Colts RB Jonathan Taylor, Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba highlight October Players of the Month

Taylor has roared into the MVP conversation thanks to a fantastic second month of the season. In four games (all Colts wins), Taylor racked up 529 scrimmage yards (436 rushing, 93 receiving) and 10 touchdowns (nine rushing, one receiving). He currently leads the league in rushing yards (850), rushing scores (12), scrimmage yards (1,056) and total TDs (14). Taylor is the first player since Shaun Alexander in 2005 to have at least 850 rushing yards and 14 total TDs through a season's first eight games. Alexander won MVP that year. Can Taylor follow suit?

Smith-Njigba put up scary numbers in the month of October. The third-year wideout played just three games but made a monster impact, hauling in 24 catches for 417 receiving yards and three scores. JSN had at least eight catches, 100 receiving yards and a TD reception in each of the three contests. Through eight weeks, Smith-Njigba leads the NFL with 819 receiving yards, which is a league-high 46.3 percent of his team's total for the season. JSN and Isaac Bruce are the only players in the Super Bowl era with 800 receiving yards in their first seven games of the season at age 24 or younger. That's a Hall of Fame pace.

Jones, an All-Pro special teamer in 2022, is finally being rewarded for his stellar defensive play. In the month of October, the fourth-year DB was everywhere, tallying 20 tackles, eight passes defensed, four tackles for loss, two interceptions and a sack. Jones recorded a tackle for loss and pass defensed in each of New England's four games -- all wins, by the way. And if this accolade wasn't enough, the 27-year-old Jones just inked a three-year, $36 million extension this week. What a month!

The year's biggest offseason acquisition is living up his billing through two months. Parsons was a game-wrecker in October, tallying four sacks in three games, including three in the Packers' win over Arizona in Week 7 and a takedown of Aaron Rodgers last Sunday night. Through eight weeks, Parsons leads the NFL with 44 QB pressures, per Next Gen Stats. His pairing with Rashan Gary in Green Bay's front seven has the Pack leading the NFC at 5-1-1 heading into November.

For the third time in his 10-year career, Lutz is a Player of the Month. The Broncos booter surely earned it in October, providing 27 points in Denver's four wins via six field goals and nine extra points made in as many tries. Lutz was 2 of 2 from at least 50 yards and knocked in game-winning field goals in Weeks 6 and 7 against the Jets and Giants. Without Lutz, Denver surely wouldn't be 6-2 and atop the AFC West.

Pineiro's leg was dinero in October. The journeyman placekicker racked up 36 points for San Francisco, who still went 2-2 in the month. Pineiro made all 10 of his field goal attempts (4 of 4 for 50-plus) and all six of his PATs. The veteran hasn't missed a field goal all season, his first in the Bay Area.

Dart, a first-round rookie, made his first NFL start in late September. The Giants signal-caller has since taken control of the team and instilled his identity into the offense. In four October games (1-3), Dart tossed for 873 passing yards and scored 10 total touchdowns (seven through the air, three on the ground). His dual-threat ability spurred Big Blue to a shocking upset win over the Eagles in Week 6 and nearly another one in Week 7 against Denver ... until the Broncos came back in historic fashion. Dart's 12 offensive TDs through five weeks are already tied for fourth-most in Giants history for rookies. What more is in store for the first-year QB in New York?

A fourth-round pick out of Cal, Buchanan was a force in just three October games (one pending Thursday night). The linebacker racked up 30 tackles (10 per game), four tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks. Buchanan is a standout on a Baltimore defense that is turning a corner after an awful start to the 2025 season.