We’re seven weeks into the 2023/24 NFL season, and like always, the quarter mark is beginning to show true potential alongside the cracks of each participating team.
As most of the spotlight so far has been directed toward the teams themselves with power rankings and such, today we’ll ignore squad comradery and focus on the NFL player profiles that are standing tall above the competition in the season thus far.
Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers
Offense
Notable statistic: Leading the NFL in rushing yards (553)
Well
In Week 4, Christian McCaffrey showcased his incredible performance by scoring four touchdowns (three rushing, one receiving) in San Francisco’s triumph over Arizona. Although he was not expected to replicate that level of production against Dallas two Sundays ago, he still managed to secure a rushing touchdown, marking his seventh of the season. With this touchdown, McCaffrey has now achieved the remarkable feat of scoring a touchdown in 14 consecutive games.
Despite his exceptional abilities, McCaffrey demonstrated his humanity by losing a fumble in Week 5’s victory. This was only the third time in his career that he had lost a fumble, and it ended a streak of 995 consecutive carries without such an occurrence, which had been the longest active streak in the NFL.
Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs
Offense
Notable statistic: Third-best completion rate (68.3%) in the NFL
It has become evident that the Chiefs offense this year is not as formidable as in previous seasons. However, Patrick Mahomes has effectively distributed the ball to his skilled teammates and has shown improvement week after week.
Despite the challenges faced by this offense, it is important to note that they still rank seventh in yards and ninth in points. With Mahomes leading the way, Kansas City always remains a strong contender.
Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins
Offense
Notable statistic: Leading the NFL in passing yards (1876)
Miami Dolphins’ quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, has emerged as the frontrunner for the NFL MVP title. Following his exceptional display against the Carolina Panthers, where he threw for 262 yards and three touchdowns, Tagovailoa’s odds of winning the MVP have been significantly reduced from +475 to +350. Still, bettors might be able to boost said price with an ESPN bet promo code.
This impressive performance has allowed him to surpass last week’s favorite, Patrick Mahomes, on the oddsboard. Notably, Tagovailoa currently leads the league in passing yards (1,876), passing yards per game (312.7), is tied for first place in passing touchdowns (14), and ranks third in completion percentage (71.1%).
Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins
Offense
Notable statistic: Leading the NFL in receiving yards (814)
Tyreek Hill is well on his way to achieving his ambitious preseason objectives. The speedy Dolphins player confidently declared that he would surpass 2,000 receiving yards before the season even began, and he is currently on track not only to meet but exceed that target. Following his outstanding performance in Week 6, Hill has accumulated 42 receptions for 814 yards and six touchdowns in just six games.
Suppose he continues at this remarkable pace for the remainder of the season. In that case, he will conclude with an impressive 119 catches for 2,306 yards—making him the first player in NFL history to achieve over 2,000 receiving yards.
Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys
Defense
Notable statistic: Third most sacks (5.0) in NFC
Micah has established himself as a highly intimidating defensive player in the NFL, and a key aspect of his success lies in his ability to perform during crucial moments.
In the game against the San Francisco 49ers, Micah had limited involvement, similar to his teammates, as he did not record any tackles for loss, quarterback hits, or sacks. However, when his team relied on him to exhibit his exceptional defensive skills, Micah stepped up and delivered an outstanding performance against the Chargers.
Micah has achieved an impressive stat line of seven tackles for loss, five sacks, and one forced fumble over six weeks.
T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers
Defense
Notable statistic: Joint-most sacks in the NFL (8.0)
Last year, T.J. Watt signed a contract extension worth $112,011,000, making him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history, and he’s living up to the price tag thus far. Watt has been performing exceptionally well this season, and if he maintains his current pace, he’ll continue as a top DPOY candidate.
Over the past few seasons, he has proven himself as one of the most reliable run defenders in the world. Despite not having the ideal size for his position, he has consistently found innovative ways to defend his assigned gap.
There is a certain style that is crucial in pass-rushing. While impressive production is important, what truly sets apart two elite players is their ability to shine brightly. And arguably, no one has done it better than Watt when it comes to being flashy.