Category: Power Rankings

Buccaneers move up one spot in latest USA TODAY NFL Power Rankings

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ big win over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 12 moved them up one spot in the latest USA TODAY NFL Power Rankings.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers pulled off the upset in Week 12 by taking down the Atlanta Falcons on the road.

The Falcons were coming off two-straight wins against division foes — the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers, respectively — and had outscored their opponents 55-12 in those wins.

But, the Buccaneers managed to find a way to carve up a revamped Falcons defense, and one of the ways they did that was with a bit of trickery. Nose tackle and human behemoth Vita Vea caught his first career touchdown pass from Jameis Winston in the 35-22 win, and as the Buccaneers moved up one spot this week in the latest USA TODAY Power Rankings, the question was asked, why hasn’t Vea been utilized more on offense?

 “The real question, given Bucs’ 20th-ranked ground game, is why hasn’t high school RB Vita Vea been in backfield far more often in 2019?”

Vea and the Buccaneers take to the road again in Week 13, this time staying in-state to take on the 4-7 Jacksonville Jaguars, who are still looking for their first win with quarterback Nick Foles under center.

Surprisingly, the Jags, who were humiliated Sunday by the Tennessee Titans and fell to No. 25 in the power rankings, are favorites over the Bucs at home.

Some extra motivation for Tampa Bay, perhaps?

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Seahawks inch up to No. 4 in Touchdown Wire’s Week 13 power rankings

The Seahawks continue their climb in the NFL power rankings after beating the Eagles to advance to 9-2 on the season and 6-0 on the road.

The Seahawks continue their climb in the NFL power rankings after beating the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday to advance to 9-2 on the season and a perfect 6-0 road record.

Seattle has jumped up two spots to land at No. 4 in Touchdown Wire’s Week 13 rankings.

“The Seahawks’ win over the Eagles on Sunday resembled the Legion of Boom days more than most anything Russell Wilson has accomplished this season,” writes Doug Farrar. “Though he did connect with receiver Malik Turner on a ridiculous 33-yard flea-flicker touchdown, Wilson was uncharacteristically shut down by Philly’s normally vulnerable secondary, completing 13 of 25 passes for 200 yards, that one touchdown, and his third interception of the year.”

“It was Seattle’s defense, with its ability to harass Carson Wentz and shut down the Eagles’ limited receivers, who really defined this game – even without the injured Jadeveon Clowney,” Farrar continues. “Also, 2018 first-round pick (and near-bust based on overall performance) Rashaad Penny gained a career-high 128 yards on the ground. Another unusual wrinkle: The team known for the most prominent home-field advantage in the NFL is one of two remaining undefeated road teams, and the Seahawks’ 6-0 away record beats San Francisco’s by one game.”

The Seahawks are next set to square off against the Vikings in primetime in an NFC matchup that can’t be missed.

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Week 13 EPA Power Rankings: Cowboys remain division favorites

Advanced stats love the Cowboys offense, but it’s not enough to keep them in the top tier of the NFL heading into Week 13

The Cowboys attempt to slay the behemoth that is the 2019 New England Patriots defense was denied by miserable weather, but they’re still hanging around the top teams in the league in many advanced statistical categories.

Even after a dismal 9-point day in Foxborough, the offense remains better than every team not named the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL by most expected points models.

Expected Points, the foundation of many analytical arguments, uses data from previous NFL seasons to determine how many points a team is likely to come away with on a given play based on down, distance, time remaining, and field position. The difference in expected points at the start of a play and expected points at the end is referred to as expected points added, or EPA.

A play with a positive EPA means it put the offense in a better position to score, while negative EPA implies the offense is in a worse position.

This week, the power ranks look a bit different than previous iterations because this time they include opponent adjustments.  We all know the Patriots have an elite defense, but it’s worth factoring in the fact that they’ve played one of the easiest schedules in the NFL up to this point in the season.  When we factor these in, a new AFC team takes over the top spot, while another gets nothing but a precipitous fall.

