NFL Week 5 formidable predictions: Cowboys shred 49ers; Zach Wilson and Josh Jacobs notch career firsts

Maybe I turned into blinded by means of what I noticed final Sunday night, but Zach Wilson seems to be turning a nook. The much-maligned Jets quarterback were given the ball out speedy and moved the offense against the Chiefs. This week, he gets to stand a Broncos protection that hasn’t been capable of forestall an awful lot of something. Armed with a brand new self assurance -- and possibly a higher information of the offense -- I count on Wilson to hit new career heights by means of throwing three touchdown passes for the primary time as a pro.

My bold prediction hinges at the status of Cooper Kupp, who back to exercise this week after lacking the primary four games with a hamstring damage. If Kupp makes his 2023 debut on Sunday -- and NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport says the veteran wideout have to be correct to go -- rookie Puka Nacua will still lead the Los Angeles Rams in receptions and receiving yards, recording his fourth 100-backyard game of the season. If Kupp doesn’t play, the Eagles’ defense will preserve Nacua to fewer than 5 catches for the primary time this season.

After speeding 340 instances closing season (2d-maximum in the league, at the back of simplest Derrick Henry), Josh Jacobs is now pacing all walking backs with 25 objectives getting into Week five. Only 28 percentage of his fable points came from receiving in 2022, but sixty one percent of his fable factors have come thru the skip this season. Despite being centered 225 times in his career, the Raiders’ fifth-12 months returned still has zero receiving touchdowns -- the most objectives with out a rating given that targets have become a stat in 1992. With Green Bay allowing the third-maximum receptions to going for walks backs this season, Jacobs logs his first ever TD clutch on Monday night time.

I’ve got a fever. And the simplest prescription is ... Extra long touchdowns! After we saw just two TD runs of 50-plus yards in the first month of the season, Week five will give us four -- which will be the most in per week considering that 2019 (also in Week five). Oh, I’m not completed. The gamers to do it? Travis Etienne (in opposition to the Bills in London), De’Von Achane (towards the Giants ... Is this even formidable?), Breece Hall (against the Denver Swiss Cheese ... I suggest Broncos) and Josh Jacobs (towards the Packers). Get them into your myth lineups.

Rashee Rice is getting greater playing time and led Chiefs huge receivers with 5 targets in opposition to the Jets. Now he receives a Vikings group that has allowed the third-maximum yards to receivers. A Kansas City wideout is bound to step up soon to come to be the playmaker Patrick Mahomes has been looking for, and I agree with it will likely be Rice. The rookie breaks out with one hundred fifty receiving yards and two touchdowns to steer myth waiver wire columns everywhere subsequent week.

We’re in for a treat Sunday night time with a exceedingly expected matchup among the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers. There are such a lot of eventualities that could shake out between those two talented groups, however I’m going to say this: The Dak Prescott-led Cowboys take it to the Nick Bosa-led 49ers and rack up an remarkable 500 yards and 30 factors in a road win.

Full NFL Week five time table

Thursday, October 5

Chicago Bears 40, Washington Commanders 20

Sunday, October 8

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Buffalo Bills in London (9:30 a.m. ET on NFL Network/NFL+)

Houston Texans at Atlanta Falcons (1 p.m. ET on FOX)

Carolina Panthers at Detroit Lions (1 p.m. ET on FOX)

Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts (1 p.m. ET on CBS)

New York Giants at Miami Dolphins (1 p.m. ET on FOX)

New Orleans Saints at New England Patriots (1 p.m. ET on CBS)

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers (1 p.m. ET on CBS)

Cincinnati Bengals at Arizona Cardinals (4:05 p.m. ET on FOX)

Philadelphia Eagles at Los Angeles Rams (4:05 p.m. ET on FOX)

New York Jets at Denver Broncos (4:25 p.m. ET on CBS)

Kansas City Chiefs at Minnesota Vikings (4:25 p.m. ET on CBS)

Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers (8:20 p.m. ET on NBC/Telemundo/NFL+)

Monday, October 9

Green Bay Packers at Las Vegas Raiders (8:15 p.M. ET on ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN Deportes/NFL+)