2024 NFL Week 7 Power Rankings

Even when the only remaining undefeated teams have a bye, the NFL keeps delivering. Week 6 seemed to give a few teams all the info they needed to follow through on significant trades, which I’ll get to later. But first, your rankings and anchors (click on a team in the Table of Contents to go directly to their section, if they earned one) because that’s what brought you here, and then a quick caution on NFL trade clickbait headlines.

Tip: If you’d like to share a single team’s section of this article, right-click on that team in the Table of Contents below and copy the link address. This anchor link not only takes you directly to that team in the article, it’s also a shareable link that will send others to the full article but automatically start them on the team link you chose.

How to Avoid NFL Trade Clickbait

Here’s the deal. Any time you see a headline in the form of “(team name) trade proposal gets them much-needed blah blah” … it’s crap. Someone designed the headline to make you think it’s actual insider information about a real trade proposal from the team.

I’ll give you a real example: Packers trade proposal brings projected $79 million pass rusher to Green Bay.

The Packers did not make that proposal. It’s doubtful they even saw the article. Every NFL GM is 10 steps ahead of writers, myself included. But it’s purposefully worded in a way that blurs the line, so it gets clicks, but also offers deniability if called out by someone like me. Also notice that it doesn’t mention the name of the player headline, forcing you to click on it to see.

The trade idea in that article isn’t even original to that writer. Another writer did the math and wrote up how that trade might work if it was proposed, but that writer titled their article clearly so as to avoid any confusion.

Perhaps this all sounds like hypocrisy cause I love playing pretend GM, but you’ll never see me give those thoughts a clickbait headline that makes you think I have inside information. So stop sharing those articles without reading them because you think it’s real, or because you’re just as desperate for clicks as the writer.

This has been a public service announcement. As always, may all your teams win or YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!!!

NFL Power Rankings: Week 7

1. Kansas City Chiefs (5-0) ⇔ 🥇

No game.

2. Detroit Lions (4-1) ⇔

Someone in Dallas said something about Dan Campbell‘s mom or something. I could sit here and try to analyze that game, but there’s really not much more to say than everything is working in Detroit. I don’t know if it was payback for the weirdness of their matchup last season or what, but that beatdown looked personal.

3. Minnesota Vikings (5-0) ⇔

No game.

4. Baltimore Ravens (4-2) ⇔

Huge win for the Ravens over the Commanders. At the beginning of this season, I would’ve been expecting a bigger win, but obviously things have changed and the Commanders are looking like a real threat.

The biggest thing that came out of this game to me was seeing Mark Andrews and Rashod Bateman getting involved. Both have had slow comebacks from various injuries and watched others jump them in target share, but they both delivered on important plays on Sunday. Being able to add them to the mix as real threats with Zay Flowers and Isaiah Likely makes the Ravens offense one of the most dangerous in the NFL.

Rushing Yards Watch: Derrick Henry is currently on pace for 1,994 yards rushing

5. Houston Texans (5-1) ⇔

Huge game this week between the 2 surprise playoff teams of last season. Both the Texans and Packers are on a roll right now and have defenses that are less shutdown and more bend-and-create-turnovers. This should be one of those 49-46 games. Which means it’ll end up being 9-3.

6. Buffalo Bills (4-2) ⇔

After beating the Jets on Monday night, Buffalo went and got Amari Cooper from the Browns. And Cooper has to be soooo happy cause Deshaun Watson couldn’t hit him if he was standing wide open in the middle of the field. Cooper and Watson were completely out of sync, so working with Josh Allen will be a refreshing upgrade for both Cooper and Allen.

Now maybe Dalton Kincaid can get open and get me some fantasy points.

7. Washington Commanders (4-2) ⇔

I know it’s a hype train and I’m on it. If you actually sit and watch Jayden Daniels, there’s simply no mistaking the intangibles and his clear understanding of where he is in space. He can run out of trouble, slide out of trouble, shift out of trouble, throw out of trouble, everything.

I’m convinced that Daniels and Terry McLaurin did routes every day in training camp, then went home and played catch with each other until it got dark. They’re so locked in. It reminds me of how C.J. Stroud was last year with Nico Collins, except McLaurin came into this season a far more established threat than Nico was coming into last season.

Point is, Daniels is for real, and even if he flops out at times, I’ve seen enough to recognize the signs I’m used to seeing of a smart QB who can play a lot of years in the league. Some will say he’s an injury risk because of his running, to which I’d respond with what I said last week… he’s very careful when he runs. Watch one of their games and you’ll see a clear understanding of risk-reward every time he tucks the ball in his arm. He’s a special player and I’m another week more convinced there will come a day when he’ll have a short run as the “highest paid player in NFL history.”