For the first time since Week 2, New England falls out of the number one spot, in both raw EPA rank and opponent adjusted rank.  If you squint hard enough (and ignore San Francisco and Baltimore’s huge days) you can see it as a consolation prize for the Cowboys.  At least they knocked the top team down a peg.

The Ravens, the analytical darlings of the NFL, have taken over as the best team in the league by EPA.  They’ve now defeated the two reigning conference champions by a combined score of 82-26.  If you’ve watched any of their past five games, you don’t need more advanced stats to tell you how good they are.  Just know that the stats do back it up.

The Chiefs leap-frogged over Dallas and Minnesota after applying opponent adjustments.  Their four losses have all come against teams ranked in the top half of the league by adjusted EPA differential.  Patrick Mahomes and the passing offense that lit the world on fire in 2018 has shown very little regression and still ranks third in the NFL behind Baltimore and Dallas.

If we exclude scrambles, the best passing offense in the league by total EPA is the Dallas Cowboys.  No player in football has put his team in better position to score this season than Dak Prescott.  Even after a poor game in even poorer weather, Prescott and the Cowboys remain an elite passing attack in 2019.

The biggest loser in these new and improved ranks is the Buffalo Bills.  The Bills, ranked 10th last week by raw EPA differential, fell all the way to 22nd this week with opponent adjustments added.  They would have been 26th had they not come away with a double-digit victory over Denver.  While Buffalo still holds an 8-3 record and a two game lead in the wild card race, they’re not yet a shoe-in for the playoffs.  After the Thanksgiving game against Dallas, they’ll face Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and New England, the toughest four game stretch of their season by far.

The teams with the biggest bumps in EPA differential by adding opponent adjustments are the Arizona Cardinals and the Cleveland Browns.  The Cardinals two tight games against San Francisco were undoubtedly helpful, while the Browns got a big boost from beating the Ravens.

Let’s dig a bit deeper into how offenses are faring after Week 12 by splitting their total EPA into passing and rushing EPA.

 

Arizona sticks out as the second best rushing team by EPA, but don’t let it get lost that this team is also above average in the passing game, if only just barely.  On the other side, the Steelers jump out as one of the worst offenses in the NFL in both passing and rushing.  That Pittsburgh defense deserves a ton of credit for keeping their mediocre offense in the playoff hunt.

Baltimore is playing another sport (QB scrambles are included in dropback EPA here), but Dallas comes real close to catching their passing production while also maintaining above average rushing success.  They may only have a one-game lead in the division, but the reason they are still heavily favored (65% vs Philadelphia’s 35% chances to win NFC East) is quite visible here.  They’re the class of the NFC East.

The Cowboys will look to prove that they belong in the discussion of NFC contenders against the perhaps overrated, yet still 8-3 Bills on  Thursday.  Philadelphia gets the first of an extremely soft final five games when they head to Miami on Sunday, making a Dallas win all the more important in this close divisional race.

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Rookie Wire Power Rankings: Ja Morant continues reign on top in Week 4

Rookie Wire took a look at the top rookies through the fourth week of the 2019-20 NBA season.

As the NBA heads into a new week, the rookie class appears to be settling into the 2019-20 season.

The players that have performed well to this point are continuing to make a splash and others are beginning to rise up the ranks onto the mainstream radar after some strong recent outings.

Rookie Wire will compile the rankings of the five best players each week based on how they performed on the court. The rankings are not for Rookie of the Year purposes but, rather, to illustrate the top-performing players week to week.

Here are the Rookie Wire Power Rankings for Week 4:

Week 1 Power Rankings | Week 2 Power Rankings | Week 3 Power Rankings

All stats are through games played on Nov. 19

5. R.J. Barrett, Knicks

Stats: 15.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.3 steals

Rank Last Week: 4

While questions still linger about his workload, Barrett continues to go out and perform for the Knicks. As discussed on a recent episode of The HoopsHype Podcast with Alex Kennedy, the Knicks would like to prioritize Barrett seeing heavy minutes in order to work through his mistakes on the court to grow as a player. Barrett has shown that he isn’t afraid of the moment playing in New York and is showing maturity at his age. His efficiency has improved some after shooting 42.9% from 3-point range over his last three games and, suddenly, the Knicks have won two of three and could be on the verge of turning the corner.

