Each week, Yardbarker highlights the most important people driving this week’s NFL action.
From players to coaches, here are the 10 most important people to watch in Week 8.
Director Jerrod Mayo | New England Patriots
Mayo’s first season as the Patriots’ head coach is unforgettable to this day. After Sunday’s loss to Jacksonville in London, he called New England (1-6) “a soft football team overall.” Bill Belichick raised the issue.. Mayo never earned the trust and respect of his players enough to publicly call his team that way. Mayo could lose his locker room if the Patriots lose 5-2 at home to the New York Jets on Sunday.
QB Brock Purdy | San Francisco 49ers
The Niners (3-4) were depleted on offense. RB Christian McCaffrey (Achilles tendonitis) not expected to return, WR Brandon Aiyuk suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 7. and WR Deebo Samuel I spent some time in the hospital this week. With pneumonia. So Purdy will need to produce with a more limited offense. That’s something he didn’t do in Week 7 when he threw three interceptions in a 28-18 loss against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Next up for Purdy and the 49ers is “Sunday Night Football” at home against the Dallas Cowboys (3-3). This game could have huge implications for the playoffs. Purdy ranks third on the list with 1,841 passing yards, but the 49ers will need to play clean to beat the Cowboys.
QB Marcus Mariota | Washington Commanders
Second overall pick Jaden Daniels has had sensational play, but suffered a rib injury in Week 7 and will be unavailable for Sunday’s home game against Chicago (4-3). NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports. Daniels did not practice Wednesday and Mariota received first-team reps as he began to “improve.”
In Week 7, Mariota was outstanding in relief of Daniels during the Commanders’ 40-7 win over the Carolina Panthers, going 18-of-23 for 205 yards and two passing touchdowns, as well as 34 yards rushing.
QB Daniel Jones | new york giants
Jones lined up for Drew Lock in their 28-3 loss in Week 7 to the Philadelphia Eagles. but he will start “Monday Night Football” in Pittsburgh (5-2). Jones has played poorly this season, and with no evidence that his play will improve, another benchmark appears imminent.
jones, 25th in ESPN total QBR (47)He has thrown only six touchdown passes this season, tied for 21st in the league. This is Jones’ sixth season in the NFL, an average QB at best. It seems like league start times are getting shorter.
RB Jonathan Taylor | Indianapolis Colts
Taylor hasn’t played since Week 4 when he suffered a sprained ankle against the Pittsburgh Steelers. I might come back Sunday against Houston (5-2). The Colts (4-3) are 3-0 without Taylor, but they are a much better team with the franchise back on the field. Especially paired with a starting QB in Anthony Richardson who has thrown six interceptions and only three TD passes this season. .
Taylor’s production and presence takes some of the pressure off Richardson and the Indianapolis passing game, which will be key to a win against the Texans. In 2024, Taylor has 349 yards rushing (4.8 yards per carry) and four rushing TDs.
QB back tag | miami dolphins
Tagovailoa has missed the last four games after being diagnosed with the third concussion of his career. The Dolphins (2-4), who face the 3-4 Arizona Cardinals at home on Sunday, are 1-3 without him. Dolphins Coach Mike McDaniel said. He’s hoping Tagovailoa (40-for-62, 64.5 percent completion, 483 yards) will clear concussion protocol and be ready to play. According to ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques: Miami WR Tyreek Hill said Tagovailoa’s return to practice this week “almost made me cry.”
WR DeAndre Hopkins | Kansas City Chiefs
Tennessee traded Hopkins to the WR-needy Chiefs on Wednesday for a conditional fourth-round pick. It’s unknown if he will play Sunday in Las Vegas (2-5), but QB Patrick Mahomes commented: The coach, Andy Reid, is doing a great job of getting his players to adapt quickly to the offensive scheme. Hopkins will bolster the Chiefs at wideout, a position depleted due to season-ending injuries to Hollywood Brown and Rashee Rice. WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring) is also injured.
QB Bryce Young | Carolina Panthers
Young hasn’t started since Week 2 after being benched in favor of journeyman Andy Dalton. However, Dalton suffered a sprained thumb. Car accident earlier this week And they won’t play at Denver (4-3) on Sunday. Young, the No. 1 overall pick in 2023, is off to a poor start to his career (59.5 percent completion percentage) and may not have much of a chance to turn things around before Carolina moves on from him. His career starts record is 2-16.
QB Joe Burrow | cincinnati bengals
The Bengals are 3-4, but Burrow has played sensationally and Cincinnati is on a three-game winning streak. Burrow ranks fourth in touchdown passes (14), sixth in passing yards (1,759) and fourth in QBR (72.6). At home on Sunday, he faces the 4-2 Philadelphia Eagles, who beat the lowly Giants 28-3 in Week 7.
RB Derrick Henry | baltimore ravens
Henry leads the league in carries (134), rushing yards (873) and rushing touchdowns (8). He could eclipse 1,000 yards on the season for Cleveland (1-6). per pro soccer talkHenry’s average of 124.7 yards per game gives him 2,120 rushing yards, which would break the season record of 2,105 yards set by Eric Dickerson during a 16-game season in 1984.