8. Green Bay Packers (4-2) ⇔

Playing the Cardinals in almost any season always feels like a trap game. Just ask the Niners last week. But the defense kept Kyler Murray in front of them all day and Jordan Love is back to throwing strikes to his own team. Mostly to his own team.

I also kinda feel like maybe the team should’ve saved the Romeo Doubs suspension for a more important game. Like, you’ve got the Lions at home in 3 weeks and you could’ve saved the whole group hug energy for a more important game like that. Now it’s wasted. It’s not like you can just suspend him again any time you want him to produce, right?!

Right?… right?

9. Atlanta Falcons (4-2) ⇧2

Good job beating the Panthers. I’m sorry, there’s really not much more to add to that, other than Tyler Allgeier and Bijan Robinson combining for 200 rushing yards on just 33 carries.

There’s really no better example of the Thunder & Lightning backfield cliche in the league than Allgeier and Bijan. Allgeier got 74 of his 105 yards after contact. Bijan got 58 of his 95 yards before contact.

10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2) ⇧2

I’m a little concerned about Baker Mayfield throwing 3 picks and the Bucs defense giving up 27 points in the 2nd quarter to a rookie QB in his first start.

But I’m less concerned because of how they came out in the 2nd half and dominated in every facet. By the way, I’m not saying I told y’all about Bucky Irving, but I told y’all about Bucky Irving. I didn’t say anything about Sean Tucker, though. Didn’t even know who he was until yesterday.

The way the pair of them are running should be enough proof that Rachaad White is not, and has never been, a running back. When his foot heals, get him in the slot, run him on screens… hell, let him return kicks. White is a phenomenal athlete who simply isn’t built to run between the tackles. He’s built to run outside the tackles. So put him there.

11. San Francisco 49ers (3-3) ⇩1

Just when you think they’re out, someone named Isaac Guerendo runs for 99 yards. And get Deebo off kick returns.

12. Philadelphia Eagles (3-2) ⇩3

Barely beating the Browns does not inspire confidence with me. If they don’t bully the Giants this week, even a win could keep them dropping.

13. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) ⇧2

To those wondering why Mike Tomlin is considering starting Russell Wilson over Justin Fields this week, there’s really only one answer. Okay, maybe more.

1. If Fields plays 51% of the downs this season, the 6th round pick the Steelers traded to the Bears to acquire him becomes a 4th round pick.
2. If Fields keeps getting better and the team plays well and makes the playoffs, he’ll likely require a contract in the $40+ million range this offseason.

Normally I wouldn’t attribute this kind of thinking to someone like Tomlin, but I’m guessing it won’t be his decision, which is why he has to act like he’s considering all options until he’s given the answer. Deep down, I think Tomlin knows benching Fields would not be a good decision for his locker room, but I also don’t doubt that his locker room will be behind him regardless.

There is an upside to this, however. What Fields has done so far has been in a very new offense to him. And let’s be honest, the Steelers aren’t in the Super Bowl conversation right now. If Fields doesn’t play another down this season, the team keeps their 4th round pick, perhaps Wilson plays well, then goes elsewhere and signs a deal that gets the Steelers a 2026 comp pick, and Fields goes into 2025 with his feet wet in Arthur Smith’s scheme and still just 26 years old.

That is, of course, all assuming the team can sort out a deal with Fields after inexplicably benching him and potentially reducing his monetary value. This will be a significant story to watch throughout this season and into the offseason.

14. Los Angeles Chargers (3-2) ⇧2

I want to be very clear that I’m not saying this “tough defense and punishing run game” thing won’t work. We’ve seen it work before. But usually that’s what you do when you don’t have someone like Justin Herbert. The Bolts threw a bit more than normal last week, so I’m hoping that starts to trend upwards.

15. Chicago Bears (4-2) ⇧4

Props to Caleb Williams for hanging in there through weeks of apparently some goofy playcalling antics. That had to be frustrating. Even more props to the Bears defense.

Every young QB needs someone or something to offer him time to acclimate to the speed of the NFL game. Sometimes it’s a big TE and route running perfectionist who’s always open, or even a great running game that let’s the QB ease into games. This is why people said before the season that Williams was in a good spot, because he has the TE in Cole Kmet, the route runner in Keenan Allen, and a pretty good running game.

But more importantly for the Bears, Williams has been given the time he needs by Matt Eberflus and his suffocating defense. Every fan and non-fan who called for Eberflus to be fired the past few years should be ashamed.

