FOUR DOWN TERRITORY: top four performers from week six of the NFL season

CINCINNATI — 4. Derrick Henry – RB, Tennessee Titans (20 rush, 143 yds, 3 TD; 2 rec. for 13 yds) It’s amazing how great Henry is. He’s the best running back in football, and it’s not even close. What makes him unique is he single-handedly gives the Titans a chance to win against any team in the league, as he and the Titans did against Buffalo on Monday Night Football in week six. Henry is so good because he can break long runs like his 76-yard touchdown Monday night, but he can also shoulder the load for an excessive amount of carries to move the chains and keep the Titans offense on the field and the opposing offense off of it. That combination might be the key to the Titans upsetting the Chiefs this upcoming Sunday.

3. Derek Carr – QB, Las Vegas Raiders (18/27, 341 yds, 2 TD) Given all the drama that happened in Las Vegas leading up to a crucial road division game last week, Carr’s performance is all the more impressive because of it. The most impressive part of his performance? The fact that he completed passes to eight different receivers despite only completing 18 passes. That shows Carr finally has a deep group of skill players to work with and makes the Raiders offense harder to defend than in recent years.

2. Kirk Cousins – QB, Minnesota Vikings (33/48, 373 yds, 3 TD); Dalvin Cook – RB, Minnesota Vikings (29 rush, 140 yds, TD); Adam Thielen – WR, Minnesota Vikings (11 rec., 126 yds, TD) All three members were instrumental in the Vikings barn-burning win at Carolina in week six. Minnesota may only be 3-3, but they are better than their record shows. Their offense is a top five in the NFL and if their defense is able to complement their offense, this team can compete with Green Bay in the NFC North.

1. Dak Prescott – QB Dallas Cowboys (36/51, 445 yds, 3 TD) Prescott’s resurgent season continued Sunday with him leading the Cowboys to a thrilling overtime win at New England. A game where the Cowboys committed 12 penalties and were just 3-13 on third down and somehow Prescott was able to rally them to a win that confirms they are a legitimate contender in the NFC. That game Sunday is a game in years past the Cowboys would have lost, and Prescott probably wouldn’t have come through when needed. But last Sunday proved that maybe this year is different for Prescott and the Cowboys.