Week 1 Power Rankings, and Every Team's Player With All Eyes on Them
Week 1 is upon us, headlined by a broadway show in its own right with the Bills and the Jets taking the stage on Monday night. Dolphins vs Chargers, Cowboys vs Giants, and Bengals vs Browns are all marquee matchups as well. But around the NFL in week 1, there are plenty of opportunities for teams all over the nation to seize their opportunities and work their way up the weekly rankings.
But enough with all that. Football is BACK. Let’s get into the week 1 power rankings.
I made these rankings before the Thursday Night game in which the Lions beat the Chiefs 21-20. Taking that result into account now, I would move Detroit up one spot, and leave Kansas City where they are.
32. Arizona Cardinals
Player with all eyes on them: Caleb Williams (QB)
Since nobody wants to have eyes on Arizona for this entire season, I’ll say that Caleb Williams—the inevitable future Cardinal—will be the player with all eyes on him this season. Williams is the Heisman favorite just a year after winning the prestigious award in 2022. He has been spectacular since substituting for Spencer Rattler in week 6 of the 2021 season at Oklahoma, and has excelled at USC, making him the only player Cardinals fans would even want to watch this year. The message: 2023 will be a grim year for Arizona.
31. Houston Texans
Player with all eyes on them: CJ Stroud (QB)
The way these lists tend to work are that the worst teams have full focus on their young quarterback. This is no different in Houston. After winning 11 games in three years, Houston views Stroud as their savior. After two terrific years as the starter at Ohio State, and essentially being the second best team in college football last year after they pushed Georgia to the brink in the CFP semifinals, it’s clear that Stroud has the arm talent, intangibles, and football IQ to be the one of the best QB’s that the Texans have ever had. Expectations will be high for Stroud from day one.
30. Los Angeles Rams
Player with all eyes on them: Steve Avila (LG)
The Rams roster is practically unrecognizable from their Super Bowl team in 2021; only 7 of their 22 starters remain. GM, Les Snead, has clearly recognized that they are in a transition period as a franchise, and that they need to retool their roster. The first step: get better through the draft. Steve Avila, the 36th pick in the 2023 draft, finds himself with enormous weight on his shoulders, playing on one of the worst offensive lines in the league. If Avila can protect Matthew Stafford, he can be a building block for LA for years to come. If not, we could see the Rams discarding Avila and trying to draft his replacement with one of their 10 draft picks in next year’s draft.
29. Indianapolis Colts
Player with all eyes on them: Jonathan Taylor (RB)
Taylor might not receive as much attention for his on-field performance as what he will do off the field. Currently, Taylor is on the PUP list, meaning he is ineligible for the Colts’ first four games. But what if he stays hurt? What if he decides to sit out the entire season? What if he is traded in the middle of the season? Rookie QB, Anthony Richardson, could use his best weapon out of the backfield, but might have to work without him. A lot hinges on Taylor’s availability.
28. Chicago Bears
Player with all eyes on them: Justin Fields (QB)
Let’s not overcomplicate this one. Some have advocated for Fields as an MVP candidate, which, by the way, I think is absolutely blasphemous. However, Lamar Jackson’s and Jalen Hurts’ two-year transformations are reason to believe that Fields can make a big leap. This fanbase hasn’t been able to support a great quarterback since the beginning of time, so the pressure is certainly on for Fields. Plus, the addition of DJ Moore will just add more expectation for the third-year man. If Fields succeeds, the Bears could be a playoff team. If he fails, they will be close to the bottom again, and his job could be in jeopardy with young quarterback talent in next year’s draft.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Player with all eyes on them: Devin White (ILB)
Baker Mayfield might not give the Bucs much of a chance on offense, but Tampa’s “high ceiling” defensive unit does. The question will be, can they fulfill their potential? Well, Devin White is at the helm of that question. Just two years ago, when they won the Super Bowl, White was an All-Pro, totaling 9.0 sacks and 140 tackles. In years three and four, White has only equaled his year two total in sacks, and has dipped in tackles every year. Especially with White’s trade request, which has been vanquished, there will be lots of pressure for him to get back to his sophomore self this season. If you can, as well as leading a top-5 unit, the Bucs could be a sneaky wild-card contender.
