NFL Week 5 Fantasy: Bucs Must Respond; Are Jags Contenders?
Week 5 is underway, and one thing is for certain: Liam Coen has changed the Jaguars for the better.
The first-year coach is now 3-1 after his crew beat the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara. But this week will be the biggest test of his young career: hosting the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football.
While Coen is at the helm, defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile deserves his flowers as well. He has revolutionized the Jaguars defense. The group has generated three takeaways in each game this season.
Overall, Riley went 2-1 (9-3 on the season) with her Week 4 picks, while fellow NFL beat reporter Dalton Sallengs went 1-2 (7-5 on the season).
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Kansas City Chiefs (Monday, 8:15 p.m., ESPN)
Welcome to the three-win club, Jacksonville. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Co. stunned the 49ers on Sunday, 26-21. After a back-and-forth contest, the Jaguars emerged victorious, putting the league on notice.
Are the Jags … contenders? They are tied for first with a 3-1 record in the AFC South with the no-longer-undefeated Indianapolis Colts.
The impressive aspect of Jacksonville’s play thus far is its ability to win games without high-powered offensive performances.
Second-year receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is enduring the sophomore slump, but the stagnant stretch is not stopping the Jags from being productive. Running back Trevor Etienne Jr. has excelled each week and has taken the stress off Lawrence.
Now, Jacksonville travels back home to EverBank Stadium and will host the Chiefs. While the AFC West club is 2-2, the entire league knows the former AFC champions are not to be messed with.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is coming off his first four-touchdown game since 2023, and it was against the Baltimore Ravens defense. Kansas City also welcomed wide receiver Xavier Worthy back after being sidelined since colliding with tight end Travis Kelce in Week 1.
With each team finding a signature Week 4 win, Monday Night Football should be a tight contest, and one that may have major standing implications.
Riley: Chiefs 28, Jaguars 21
Dalton: Chiefs 35, Jaguars 17
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Seattle Seahawks (Sunday, 4:05 p.m., CBS)
After falling to the reigning Super Bowl champions 31-25, the Florida squad is looking to bounce back from its first loss of the season.
Despite the loss, Tampa Bay had a handful of bright spots to hone in on. For one, wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. has returned to the field. While not the flashiest comeback, his presence was felt. Lining up on the other side was receiver Emeka Egbuka. The rookie proved once more that he deserves WR1 attention.
In the run game, running back Bucky Irving excelled in Week 4. He collected five receptions for 102 yards and a score. If Tampa Bay wants to get back in the win column, it will have to feed Irving.
The Seattle Seahawks are coming off a nail-biting win against the Arizona Cardinals. After nearly blowing a 14-point fourth-quarter lead, kicker Jason Myers saved the day. The game-winning 52-yard field goal gave Seattle its third-straight win.
However, the Seahawks secondary has allowed each quarterback it has faced to throw for at least 200 yards. Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield is poised to have a massive day, especially with Godwin healthy.
Tampa Bay is undefeated when playing on the road this season. In order to get to 4-1, the Bucs’ stars will have to shine once more.
Riley: Buccaneers 34, Seahawks 27
Dalton: Seahawks 28, Buccaneers 24
Miami Dolphins at Carolina Panthers (Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX)
The Dolphins picked up their first win of the season. While not pretty, they got the job done. But the trade-off was losing star wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
The veteran suffered a gruesome injury in the third quarter against the New York Jets, but showed high spirits while being carted off the field. He dislocated his left knee and will be out for the remainder of the year, according to ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques.
Tight end Darren Waller may have been the biggest surprise of Monday’s win. The journeyman took full advantage of his Dolphins debut, finding the end zone twice on three receptions.
Miami will travel to Carolina, which has been forgiving to tight ends throughout this season. The Panthers have allowed opposing tight ends to post up to 78 yards per game. While Waller finished Monday’s contest with just 27 yards, the Hill injury and his explosive performance in the red zone may prove successful Sunday.
Carolina is looking to bounce back from an abysmal performance Week 4 in New England. Quarterback Bryce Young threw for 150 yards and running back Chuba Hubbard rushed for 49 yards. The Panthers were shut out for 40 minutes of play until Young was benched and backup quarterback Andy Dalton took over.
Sunday’s matchup between the 1-3 squads will be a telling one. Can the Dolphins generate back-to-back wins without their leading wide receiver? And can the young Panthers core prove they can be competitive once again?
Riley: Dolphins 24, Panthers 21
Dalton: Dolphins 31, Panthers 21
Category: NFL