4. Brandon Clarke, Grizzlies

Stats: 12.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.2 blocks

Rank Last Week: 5

Clarke continues to impress for the Grizzlies. The 21st overall pick has scored in double figures in seven straight games and is shooting 61.9% from the floor this season. As mentioned last week, Clarke is staying within his game, isn’t forcing things and is taking the shots he is comfortable with: Floaters, mid-range, layups, etc. With Ja Morant handling the bulk of the ball-handling duties, Clarke doesn’t need to be ultra-aggressive, which allows him to play his game. He is shooting 44.4% (8-of-18) from 3-point range and has been highly effective on offense.

3. Eric Paschall, Warriors

Stats: 16.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists

Rank Last Week: 3

If you had second-round pick Eric Paschall as the first rookie this season to record multiple 30-point games, give yourself a pat on the back because Paschall recently accomplished that feat on Sunday. He recorded 30 points for the Warriors in a loss to the Pelicans and previously had a career-high 34 earlier in the month. Paschall is now second among rookies in total points scored this season, trailing only Ja Morant. While the Warriors have certainly struggled this season, and could be on the verge of missing the playoffs, Paschall has emerged as a bright spot in an otherwise down season.

2. Kendrick Nunn, Heat

Stats: 17.8 points, 3.2 assists, 2.5 rebounds, 1.6 steals

Rank Last Week: 2

Kendrick Nunn has been an absolute revelation this season for the Heat and is a huge reason why they are third in the Eastern Conference. Nunn was recently nominated for the NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week award, the second time he has been a finalist, after scoring at least 20 points in three straight games. He is second among all rookies in scoring average and first in field goals made and 3-pointers made. Nunn is on pace to shatter a number of Heat franchise rookie records and doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon.

1. Ja Morant, Grizzlies

Stats: 18.5 points, 6 assists, 3.2 rebounds

Rank Last Week: 1

Ja Morant continues his reign atop the Power Rankings for the third straight week. The Grizzlies guard is first in scoring among all rookies and is averaging 20.3 points over his last four games. He has proven to be a player the Grizzlies can trust in late-game situations as evident by his game-winner on Nov. 13 against the Charlotte Hornets. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr compared him to Allen Iverson given his size and toughness and it is easy to see the similarities between the two. While the Grizzlies may not be a playoff team this season, Morant has them as a must-watch team on League Pass.

Honorable Mention:

Coby White, Bulls: 13.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists

The Bulls rookie has that boom-or-bust potential that daily fantasy users know about all too well. White recently became the first rookie in NBA history to hit at least six 3-pointers in consecutive games but followed that up with a seven-point effort on Saturday. White will need to work on gaining consistency this season off of the bench but he has proven to have his moments in a small sample size.

Tyler Herro, Heat: 13.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists

An ankle injury limited Herro to just two games over the last week but Herro still put up 14 points per game in those outings. Herro has proven to be a solid scoring option off of the bench that can seemingly get hot at any moment. He ranks fifth in scoring among all rookies in the early going this season.

Rui Hachimura, Wizards: 13.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists

Hachimura had a bit of a quiet week after managing just 14 points in his last two games after scoring 21 on Nov. 13 against the Boston Celtics. He remains a work in progress on defense but has looked to be a better scorer and shooter than he was in college last season. Though he may not be among the best rookies yet, he has had a solid start to his career.

On the Rise:

Cameron Johnson, Suns: 9.1 points, 3.2 rebounds

Suns head coach Monty Williams recently shortened his rotation, paving the way for more playing time for Johnson. He is up to 11th in scoring among rookies and his 40.4% shooting from 3-point range is seventh among first-year players that have at least eight appearances this season.

