Week six of the NFL season has come and gone, and with over a third of the season already behind us, it’s flying by rapidly. As an NFL fan, that’s a little worrying, but it also means we just have to savour every weekend slate.

To help with that, we’re bringing you our sixth review of the season, diving into some of the best performances across the greatest league on earth.

Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Week

Offensive – Jaxon Dart | Quarterback | New York Giants

Head coach Brian Daboll is fighting for his job and pulled the biggest possible lever he could by starting rookie signal caller Jaxon Dart out of Ole Miss. It has seemingly paid off, with the team going 2-1 since his introduction, and a swagger has been adopted since Dart became the guy. On Thursday night against Super Bowl champions and division rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles, Dart put all of his skillset on display, going 17 of 25 for 195 yards and a touchdown through the air.

To add to his passing attack, Dart was also a threat on the ground, rushing for over 50 yards and another touchdown, which was one of the defining factors of the game.

His ability to galvanise a professional team has already been shown, with himself and fellow rookie Cam Skattebo seemingly becoming the heartbeat of a franchise and city that had flatlined for multiple years. Will Dart carry this on? I’m not sure, but while he’s playing this way, sit back and enjoy the ride because the passion and moxie he’s showing is a breath of fresh air.

Honorable Mentions: Cam Ward and Cam Skattebo

Defensive – Derrick Harmon | Defensive Back | Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers rookie was feared to miss a good chunk of the season after a pre-season knee injury. However, after missing only two games, the Oregon product’s presence in the starting line-up has been massive.

To begin with, he has been a disruptive pass rusher. Against the Browns, he generated four pressures and secured one or two sacks, depending on which website you go off. He was constantly in the face of Dillon Gabriel, who was under duress all day from the entire Steelers front.

What has also been huge from Harmon is his ability to eat blocks in the run game, allowing others around him to make plays. This weekend against the Browns, Harmon was once again very stout against a rushing attack that, behind rookie Quinshon Judkins, had been pretty solid. Thanks to Harmon and his teammates, they were able to stifle that run game.

Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week

Offensive – Bijan Robinson | Running Back | Atlanta Falcons

In my books, Bijan is the best running back in the league, and it really isn’t close. That might sound crazy with players like Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry still toting the rock and destined for the Hall of Fame. However, the way Bijan leaves defenders shaking in their boots with his elite contact balance, agility, and explosiveness sets him apart.

This week on Monday Night Football, he was the best player in the stadium, even with Josh Allen on the other sideline. He racked up 238 total yards and a touchdown on the ground, which came on an 81-yarder that was the longest of his career.

He was simply absurd this weekend, putting the entire team on his back and forcing eight missed tackles, averaging eight yards after contact per attempt. While he certainly got help from his offensive line, who were dominating parts of the Bills’ defensive front, the way Bijan used his leverage and set up blocks showed he truly is a once-in-a-generation athlete and talent.

Defensive – Nick Herbig | Edge Rusher | Pittsburgh Steelers

If you told me that on a defence featuring T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, Alex Highsmith and Jalen Ramsey, Nick Herbig would arguably be the best player on the team through six weeks, I would have been stunned. However, with the added opportunity he’s been given, that’s quickly becoming the case.

Based on his size and arm length, many doubted Herbig. But thanks to his freakish athletic twitch, he has become the best pure pass rusher on the team. This weekend, he showed that again with six pressures, two sacks and two stops in the run game, earning a 94.8 PFF defensive grade.

What also makes Herbig such an elite player is his ability to drop off the line and play legitimate zone coverage in the flat. This was on display against Dillon Gabriel, when he tipped a pass in the flat and nearly came away with what would have been his second interception of the season.

With Alex Highsmith coming back from injury, the prospect of having three elite pass rushers makes the Steelers one of the scariest matchups for any offensive unit coming to town.

Highlight Of The Week | Justin Herbert to Ladd McConkey

A new segment in this series is the Highlight Play of the Week, and wow, there were some serious contenders. However, taking the situation and context into account, the one that stands out the most to me was the 42-yard pass from Justin Herbert to Ladd McConkey that saved the Chargers from an embarrassing loss to the Miami Dolphins.

Down by two with 34 seconds left on the clock, the Chargers needed to go 25 to 30 yards to get into field goal range for Cameron Dicker. On the snap, the Dolphins came flying off the left edge and got a clean shot to bring down Justin Herbert. The Chargers signal caller shrugged off the edge rusher, and with another Dolphin wrapped around his ankle, got a quick pass off to Ladd McConkey.

The sophomore wideout stopped on a dime and flew past the Dolphins defensive back. McConkey then found some space and scampered down the sideline. With the help of a couple of blockers, he made his way inside the Dolphins’ 20-yard line and got out of bounds to stop the clock.

From there, Cameron Dicker stepped up and slotted the game-winning field goal to secure a 4–2 record for the season.