Week 5 Fantasy Football Studs
Five weeks into the season, we now have a pretty good idea which fantasy football teams are contenders and which are going to play the role of spoiler down the stretch. The NFL landscape is coming into focus as well. Are these the studs you expected to see from Week 5? If not, perhaps you should get used to it. This is the time of year where studs start stacking up solid fantasy performances. Let’s look at the Week 5 numbers.
Make sure you listen to today’s podcast where Mike, Jason, and Jay Griz discuss Week 5’s studs. Read up on the Week 5 Duds.
Quarterbacks
Dak Prescott vs GB
251 passing yards, 3 TDs, INT, 37 rushing yards, TD
The Cowboys were in control of this game due to the incredible arm and leg talent of their young QB. That is until they weren’t. On another note, how do you design and build a stadium and have such horrendous window placement? The sun was blinding in the 2ns half.
Carson Wentz vs AZ
304 passing yards, 4 TDs, INT, 11 rushing yards
At times the Eagles have struggled to run the ball and played without RBs Smallwood and Sproles on Sunday. No matter. Wentz proved that he is the best Carson in the NFL.
Cam Newton @ DET
355 passing yards, 3 TDs
On the road, following a tumultuous week off the field, many expected Cam to come back to earth after a stellar Week 4 performance. Cam showed why he is Superman as he tortured the Lions secondary all day.
Aaron Rodgers @ DAL
221 passing yards, 3 TDs, 32 rushing yards
These statistics are solid, but they are nothing compared to the on-field product. Rodgers was amazing as he led a furious comeback in the second half in Dallas.
Philip Rivers @ NYG
258 passing yards, 3 TDs, INT, 5 rushing yards
I don’t know if 5 rushing yards is a career high for Rivers or not. But it might be.
Alex Smith @ HOU
324 passing yards, 3 TDs, 19 rushing yards
Mr. Smith is not going to go quietly into that good night.
Deshaun Watson vs KC
261 passing yards, 5 TDs, 31 rushing yards, 2pt Conv
Bill O’Brien‘s new offensive playsheet for Week 6 has been leaked online:
1st down: Go deep
2nd down: Play Action, Go deep
3rd down: Go Deep
Brian Hoyer @ IND
353 passing yards, 2 TDs
The Colts without Luck taking on the 49ers didn’t scream fantasy production. Nonetheless, we got a few solid performers from this contest. Led by Hoyer and his connection with Pierre Garcon and rookie TE, George Kittle.
Running Backs
Melvin Gordon @ NYG
20 carries, 105 rushing yards, 6 receptions, 58 receiving yards, 2 TDs
One of the few featured backs left standing in the NFL. Melvin Gordon got it done on the ground and through the air against a tough Giants defense.
Leonard Fournette @ PIT
28 carries, 181 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 1 reception, 3 yards
I started having flashbacks to Brian Westbrook taking a knee on the 1-yard line when Fournette ripped off his 90-yard TD run at the end of this contest. The Jaguars were never realistically going to meet their goal of zero pass attempts for Blake Bortles, but they got pretty close on Sunday.
Aaron Jones @ DAL
19 carries, 125 rushing yards, TD, 1 reception, 9 receiving yards
Be careful what you wish for. Fantasy players were very excited to see the rookie RB get his shot in place of the injured Ty Montgomery. He met and exceeded expectations, which is great. Except now what are the Packers going to do when Montgomery comes back? Aaron Jones may have just ruined one of the few clear backfields we had left.
Wide Receivers
A.J. Green vs BUF
7 receptions, 189 receiving yards, TD, 13 targets
There are some players in the league that are synonymous with “stud”. A.J. Green is one of those guys. He absolutely torched the Bills in this one. While somehow being the best player on both teams as Green was responsible for all 3 Cincinnati turnovers.
Davante Adams @ DAL
7 receptions, 66 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 11 targets
I am completely shocked that Adams even knows his own name after the savage helmet to helmet hit he took 11 days ago. Not only did he know where he was on Sunday, he was repeatedly in the end zone.
DeAndre Hopkins vs KC
4 receptions, 52 receiving yards, 3 TDs, 12 targets
Just filthy. This dude is covered and it simply doesn’t matter. Unless you count the 8 missed connections… Oh well, if it doesn’t matter to Deshaun Watson, it doesn’t matter to me.