Terence Davis, Raptors: 5 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists

While his overall numbers don’t jump off of the page, he is averaging 8.5 points per game and shooting 50% from 3-point range over his last six games as he sees more time on the court.

Shout Out:

Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Pelicans: 7.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists

Alexander-Walker recently had a two-game stretch in which he tallied 46 total points but followed that up with a three-point outing on Tuesday night. His playing time has been sporadic so it has likely been a bit tough to settle in but he has shown flashes recently.

Daniel Gafford, Bulls: 21 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks

With an injury to Luke Kornet, the second-round pick stepped up in his first extended look of the season, recording a team-high 21 points on Monday night. If he can continue seeing consistent playing time, Gafford could be a name to look out for this season.

Dropped Out:

P.J. Washington, Hornets

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Jags drop to No. 22 spot in USA TODAY power rankings

The Jags took another drop in USA Today’s power rankings after Week 11’s loss to the Colts, however, the fall was minimal.

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The Jacksonville Jaguars were pummeled by the Indianapolis Colts this past Sunday and their playoff chances declined drastically as a result. They also took a small slide down USA TODAY’s power rankings, coming in at the No. 22 spot after previously being ranked No. 20.

22. Jaguars (20): Focus has been on quarterback transition, but what about a defense burned for nearly 60 points and 800 yards over its past two appearances?

Our comrade Nate Davis is right, while Nick Foles’ day was unimpressive outside of the first quarter Sunday, the Jags’ defense gave up an embarrassing total of 264 rushing yards on the day. Colts running back Marlon Mack had a solid day, rushing fo 109 yards and a touchdown before sustaining a hand injury and having to leave the game. To make matters worse, the Colts’ No. 2 tailback, Johnathan Williams, had an even better day, accumulating a career-high of 116 yards on 13 carries.

The Jags’ struggles on defense Sunday weren’t exactly surprising because they’ve been one of the worse teams in football when it comes to stopping the run under Todd Wash in 2019. Previously, they were gashed by the Carolina Panthers and the Houston Texans in London.

As for Foles, he was 33-of-47 for just under 300 yards and a pick in his return. He had some solid moments to open the game but was clearly pressing afterward. He had several moments where he was throwing in double coverage but thankfully the Colts weren’t able to cash in on those opportunities. He’ll need to have a better day Sunday as the Titans have been very opportunistic against the Jags in the past.

Seahawks stand at No. 6 in Touchdown Wire’s Week 12 power rankings

Despite having a bye week, the Seattle Seahawks remain at No. 6 in Touchdown Wire’s Week 12 NFL power rankings.

Coming off their bye, the Seattle Seahawks remain in the top 10 of Touchdown Wire’s NFL power rankings. For the second week in a row, Seattle lands at No. 6 heading into Week 12.

Here’s what Doug Farrar wrote:

We’re going to give opposing defenses a little tip here: DO NOT apply man coverage when you’re playing the Seahawks. Just don’t do it. Through the first 10 weeks of the season, per Sports Info Solutions, Russell Wilson completed 79 of 136 passes for 1,022 yards, 14 touchdowns and one interception against any iteration of man coverage. No other quarterback had more than nine touchdowns against man. Rookie receiver DK Metcalf is one of four receivers (Amari Cooper, Mike Evans and Marvin Jones are the others) with five touchdown receptions against man coverage, and Tyler Lockett has four more.

Schematically, this is where we hope for a re-run of Super Bowl XLIX, because the Patriots are by far the NFL’s best man-coverage team, with 10 interceptions and just one touchdown allowed in Cover-0, Cover-1 or 2-Man. Anyone else needs to zone up, because Wilson, one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks in a crowded MVP race, will demolish you if you decide to track his receivers too closely.

But before the Seahawks can eye the Super Bowl or even the playoffs, they must get past the Eagles in Philadelphia this Sunday. Don’t forget, the game has been flexed out of prime time, with kickoff now set for 10 a.m. PT.

