PFF Grades and Data: Key insights for every NFL Week 6 game

Vic Fangio’s defense will look to challenge rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart: The Eagles use disguise on 45% of their defensive snaps — the third-highest rate in the league. Dart has posted a 48.1 passer rating against disguised coverages to begin his career, ranking 32nd out of 33 qualifying quarterbacks.

Patrick Mahomes is pushing the ball downfield more than he has in years: Mahomes' 8.9-yard average depth of target is his highest since 2020, and his 14% deep pass rate is his highest since 2018. That aggression could pay off against a depleted Lions secondary that’s allowed a 10.0 average depth of target — third-highest in the league.

Subscribe to PFF+: It’s quick and easy. You’ll unlock industry-leading rankings, unlimited Fantasy Mock Draft Simulator use, the PFF Live Draft Assistant and our weekly Start/Sit Optimizer. It’s time to win.

NFL Week 6 is here, and with it comes a fresh wave of advanced data and analysis.

PFF’s media research team has been hard at work this week, preparing for kickoff — pulling data-driven insights and talking points for our broadcast partners around the league. Now, we’re sharing those same nuggets with you. So, whether you’re looking to win your fantasy matchup, hit on your bets or just get smarter about the game, these are the key storylines to know for every Week 6 contest.

Want the same insights trusted by all 32 NFL teams and our broadcast partners? Subscribe to PFF+ and get everything you need to win your fantasy season and gain an edge at the sportsbook.

Click here to jump to a game:

Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants

Vic Fangio’s defense will look to challenge rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart with a heavy dose of post-snap disguise. The Eagles use disguise on 45% of their defensive snaps — the third-highest rate in the league — forcing quarterbacks to quickly process and adjust after the snap.

That’s been a significant hurdle for Dart so far. He’s posted a 48.1 passer rating against disguised coverages to begin his career, ranking 32nd out of 33 qualifying quarterbacks.

The Giants, meanwhile, have leaned on dime personnel, using six defensive backs on 30% of their snaps, also the third-highest in the league. That strategy has worked, generating pressure on 41% of opponent dropbacks while limiting quarterbacks to a 71.9 passer rating.

Denver Broncos at New York Jets

Garett Bolles has been dominant in pass protection to start the 2025 season. His 92.7 pass-blocking grade ranks first among all offensive linemen, and his 2.1% pressure rate allowed is the lowest single-season mark of his career through five games. The veteran tackle’s consistency on the blind side has been a cornerstone of Denver’s offensive stability.

This week, Bolles draws a tough matchup against Will McDonald IV, who lines up on the defensive right side for 86% of his snaps. McDonald has posted an 18% pass-rush win rate over his last two games, the best mark among all Jets defenders.

Los Angeles Rams at Baltimore Ravens

Davante Adams’ role in Sean McVay’s offense has evolved into that of a true vertical threat. Through five weeks, the veteran wideout is averaging career highs in both yards per reception (16.2) and average depth of target (13.2) — on pace for career-high marks.

Adams has become one of the league’s most aggressive downfield options in McVay’s scheme, with his 26 targets of 10-plus yards downfield tied for the most in the NFL alongside Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

That spells trouble for a Ravens secondary that continues to struggle with deep coverage. After allowing a league-high 115 explosive pass plays of 15-plus yards last season, Baltimore has already given up 30 this year, tied for fourth-most through five weeks.

Dallas Cowboys at Carolina Panthers

One of the most compelling matchups in Week 6 will be how Carolina plans to slow down Jake Ferguson, who has emerged as the centerpiece of Dallas’ passing attack. Ferguson has been targeted on 31% of his routes so far this season, a mark that would place him in elite company. Since 2006, only three tight ends have finished a season with a target rate of 30% or higher: Mark Andrews (33%), George Kittle (31%) and Tyler Higbee (31%) — all in 2019.

Containing Ferguson is easier said than done. The Panthers have struggled to defend tight ends, surrendering an NFL-high 401 receiving yards and 20 combined first downs and touchdowns to the position. Ferguson has been especially dangerous on first reads (33 targets, tied for sixth in the league) and off play action (21 targets, most in the NFL), giving Dallas a clear advantage if Carolina can't adjust.

On the other side of the ball, Rico Dowdle looks to carry over the momentum from his breakout game against Miami. His 169 rushing yards after contact were the most in a game this season and tied for the second-most by a Panthers running back in a single game since 2006.

