• If the Texans were going to get back on track offensively, Week 5 was the week to do it: Facing a banged-up Ravens defense, C.J. Stroud threw for 245 yards and four touchdowns, earning his highest PFF grade of the season at 78.9. It also marked the biggest single-week team upgrade we’ve seen so far this year.

• Patriots with a nice upcoming stretch: Last week, we noted that one outlier game in Buffalo stood between the Pats and a much lighter schedule. Well, they pulled off the upset, and now they enter one of the easiest four-game stretches any team will face this season, according to power ratings.

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Every week of the NFL season delivers new market signals, and few tools are sharper than power ratings for cutting through the noise. PFF’s updated ratings don’t just show who’s playing well — they reveal where perception and reality may be drifting apart.

In this article, we highlight the three teams that gained the most ground after last week’s results. We’ll also examine schedule strength over the next four weeks, spotlighting the softest and toughest upcoming slates — a crucial lens for identifying potential overreactions in lines, totals, and futures.

The goal is to give bettors a forward-looking edge on who’s climbing, who’s facing headwinds, and where opportunity may still be hiding.

Top 3 Risers

Houston Texans +2

If the Texans were going to get back on track offensively, Week 5 was the week to do it — and they delivered. Facing a banged-up Ravens defense, C.J. Stroud threw for 245 yards and four touchdowns, earning his highest PFF grade of the season at 78.9. It also marked the biggest single-week team upgrade we’ve seen so far this year.

Washington Commanders +1.3

The Commanders welcomed back quarterback Jayden Daniels, but it was rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt who stole the spotlight, racking up 111 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Most of Washington’s upgrade, however, comes from the defensive side of the ball, as they kept Justin Herbert under constant pressure en route to an outright upset win as road underdogs in Los Angeles.

Daniels will face a tougher test next, with a prime-time showdown against the Bears on Monday Night Football.

New Orleans Saints +1.2

The Saints defense wreaked havoc on rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart in Week 5, powering their way to their first win of the season and the first of Spencer Rattler’s career. They’ll look to carry that momentum into Week 6 as 3.5-point home underdogs against the Patriots.

Hardest Upcoming Schedules

Minnesota Vikings (Avg Opp PR of 4.2)

W6: BYE | W7: PHI (5.4) | W8: @LAC (1.7) | W9: @DET (5.6)

Schedule notes: The bye week comes at the perfect time for the Vikings, giving them a chance to regroup before a brutal stretch of upcoming games. After returning from their two-week trip overseas, they’ll face three straight opponents ranked in the top 10 of PFF’s power ratings. The potential return of J.J. McCarthy from injury adds a much-needed boost.

New York Giants (Avg Opp PR of 3.3)

W6: PHI (5.4) | W7: @DEN (2.1) | W8: @PHI (5.4) | W9: SF (.4)

Schedule notes: A short week against the Eagles on Thursday Night Football gives them extra rest before heading to Denver in Week 7. In Week 9, they’ll host the 49ers, who will be making a cross-country trip for an early kickoff — the second of back-to-back road games for San Francisco.

Kansas City Chiefs (Avg Opp PR of 2.8)

W6: DET (5.6) | W7: LV (-3.6) | W8: WAS (3.2) | W9: @BUF (6.2)

Schedule notes: The only real positive in the Chiefs’ upcoming schedule is that they won’t leave Kansas City for the rest of October, with three straight home games on deck. Their only road trip before the bye is a visit to Orchard Park.

Easiest Upcoming Schedules

New England Patriots (Avg Opp PR of -5.3)

W6: @NO (-7.5) | W7: @TEN (-6.7) | W8: CLV (-6.5) | W9: ATL (-.5)

Schedule notes: This is the second straight week the Patriots top this list. Last week, we noted that one outlier game in Buffalo stood between them and a much lighter schedule. Well, they pulled off the upset, and now they enter one of the easiest four-game stretches any team will face this season, according to power ratings.

Los Angeles Rams (Avg Opp PR of -3.6)

W6: @BLT (-4) | W7: @JAX (.8) | W8: BYE | W9: NO (-7.5)

Schedule notes: It’s important to note that this week’s game against the Ravens assumes Lamar Jackson will be out, which significantly impacts the projection. As a result, the Texans have flipped from the third-hardest stretch last week to the second-easiest this week. They’ll stay on the East Coast before heading overseas to face Jacksonville in London.

Chicago Bears (Avg Opp PR of -3-3)

W6: @WAS (3.2) | W7: NO (-7.5) | W8: @BLT (-4) | W9: @CIN (-4.7)

Schedule notes: Three of the Bears’ next four games will be on the road following their Week 5 bye. While they’ll enjoy a rest advantage this week, that flips in Week 8 when they face a Ravens team coming off its own bye. For this projection, we’re assuming Lamar Jackson will be out; if he returns, the Bears’ average upcoming opponent power rating would shift from -3.3 to -1.25.