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Latest USA TODAY NFL Power Rankings defends Jameis Winston’s poor play

See what Nate Davis of USA TODAY had to say about Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston in the latest NFL Power Rankings.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are just 3-7 and once again on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoff picture.

After losing 34-17 to the New Orleans Saints in Week 11, the Bucs must head back out on the road for a divisional showdown with the suddenly red-hot Atlanta Falcons.

Atlanta is also just 3-7, but they’ve pulled off major road upsets the past two weeks, first against the Saints and then the Carolina Panthers.

Heading into Sunday’s Week 12, matchup, all eyes will be on Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston, who had four interceptions in the loss to the Saints, bringing his season total to an NFL-high 18.

But, in the latest USA TODAY NFL Power Rankings, which saw the Bucs drop from 22 to 24 this week, Winston finds a defender in writer Nate Davis, who had this to say about the Bucs QB:

“Easy to rip Jameis Winston and his NFL-high 18 INTs. But no QB has been sacked more or must overcome defense that allows more points.”

The Bucs defensive secondary has been atrocious this year, but Winston needs to do a better job of protecting the ball and making the right decisions.

Let’s see how he does against the Falcons.

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Week 12 Power Rankings: Can Cowboys catch Ravens for best EPA offense in league?

Philadelphia falls in both rank and playoff hopes

The Baltimore Ravens took an even stronger hold on the title of “NFL’s best offense” heading into Week 12, so the Dallas Cowboys will just have to settle for being the second-best offense in the league.  Neither team moved around in this week’s EPA power rankings, but the same cannot be said for nearly every team behind them.

Expected Points, the foundation of many analytical arguments, uses data from previous NFL seasons to determine how many points a team is likely to come away with on a given play based on down, distance, time remaining, and field position. The difference in expected points at the start of a play and expected points at the end is referred to as expected points added, or EPA.

A play with a positive EPA means it put the offense in a better position to score, while negative EPA implies the offense is in a worse position.

The Ravens took a major leap forward and are now within striking distance of San Francisco and New England.  It’s been a two-team race at the top all season but Baltimore could conceivably catch San Francisco next week.

Dallas is in a tier of their own at this point, not quite with those top teams but with a strong lead above No. 4 Minnesota.

Houston fell down three spots this week, but still maintains a top five offense despite just a 7-point showing on Sunday.  This might be a good time to remind the reader that these EPA numbers are not opponent-adjusted, so don’t hold it against the Texans for getting beat up on by the fast-climbing Ravens.

The Eagles fell three spots this week and dropped below the Cowboys in the race for the division.  Dallas now has a 62% chance to win the NFC East, per FiveThirtyEight.  Philadelphia isn’t out of the race yet, however, as their next three games are against opponents ranked 32, 29, and 30 by EPA differential.

Atlanta jumped up the most this Week, now back inside the top third of the league by EPA differential.  Just three weeks ago, Atlanta had the worst defense by total EPA allowed in the NFL.  Yes, even below Miami.  Since Week 8, however, they’ve had the third-best defense in the NFL.  They might be playing just well enough to let Dan Quinn keep his job another year.

Speaking of defense, let’s take a look at how teams fare against the pass versus the run.

We can really see that where the Patriots and 49ers have separated themselves from the pack is with their passing defense.  After that we’ve got the Bills, Ravens, and ̶M̶i̶n̶k̶a̶h̶ ̶F̶i̶t̶z̶p̶a̶t̶r̶i̶c̶k̶ the Steelers.  Teams in the bottom left quadrant are lacking the most on the defensive side of the ball, falling below average in both pass and rush EPA allowed.  This is what could really come back to bite the Raiders in their hunt for a wild card spot.

On the other side of the ball, Baltimore’s run game appears to be everything it was advertised to be heading into the season.  Simultaneously having one of the league’s best passing attacks is the big surprise for them.

Dallas’ passing offense remains one of the most effective in the league, as Dak Prescott forces his name into the MVP discussion.  Their ground game, while not everything Cowboys fans might be accustomed to, is still above average.