Arizona Cardinals at Indianapolis Colts

Josh Sweat has quickly become a valuable addition to Arizona’s defense, tallying 5.0 sacks through five games. His 18.6% pass-rush win rate ranks 16th among edge defenders this season, giving the Cardinals a steady source of disruption off the edge.

He’ll face a major test this week against an Indianapolis offensive line that has allowed just two sacks all season — tied for the second-fewest in the NFL. If the Colts’ protection holds, Daniel Jones could thrive from a clean pocket, where his 8.7 yards per attempt ranks tied for fourth-best in the league.

Seattle Seahawks at Jacksonville Jaguars

The Seahawks have been one of the most efficient teams in 12 personnel this season, averaging 8.6 yards per play, 1.4 yards more than any other team. AJ Barner has emerged as a surprising contributor in the passing game, earning a 91.1 PFF receiving grade in 12 personnel, second-best among all tight ends.

On the other side, the Jaguars’ defense is producing turnovers at a historic rate. They’ve forced a turnover on 25.4% of opposing drives — the highest mark over the past five seasons — and their 18.2% interception rate is also pacing to be the best in that span.

Los Angeles Chargers at Miami Dolphins

Justin Herbert has struggled under pressure this season compared to his previous years. His 51.7 passer rating, 4.3 yards per attempt and 4.3% big-time throw rate when pressured are all career lows. A banged-up Chargers offensive line hasn’t helped, allowing pressure on 38.4% of dropbacks — 25th in the NFL.

Meanwhile, it’s early in the Darren Waller era in Miami, but the returns have been impressive. Over the past two weeks, Waller ranks sixth among tight ends in receiving yards (105) and second in combined first downs and touchdowns (8). For the season, he leads all tight ends with at least 25 snaps in yards per route run (2.84) and ranks second in passer rating when targeted (154.9).

Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers

Quinshon Judkins is quickly establishing himself as one of the league’s most difficult backs to bring down without giving up extra yardage. Despite missing Week 1, he ranks tied for fourth in the NFL with 299 rushing yards after contact and is the only player with 50-plus yards after contact in four different games. That streak is likely to continue against a Steelers defense that has allowed 81% of rushing yards to come after contact — the sixth-highest rate in the league.

Meanwhile, Arthur Smith is redefining D.K. Metcalf’s role in the receiving corps. Entering 2025, Metcalf’s career average depth of target was 13.5 yards, with 4.2 yards after the catch per reception. Under Smith, his average depth of target has dropped to 7.7, but he leads all wide receivers with 12.5 yards after the catch per reception. His 67 YAC yards in Week 1 and 91 in Week 4 are both top-five single-game marks this season.

Although Metcalf typically lines up out wide (83% of snaps), he could find more yards-after-catch opportunities from the slot this week against a Browns defense that has allowed just 2.4 yards after the catch per reception to outside receivers (fourth-fewest), compared to 6.4 from the slot (seventh-most).

New England Patriots at New Orleans Saints

Stefon Diggs delivered an elite performance in the Patriots’ win over Buffalo, earning PFF’s highest receiving grade among all wideouts in Week 5. Over the past two games, his 92.2 receiving grade leads the league, driven by a remarkable 6.02 yards per route run — the best mark at the position in that span.

On the defensive side, second-year cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry had the best game of his young career in the Saints’ win over the Giants. He earned an 82.2 PFF grade and recorded the first two interceptions of his career — a strong sign of his growth in New Orleans’ secondary.

Tennessee Titans at Las Vegas Raiders

The Cam Ward–to–Calvin Ridley connection has started slow, with a 46% targeted completion rate — among the bottom five for qualifying wide receivers. However, Week 5 offered a potential turning point, as Ridley posted a season-high five catches for 131 yards. Nearly all of that production came on downfield targets, with Ridley hauling in four receptions for 123 yards on throws 10-plus yards downfield. That trend could continue against Raiders cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly, who leads the league in catches (11) and yards (279) allowed on downfield passes.

On the ground, Ashton Jeanty is beginning to find his rhythm. After a quiet start, he now ranks tied for third in the NFL with 12 explosive runs — more than half of which have come in the past two games. Jeanty has been especially effective between the tackles, ranking second with 200 yards after contact and tied for third with six explosive runs in that area. He’ll look to keep it going against a Titans defense that has surrendered 15 explosive runs to opposing backs — tied for sixth-most in the league — including seven between the tackles.