26. Carolina Panthers
Player with all eyes on them: Bryce Young (QB)
Young is one of the most highly-anticipated quarterbacks in years, with his only yellow flag being his miniature stature. But like Stroud, expectations will be enormous, as he is expected to revive a franchise that hasn’t reached the postseason since 2017. Unlike Stroud, Young has the added pressure of being in a division where the Panthers could contend for the title. Especially if Carolina stays alive until the late weeks of the season, Young will be at the forefront of every rookie conversation.
25. Las Vegas Raiders
Player with all eyes on them: Davante Adams (WR)
The easy answer here would be Josh Jacobs because of all the offseason drama surrounding his contract after he led the league in rushing a year ago. But for a Raiders team that is trying to keep their core players together in order to bridge playoff runs over a river of losing, they’d sure like to keep their 6x Pro-Bowl wide receiver around. ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported that if things don’t get off to a good stat in Vegas, Adams is likely to be subject of a trade, which would show us that the Raiders are officially in rebuilding mode.
24. Denver Broncos
Player with all eyes on them: Russell Wilson (QB)
Sean Payton didn’t bring in Russell Wilson. The Broncos brought him in. You know who Payton did bring in? Jarrett Stidham. Knowing Payton, Wilson will be on a short string, and if the offense produces 16.9 PPG again, he could find himself watching Stidham from the sidelines. If this happens, Wilson may never start again. Thus, the Russ we all remember from Seattle will need to show up in the opening weeks, or else, his career could be in serious jeopardy.
23. New England Patriots
Person with all eyes on them: Bill Belichick (HC)
Weirdly enough, Bill Belichick is in a similar position to Russell Wilson. Both are all-time greats at their position, but for the first time in their careers, they are on the hot seat. Sure, maybe Belichick’s seat is just a little bit lukewarm, but the Patriots mediocrity since Tom Brady’s departure coupled with some of his draft decisions and coaching hires certainly raise some eyebrows. Belichick is a defensive mastermind, but offense wins games nowadays. In order to silence the firing rumors, Mac Jones, Rhamondre Stevenson, and the whole offensive unit will need to provide Belichick with some change and improvement from last season.
22. Green Bay Packers
Player with all eyes on them: Jaire Alexander (CB)
Alexander has the rare treat of guarding Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and DJ Moore in six of the Packers’ 17 games. The only player that faces such a difficult division slate is Jonathan Jones of the Patriots who will have to go against Stefon Diggs, Tyreek Hill, and Garrett Wilson. Last year, Alexander received praise for great performances against Hill and Jefferson, the league’s top two receivers, but if he can consistently create problems for these three guys, he should be regarded as one of the NFL’s top corners.
21. Atlanta Falcons
Player with all eyes on them: Kyle Pitts (TE)
I could have chosen Bijan Robinson here, but his future success seems fairly inevitable. Kyle Pitts is anything but inevitable. In his rookie season, he was a pro-bowler, putting up over 1,000 yards. In his second year, Pitts had just 356 yards, and caught a horrific 42.9% of balls that came his way. Arthur Smith has established that Atlanta will be a run dominant team, but if they can get 2021 play out of Pitts, to couple with Drake London and a stubborn defense, Atlanta is right there with New Orleans to contend for the division title.
20. Tennessee Titans
Player with all eyes on them: Azeez Al-Shaair (ILB)
Last season, the Titans’ run defense faded away as the year went on with injuries piling up. Azeez Al-Shaair was one of their big offseason acquisitions, and after four solid seasons on the league’s best defense over that span, San Francisco, he will be best Tennessee’s best linebacker. I’m a believer that Tennessee is actually the best team in the AFC South, but to be that, the defense will have to be the captain of the ship. Al-Shaair’s impact will play a huge role in whether or not the Titans are a 10 or 6 win team this year—especially in a division of good young runningbacks.
