjoying with that chip on my shoulder" as he helped energy a win over the Dallas Cowboys, his former group.

RB: Josh Jacobs, Packers You may make a very good case for rookie Cam Skattebo in Thursday's Giants win over the Eagles, however Jacobs completely carried the Packers of their win over the Bengals. He ran for 93 yards and two touchdowns and had one other 57 yards to guide the group in receiving. Solely the Colts' Jonathan Taylor has had extra complete touchdowns than his six this season.

We must also point out Miami's De'Von Achane, who rushed for 128 yards and two scores. Had Miami held on for the win, we may have swapped him in for Jacobs.

WR: George Pickens, Cowboys The price of re-signing Pickens to keep away from him turning into one of many NFL's greatest free brokers in March continues to rise for the Cowboys.

Pickens reset a profession excessive with 9 catches Sunday and had the second-most yards of his younger NFL profession with 168 in Dallas' loss to the Panthers. He additionally caught his sixth landing move of the season, matching the Lions' Amon-Ra St. Brown for the league lead there. He now ranks third within the league in receiving yards, too.

How lengthy will the Cowboys wait to attempt to prolong him, seeing how properly the ready sport has gone with different high skills? Can they afford to pay two receivers that a lot with CeeDee Lamb already on the books?

WR: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks He is on right here once more, going off for eight catches for 162 yards and a landing in Seattle's win over the Jaguars. With the Rams' Puka Nacua coping with harm, he now takes over the NFL lead with 696 yards in six video games, which places him on tempo to problem Calvin Johnson's 2012 NFL file of 1,964 yards, set in 16 video games.

JSN's reference to Sam Darnold continues to develop, as he is topped 100 receiving yards in 4 of their six video games collectively.

TE: Dallas Goedert, Eagles Sure, Philadelphia misplaced, however lots of the most effective tight finish showings this week had been in dropping efforts. Goedert had 9 catches for 110 yards and a rating. He now has 5 touchdowns in six video games, matching his profession greatest for a complete season. The catches and yards each rank in his private high 5.

Goedert is arguably the one Eagles offensive participant who can actually be completely satisfied along with his manufacturing via six video games this season. 5 touchdowns in 4 weeks is kind of a heater by 2025 Eagles requirements.

Greg Auman is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand spent a decade masking the Buccaneers for the Tampa Bay Occasions and The Athletic. You may observe him on Twitter at @gregauman.

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