Another week in the books and with week five being the first week without a 16 game schedule, our beloved NFL players haven’t had a better chance to make a Pro Football Focus team of the week.
So who did?
Well, for a change, there were no rookies, and just the two Super Bowl MVPs will be teaming up on Week 5. Joining them we have some players many thought were done, a fullback finally getting his chance, and a safety who yours truly pegged to have a big year all the way back in March.
Sometimes even I get it right. Now here's our Week 5, Team of the Week.
OFFENSE
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Quarterback: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (+9.2)
Just another day for Drew Brees. He completed 71.1% of his passes in leading the Saints to a fourth quarter comeback over the Panthers. It’s gone relatively unsaid just how well Brees is playing this year, but he’s as good as ever.
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Running Back: BenJarvus Green-Ellis, New England Patriots (+4.1)
Two rookie running backs picked up and competition everywhere, things didn’t bode well for ‘Law Firm’ in the offseason. Only BJE took his opportunity and destroyed the Jets by breaking tackles (four) and picking up yards after contact (77) on his way to a 136-yard, two-touchdown day.
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Full Back: Jed Collins, New Orleans Saints (+2.8)
Amazing to think Collins hadn’t managed an offensive snap since entering the league in 2008, until the Saints took a chance on him. He repaid them against the Panthers by doing an extremely good job at the second level, against a talented group of linebackers.
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Tight End: Jimmy Graham, New Orleans (+3.2)
So often you hear coaches praise the potential impact of players in the offseason, only for them to fall short. Graham isn’t just living up to the talk, he’s surpassing it. A 129-yard day and he’s quickly becoming the guy the Saints' go-to in critical situations. Difference maker.
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Wide Receivers: Hines Ward, Pittsburgh Steelers (+3.0) and Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs (+2.8)
Just 54 yards for Ward, but sometimes it’s the quality of yards over the quantity of them as Ward picked up two touchdowns. The performance of Dwayne Bowe, with his 128 yards and two touchdowns, aided by breaking four tackles, was far more visible. If Bowe could play like this every week he’d be in the realm of being described as one of the best receivers in the league.
Tackles: Max Starks, Pittsburgh Steelers (+4.9) and Phil Loadholt, Minnesota Vikings (+4.7)
Overweight and unwanted? Those were the descriptions of Max Starks, until injuries made the Steelers desperate enough to return to him. Perfect in pass protection and impactful in the run game, Starks' performance made you realize how foolish the Steelers were to let him go in the first place. Loadholt allowed one hit but had the highest grade of any tackle this week in run defense. Clark Haggans will tell you why.
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Guards: Kris Dielamn, San Diego Chargers (+4.0) and Brian Waters, New England Patriots (+3.3)
Chargers left guard, Kris Dielman, stepped up in a big wave to pave the way for Ryan Mathews big day against the Broncos. He proved particularly adept getting to the second level and sealing off linebackers. One of the quiet success stories of the Patriots year has been Brian Waters. A perfect day in pass protection combined with success in the run game. What more could you want from a right guard?
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Center: Nick Mangold, New York Jets (+3.8)
If Mangold was showing any of the lingering effects from the injury that forced him to miss time, he didn’t show it in this one. He didn’t put a foot wrong.
DEFENSE
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Defensive Front Seven (4-3)
Defensive Ends: Jared Allen, Minnesota Vikings (+7.5) and Elvis Dumervil, Denver Broncos (+6.1)
Dumervil gets the nod over impressive performances from Chris Clemons and Osi Umenyiora, mainly because he proved he can play on the left side of the defensive line. He picked up nine pressures to show he’s back, terrorizing Jeromey Clary and Marcus McNeil. As for Allen, you probably could have penciled in his selection before he went one-on-one with Levi Brown. Destroying Brown to the tune of two sacks, a hit, and four pressures was hardly surprising.
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Defensive Tackle: Richard Seymour, Oakland Raiders (+9.5) and Tommy Kelly, Oakland Raiders (+3.6)
It’s also worth mentioning John Henderson as part of a three-man rotation that caused havoc for the Texans' interior offensive line. Seymour was the star of the unit, with his two sacks, two hits and three pressures summing up his dominance over Wade Smith. Kelly ended up doing most of his good work in the run game, continuing his fine start to the season.
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Linebackers: Daryl Smith, Jacksonville Jaguars (+4.7), Stephen Tulloch, Detroit Lions (+3.2) and DeAndre Levy, Detroit Lions (+5.3)
Levy was all over the field against the Bears, so while the defensive line reaped the press for their excellent displays, Levy earned the game ball for making five defensive stops. The Jags Smith allowed 18 yards on the six times he was thrown at and ended the game with seven defensive stops. The Lions are 5-0 and one of the biggest reasons why is the signing of the continually impressive Tulloch. Outshone by his Lions teammate Levy, Tulloch was still the best MLB around this week.
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Defensive Front Seven (3-4)
Defensive Line: Mike Devito, New York Jets (+3.1), Kelly Gregg, Kansas City Chiefs (+4.3) and Antonio Smith, Houston Texans (+3.0)
To the credit of the Patriots, as good as Devito was, they were able to limit him to 23 snaps on the field by taking advantage of the Jets' defensive packages. Devito was particularly impressive for getting the better of All-Pro LG Logan Mankins. The other end is Antonio Smith, perhaps the biggest benefit from the Texans switch to the 3-4. He picked up three quarterback hits and another pressure in another disruptive display. In the middle of these two you’ve got the Chiefs' Gregg doing everything he can to disrupt a teams running game. It helped that he was playing the Colts, but Gregg can be happy with his best performance as a Chief.
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Outside Linebackers: Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers (+4.3) and Jamaal Westerman, New York Jets (+2.6)
Matthews finished Sunday Night Football with three quarterback hits, a pressure and a batted pass to go with two defensive stops. There’s more to Matthews game than sacks. For the 49ers, Ahmad Brooks ended up with two hits and three pressures as he continues to replace Manny Lawson effectively.
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Inside Linebackers: Derrick Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs (+3.2) and Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers (+2.7)
Two of our top-rated linebackers from last year carrying over some of their form from 2010. Johnson made short work of the Colts' linemen whenever they tried to get their hands up on his way to a +3.4 run defense grade. Willis made plays all over the field, making five defensive stops and allowing only 18 yards on the five balls thrown his way.
Cornerbacks: A.J. Jefferson, Arizona Cardinals (+3.7) and Carlos Rogers, San Francisco 49ers (+3.5)
Jefferson has turned out to be quite the revelation for the Cardinals, breaking up two of the six passes thrown his way, and coming up to help in run defense with five defensive stops on the day. Over in California, Carlos Rogers is turning out into thevalue money signing of the off season. An interception returned for a touchdown was the highpoint, but his body of work was impressive in giving up just 19 yards.
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Safeties: George Wilson (+4.5) and Jairus Byrd (+3.0), Buffalo Bills
The Bills safety pairing had a day to remember against the Eagles. FS Byrd made plays to help Buffalo win, even he took second billing to his safety partner George Wilson. If only someone had seen this coming with Wilson. Enough patting myself on the back, let’s instead look at game of Wilson. He came up with five defensive stops, a big hit of Vick and an interception of his own. He did more, but my editor is already bemoaning the abuse of the dreaded word limit.
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Special Teams
Fitting that the day after the death of Al Davis, Sebastian Janikowski (+5.1) played such a pivotal role in helping the Raiders to victory … Colts punter Pat McAfee (+3.5) peaked with a 64 yard punt … Seahawks returner Leon Washington (+2.5) always took more than the Giants were giving him in the return game
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