NFL Week 6 narrative shifts: 11 players, coaches making me a believer; top five MVP candidates

Seattle lost a tough game to Tampa Bay on Sunday partly because a Darnold pass skipped off the helmet of a defender and turned into an interception that set up the Bucs’ game-winning field goal. Aside from that bad break, there hasn’t been much to criticize about Darnold. He’s been exactly what the Seahawks hoped they were getting when they signed him in free agency back in March. Just as importantly, he’s proven that his resurgence in Minnesota last year wasn’t a fluke. Darnold ranked among the top 10 passers in the league when Week 5 began, and he completed 28 of 33 passes for 341 yards and four touchdowns against the Bucs before that pick. Seattle is an improved team. It also doesn’t have the same weapons that Darnold enjoyed in Minnesota or the same elite defense. His early success in Seattle is about his growth and the relationship he has with Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. As for the man Darnold replaced in Seattle? Well, Geno Smith already has thrown nine interceptions for the Raiders. The Seahawks played this right.

The Patriots’ second-year quarterback already was trending in the right direction prior to Sunday night. However, the way Maye played in a 23-20 win over Buffalo cemented the fact that he has the goods to be special. He made the play of the night on the game-winning drive, when he stiff-armed 320-pound defensive tackle DaQuan Jones long enough to avoid a sack and complete a 12-yard pass to Stefon Diggs. New England’s drive could’ve been dead before it ever started. Maye jump-started it with that effort and led his team to the first game-winning drive of his career (thanks to a 52-yard field goal from Andy Borregales). Maye’s final numbers were solid (22-30 for 273 yards) and also representative of the quarterback he’s becoming. He can give you the splashy plays; he’s also playing consistently, as he came into this weekend leading the league in completion percentage and ranking in the top six in passing yards, passer rating and yards per attempt. The Patriots have done a lot to help Maye succeed, including bolstering the offensive line and pairing him with Tom Brady’s old offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels. The returns are strong so far.

Egbuka figured to be a huge piece of the Bucs’ success when the franchise selected him in the first round of this year’s draft. He might end up being the most important weapon for this team, given how his career has started. Egbuka has produced two consecutive 100-yard performances -- including a seven-catch, 163-yard day in Sunday’s 38-35 win over Seattle -- and he’s become a favorite target of quarterback Baker Mayfield. There’s no way the Bucs are sitting at 4-1 after all their injuries on offense if Egbuka needed more time to acclimate to the NFL. Now imagine what happens once Mike Evans gets healthy (he’s currently sidelined with a hamstring injury), and Chris Godwin gets comfortable after returning to the field recently (from a dislocated ankle sustained last season). Egbuka has already won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month honors for September. He might be the runaway favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year once October ends.

It was hard to know what the Dallas running game was going to look like when the season began, largely because there were so many questions about its ball-carriers. That is no longer the case. Williams has emerged as the top option in the Cowboys' backfield and one of the best comeback stories of the year. He was so underwhelming in his final two seasons in Denver -- averaging 3.6 yards a carry during that time -- that the Broncos let him walk in free agency this past offseason. Williams is now averaging 5.7 yards per carry to go along with 447 rushing yards and a career-high five touchdowns on the season. He produced 135 yards and a touchdown on just 16 carries (and added a receiving TD) in the Cowboys’ win over the Jets, which is further proof that the serious knee he sustained in 2022 is fully behind him. Dallas has its problems; Williams isn’t one of them.

Denver found a huge bargain in Dobbins, who had to wait until June to find a new home after entering the offseason as one of the more productive backs from last season. He accepted a one-year, $5.25 million deal, which was an indication that he’d be a complement to second-round pick RJ Harvey. The numbers now tell a different story five games into the season. Dobbins has more than twice as many rushing attempts as Harvey (77 to 31), and he’s also been one of the top rushers in the league through five weeks (with 402 yards and four touchdowns). Anybody who watched Dobbins play with the Chargers last season could see his talent, as he gained 905 yards and scored nine touchdowns. The questions about him have always revolved around health, since he’s never played a full season in his six-year career. Given Dobbins' history, it’s likely that he will be dealing with something at some point in the coming months. It’s also fair to say he’ll be a difference-maker for Denver as long as he remains on the field. It’s not a coincidence that this team has won two straight games and found more consistency in its offense as Dobbins has received more carries (36 attempts for 180 yards in that span). He looks very much like the back head coach Sean Payton has coveted for this offense during the previous two years.

Johnston is another player who makes this list despite a rough ending to Week 5. Even with a lost fumble that swung the momentum in his team’s 27-10 loss to Washington, Johnston has been one of the most improved players in the league this year. He underwhelmed in his first two seasons, largely because of his penchant for drops. This year, he’s proving why the Chargers invested a first-round pick in him during the 2023 draft. Johnston came into Week 5 ranked fifth in the league in receiving yards and his early success has him on pace for nearly 90 catches, 1,300 yards and double-digit touchdowns by the end of the season. Skeptics may wonder if Johnston can keep that momentum going, but he has some nice factors working in his favor. He’ll receive less focus from opposing defenses because they have to contend with slot receiver Ladd McConkey and savvy veteran Keenan Allen. Quarterback Justin Herbert also clearly has faith in what Johnston has become and looks for him often. If the Chargers can resolve their offensive line issues -- they continue to lose more players to injuries and are currently playing without both starting offensive tackles, Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt -- Johnston should continue growing. That’s why this doesn’t feel like a reach at all. He has taken his game to a new level.