By the way, this is the worst team in the NFC North. That’s not saying anything about the Bears, who have played really well… what it says is A LOT about the NFC North. The 4 teams in the division are currently the top 4 teams in point differential across the NFL, a combined +221. The next closest is the AFC North at +25. The division has a combined record of 17-5 with just a single division matchup, which means they’re 16-4 against the rest of the league.

I know it’s still very early, but it’s not too early to start talking about the potential of the NFC North to send all 4 teams to the playoffs.

16. Cincinnati Bengals (2-4) ⇧1

Everyone remember the Bengals? The team that never goes away? The team I told you wouldn’t go away? They haven’t gone away.

17. Indianapolis Colts (3-3) ⇧6

If I were the Colts, I’d have Anthony Richardson lingering on the injury report every week and I wouldn’t take him off until absolutely required. I don’t know how legal that is, but whatever. You force another team to spend any amount of time not knowing if they’ll face Richardson or Joe Flacco, and that’s an advantage.

18. Seattle Seahawks (3-3) ⇩5

Run the ball. Run the ball. No, shh… run the ball. Oh, Kenneth Walker had 14 carries for only 32 yards? Then you should’ve given him 15 carries. Or 20, or 30. Run the ball.

19. Dallas Cowboys (3-3) ⇩5

This deserves a compilation.

20. New York Jets (2-4) ⇧4

Even in a loss, reuniting Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams is worth a bump. 2-4 is not a bad enough record to pretend they’re out of anything, and Adams is still elite. Garrett Wilson is about to be a lot more open and Allen Lazard is about to disappear.

Also, don’t be surprised if all this trade talk about Haason Reddick turns into him signing a 1-year salary bump and playing out the season with the Jets, making a great defense even better.

There’s a lot of talk about him going to the Lions or other teams with a need for an edge rusher, but it’s important to note that the trade structure that brought him to the Jets came with a poison pill. If the Jets trade Reddick to an NFC team, they have to send a 2nd round pick to the Eagles. Which means any team trading for him would likely need to offer at least a 1st, as well as having a contract extension ready for him. Frankly, I just don’t see it happening.

21. Denver Broncos (3-3) ⇩1

I’ll give Bo Nix as many chances as Sean Payton gives him. But I still think Payton’s offense is aged and Nix needs time.

22. New Orleans Saints (2-4) ⇩4

Remember when the Saints scored 91 points in the first 2 games and started 2-0? They’ve scored 76 points in the 4 games since while going 0-4.

23. New York Giants (2-4) ⇩2

What is happening in the NYG training room? Have they changed trainers over the past 5 years? Cause I swear, every important player is always missing chunks of time. Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley were once an injury punchline. Malik Nabers has been out for a few weeks, and now Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns aren’t practicing.

This is like the Ravens when they would start every year optimistic and then lost their entire offense in preseason. I really hope I’m wrong, cause if not, these players need to speak up. Blink twice or something.

24. Arizona Cardinals (2-4) ⇩2

There’s the Kyler Murray inconsistency I thought might be lingering. He can light you up one week and disappear the next with the best of them.

25. Miami Dolphins (2-3) ⇧2

No game. A much-needed bye week hopefully brought some clarity. We’ll talk again when Tua Tagovailoa has a firm return date and the QB position isn’t a literal spinning carousel. Yes, I know that’s not what literal means. No, I won’t change it.

26. Vegas Raiders (2-4) ⇩1

Trading Davante Adams is giving up, right? Feels like it’s giving up. I think they’re giving up. Which means they’re about to get all angry and go on a run and just barely miss the playoffs.

27. Los Angeles Rams (1-4) ⇩1

No game.

28. New England Patriots (1-5) ⇔

Drake Maye showed flashes and showed mistakes, as rookies do. Same happened with Will Levis last season, so I’ll be holding out for a few more performances. And the Jags don’t count. Honestly, anything less than an above average game this week should be considered a disappointment.

29. Tennessee Titans (1-4) ⇔

No game. Oh, wait, they did play? Right. Levis threw for 95 whole yards. I’m not kidding, someone start slipping him some mayo in the gatorade bucket.

30. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5) ⇔

I don’t know how long Doug Pederson has, but it can’t be long, and that’s really sad to me. I still hope they grind it out for the season and see if the team can turn it around and offer hope, or at least keep stinking and get a good draft pick. But last week was another thumping, and now they’re about to go up against another struggling team. If they return to the States with 2 London losses, even the royal we may not forgive them.

31. Carolina Panthers (1-5) ⇔

Every week is another week closer to starting over next season. Keep trucking, Chuba Hubbard.

32. Cleveland Browns (1-5) ⇔

Gross.