Arizona is showing that the air raid offense can be effective in the NFL, but not in the way we’d imagine.  They’ve brought last year’s offense, one of the worst in recent memory, up to nearly league average in the passing game.  Their rushing game is only being outpaced by Baltimore.  Opening up the box by spreading the field with four and five wide receivers is proving to be a highly underrated and under-utilized tool in creating a strong rushing attack.

Next week brings some important games among the top teams in the NFL.  The Packers head to San Francisco in what is likely a battle for a playoff bye.  Meanwhile the Cowboys attempt to do what the Eagles could not and take down the Patriots.  In addition to the confidence in beating one of the best teams in the league, this would also give Dallas some breathing room atop the NFC East.

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Rookie Wire Power Rankings: Ja Morant stays on top for Week 3

Rookie Wire took a look at the top rookies through the third week of the 2019-20 NBA season.

With three weeks officially in the books, it appears as though players are beginning to feel the rigors of the NBA season. More guys are getting banged up each week and some have missed time as a result.

When it comes to the rookie class so far, some players are starting to heat up while others are regressing after a hot start to open up the year. The fascinating part about this crop of first-year players, though, is there have been some players emerge seemingly out of nowhere to gain notoriety and perform well in the early going.

Rookie Wire will compile the rankings of the five best players each week based on how they performed on the court. The rankings are not for Rookie of the Year purposes but, rather, to illustrate the top-performing players week to week.

Here are the Rookie Wire Power Rankings for Week 3:

Week 1 Power Rankings | Week 2 Power Rankings

All stats are through games played on Nov. 12

5. Brandon Clarke, Grizzlies

Stats: 11.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 1 assist

Rank Last Week: N/A

While Brandon Clarke is still just ninth among rookies in scoring, the 21st overall pick has really emerged over the past week or so. He is averaging 15 points and six rebounds over his last three games and is shooting a blistering 69.2% from the field. In fact, his 60% field-goal percentage on the season ranks fifth in the NBA among all players. He went a perfect 7-of-7 from the field on Nov. 6 for 18 points and shot 6-of-7 two games later on Monday for 14 points. Clarke is taking shots he is most comfortable with and is rarely forcing things. He may not shoot 60% all season long but if he continues taking good shots and doesn’t it, he should have a strong first year with the Grizzlies.

4. R.J. Barrett, Knicks

Stats: 16 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.4 steals

Rank Last Week: 2

Prior to recording 21 points on Tuesday night, R.J. Barrett had struggled over his previous two games, recording just 12 combined points on just 25% (5-of-20) shooting from the field. His workload remains astronomical this season with the Knicks and doesn’t appear to be slowing down, at least as long as David Fizdale is running the show. Barrett started off the season strong but has since struggled with his efficiency from all over the court — the mid-range, 3-pointers and at the rim. Given his workload and role in the offense as the main option, Barrett could see his inconsistent play continue until he breaks out of his slump but it shouldn’t take away from the fact that he has been an exciting player to watch this season.

Exhibit A:

3. Eric Paschall, Warriors

Stats: 15.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists

Rank Last Week: 4

As the Warriors continue to struggle, Eric Paschall has been among the few bright spots thus far this season. After dealing with so many injuries, 11 players have missed at least one game this season, the Warriors have been forced to rely on Paschall. He has responded by averaging 15.6 points per game, good for fourth among rookies. He was forced to miss a game recently due to a hip injury but he returned on Monday to score eight points and six rebounds in a losing effort. Touted as a player that could contribute now, Paschall has shown that he has the potential to go off during games as evident by his career-high 34-point performance on Nov. 4. While the Warriors could miss the playoffs this season, the emergence of Paschall has been encouraging for the future.

2. Kendrick Nunn, Heat

Stats: 16.9 points, 2.8 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 1.6 steals

Rank Last Week: 3

The undrafted Kendrick Nunn continues to show that he belongs near the top of the rookie class this year. On Tuesday, Nunn helped the Heat overcome several injuries, including one to rookie teammate Tyler Herro, by scoring 20 points in a 117-108 win over the Detroit Pistons, shooting 4-of-8 from 3-point range. Nunn ranks second in scoring among rookies, just trailing Ja Morant. Nunn had been a bit quiet over his previous five games but bounced back in a big way on Tuesday and continues to be an under-the-radar player on the verge of a strong season.