San Francisco 49ers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

While filling in for Brock Purdy, Mac Jones has been at his best in the short passing game, and perhaps no game better illustrates it than Week 5. Against the Rams, Jones completed 28 of his 32 short throws (under 10 yards downfield) for 258 yards and two touchdowns. That 258-yard total on short throws is the highest single-game mark by any quarterback this season. He’ll test a Buccaneers defense that has earned a 57.3 grade in coverage against short throws (28th‑ranked) and has allowed the third-most yards in that range (758).

Meanwhile, the 49ers are making their mark deeper downfield. Baker Mayfield leads all quarterbacks in vertical pass attempts (28). His top deep target has been rookie Emeka Egbuka, who’s hauled in six of his 11 vertical targets for 237 yards and a league-leading three touchdowns. The 49ers defense has been even more stingy deep — one of only two teams with two or fewer open deep targets and zero touchdowns allowed on vertical throws this season (the other being the Vikings).

Cincinnati Bengals at Green Bay Packers

Joe Flacco led all quarterbacks with 70 pressured dropbacks from Weeks 1–4, and things won’t get easier against a Bengals team allowing the league’s second-highest pressure rate (42%). Fortunately, Flacco has a quick-win weapon in Ja'Marr Chase, who has 27 receptions for 249 yards on throws within 2.5 seconds — second only to Puka Nacua. That will be critical against a Packers defense generating quick pressure on 32% of dropbacks when Micah Parsons is on the field — a rate that would rank second-highest in the league.

On the other side, Jordan Love has thrived attacking the middle of the field. He leads all qualifying quarterbacks in yards per attempt (9.9) and passer rating (132.4) on throws inside the numbers. His top target in that area has been Tucker Kraft, who leads all tight ends with 16.0 yards per reception on such throws. That spells trouble for a Bengals defense that ranks bottom-two in both touchdowns (7) and explosive plays (19) allowed over the middle.

Detroit Lions at Kansas City Chiefs

Penei Sewell is redefining what it means to be an offensive weapon at right tackle. He leads all offensive linemen in run-blocking grade (96.0) and has helped power the Lions to a league-best 7.3 yards per carry on runs behind right tackle. Detroit ranks second in volume on those runs (26), but they'll be tested by a Chiefs defense allowing just 2.9 yards per carry to that side — fifth-best in the NFL.

On the other side, Patrick Mahomes is pushing the ball downfield more than he has in years. His 8.9-yard average depth of target is his highest since 2020, and his 14% deep pass rate is his highest since 2018. That aggression could pay off against a depleted Lions secondary that’s allowed a 10.0 average depth of target — third-highest in the league.

Buffalo Bills at Atlanta Falcons

Dalton Kincaid had a breakout performance in Week 5, racking up a career-high 108 receiving yards and becoming the only tight end this season to record five explosive receptions (15+ yards) in a single game. Only three other pass-catchers have done so all year. Replicating that success will be tough against an Atlanta defense that has allowed just 12 explosive pass plays — the fewest in the NFL — and none to opposing tight ends.

Bijan Robinson, meanwhile, continues to thrive as a dual-threat weapon. He became the first player this season to top 75 rushing and receiving yards in the same game before the Falcons’ bye. His 248 yards after the catch trail only Christian McCaffrey among running backs, along with six explosive receptions. The Bills have been far more effective limiting backs through the air (3.6 yards per reception allowed, second-fewest) than on the ground (5.0 yards per carry, fifth-most).

Chicago Bears at Washington Commanders

This matchup features a strength-on-weakness clash, with the league’s most efficient rushing offense taking on the NFL’s worst run defense. The Commanders lead the league at 5.9 yards per carry, while the Bears have surrendered a league-worst 6.2 yards per carry. It gets even worse for Chicago between the tackles, where they’ve allowed a staggering 7.0 yards per carry — the worst mark in the NFL by over a yard and a half.

On the other side, the Bears' ground game has struggled to generate yardage after contact, ranking third-lowest in the league at just 2.3 yards after contact per attempt. However, Washington’s defense may offer a path to improvement — the Commanders have missed 28 tackles on run plays this season, second-most in the league behind only the Saints.