Week 6 NFL Players of the Week: All Hail the King!

 This was a crazy week for star performers in the NFL. Tons of big names had noteworthy performances in a crucial week of games for teams' playoff outlooks for the remainder of the season. Obviously, we have our players of the week to get into!

DEFENSIVE Player of the Week: TJ Watt, Edge Rusher, Pittsburgh Steelers

Statline: 2 sacks, game winning FF in OT, 7 combined tackles

This was a crazy week for single game defensive performances. Alongside Watt, there were two guys who made really strong pushes to take home these honors (Jeffrey Simmons & Maxx Crosby) but Watt gets the nod in the end. He is an anomaly in the fact that a player being paid as much as he is actually being worth it. It is also rare that a single defensive player singlehandedly wins a game for a team. Both are true for Watt. He could not be stopped on Sunday Night. He was in on everything, pressuring backup QB Geno Smith and harassing him more and more as the game went on. Late in the 4th quarter, Watt sacked Smith out of FG range which helped the Steelers force OT. Then in OT with the Seahawks beginning a potential game-winning drive, Watt made the play of the game as he basically maneuvered around a triple team and got to Smith as he ran forward to force a fumble that the Steelers recovered deep in Seattle territory. Without Watt, the Steelers would not have won this game, or frankly maybe any other games this year. I personally believe he's the best defensive player in football (that's right, above Donald). The multi-time DPOY snub gets the DPOTW. This week defense comes first because of how important these players can prove to be in a league that is still defined by offense anyway.
// Last Week's Winner: Marshon Lattimore (CB, Saints)

OFFENSIVE Player of the Week: Derrick Henry, Running Back, Tennessee Titans

Statline: 20 carries for 143 yards, 3 TDs rushing (7.2 yards per carry)

It was only a matter of time before our week 2 OPOTW won the award again. Just 4 weeks later, this wasn't the only thing Derrick Henry ran away with. The Titans shocked the best team in football as Henry ran wild. He simply could not be stopped, even by the Bills top ranked defense. At 6'4, 240 we saw Derrick Henry hit the fastest recorded speed by any player this season on his 76-yard TD burst midway through the game that really had Tennessee moving. That is just insane. He hit over 20 mph at that size. He is not human. Henry has now rushed for over 100 yards in 5 straight games. What he's doing is unheard of really. He is probably going to break the single season rushing record. Behind his wildly efficient rushing day and 3 TDs, the Titans pulled off a major upset win against a team that many thought was the league's best. Henry is cold, he's that guy. The Titans are in any game with Henry at RB. I've never seen such an impactful RB before. Derrick Henry becomes the first player this season to win OPOTW for a second time.
// Last Week's Winner: Lamar Jackson (QB, Ravens)

SPECIAL TEAMS Player of the Week: Matthew Wright, Kicker, *London* Jaguars

Statline: 3/4 on field goal attempts, 2/2 extra pts, 53-yard game winning FG

Who would have seen this coming? The Jaguars had lost 20 straight going into Sunday's across the pond match against Miami. On top of that, kicking had been a major issue all season for the Jags. Both issues resolved themselves in part due to each other on Sunday. New kicker Matthew Wright who had struggled in the past for the Jags was a new man. He went 3-4 on field goals including two 50+ yarders within the final 4 minutes of the game to propel the Jags to their first victory in over a year. After the conclusion of this heroic kicking performance by Wright, the team cut longtime Kicker Josh Lambo as a sign that they are sticking with Wright from now on. The most unlikely hero we could have imagined this week, but Matthew Wright with his multiple go-ahead 50+ yard kicks wins STPOTW of week 6!
// Last Week's Winner: Calais Campbell (DT, Ravens)

ROOKIE of the Week: Najee Harris, Running Back, Pittsburgh Steelers

Statline: 81 yards rushing, 6 receptions for 46 yards and a TD

For the first time all season, this wasn't a crazy week for rookies. There were some notable performances here and there but not one crazy one that just stood out above all others. Najee Harris gets his first rookie of the week as he had a great game in a big win on SNF. Harris continues to be a do-it-all back in Pittsburgh as he's gone over 100 scrimmage yards on offense multiple times throughout his first 6 games. The Steelers clearly have made Harris the focal point of their offense right away in his rookie season and it is working out well for them. The Steelers rode Harris throughout the game in both the checkdown game and running all throughout the Seahawks D. With Big Ben clearly on the decline, having Harris added to the offense has been such a boon. This might have been his best game as a pro as he contributed heavily on offense and the Steelers ended up winning close. This might be the first of a few times Harris could win this award this season.
// Last Week's Winner: Kadarius Toney, (WR, Giants)

TEAM of the Week: Tennessee Titans (4-2) beat Buffalo Bills (4-2) | Final Score: 34-31 Titans

Down goes #1! The Bills who we have had as our number 1 team in the NFL for weeks now goes down on MNF to the Titans! What a game this was, but behind the strong running of Derrick Henry and the disruption of DT Jeffrey Simmons, the Titans pulled off a major upset win to give their season new meaning. Going into the game, the Titans were considered a pretty mid-tier team that can win some big games but loses a lot of games that they shouldn't at the same time. This statement win puts the Titans squarely in the conversation for Super Bowl contention. Even with multiple key starters coming out of the game early due to injury, the Titans still stepped up and figured out ways to win the game. We mentioned him, but Jeffrey Simmons has come into his own. He was in the running for DPOTW this week as he was just a menace from the interior of the defensive line including the game-winning stuff of Josh Allen at the goal-line to seal the win for Tennessee. The Titans ride into a massive game with the Chiefs this weekend with a ton of momentum and have serious aspirations for a deep playoff run! The Titans take down last week's team of the week.
// Last Week's Winner: Buffalo Bills

Honorable Mentions:
-Titans DT Jeffrey Simmons
-Raiders DE Maxx Crosby
-Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb
-Cowboys QB Dak Prescott
-Rams S Taylor Rapp
-Colts RB Jonathan Taylor