Joe Robbins/ Getty Images
Will Fuller vs KC
2 receptions, 57 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 3 targets
It’s a good thing I don’t get to design the fantasy scoring systems for Yahoo or ESPN. Because getting taken down by the punter would be -50 fantasy points in my book. For shame, Will Fuller, for shame.
T.Y. Hilton vs SF
7 receptions, 177 receiving yards, 9 targets
Welcome back to must-start status, Hilton.
Antonio Brown vs JAX
10 receptions, 157 receiving yards, 19 targets
If you have ever wondered why WRs in the NFL whine and act like total divas after a poor performance, this is why. Huge overcorrection from last week. 19 targets! Blake Bortles only attempted 14 passes! Antonio Brown had 19 targets!
Odell Beckham Jr. vs LAC
5 receptions, 97 receiving yards, TD, 8 targets
[moment of silence]
Thank you.
Chris Hogan @ TB
8 receptions, 74 receiving yards, TD, 11 targets
With Gronk out of the lineup, it was up to the WRs and RBs to carry the load in the passing game, led by Chris Hogan.
Tight Ends
Ed Dickson @ DET
5 receptions, 175 receiving yards, 5 targets
Who did what, now?
George Kittle @ IND
7 receptions, 83 receiving yards, TD, 9 targets
Everybody seemed to get in on the smorgasbord that ended up being the Colts vs 49ers. Kittle has been a darling in dynasty fantasy football circles. I’m sure his truthers have already planted their flags on Twitter.
Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Darren Fells vs CAR
2 receptions, 24 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 2 targets
Hey, Ebron, take notes. This is how you Tight End in the NFL.
Cameron Brate vs NE
5 receptions, 68 receiving yards, TD, 9 targets
“Wherefore art thou bad?” – Matt Patricia to his defense.
Travis Kelce @ HOU
8 receptions, 98 receiving yards, 11 targets
Zeus did this despite leaving the game, twice, to be evaluated for a concussion. Kelce still has the best dance moves in the business.
Zach Ertz vs AZ
6 receptions, 61 receiving yards, TD, 12 targets
Tier 1 TEs enjoy rarefied air. Zach Ertz is up there on Olympus with Kelce.
Defense/Special Teams
Jacksonville Jaguars @ PIT
5 INTs, 2 TDs, 2 sacks, 9 points allowed
“Jag-wires”, “Jag-u-wars”, “Sacks-onville”. You can call them whatever you want. I’m going to go with “#goodatfootball”.
Honorable Mentions
Javorius “Buck” Allen @ OAK
21 carries, 73 rushing yards, TD, 4 receptions, 12 receiving yards
Duke Johnson Jr. vs NYJ
6 carries, 20 rushing yards, 3 receptions, 63 receiving yards, TD
Marlon Mack vs SF
9 carries, 91 rushing yards, TD, 1 reception, 2 receiving yards
Doug Martin vs NE
13 carries, 74 rushing yards, TD, 1 reception, 8 receiving yards
Le’Veon Bell vs JAX
15 carries, 47 rushing yards, 10 receptions, 46 receiving yards
Nelson Agholor vs AZ
4 receptions, 93 receiving yards, TD, 5 targets
Tyreek Hill @ HOU
4 receptions, 68 receiving yards, ret TD
Michael Crabtree vs BAL
6 receptions, 82 receiving yards, TD
Cole Beasley vs GB
4 receptions, 23 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 6 targets
Mike Wallace @ OAK
3 receptions, 133 receiving yards, 3 targets
Devin Funchess @ DET
7 receptions, 53 receiving yards, TD, 8 targets
Pierre Garcon @ IND
8 receptions, 94 receiving yards, 11 targets
Marquise Goodwin @ IND
5 receptions, 116 receiving yards, 11 targets
Jimmy Graham @ LAR
6 receptions, 37 receiving yards, TD, 8 targets
David Njoku vs NYJ
3 receptions, 48 receiving yards, TD, 3 targets
Austin Seferian-Jenkins @ CLE
6 receptions, 29 receiving yards, TD, 8 targets
Hunter Henry @ NYG
3 receptions, 42 receiving yards, TD, 8 targets