NFL Power Rankings 2018: Week 5 Edition. 1st place in the NFC East moves the Redskins up

The Redskins are in first place in the NFC East and didn't even have to play a game last week. Thanks to the Eagles choking against the Titans, Washington moves up in the division, and in a lot of power rankings this week.

Most people are still trying to figure out this team. They have been hot and cold, and have the potential to be a winner this year. The Redskins defense has been consistent enough to keep them in games when the offense is cold. But we're only 3 games in and it's a long season. Washington has rested some of their injured starters and now face the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football

Where should this year’s Washington Redskins team be ranked?

Highest Ranking: W1: 14 W2: 8 W3: 12 W4: 7 W5: 7

Lowest Ranking: W1: 26 W2: 23 W3: 27 W4: 20 W5: 19

Average Ranking: W1: 20.5 W2: 15.5 W3: 22.7 W4: 15.1 W5: 14.3

7. CBS Sports(Prisco)

Last Week: 7

10. USA Today

Clearly, they upset someone in NFL scheduling office. Upcoming MNF game at New Orleans is sandwiched by premature bye and a short week. Last Week: 16

10. For The Win

The Redskins look like the best team in the NFC East at the moment. This is certainly the most well-rounded team in the division. Washington’s defense is swarming, and Adrian Peterson looks like, well, Adrian Peterson. When Alex Smith is on, this team can play with anyone in the league.

12. Bleeding Green Nation

Good week for Washington. They didn’t even have to play a game and still ended up being first in the NFC East. Washington returns to action with a game in New Orleans. Tough test. Last Week: 13

12. Houston Chronicle

Washington has allowed sevent points in the first quarter. It has scored three points in the third quarter and nine in the fourth. Last Week: 12

12. Walter Football

I’ve been listing the Redskins as underrated, but in the wake of their victory over the Packers, the NFL Network analysts were opining that they are the best team in the NFC East. I guess Washington’s not so underrated anymore! The Redskins have a good chance to win the division for sure, especially if the Eagles’ complacency continues to linger. At the same token, the Redskins also have a good chance to be one-and-done in the playoffs, based on Alex Smith’s history. Last Week: 15

13. NumberFire

Last Week: 7

13. OddsShark

Last Week: 12

14. Washington Post

The Redskins emerge from their bye week in first place in the NFC East. That’s a positive for a franchise that hasn’t had too much to feel good about in recent years. But the early bye might not be too helpful. And the game Monday night in New Orleans is a difficult test against a Saints team playing well. Last Week: 13

14. NJ.com

Is it crazy to think the Redskins can hang with the Saints on Monday Night Football in Week 5? Last Week: 13

14. Sporting News

The Redskins need to find a little more passing offense after the bye to go with their baseline rushing strength. Their early NFC East lead is impressive, but sustaining it requires big-time defense. Last Week: 17

15. The Score

Will an early bye come back to haunt the Redskins, who were arguably the NFC East’s best team through September? Last Week: 13

15. NFL.com(Harrison)

Still not sure what to make of these Redskins. They seem set at quarterback. Adrian Peterson is running hard, but can he be a 20-carry guy all year? For that matter, can Jordan Reed play anywhere near 16 games? ( Fantasy owners missed him this weekend, with Washington being on a bye ... then again, they’re used to missing him by now.) The defensive front strikes most analysts as impressive, yet it couldn’t impose its will against the Colts in the home opener -- Indy is not exactly the strongest team up front. Many questions, but Washington has enough players to emerge from the heap of wild-card hopefuls. Last Week: 18

15. Yahoo Sports(Schwab)

Washington is in first place and here’s its (fairly easy) schedule the next few games: at Saints, vs. Panthers, vs. Cowboys, at Giants, vs. Falcons, at Buccaneers, vs. Texans, at Cowboys. If Washington can split the next two, the six games that follow aren’t too daunting. Keep that in mind and don’t be too shocked if we see an 8-3 Redskins team traveling to the Eagles for a big Dec. 3 showdown. Last Week: 18

15. Athlon Sports

This is the most mysterious team in the league right now and the early bye doesn’t help figure out if Washington is closer to the group that beat Green Bay or lost to the Colts. Last Week: 18

16. Fansided

There’s a lot to be encouraged about when it comes to Jay Gruden’s team. However, there’s also room for a bit of skepticism. One aspect of the team that has been steady so far is the defense, which is off to a somewhat surprising good start considering the Redskins’ recent predecessors. Greg Manusky’s unit allowed only 90.7 yards per game on the ground and only six offensive touchdowns during the club’s 2-1 start. While quarterback Alex Smith has been very efficient with his newest team, veteran running back Adrian Peterson has found new life in D.C. The 12-year pro has run for 236 yards and three touchdowns on 56 carries this season. Last Week: 19

17. Sports Illustrated

Philly’s loss bumped Washington up into first place in the NFC East during the bye week, but they weren’t as fortunate in our poll. Last Week: 16

17. Pro Football Weekly

Next two games (at Saints, vs. Panthers) will be telling Last Week: 20

17. SB Nation

Last Week: 17

19. Bleacher Report

The Washington Redskins aren’t an easy team to get a read on.

In Week 1, the Redskins looked fantastic in throttling the Arizona Cardinals. But the Cardinals are awful.

The following week, in their home opener, the Redskins looked listless in a loss to an Indianapolis Colts team that isn’t anything special. The following week, the Redskins played their best game of the season in a decisive win over a tough Green Bay club.

It shouldn’t take long to figure out whether the Redskins are legit. They play in prime time next Monday night against the New Orleans Saints and follow that up with a home tilt against the Carolina Panthers.

Splitting that NFC South double-dip would go a long way toward dispelling the skepticism that surrounds this team. Last Week: 17

19. ESPN

Rookie snaps leader: DT Daron Payne, 127 snaps out of 177 (71.8 percent). Entering Week 4, he was part of a Redskins defense that ranked second in yards per game (278.0) and fourth in yards per play (4.7) allowed. Last Week: 19

19. NESN

The Skins were idle in Week 4, but they get bumped up because of ineptitude from some other teams. How good they are remains to be seen, but they are an intriguing bunch. Last Week: 20