Week 5 Fantasy Football Duds
If you experienced fantasy heartbreak this week, don’t worry you were not alone. If it is any comfort, it was not you, it was them. ‘Them” being these players who really did a number on you and every other owner who trusted them in Week 5. For the full breakdown of these scoundrels, check out the Pooped in Their Big Boy Pants segment of the podcast.
Quarterbacks
Ryan Tannehill vs TEN
-191 passing yards, 2 INTs
Adam Gase came out and endorsed Tannehill as the Dolphins starter for the rest of the season. I give him 3 weeks.
Eli Manning @ GB
–199 passing yards, TD
This is fitting because Eli always has an expression on his face like he just pooped in his pants. This week he did.
Running Backs
Isaiah Crowell vs NE
–13 carries, 22 rushing yards, 1 reception, 18 receiving yards
This is a tough spot to be in for a between the tackles runner, down early, against the Patriots in Tom Brady’s return game, with your team’s 5th string QB taking snaps. That’s a recipe for disaster.
Matt Jones @ BAL
-14 carries, 31 rushing yards, 2 receptions, 25 receiving yards
Both offenses in this game struggled to get anything going through the air, leading to tighter running lanes for Matt Jones.
Matt Forte @ PIT
–12 carries, 53 rushing yards, 2 receptions, 7 receiving yards
Perhaps, more concerning than Forte’s stat line is that Bilal Powell has now out produced him in PPR leagues for 3 straight weeks.
C.J. Anderson vs ATL
-11 carries, 41 rushing yards, 3 receptions, 21 receiving yards
Devontae Booker has slowly been cutting into Anderson’s snap count. However, owners should see this as an opportunity to buy low as opposed to the beginning of the end for C.J.
Lamar Miller @ MIN
–8 carries, 20 rushing yards, 1 reception, 4 receiving yards
Another buy low candidate, Lamar Miller isn’t going to see a tougher matchup than the Vikings defense in Minnesota.
Jerick McKinnon vs HOU
–20 carries, 36 rushing yards, 1 reception, 10 receiving yards
This was a very disappointing performance for the Viking. Not only because he was ineffective with a large workload, but also because the plodding Matt Asiata looked like a better runner.
Jeremy Hill @ DAL
–4 carries, 12 rushing yards
Jeremy Hill was quietly dealing with an injury coming into this game which gave Gio Bernard the starting gig. An injury also caused Hill to leave the game for some time. Tough break for his owners as Hill has been running well in recent weeks.
Wide Receivers
A.J. Green @ DAL
–4 receptions, 50 receiving yards, 8 targets
A.J. Green can be inconsistent, but it doesn’t make it hurt any less.
Julio Jones @ DEN
–2 receptions, 29 receiving yards, 6 targets
You cannot start WRs against the Denver defense with any confidence. Chris Harris and Aqib Talib are bad dudes.
Julian Edelman @ CLE
-5 receptions, 35 receiving yards, 10 targets
I for one am worried about Edelman ROS. With the Patriots using two productive TEs, and Chris Hogan emerging as a downfield threat, it doesn’t leave much upside for Edelman. Though he should be fine in PPR leagues.
Jarvis Landry vs TEN
-3 receptions, 28 receiving yards, 3 targets
This was a career low in targets for Landry: the result of a disastrous day for Tannehill.
DeSean Jackson @ BAL
–3 receptions, 35 receiving yards, 7 targets
With 25 mph cross winds in the stadium, D-Jax’s downfield playstyle was largely nullified by the elements.
Terrelle Pryor vs NE
–5 receptions, 48 receiving yards, 6 targets, 2 carries, 3 rushing yards, 5 passing yards
It’s a miracle Pryor managed a stat line like this. The Browns are now using their 5th QB of the season, Clipboard Jesus himself, Charlie Whitehurst. With any luck, Pryor will see more opportunities at QB until Cody Kessler returns.
Sterling Shepard @ GB
–2 receptions, 14 receiving yards, 7 targets
The Giants were just awful in their game with the Packers. Not only was Shepard held to 2 receptions, but Victor Cruz was completely shut down as well.
Will Fuller @ MIN
–1 reception, 4 receiving yards, 6 targets
A rookie WR with suspect hands against what might be the best defense in the league on the road. It’s tough to say you didn’t see a down week coming.
Golden Tate vs PHI
-3 receptions, 39 receiving yards, 5 targets, 3 carries, 6 rushing yards
Any hope that Golden Tate was going to assume the #1 role in this offense is completely dashed now.
Tight Ends
Zach Ertz @ DET
–3 receptions, 37 receiving yards, 3 targets
Returning from an injury, it may take Ertz some time to build up a rapport with rookie QB Carson Wentz.
Kyle Rudolph vs HOU
–2 receptions, 15 receiving yards, 4 targets
Just when owners were starting to believe that Rudolph could be an every week starter, we get this dud. It may be hard for some owners to justify holding a roster spot for him through his Week 6 bye.