Week 5 Fantasy Rankings
7 October 2020 Uncategorized
4 weeks into the NFL season, we finally had the first real COVID-19 outbreak, which pushed back the Steelers/Titans matchup to week 7 and the Patriots/Chiefs game a day for a Monday night matchup. This definitely had a lot of fantasy players steaming, as anyone with Derrick Henry/Ryan Tannehill/Jonnu Smith/Diontae Johnson/James Conner lost out and anyone who had players on the Pats or Chiefs was kind of panicking until Sunday morning revealed that it was extremely likely that the game would be played this week, which was great. As far as the results though, man there was a lot of points scored. Joe Mixon and Odell Beckham finally had their breakout game, Tom Brady pushed himself back into the QB1 mix(for now), and Dak Prescott continues to throw for an unseemly amount of yards because the Cowboys couldn’t stop my 99 year old grandmother from moving down the field. We arrive at the first week of bye-weeks, so we will include those as well in here. As always, feel free to drop a follow on Twitter, and the handle is @swagman95. Let’s get into this week’s rankings.
BYES: DETROIT LIONS, GREEN BAY PACKERS
Quarterback:
- Russell Wilson vs Minnesota
- Patrick Mahomes vs Las Vegas
- Lamar Jackson vs Cincy
- Josh Allen @Tennessee
- Deshaun Watson vs Jacksonville
- Dak Prescott vs NYG
- Kyler Murray @NYJ
- Teddy Bridgewater @Atlanta
- Jared Goff @Washington
- Gardner Minshew @Houston
- Ben Roethlisberger vs Philly
- Joe Burrow @Baltimore
~Lamar Jackson is still the best rushing quarterback in the league, do not forget that fact. Cincinnati gives up 158.5 rush yards per game in 2020, the sixth worst mark in football, which will allow this dynamic rushing offense to abuse the Bengals who are starting two rookie linebackers. He had a 50 yard touchdown run this week and looks every bit as explosive as last year. The Chiefs game was an aberration for him.
~The Atlanta Falcons defense looks absolutely cooked so far this year. Multiple starting defensive backs out due to various reasons, they just got lit up by Aaron Rodgers to the tune of 330 yards and 4 touchdowns, and things do not look good over there. Though they may jump out to an early lead like they are wont to do, expect Teddy Bridgewater to be able to systematically carve up this defense with his downfield weapons.
Running Back:
- Ezekiel Elliot vs NYG
- Alvin Kamara vs LAC
- Kareem Hunt vs IND
- Dalvin Cook @SEA
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire vs LV
- Josh Jacobs @KC
- Derrick Henry vs BUF
- Chris Carson vs MIN
- Miles Sanders @PIT
- James Robinson @HOU
- Joe Mixon @BAL
- Mike Davis @ATL
- Johnathan Taylor @CLE
- James Conner vs PHI
- Antonio Gibson vs LAR
- Raheem Mostert vs MIA
- Jerick McKinnon vs MIA
- Todd Gurley vs CAR
- David Johnson vs JAX
- Kenyan Drake @NYJ
- Devonta Freeman @DAL
- Joshua Kelley @NO
- Ronald Jones @CHI
- Darrel Henderson @WAS
~Another week, another 5 days of wondering whether Raheem Mostert is healthy yet. He never went on IR and has been out 3 weeks now, so it is fair to start wondering whether this is the week he comes back. Jerick McKinnon has filled in nicely though, ranking at 10 amongst running backs and averaging 13.4 ppg. I rank them as basically equal, so no matter which one plays, start as a reliable RB2.
~With Nick Chubb out, one has to assume that Kareem Hunt will become a workhorse back atop the Cleveland gold mine of a RB room. His ceiling with Chubb out is easily top 3, so he needs to be moved to the top of the list. Hunt is already averaging 17.4 points a game on an average of 79.3 scrimmage yards, so those numbers should definitely increase in the coming weeks. Lock him in as your RB1.
Wide Receivers
- DeAndre Hopkins @NYJ
- Tyreek Hill vs LV
- DK Metcalf vs MIN
- Adam Thielen @SEA
- Michael Thomas vs LAC
- Calvin Ridley vs CAR
- Tyler Lockett vs MIN
- Amari Cooper vs NYG
- Stefon Diggs @TEN
- Keenan Allen @NOLA
- Allen Robinson vs TB
- Mike Evans @CHI
- Odell Beckham vs IND
- Juju Smith-Schuster vs PHI
- Will Fuller vs JAX
- Robert Woods @WAS
- DJ Moore @ATL
- Cooper Kupp @WAS
- Terry Mclaurin vs LAR
- DJ Chark @HOU
- CeeDee Lamb vs NYG
- Justin Jefferson @SEA
- Tyler Boyd @BAL
- Marquise Brown vs CIN
~Both Calvin Ridley and DK Metcalf have made their way to the top of the chain, Ridley’s 0 catch performance on Monday night while clearly hobbled not included. Metcalf has 4 catches for at least 92 yards in every game, showing a clear model of consistency, while Ridley has gone over 100 yards in each game that he was healthy this year. they are both WR1’s at this point and should be started as such.
~Marquise Brown was supposed to take the next step last year after having a quasi breakout in his rookie season, scoring 7 touchdowns. He hasn’t really impressed this year though, with 0 touchdowns so far. He needs to get back on track this week against a beatable Cincinnati secondary.
Tight Ends
- George Kittle vs MIA
- Travis Kelce vs LV
- Darren Waller @KC
- Mark Andrews vs CIN
- Hunter Henry @NOLA
- Jonnu Smith vs BUF
- Zach Ertz @PIT
- Dalton Schultz vs NYG
- Austin Hooper vs IND
- Evan Engram @DAL
- Mike Gesicki @SF
- Rob Gronkowski @CHI
~with OJ Howard out for the year, Gronk has a chance to finally show up. Used mostly for blocking purposes so far this year, Tampa Bay’s variety of injuries at the pass-catching positions means that Gronk may need to be brought in more often. Look for him to get back on track in a matchup of 3-1 teams where Tom Brady should be looking for his once favorite target more often than he has been.
~Kittle showed out against the Eagles, proving that injury or not, he is still one of the two best tight ends in the country. He gets a chance to feast this weekend against a porous Miami pass defense, giving him the top spot over Travis Kelce who has been consistent this year, but hasn’t popped yet.
Alright guys, the DEFENSIVE START OF THE WEEK is here!! After only giving up 9 points to the Giants last week, the Rams get the Washington Football Team this week and they have just announced that they are benching Dwayne Haskins for Kyle Allen, who was the starter for Ron Rivera last year. They are the top ranked defense this week and still could be on your league’s waiver wire.