Published October 20, 2026 09:11 AM
1. 49ers (last week No. 1; 6-0): Kyle Shanahan is having his best year yet.
2. Chiefs (No. 2; 5-0): Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III is the NFL MVP so far.
3. Bills (No. 4; 5-1): The defense still needs plenty of work.
4. Jaguars (No. 3; 4-2): They’re finally getting a return on the Travis Hunter investment.
5. Vikings (No. 6; 5-0): Some tough games are coming.
6. Broncos (No. 7; 4-2): They’ll go as far as the offense can take them.
7. Seahawks (No. 5; 3-3): They should’ve kept Kenneth Walker III.
8. Patriots (No. 9; 4-2): The injuries are piling up before a short-week trip to Chicago.
9. Packers (No. 11; 4-2): They’re getting Josh Jacobs back at a perfect time.
10. Bears (No. 15; 4-2): A franchise quarterback makes all the difference.
11. Browns (No. 12 (tie); 4-2): Szmyt happens, in the bad way before the good way.
12. Ravens (No. 8; 4-2): They need Lamar Jackson back in the lineup.
13. Steelers (No. 12 (tie); 4-2): Time to get Le Torchon Terrible ready.
14. Bengals (No. 12 (tie); 3-2): They need to start stacking some wins.
15. Panthers (No. 18; 3-2): Two years after being benched, Bryce Young is earning a big contract.
16. Raiders (No. 16; 3-3): Can the most popular team in L.A. send the Rams into a deeper hole?
17. Rams (No. 10; 2-4): The 13th overall pick should’ve been used on a receiver.
18. Lions (No. 21; 3-2): The next two games (Packers, Vikings) could shape the season.
19. Texans (No. 24; 2-4): They’re in the same position they were in a year ago, but with a better record in the division.
20. Saints (No. 25; 2-4): The Gayle Benson bounce is real.
21. Giants (No. 17; 3-2-1): J.J. McCarthy time is coming.
22. Cardinals (No. 29; 2-4): Maybe they should move to L.A.
23. Cowboys (No. 20; 2-4): Cheap does as cheap is.
24. Falcons (No. 22; 2-4): They should change their name to the Vampires.
25. Eagles (No. 19; 2-4): The questions about the handling of Jalen Hurts won’t be going away, no matter how badly they want them to.
26. Titans (No. 31; 1-5): Can they build on their unlikely win in Indy?
27. Colts (No. 23; 2-4): Is a fire sale coming?
28. Jets (No. 26; 2-4): With the Dolphins coming to town, Sunday becomes a must-win game.
29. Buccaneers (No. 27; 1-5): If they’d known what Jalon Daniels can do, would they have extended Baker Mayfield?
30. Commanders (No. 28; 1-4-1): Dan Quinn’s time is up. And the end result likely won’t be a tie.
31. Dolphins (No. 32; 0-5): “Thank you, Mike McDaniel.”
32. Chargers (No. 30; 0-6): Has any team ever failed so badly to live up to their preseason expectations?