NFL Power Rankings - Week 9: Players who must step up in 2nd half
The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors.
This week, we look ahead to the second half of the season and name one player from each team who has to step it up.
1. New England Patriots (8-0)
Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 1
New England's ground attack has been abysmal, averaging just 3.2 yards per carry, which is tied for the worst mark in the league. While the struggles are not entirely Sony Michel's fault, the running back's ability to create his own yards has all but disappeared. The Patriots need much more from the former first-rounder.
2. San Francisco 49ers (7-0)Previous Rank: 3
If the Niners want to maintain their hot start, Jimmy Garoppolo must improve his pedestrian stats. Jimmy G hasn't needed to play at an All-Pro level thus far, but he'll face the Seattle Seahawks (twice), Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, and Los Angeles Rams in the second half. We'll discover just how good San Francisco is soon enough.
3. New Orleans Saints (7-1)Previous Rank: 2
The Saints are one of the best teams in football, but if they want to win the championship, they'll need tight end Jared Cook, their prized offseason signing, to improve on the 15 catches and 168 yards he's supplied thus far.
4. Green Bay Packers (7-1)Previous Rank: 4
Kevin King has been the weak link in the Packers' pass defense. He gets targeted frequently while lined up across from Jaire Alexander, and he's on pace to concede more than 1,000 yards in coverage.
5. Baltimore Ravens (5-2)
Otto Greule Jr / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 5
Another threat in the passing game could take Baltimore to a new level, which is why rookie wide receiver Miles Boykin needs to begin producing like a starter if he wants to retain that role.
6. Minnesota Vikings (6-2)Previous Rank: 6
Pat Elflein's move to left guard has not gone as planned, and his deficiencies - which the Washington Redskins exposed in Week 8 - threaten to hold back the Vikings' offense down the stretch.
7. Seattle Seahawks (6-2)Previous Rank: 7
Jarran Reed, who recently returned from a six-game suspension, must provide Seattle with a pass-rush presence inside. Reed notched 10.5 sacks last season and the Seahawks rank 25th in that department so far in 2019.
8. Kansas City Chiefs (5-3)Previous Rank: 8
Kansas City's secondary is predictably struggling, so the defense's need for a strong pass rush is apparent. Frank Clark has recorded just one sack outside of a dominant performance versus the Denver Broncos, and he'll be key in the second half. The Chiefs are simply paying Clark too much for his current level of production.
9. Indianapolis Colts (5-2)Previous Rank: 9
The Colts are on top of the AFC South, and safety Malik Hooker has only appeared in four games due to injuries. He'll need to be a difference-maker in the second half for Indianapolis to remain on its perch.
10. Houston Texans (5-3)
Troy Taormina / USA TODAY SportsPrevious Rank: 11
With J.J. Watt out for the season, the onus will fall on Whitney Mercilus to be the leader of the Texans' front seven. Mercilus has been solid in coverage and leads the team with 5.5 sacks, but he'll have to be even better to make up for the loss of the three-time Defensive Player of the Year.
11. Los Angeles Rams (5-3)Previous Rank: 14
Jared Goff may lead the league in passing yards, but the Rams desperately need their quarterback to step up as they push for a playoff spot. Goff's completion percentage and yards per attempt have declined from last season, and he's on pace for two more interceptions and 10 fewer touchdown passes.
12. Dallas Cowboys (4-3)Previous Rank: 13
DeMarcus Lawrence has been solid to date, racking up 3.5 sacks and five tackles for loss. But the Cowboys need their star pass-rusher to take his game back to the level he reached in 2017 - when he tallied 14.5 sacks - if they're going to capture an NFC East title.
13. Buffalo Bills (5-2)Previous Rank: 10
Buffalo clearly has a playoff-caliber defense. What the AFC wild-card contender doesn't have, though, is good enough play under center. Josh Allen was always going to take time to acclimate to the NFL, but he's hurting Buffalo far more than he's helping due to constant turnovers. If Allen doesn't improve his game, the Bills won't make noise in the postseason - if they qualify at all.
14. Carolina Panthers (4-3)Previous Rank: 12
Donte "Action" Jackson has lived up to his nickname for the wrong reasons. He's been burned for two touchdowns and has allowed a 73.3 passer rating against, according to Pro Football Focus, despite also nabbing two interceptions.
15. Detroit Lions (3-3-1)
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious Rank: 15
After the Lions traded Quandre Diggs out of their secondary, it's imperative that $90-million man Trey Flowers has a big second half rushing the passer.