There probably weren’t many people who expected Etienne to be doing what he’s done after the way last year played out. He’s been one of the most productive backs in the league (he came into Week 5 ranked third in rushing yards), but, like some other runners on this list, he’s had to remind people what he was. Etienne rushed for 1,000 yards in each of his first two healthy seasons (he missed his entire rookie campaign with an injury). Then everything changed for him in 2024, when Tank Bigsby emerged in the Jacksonville offense and Etienne wound up with career lows in yards (558) and yards per carry (3.7). To his credit, Etienne used the reduced role as motivation and said he’s learned nothing is going to be given to him at this level. He’s now become a huge factor in Jacksonville’s early success and whatever playoff hopes the Jaguars harbor.

Daniel Jones is creating a ton of buzz in Indianapolis, and for good reason. That doesn’t mean his resurgence is all about him figuring things out. His head coach has played a major role in this comeback tale, and anybody who’s followed Steichen’s career could see this coming. The Colts coach couldn’t figure out how to get the best out of first-round pick Anthony Richardson, but Steichen helped Jalen Hurts grow into a star quarterback in Philadelphia. Given that Jones has similar physical tools to Hurts, it made sense that Steichen could craft a plan that would maximize that potential. The Colts now boast a top-five offense, and Steichen’s decision to hire Lou Anarumo as his defensive coordinator has paid dividends, as well. Indianapolis had one of the league’s worst defenses in 2024. That same unit is allowing just 17.8 points per game through five weeks. So, this isn’t just a Daniel Jones story in Indianapolis. This is a story about the Colts making smart moves and growing into a real playoff contender that has a 4-1 record. It’s taken Steichen three seasons to reach this point, but his team is finally legit.

So much for all the questions about Ben Johnson’s departure in Detroit. It looked rough in a season-opening loss to Green Bay, but the Lions have rolled offensively since that point with Morton calling the plays. Detroit had the league’s highest-scoring offense last season. It still holds that honor through five weeks this season. That offense has been especially potent over Detroit’s last four contests, as the team has averaged 40.3 points per game. In retrospect, it was silly to think about the Lions' offense taking a significant step back, given all the talent Morton has at his disposal. Detroit has at least one Pro Bowl-level player operating in every part of its offense. There is a major challenge coming next weekend with a road trip to Kansas City, but the Lions should come in feeling confident. This offense is as lethal as it’s ever been.

San Francisco took a huge hit when it lost star edge rusher Nick Bosa to a torn ACL, but that didn’t mean this defense was done. Saleh’s return to San Francisco after four years as head coach of the New York Jets -- he also was San Francisco’s defensive coordinator from 2017 through 2020 -- has meant a world of difference for this team. First off, the 49ers are back among the league’s top 10 in points allowed after ranking 29th last year. They’re also relying on a number of young players to win games, including three rookies who are starting this fall (edge rusher Mykel Williams, safety Marques Sigle and nickel back Upton Stout). Most importantly, Saleh’s defense is showing up big with the game on the line. The Niners' D has made huge plays in the crucial moments of all its victories, including a fourth-down stand in a 26-23 overtime win over the Rams on Thursday night. It was starting to feel like the 49ers’ season was about to implode as it did last year when injuries hit. The sight of Bosa joining a long line of injured stars that includes quarterback Brock Purdy, tight end George Kittle and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk can create those concerns. Instead, San Francisco is sitting in first place in the NFC West with a 4-1 record and high hopes about where it could go from here. That doesn’t happen without the work Saleh has done with this defense.

Just as you can’t talk about Daniel Jones without mentioning Shane Steichen, you can’t bring up Sam Darnold without referencing the job Macdonald has done. Yes, the Buccaneers torched the Seattle defense for 38 points on Sunday, when the Seahawks fell to 3-2. That same defense ranked second in the league in points allowed when the weekend started and saw its effectiveness challenged by injuries to several key players, including edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence and defensive backs Devon Witherspoon, Julian Love and Tariq Woolen. This defense will return to form as it gets healthier, which makes the Seahawks one of the more intriguing teams in the NFC. They flirted with a playoff spot last year. This season, Macdonald has them playing even tougher, as he’s combined a rugged defense with an offense that plays to Darnold’s strengths. Even the offensive line is playing better. That unit has allowed just six sacks -- none against Tampa Bay -- and rookie guard Grey Zabel has been sensational so far. The NFC West looked like a tough division when the season started. It’s more challenging today now that Macdonald has the Seahawks looking like a playoff-caliber team.

Kansas City looks more promising after rebounding from an 0-2 start, but Detroit will provide a stiff test. The Lions have answered the question of what life will be like with two new coordinators, and it's not too shabby. They’re now riding a four-game winning streak into Arrowhead Stadium, the same venue where they earned a season-opening win in 2023 and established themselves as Super Bowl contenders. There could be a lot of points scored in this contest if both attacks are at their best. 

• DraftKings odds: +100
• Weeks in top five: 5
• Next game: at Falcons | Monday, Oct. 13

• DraftKings odds: +1500
• Weeks in top five: 2
• Next game: at Chiefs | Sunday, Oct. 12

• DraftKings odds: +1500
• Weeks in top five: 1
• Next game: vs. 49ers | Sunday, Oct. 12

• DraftKings odds: +4500
• Weeks in top five: 3
• Next game: vs. Cardinals | Sunday, Oct. 12

• DraftKings odds: +7500
• Weeks in top five: 1
• Next game: at Jaguars | Sunday, Oct. 12