Hot Fire Fantasy Football Questions: Week 5
Our “Hot Fire Fantasy Questions” series takes a look at Week 4 following up recent news, fantasy performances, and implications for owners moving forward. Our Hot Fire contributors from our Fantasy Footballers writing staff includes Keaton Denlay (@KeatonDenlay), Ryan Weisse (@TheFantasyFive) and Kyle Borgognoni (@kyle_borg).
Make sure you listen to today’s podcast to get Andy, Mike, and Jason’s reactions from all the Week 5 action.
1. Which player’s Week 5 fantasy performance presents a sell high opportunity for fantasy owners?
If the right offer is there I think I might sell Duke Johnson. An insane screen play turned what would’ve been a very average week into another good one for Duke. The schedule gets tougher for Cleveland for the next couple of games and then they have their bye. I could see him crashing back to earth soon. -Ryan Weisse
I would take this opportunity to spin a narrative that Watson is basically rookie year Cam Newton reborn. After 5 TDs against the Chiefs and his added rushing ability, it’s easy to think we can count on 30+ points all the time. We all know the QB position is replaceable in fantasy football and there is a revolving door around who can be a QB1 weekly. Watson has been nothing but fun to own at this point especially if you got him on the cheap of the waiver wire. However, there will be rookie mistakes to be made especially with his playing style. This isn’t a knock on his future fantasy outlook but more an opportunity to take the current hype and cash in. If someone is QB-needy, I would flip him for a dependable RB or WR. -Kyle Borgognoni
2. Which early round bust has the best chance of turning things around (Jay Ajayi, Amari Cooper or Isaiah Crowell)?
The Miami offense cannot possibly get worse from here. Jay Cutler has averaged 176.5 passing yards per game. If that improves or Matt Moore takes over this team will provide Ajayi with opportunities going forward. Crowell doesn’t even look like the best RB on his team and don’t get me started on the disaster that is Amari Cooper. –Keaton Denlay
Amari Cooper
I’m going to say, Cooper. Ajayi and Crowell may have been very overrated, to begin with. They are both in terrible offensive situations and Crow isn’t even the best RB on his own team. Ajayi was carried by those big games last year and may not come close to anything like that in this year’s offense. Cooper will get Carr back soon and will see the targets. His fate is in his own hands…literally. If he stops dropping the ball, he can turn it around. –Ryan Weisse
Harry How/Getty Images
I still think it’s Cooper although 4 receptions for 23 yards in the last 3 games is downright depressing. This offense is nowhere near what we thought it would be and even the offensive line, which was thought to be a major strength, has been subpar at best. After facing Josh Norman, Aqib Talib, and Jimmy Smith in consecutive weeks, the schedule opens up a bit. I am trying to buy Cooper in a number of different leagues for mere beans because I think the upside still exists although he hasn’t topped 100 yards since Week 8 of last year. -Kyle Borgognoni
3. Which RB would you rather have rest of the season: Melvin Gordon or Leonard Fournette?
I will give the edge to Fournette. For me, he doesn’t carry the same injury risk as Melvin Gordon and Fournette is the best/only option for the Jags to have a productive offense. That being said, the schedule opens up for Gordon going forward. You can’t really complain if you have either as your RB1. -Keaton Denlay
Fournette and it’s not close. The Jags stock is rising and this defense is going to present many favorable game scripts for Fournette. Fantasy owners have been waiting for this kid for 3 years now, let’s enjoy the ride. –Ryan Weisse
Melvin Gordon
After overcoming the injury bug, Gordon was unstoppable on Sunday in all phases of the game. Fantasy owners should’ve seen this coming as Gordon’s game tape has looked much different than his recent box scores. This guy is matchup-proof in my opinion and has the talent to back it up. The Chargers have been in some negative game scripts with Philip Rivers trying his best to throw away games. Gordon already has 27 targets in 5 games, which puts him on pace for over 85 for the season. I’ll take Gordon in PPR and love it every step of the way regardless of the opponent. –Kyle Borgognoni
4. Who’s Week 5 under-the-radar stat line should fantasy owners pay attention to?
This guy is top 5 in the league in targets and added another 12 this week. He had a bad game against a good pass defense but was targeted on many key plays. If he keeps this pace, he’ll finish with over 160 targets and will end the year as a top 10 WR. This may be your only chance to buy him relatively low. -Ryan Weisse
Antonio Brown had more targets than Blake Bortles had pass attempts. The squeaky wheel gets the grease and AB got his on Sunday to the tune of 19 targets. In the same game, Blake Bortles only attempted 14 passes. Owners need to take this seriously. The Jags are committed to defense and running the ball. You cannot start Jacksonville pass catchers unless you are in complete desperation mode. -Keaton Denlay
After adding another 9 catches on 10 targets, Ellington has been resurrected as a fantasy asset during David Johnson‘s absence. Over the last 3 weeks, only Antonio Brown, Odell Beckham Jr., and A.J. Green have more than Ellington’s 32 targets. He’s seen the same volume as DeAndre Hopkins, Keenan Allen, and teammate Larry Fitzgerald in that span. The depth of targets are obviously different but if you are in any PPR format, he seems to be a plug-and-play RB2. Carson Palmer is on pace for over 5,000 yards and gunning for Matthew Stafford‘s attempts record of 727. Ellington leads all RBs in targets and needs to be taken seriously in an offense that has basically given up trying to run the ball. -Kyle Borgognoni