16. Philadelphia Eagles (4-4)Previous Rank: 16
Philadelphia opted against moving Nelson Agholor before the trade deadline, meaning the wideout must rebuild his reputation after a drop-filled and unproductive start to the year. The receiver will hit free agency in the coming offseason, while the NFC East club has missed his ability to rack up yards after the catch.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4)Previous Rank: 17
Myles Jack has been fine in run defense, but he's allowed receptions on 61% of the plays he's been targeted and has given up three touchdowns. The Jaguars will need more from their star middle linebacker.
18. Tennessee Titans (4-4)Previous Rank: 21
While Derrick Henry is on pace for a second consecutive 1,000-yard season, he's averaging just 3.8 yards per carry and has only reached 100 yards in one game. The Titans are hoping for another second-half surge from their bell-cow back.
19. Oakland Raiders (3-4)Previous Rank: 19
Now that Gareon Conley's been shipped out to the Texans, veterans from Oakland's 30th-ranked pass defense will be key in the team's fight for a playoff spot. That means Lamarcus Joyner, the league's highest-paid slot corner, will need to step up.
20. Arizona Cardinals (3-4-1)
Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 20
The Cardinals' offense has taken a step forward under head coach Kliff Kingsbury. Their defense, however, has largely disappointed. Many thought a change in scheme would help linebacker Haason Reddick in his third season, but that hasn't been the case, as he's seen his playing time reduced. A second-half improvement from Reddick would go a long way toward revitalizing his career.
21. Chicago Bears (3-4)Previous Rank: 18
The Bears need to get Tarik Cohen going. He's their most dynamic player and the only big-play threat on offense considering quarterback Mitchell Trubisky struggles to complete passes more than 5 yards downfield.
22. Los Angeles Chargers (3-5)Previous Rank: 24
Russell Okung, who returned in Week 8 from a pulmonary embolism, is among the Chargers' key players heading into the second half. Anthony Lynn's offensive line must keep Philip Rivers clean and create opportunities in the run game if the entire unit is to improve.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-4)Previous Rank: 23
JuJu Smith-Schuster has struggled as the No. 1 receiver, with far too many of his 443 yards coming in garbage time. The Steelers desperately need him to carry the offense with the shaky Mason Rudolph at quarterback.
24. Cleveland Browns (2-5)Previous Rank: 22
Baker Mayfield's offensive line is doing him no favors, but that doesn't explain why he's thrown behind his receivers all year long. Mayfield's inaccuracy has contributed to the drops and poor offense plaguing the Browns.
25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-5)
Silas Walker / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 25
Outside of their two star receivers, just about every member of the Bucs needs to step it up. Jameis Winston leads that group, as he's lost three fumbles and shares the league lead with 12 interceptions.
26. New York Giants (2-6)Previous Rank: 26
First-round cornerback DeAndre Baker has received a baptism by fire during his first eight games, allowing five touchdowns and nearly 72% of passes thrown his way to be completed. While cornerback is widely considered the hardest position, outside of quarterback, to transition to from college, the excuse of being a rookie won't hold up much longer for Baker.
27. Denver Broncos (2-6)Previous Rank: 27
John Elway drafted Noah Fant 20th overall in hopes of adding a dynamic weapon to Denver's offense, but the tight end has fallen short of expectations. Fant must improve upon his season-high 37 yards (in Week 3) for the Broncos to stay competitive.
28. Atlanta Falcons (1-7)Previous Rank: 29
Devonta Freeman has barely resembled the Pro Bowl running back of 2015 and 2016. He's averaging a minuscule 3.4 yards per carry and his best performance on the ground was an 88-yard game.
29. Washington Redskins (1-7)Previous Rank: 30
When the Redskins broke the bank for Landon Collins in free agency, they envisioned him as the secondary's primary playmaker. While Collins has been one of Washington's lone bright spots, his huge salary came with equally big expectations. The safety needs to do more than just rack up tackles for the Redskins to rebound in the second half.
30. New York Jets (1-6)
Jim McIsaac / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 28
Sam Darnold's "seeing ghosts" comment was largely ridiculed, but at least he has the self-awareness to realize he simply isn't reading defenses at an NFL level, as evidenced by his eight turnovers across the last two games. Darnold's situation with the Jets is far from ideal, but excuses rarely fly for highly drafted franchise quarterbacks.
31. Cincinnati Bengals (0-8)Previous Rank: 31
Andy Dalton has already been benched, and Joe Mixon could lose playing time if he doesn't improve on his 3.2 yards per carry. The 23-year-old led the AFC in rushing a year ago behind a similarly deficient offensive line.
32. Miami Dolphins (0-7)Previous Rank: 32
You could argue that everyone on the Dolphins' roster needs to step up amid a winless start to the campaign. While first-round defensive lineman Christian Wilkins has looked solid as a run defender, his impact on the passing game has been disappointing. As one of Miami's few building blocks, Wilkins would provide a massive boost for the future if he can find his groove as a pass-rusher.
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