19. New Orleans Saints
Player with all eyes on them: Trevor Penning (LT)
Penning will look to replace James Hurst as the starting left tackle (one of the most important positions in football) for New Orleans. Penning didn’t exactly get off to a good start in his rookie season; he picked several fights in training camp, and only started six games despite being the 19th pick in the draft that year. The Saints’ offense is above average at wide receiver and runningback, and Derek Carr is very capable of being a mistake free, efficient quarterback. Penning at left tackle could be the missing piece to the puzzle for New Orleans, and if the offensive line comes together, New Orleans could be a big threat in the NFC.
18. Washington Commanders
Player with all eyes on them: Chase Young (DE)
After their rookie years, Joe Burrow vs Chase Young (the number 1 and 2 overall picks in the 2020 draft) was a legitimate debate. Since then, Burrow has reached two NFC championship games, and been one of the game’s best quarterbacks. In his last two seasons, Young has played just 12 games, and logged 1.5 sacks. But it’s not just Burrow who has outperformed Young. Other defensive linemen in the 2020 class such as Derrick Brown, A.J. Epenesa, Julian Okwara, Trevis Gipson, and Justin Madubuike have had better careers than Young as a result of his weak numbers in 2021 and 2022, and time missed. Young will really have to fight for his opportunities, as he shares a line with Jonathan Allen, Montez Sweat, and Daron Payne—perhaps the best front four in the league. Young needs the rookie version of himself to come out this year, or else he will likely be subject to trade.
17. Cleveland Browns
Player with all eyes on them: Deshaun Watson (QB)
This wasn’t much of a question. At one point, the Browns looked liked the future of the league after a 11-5 season in which they reached the divisional round, but to many people’s surprise, they stagnated—largely due to poor QB play. Deshaun Watson has taken more heat than any player without even playing, so now, what happens when he gets back on the field? Well, we saw glimpses of the old Watson in the Browns’ last five games last year, but he ended up finishing with the worst QBR in the league. Browns fans know how good this roster can be when everything is clicking, and if Watson can reach his old All-Pro form, there is no reason that Cleveland can’t contend for a Super Bowl.
16. Minnesota Vikings
Player with all eyes on them: Garrett Bradbury (C)
Bradbury, much like Trevor Penning, was boasted by Minnesota after being selected in the first round of the 2019 draft. He looked like the Vikings center of the future in his rookie year, but since then, he has been a penalty machine, and has been tossed around by opposing defensive linemen, making him one of the worst statistical centers in the league. The Vikings declined his fifth year option, so after this season, Bradbury will be a free agent. It’s fair to think that this will be his make-or-break year in the league, or else he might not get any good offers from teams next season.
15. Jacksonville Jaguars
Player with all eyes on them: Calvin Ridley (WR)
We’ve heard the whisperings, and seen the videos from training camp. Now, it’s time for the Ridley hype to come to fruition. In 2020, before his injuries and suspension, Ridley was top-5 in receiving yards and top-10 in receiving touchdowns. He should be the number one wide receiver on this team. However, with Trevor Lawrence looking like Peyton Manning 2.0 towards the end of last season, the pressure will be on for Ridley to be an upgrade from Christian Kirk last year, and elevate this Jaguars offense to new heights.
14. New York Giants
Player with all eyes on them: Darren Waller (TE)
At one point in his topsy-turvy career, Waller was in the conversation with Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Mark Andrews, but like many players highlighted in these power rankings, his productivity has taken a dip in the last two years. He’s combined for just 953 years and 5 touchdowns in that span—less than his totals in the 2021 season alone. GM, Joe Schoen, brought in Waller to be a true number one target for Daniel Jones. Especially in the big New York market, all eyes will be on Waller, as he looks to revive his career.
