Hogan Makes His CaseHogan Makes His Case
Football

Hogan Makes His Case

Standout Performers

Henry Anderson • DE • Indianapolis Colts • Third season • @HenryAnderson91

Anderson had his best outing of the season in an 18-15 win against San Francisco on Sunday. Earning a 78.5 grade from Pro Football Focus, the fourth highest of any Colt, Anderson accounted for one solo tackle, two run stops, one quarterback hit and three hurries. He also appeared on 51 defensive snaps (71 percent), a season high.

Kevin Hogan • QB • Cleveland Browns • Second Season • @KHoagie8

Head coach Hue Jackson inserted Hogan under center after halftime of Cleveland's 17-14 loss against the New York Jets after rookie DeShone Kizer's struggles continued. Hogan made his case for the starting job, completing 16 of 19 passes for 194 yards (on 34 snaps) with two touchdowns and one interception. Hogan gave the Browns their first lead of the season with a fine 21-yard pass to David Njoku in the third quarter, and finished with an admirable 122.4 passer rating. Jackson's decision on the starter for Week 6 will be made Wednesday, but all indications point toward Hogan getting his first career start.

Blake Martinez • ILB • Green Bay Packers • Second season • @Big__Blake50

Martinez continued his impressive sophomore season with a 12-tackle performance in Green Bay's 35-31 win at Dallas on Sunday. Finishing with five more tackles than any other player, Martinez appeared on 95 percent of the Packers' snaps, adding four run stops and two quarterback hurries to his keep. On the season, Martinez's 37 tackles ranks 19th in the league, and he is Pro Football Focus' sixth-highest graded linebacker (86.3) and top-graded linebacker against the run (92.2). He has 20 run stops through five games after registering 29 as a rookie.

Brennan Scarlett • OLB • Houston Texans • Second season • @BScarlett17

Scarlett's role for 2017 drastically changed during Sunday night's 42-34 loss against Kansas City with season-ending injuries to J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus. With both players going down in the first quarter, Scarlett appeared on 90 percent of the Texans' defensive snaps. He finished the night with four tackles, two of which were solo, one quarterback hit, three hurries, three run stops and one special teams tackle. Look for Scarlett to play heavy snaps for the remainder of the season with Watt and Mercilus suddenly out of the fold.

Richard Sherman • CB • Seattle Seahawks • Seventh season @R_Sherman25

Sherman was nearly perfect in Seattle's 16-10 win at the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, starting and playing every snap. Jared Goff targeted Sherman six times, completing just one pass for 12 yards. Sherman added six solo tackles and two run stops, finishing with a terrific 82.1 grade from Pro Football Focus. On the season, Sherman has allowed nine catches for 88 yards on 22 targets – quarterbacks are completing 41 percent of passes in his direction, a career-low for the seven-year veteran. For his career, Sherman has allowed a 51.1 passer rating on passes thrown his direction, and he has yet to surrender a touchdown in 2017.

Week 5 RoundupJohnson Bademosi • CB/ST • New England Patriots • Sixth season • @J_Bademosi24

Bademosi was used on 59 percent of special teams plays in New England's 19-14 win at Tampa Bay on Thursday. He finished the game with one special teams tackles, and ranks 15th in the league with four on the season.

Doug Baldwin • WR • Seattle Seahawks • Seventh season • @DougBaldwinJr

Baldwin was limited to playing 72 percent of Seattle's offensive snaps in a 16-10 win at the Los Angeles Rams as he continues to be slowed by a groin injury. He was targeted a team-high eight times, catching four passes for 37 yards in the Seahawks' win.

David DeCastro • G • Pittsburgh Steelers • Sixth season

DeCastro started and played every snap of Pittsburgh's 30-9 loss against Jacksonville. He allowed three pressures on an afternoon to forget – entering the day, DeCastro had surrendered three pressures over his first four games.

Zach Ertz • TE • Philadelphia Eagles • Fifth season • @ZErtz_86

Ertz continued his Pro Bowl caliber season with another strong performance in Philadelphia's 34-7 win against Arizona on Sunday. Carson Wentz targeted him 12 times, more than double that of any other Eagle receiver, connecting with the former Stanford All-American on an 11-yard touchdown pass in the opening quarter. Ertz finished with a team-high six catches for 61 yards – he leads all NFL tight ends with 32 catches and 387 yards.

Coby Fleener • TE • New Orleans Saints • Sixth season • @Coby

Bye week.

Cameron Fleming • T • New England Patriots • Fourth season • @CammyJFresh

Fleming appeared on one offensive snap and five special teams plays (17 percent) in New England's 19-14 win at Tampa Bay on Thursday.

Ryan Hewitt • TE/FB • Cincinnati Bengals • Fourth season @Huey_85

Hewitt was inactive for Cincinnati's 20-16 win against Buffalo on Sunday, sitting out with a knee injury he sustained in Week 4.

Austin Hooper • TE • Atlanta Falcons • Second season • @AustinHooper18

Bye week.

Andrew Luck • QB • Indianapolis Colts • Sixth season • @ALBookClub

Luck sat out Indianapolis' 18-15 win against San Francisco while he continues to rehabilitate his throwing shoulder. The Colts ruled Luck out for Week 6, so he could return Oct. 22 when they host Jacksonville.

Josh Mauro • DE/DL • Arizona Cardinals • Fourth season • @JustJoshin90

Mauro started and played a season-high 33 defensive snaps (49 percent) in Arizona's 34-7 loss at Philadelphia on Sunday. He made four tackles, including two solo, and finished with two run stops.

Christian McCaffrey • RB • Carolina Panthers • First season • @CMcCaffrey5

McCaffrey scored his first professional touchdown in Carolina's 27-24 win at Detroit on Sunday, catching a six-yard shovel pass from Cam Newton in the second quarter. He finished the day with three carries for seven yards, and was Newton's second most-targeted receiver (7), catching five passes for 31 yards. He added one punt return for 13 yards while appearing on a season-low 37 offensive snaps (56 percent).

Ty Montgomery • RB • Green Bay Packers • Third season • @TyMontgomery2

Montgomery was inactive for Green Bay's 35-31 win at Dallas on Sunday with an injury he sustained in Week 4.

Andrus Peat • T/G • New Orleans Saints • Third season • @AndrusPeat

Bye week.

Jordan Richards • S • New England Patriots • Third season

Richards played 52 percent of special teams snaps and 11 defensive snaps (15 percent) in New England's 19-14 win at Tampa Bay on Thursday. He finished the game with three solo tackles, and could be in line for more playing time with defensive back Eric Rowe injured.

Michael Thomas • S • Miami Dolphins • Fifth season • @Michael31Thomas

Thomas played one defensive snap and 87 percent of Miami's special teams snaps in a 16-10 win against Tennessee on Sunday. He downed two Dolphin punts, one at the six-yard line and one at the seven-yard line.

Solomon Thomas • DL • San Francisco 49ers • First season • @SollyThomas90

Thomas appeared on 87 percent of defensive snaps in San Francisco's 26-23 loss at Indianapolis on Sunday. He finished the day with two tackles, including one for loss, and two quarterback hurries.

Levine Toilolo • TE • Atlanta Falcons • Fourth season • @LevineToilolo

Bye week.