Each week, Yardbarker highlights the most important people leading into the week’s NFL games.
From players to coaches and beyond, here are the 10 most important people to keep an eye on in Week 3.
RB Saquon Barkley | Philadelphia Eagles
In a 22-21 Week 2 loss to the Falcons, Barkley dropped a pass on third-and-3 at Atlanta’s 10-yard line with 1:46 left. Atlanta QB Kirk Cousins then led a winning, six-play touchdown drive.
Per Dave Spadaro of the team website, Barkley indicated he will make amends for his gaffe in Sunday’s road game against the New Orleans Saints (2-0).
Barkley is fourth in the NFL in rushing yards (204 on 46 carries) but may struggle to find his groove against New Orleans’ stingy run defense. The Saints are third in the league in rushing yards allowed (63 YPG). As of Wednesday, FanDuel lists the Eagles (1-1) as a 2.5-point underdog.
QB Brock Purdy | San Francisco 49ers
Purdy must prove he can thrive without WR Deebo Samuel Sr. and RB Christian McCaffrey in Sunday’s road game against the Los Angeles Rams (1-1).
On Monday, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said Samuel (calf) will miss a “couple of games.” Meanwhile, McCaffrey (Achilles) was placed on injured reserve Saturday.
Per The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson II, Purdy is 0-3 in games in which Samuel doesn’t take at least half of San Francisco’s offensive snaps. It also averaged 17 points per game in those matchups.
Purdy and the Niners (1-1) could still exploit the Rams’ shaky secondary. Through two games, L.A. ranks 24th in the league in passing yards allowed (229 YPG).
HC John Harbaugh | Baltimore Ravens
According to NFL Research, the Ravens — who are 0-2 for the first time since 2015 — have never made the playoffs after losing their first two games.
“So, we’ve got to keep pounding the rock, and the rock is going to crack,” Harbaugh said of the slow start in a Monday news conference. “That’s our job to keep pounding, not get discouraged, not think all is for nothing. Continue to work, and our reward will be in the future.”
Harbaugh and Co. are heading into a potential must-win road game against the Dallas Cowboys (1-1) on Sunday. Since 2000, only one team, the 2018 Houston Texans, has made the postseason after starting 0-3, per The Baltimore Sun’s Bennett Conlin.
QB Trevor Lawrence | Jacksonville Jaguars
Lawrence called out Jacksonville’s offense after an 18-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 2. It’s easy to see why.
Through two games, Jacksonville ranks 27th in the league in points (15 PPG). Lawrence has only completed 51 percent of his passes for 382 yards and one TD, posting an above-average 56.6 QBR.
Perhaps the Jaguars (0-2) will turn things around in Monday’s road game against the Buffalo Bills (2-0). Per Stathead, Lawrence is 2-0 in two regular-season games vs. the Bills.
QB Sam Darnold | Minnesota Vikings
Has the former Jets dud finally found a home? Through two games, Darnold is tied for third in the league in passing TDs (four) and tied for fourth in QBR (71.5).
In a 23-17 Week 2 victory over the 49ers, 2018 No. 3 overall pick Darnold threw a 97-yard TD pass to star WR Justin Jefferson. According to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, it was the second-longest play in Vikings history.
Some aren’t buying into Darnold and the Vikings (2-0). ESPN’s Benjamin Solak labeled them as a pretender in his Tuesday column. If they beat the Houston Texans (2-0) in a home game Sunday, that would quell skeptics, perhaps even Solak.
HC Zac Taylor | Cincinnati Bengals
Taylor believes the Bengals (0-2) will rebound in Monday’s home game against the Washington Commanders (1-1). “I’m confident our guys will respond the right way this week,” Taylor recently told the media.
Still, Taylor’s seat could be getting a little warmer. In his Monday column, CBS Sports’ Jeff Kerr suggested he could get canned before the end of the season if the Bengals keep floundering, so Taylor better not flop vs. Washington.
QB Skylar Thompson | Miami Dolphins
On Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks (2-0), Thompson will replace Miami starting QB Tua Tagovailoa (concussion), who was placed on injured reserve Tuesday.
On Monday, the Dolphins signed former Ravens backup QB Tyler Huntley, but HC Mike McDaniel insists he still trusts Thompson, who is 1-1 in two regular-season starts in three seasons with Miami.
Regardless, the seventh-round pick and the Dolphins (1-1) may struggle in a road game. Seattle is tied for second in the league in passing yards allowed (128.5).
HC Brian Daboll | New York Giants
Daboll’s future with the Giants (0-2) seems uncertain, especially after his lineup blunder cost them in a 21-18 Week 2 loss to the Commanders.
Before the game, Daboll refused to elevate backup kicker Jude McAtamney to the game-day roster even though starter Graham Gano (groin) was on the injury report. Gano injured his hamstring on the opening kickoff, missing the rest of the game. Giants punter Jamie Gillan missed an extra-point attempt on New York’s first TD, and it had two failed two-point conversions on its next two TDs.
Darryl Slater of NJ.com suggested New York could fire Daboll before the end of the season. He must not make any more boneheaded decisions in Sunday’s road game against the Browns (1-1).
WR Marvin Harrison Jr. | Arizona Cardinals
In a 41-10 Week 2 win over the Rams, the rookie recorded four receptions for 130 yards and two TD catches. However, Harrison seemed unsatisfied with his performance.
On Monday, the No. 4 overall pick told the Arizona Republic’s Theo Mackie all four of QB Kyler Murray’s incompletions were targets to him, and he’s “gotta get that fixed.”
Harrison will get a chance to correct this issue in Sunday’s home game against the Lions (1-1). As of Wednesday, FanDuel lists Arizona as a three-point underdog.
RB Bijan Robinson | Atlanta Falcons
On Tuesday, senior Falcons reporter Tori McElhaney noted the Falcons are finally giving the second-year back more touches, and “he has the makings of a powder keg” when the ball is in his hands.
Through two games, the eighth overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft is 11th in the league in rushing yards (165 on 32 carries). The Falcons (1-1) should keep leaning on Robinson in Sunday’s home game against the Chiefs (2-0).