13. Pittsburgh Steelers
Player with all eyes on them: George Pickens (WR)
It seems like a sure thing that Kenny Pickett will improve upon his first year in the league, because that’s exactly what he did last season. Discounting games in which he got injured, Pickett’s average QBR in his first five starts was 70.5. In his last six starts, that number leapt to 85.3. But George Pickens is a guy that can elevate Pickett to the next level if he can separate himself as the Steelers’ number one wide receiver. Before Pittsburgh’s bye in week 9 last year, Pickens had just three games with over 40 receiving yards. He had 6 of those games in the final 9 contests. Pickens is the key to Pittsburgh developing a top-tier offense, and if he makes the jump to a pro-bowl level, no one will want to reckon with the Steelers.
12. Detroit Lions
Player with all eyes on them: Jahmyr Gibbs (RB)
There are many players of intrigue on this year’s Detroit team. But Gibbs is one guy that has some doubt circulating around him. Many people thought that the Lions reached when they drafted Gibbs at 12th overall. It’s also unprecedented to see a runningback drafted so high be the backup to a player with the caliber of David Montgomery. Point being, Gibbs opportunities early on might be limited. He’s going to have to show out to silence his critics, and to work his way into the RB1 spot.
11. Seattle Seahawks
Player with all eyes on them: Jamal Adams (SS)
Adams was once the answer to Seattle’s floundering defense years ago, but since leaving the Jets, he hasn’t stayed healthy, or been “the best in the NATION” as he likes to coin himself. Last season, Ryan Neal, Adams’ backup, was the best PFF safety in the league. Luckily for Adams, Neal is in Tampa Bay now, but Julian Love is a very capable backup, with the potential to unseat Adams if his quad continues to fail him, or if he comes back rusty. Once an All-Pro, Jamal Adams has a lot to prove this season.
10. New York Jets
Player with all eyes on them: Aaron Rodgers (QB)
The Jets finally got what the wanted—A-Rod is back in the Big Apple. Taking into account his storied career, the massive New York City market, and the atypical expectation surrounding this Jets team, Rodgers isn’t just under the most watch of anyone on his team, but rather the entire league. The Jets have not won a Super Bowl since 1969, when Joe Namath won Super Bowl MVP. And Jets fans know this. It’s all they’ve heard about this offseason which follows one of the most miserable decades you can possibly imagine. Rodgers has what he wants. He’s got an unbelievable defense, his old offensive coordinator, a great RB room, old friends from Green Bay, and Garrett Wilson—a budding superstar. Now, he’s got to turn what the Jets have on paper into a Lombardi trophy.
9. Los Angeles Chargers
Player with all eyes on them: J.C. Jackson (CB)
J.C. Jackson was a top-5 corner in the league by the end of his stint with New England. He played just five games in 2022 before his season was ended with a knee injury, but in those five games, he was nowhere near his 2021 level. He did not log a single interception, and was consistently burned by opposing WR1’s. Jackson is also on one of the biggest deals of any cornerback, making $82.5M over the course of five years, adding some extra pressure to perform this season. Joey Bosa is on the front line. Khalil Mack is at the linebacker spot. The offense is stacked. Can J.C. Jackson be the missing piece on the back end for the Chargers? We’ll see.
8. Baltimore Ravens
Player with all eyes on them: Odell Beckham Jr. (WR)
The Ravens wide receiver core is one of the biggest mysteries of this past offseason. They drafted Zay Flowers in the first round, and added Nelson Agholor and Laquon Treadwell. But no signing is splashier than former Super Bowl champion and pro-bowler, Odell Beckham Jr. OBJ is expected to be Lamar Jackson’s best receiving target in his six years as a Raven, and boy, does he need to be. Last season, Baltimore went from week 3 to week 15 without throwing a single touchdown to a wide receiver—a streak so long that you’d think it was a typo. However, OBJ veteran presence, and his accomplished career to no guarantee success. The last time we saw him play, he tore his ACL as a member of the Rams. The time before that, he was unproductive as a Cleveland Brown. If OBJ fills the void that has been in Baltimore for years, success will come. If not, and we could see some major shakeup upstairs.