1. Ja Morant, Grizzlies

Stats: 17.8 points, 5.2 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 1 steal

Rank Last Week: 1

Since erupting for 26 points on Nov. 6, Ja Morant has struggled some over his last two games but the second overall pick has been sensational for the Grizzlies this season. After that game, Morant became the first player since Michael Jordan during the 1984-85 season to average at least 20 points and five assists on 50% shooting through his first seven career games. His numbers have dropped a tad since then but Morant is still first among rookies in scoring and perhaps the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year at this point. Of course, there is still plenty of basketball left to be played but Morant is showing his potential early on this season.

Honorable Mention:

P.J. Washington, Hornets: 13.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.4 steals

While P.J. Washington dropped out from our Week 2 rankings, the 11th overall selection had a solid week for the Hornets and is still sixth in rookie scoring. He still leads the class among qualified players in 3-point shooting at 48.6% and is second in rebounding and third in steals. He is getting it done on both ends of the floor given his versatility and has proven to be fun to watch this season.

Rui Hachimura, Wizards: 13.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists

Rui Hachimura is coming off one of his finest performances of the season after recording 21 points and seven rebounds on Friday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He has battled through consistency issues — he went scoreless in 20 minutes on Nov. 6 — but has shown to have a short memory to bounce back the next night. Still, he has been one of the most entertaining rookies to this point.

Tyler Herro, Heat: 13.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists

The Heat rookie did not play Tuesday due to a sprained ankle but he has had a solid season to this point. Perhaps most impressive is Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra spoke very highly of him recently after saying he has seen improvement from Herro in each game. Herro has also drawn praise from his teammates for his work ethic, something that will only carry Herro in the future.

On the Rise:

Coby White, Bulls: 12.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists

After hitting seven 3-pointers alone in the fourth quarter on Tuesday night, it shouldn’t be a surprise White is on the rise. His burst gave him the highest scoring average among rookies over the past week and he will certainly try to continue that moving forward.

Cameron Johnson, Suns: 7.4 points, 2.8 rebounds

Suns head coach Monty Williams recently shortened his rotation, which has led to more playing time for Johnson. He has scored in double figures in back-to-back games for the first time this season and is coming off of an 11-point performance against the Lakers on Tuesday.

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Jags remain at No. 20 spot of USA TODAY power rankings after Week 10’s games

After their bye week and a crazy Week 10 chain of events for the rest of the league, the Jacksonville Jaguars remained at the No. 20 spot of USA TODAY’s power rankings. However, they have the opportunity to begin trending upwards Week 11 as Nick …

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After their bye week and a crazy Week 10 chain of events for the rest of the league, the Jacksonville Jaguars remained at the No. 20 spot of USA TODAY’s power rankings. However, they have the opportunity to begin trending upwards Week 11 as Nick Foles will be returning to the lineup as the Jags take on their longtime rivals in the Indianapolis Colts.

20. Jaguars (20): Fun fact — over course of his career, Nick Foles’ passer rating improves each successive month … so November/December exactly when you want him.

The Jags’ last game took place against another divisional rival in the Houston Texans, who handily beat the Jags Week 9 and caused them to drop to their current spot. Meanwhile, the Texans jumped to the No. 5 spot as a result of the win in last week’s power rankings but dropped to the No. 8 this week despite being on their bye week.

As for the Indianapolis Colts, they fell from the No. 11 spot to the No. 14 spot as a result to the Miami Dolphins upsetting them Sunday. Lastly, the Tennessee Titans jumped to the No. 18 spot (from No. 24) after upsetting a team, who most viewed as Super Bowl contenders in the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday. That allowed them to leapfrog the Jags and make them the lowest ranked AFC South team of the power rankings.