This weekly segment will highlight the best performances of the week in the NFL. Every position and player is eligible, all it requires is a truly epic showing. It’s not always stat driven, or analytics grade driven, though those things help you get on this list.
1. Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons
After Devonta Freeman last week a Falcon tops the list again. Jones’s performance this week may end up being the single best performance of the season, though. He had 12 catches for 300 yards and 1 touchdown against the Panthers defense. He was completely unstoppable and Carolina had zero answer for him.
2. Le’Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
It was fair to expect a little rust from Bell with this being his first game of the season returning to action. Instead, he delivered a vintage performance that clearly signals he’s back to being one of the best backs in football. He need just 18 carries to get to 144 yards rushing (8.0 yards per carry) and he also had 5 catches for 34 yards in a blowout win over the Chiefs.
3. Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons
When Jones put up the career day he did, it’s only natural that his quarterback would put up huge numbers too. Ryan torched the Panthers going 28 of 37 for 503 yards, 4 touchdowns and 1 interception. Ryan is on fire through 4 weeks leading the NFL in passing yards, passing touchdowns and quarterback rating.
4. Cameron Heyward, DE, Pittsburgh Steelers
If we’re going to have two Falcons on this list, it’s only fair that we have two Steelers, right? Oddly Cameron Heyward’s dad Craig “Ironhead” Heyward once played for the Falcons. Heyward notched 3 sacks this week and dominated the Chiefs’ offensive line.
5. Aqib Talib, CB, Denver Broncos
Talib was targeted 4 times in coverage and half of those passes (2) were intercepted. He only yielded one catch. He was going up against the Bucs, his former team, so that had to feel good.
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