7. Miami Dolphins
Player with all eyes on them: Tua Tagovailoa (QB)
Tagovailoa’s name was all over the headlines last season for both good and bad reasons. He had the 3rd highest QBR in the league when he played, and did not lose a game in which he played every snap until week 14. On the other side, Tagovailoa was concussed several times, and held his team back with crucial interceptions in the latter stages of the season. Miami might have the best collection of offensive skill players in the league, and once Jalen Ramsey returns from his injury, the defense should be very stout as well. The Dolphins will go as far as Tagovailoa takes them this season, and for many people (including myself), that is the Super Bowl. This is a make or break year for number 1.
6. Dallas Cowboys
Player with all eyes on them: Dak Prescott (QB)
Outside of Aaron Rodgers, no player is facing more pressure this year than Dak Prescott. This is partially because he plays in Jerry World, and partially because he was the team’s weakest link last season. Dak lead the league in interceptions in just twelve contests in 2022, and the team had a better record with him out than in. Further, it’s clear that Cowboys fans are growing tired with the man who, at one point, showed shades of being an elite QB. Another year of disappointment, and I think it’s very possible that Jerry Jones—a man who is ruthlessly trying to win a ring before he dies—moves on from Dak.
5. Buffalo Bills
Player with all eyes on them: Damar Hamlin (FS)
Most of the players I have written about thus far have been guys entering make or break years for their careers. Damar Hamlin is a special case. Just eight months after suffering cardiac arrest on the field, and being rushed to critical condition at the University of Cincinnati hospital, Hamlin is ready to take the field as a football player again, but this time will do so as a hero. Fans will be holding their breath every time Hamlin gets into a collision, and will crack a smile when he makes a big play of his own. Yes, the Bills are trying to contend for a Super Bowl, but Hamlin’s recovery makes this season about more than just football.
4. San Francisco 49ers
Player with all eyes on them: Brock Purdy (QB)
Purdy shouldn’t have to show us much more after a tremendous year one, in which he led the league in passer rating, and was undefeated until getting in the NFC championship game. But the rest of the team is as good and reliable as any other team in the league, making Purdy the x-factor of this team. With their stacked offensive line and slew of weapons, Purdy just needs to get the ball out on time and complete a high percentage of his passes, and San Francisco will be fine. If he can’t do this, though, and things come back to earth for the four-year Iowa man, his job will be in immediate jeopardy.
3. Cincinnati Bengals
Player with all eyes on them: Orlando Brown Jr. (LT)
The Bengals offensive line cost them a Super Bowl in 2021. So the front office went all in and signed La’el Collins, Alex Kappa, and Ted Karras. The line took strides in 2022, but still didn’t hold up when it needed to, giving up four sacks to the Ravens in the wild card round, and five to the Chiefs in the championship game. Orlando Brown seems like the final boss at left tackle. A former pro-bowler, Brown has bounced around the league recently, but possesses the talent to make this Bengals o-line a top tier unit. Brown has the chance to be a very valuable player on a championship team this season.
2. Kansas City Chiefs
Player with all eyes on them: Chris Jones (DT)
Sure, in hindsight, perhaps Kadarius Toney would have been a nice pick. But Chris Jones is far more important to this team than Toney, or any member of the team not named Patrick Mahomes, perhaps with the exception of Travis Kelce. Chiefs fans are going to constantly be refreshing their team’s transactions page this year, waiting for Jones to get offered a new deal, because they know that their beloved Chiefs can’t make it back to the dance without Jones. His decision on when to play will be one of the biggest and most important question marks of the entire season, and like other players on this list, Jones could decide the fate of the entire season.
1. Philadelphia Eagles
Player with all eyes on them: Jalen Carter (DT)
Believe it or not, the Eagles player with all eyes on them was much more difficult to decide than any other team. That’s because there are essentially no holes in the Eagles’ starting 22. Jalen Carter is not a starter, but at time before draft night was talked about as the potential first overall pick. He comes from the best defensive system, in Georgia, and is one of the biggest players of intrigue on defense of anybody this season. If Carter gets unleashed, his ceiling is incredibly high, and the Eagles defense, along with other young Georgia players, Nakobe Dean and Jordan Davis, can stifle opponents.
You should be put in prison for putting the patriots at 23