The story of week 5 is about injuries. Devon Achane and Anthony Richardson will be out for at least four weeks. Justin Jefferson’s injury opens the door for Jordan Addison to be the focal point in Minnesota.
QUARTERBACKS
Stroud is great. Richardson is hurt. Young is meh. Rinse and repeat.
CJ Stroud, Texans
Week 5: 20-35, 249 yards, 1 TD | 2 yards
2023: 114-186, 1,461 yards, 7 TDs| 53 yards
Stroud had a down week and was still solid. Five games into the season, he has yet to throw an interception. The Texans remind me a bit of the Lions last year. You can see the makings of a very good team despite the mess.
Anthony Richardson, Colts
Week 5: 9-12, 98 yards | 5 yards
2023: 50-84, 577 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT| 136 yards, 4 TDs
Richardson has played four games in his young career and finished just one. Anyone worried about his ability to stay healthy surely feels reinforced. He has talent, but he won’t be worth it if he can’t stay healthy.
Bryce Young, Panthers
Week 5: 25-41, 247 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs | 3 yards
2023: 92-144, 750 yards, 5 TDs, 4 INTs | 64 yards
Young has increased his passing yards in his four games but hasn’t put it all together yet. The Panthers are reportedly looking for a lead WR to trade for, which would help. It’s too early to write him off and go all in.
RUNNING BACKS
Two undrafted free agents in the top five? Every year, I inch closer to not drafting any RBs early and going heavy at the other positions. Kendre Miller jumps up to number two despite the return of Alvin Kamara.
Devon Achane, Dolphins
Week 5: 11 carries, 151 yards, 1 TD | 1 catch, 14 yards
2023: 38 carries, 460 yards, 5 TDs| 9 catches, 76 yards, 2 TDs
Achane is everything we thought he was. An incredible 12.1 yards per carry and now injured. You will have to play him if he is in the lineup, but how often will he be out of the lineup?
Kendre Miller, Saints
Week 5: 12 carries, 37 yards | 4 catches, 53 yards
2023: 22 carries, 74 yards | 6 catches, 58 yards
I am all in on Miller. He was my number three RB in this class, and I gave up a probable late 2024 first for him in one league. This week showed that he can be a factor while Kamara still leads the backfield and gave credence to the idea that he will be the main back when Kamara is gone.
Jaleel McLaughlin, Broncos
Week 5: 9 carries, 68 yards | 3 catches, 21 yards, 1 TD
2023: 22 carries, 160 yards, 1 TD | 7 catches, 46 yards, 2 TDs
McLaughlin was outsnapped by Perine again but had a solid week in the chances he was given. He seems to have carved out a role with or without Javonte Williams.
Tyjae Spears, Titans
Week 5: 7 carries, 34 yards, 1 TD | 4 catches, 35 yards
2023: 26 carries, 136 yards, 1 TD | 15 catches, 63 yards
Eleven touches for nearly 70 yards and a TD is something everyone will take for Spears. He isn’t special yet, but he’s worth a play on deep rosters.
Emari Demercado, Cardinals
Week 5: 10 carries, 45 yards, 1 TD | 1 catch, 12 yards
2023: 14 carries, 48 yards, 1 TD | 6 catches, 40 yards
Demercado had a solid week after an injury to James Conner. Conner is having a solid year but has landed on IR. Demercado will get plenty of snaps. After next season, Conner is a free agent and will be 29 in May. There is a path to a much bigger long-term role here.
The Rest of Week 5
- Bijan Robinson, Falcons – 11 carries, 46 yards | 2 catches, 12 yards
- Eric Gray, New York – 12 carries, 25 yards | 1 catch, 1 yards
- Roschon Johnson, Bears – 3 carries, 19 yards
- Tank Bigsby, Jaguars – 3 carries, 10 yards
- Deuce Vaughn, Cowboys – 8 carries, 9 yards | 1 catch, 2 yards
- Chase Brown, Bengals – 1 catch, -2 yards
WIDE RECEIVERS
Lots of the same names at the top. With Jefferson going down, Addison should be consistently in the top five.
Josh Downs, Colts
Week 5: 6 catches, 97 yards
2023: 23 catches, 255 yards
Downs had the biggest game of his young career, nearly eclipsing 100 yards for the first time. The injury to Richardson might help his game, as the Colts should rely more heavily on the passing game under Gardner Minshew. He has been out-snapped by Alec Pierce every game, but Downs has 15 more catches, 17 more targets, and 131 more yards.
Zay Flowers, Ravens
Week 5: 5 catches, 73 yards
2023: 29 catches, 317 yards
Flowers is leading the Ravens in snaps, yards, catches, and targets. He has been targeted ten times or more in three of his first five games. He is WR1 in Baltimore.
Puka Nacua, Rams
Week 5: 7 catches, 71 yards, 1 TD
2023: 46 catches, 572 yards, 2 TDs
Cooper Kupp is back, and it didn’t matter for Nacua. Kupp saw 12 targets, catching eight for 118 yards. Nacua was targeted 11 times. The Rams lost, but they aren’t going away anytime soon. Nacua might have 1,000 yards before the Rams’ week ten bye.
Jordan Addison, Vikings
Week 5: 6 catches, 64 yards, 1 TD
2023: 19 catches, 249 yards, 3 TDs
Justin Jefferson is out for at least four weeks, moving Addison to the top of the Vikings WR group. He’s been outsnapped by KJ Osborn in every game, but Addison has more targets, catches, yards, and touchdowns. He could explode in a Vikings offense that loves to throw the football.
Tank Dell, Texans
Week 5: 3 catches, 57 yards
2023: 19 catches, 324 yards, 2 TDs
Dell only had four targets in week five but was efficient, catching three for 57 yards. He is still on pace for well over 1,000 yards and has the second-most yards of all rookie wide receivers.
The Rest of Week 5
- Jonathan Mingo, Panthers – 5 catches, 48 yards
- Rashee Rice, Chiefs – 4 catches, 33 yards, 1TD
- Demario Douglas, Patriots – 1 catch, 24 yards
- Michael Wilson, Cardinals – 1 catch, 18 yards
- Dontayvion Wicks, Packers – 1 catch, 10 yards
- Andrei Iosivas, Packers – 1 catch, 9 yards
- Jayden Reed, Packers – 1 catch, 7 yards
- Marvin Mims, Broncos – 1 catch, 4 yards
TIGHT ENDS
Sam LaPorta is the TE1, and Michael Mayer finally flashed.
Sam LaPorta, Lions
Week 5: 3 catches, 47 yards, 2 TDs
2023: 25 catches, 288 yards, 3 TDs
LaPorta claimed the top TE spot in fantasy football with his two-score game. He is in a perfect system to remain amongst the league’s best.
Michael Mayer, Raiders
Week 5: 2 catches, 39 yards
2023: 3 catches, 41 yards
Mayer had two big catches in the Raiders win over the Packers. Austin Hooper still got two catches on two targets, but Mayer out-snapped him for the first time 42-36. Hooper is on a one-year deal and will be 40 at the end of the month. This is Mayer’s long-term starting spot.
Luke Musgrave, Packers
Week 5: 6 catches, 34 yards
2023: 18 catches, 159 yards
Musgrave remains a focal point for the Packers offense. He matched Christian Watson’s seven targets to lead the team. He may not be on LaPorta’s level, but he is a capable starter who will get you weekly points.
The Rest of Week 5
- Dalton Kincaid, Bills – 2 catches, 19 yards
- Josh Whyle, Titans – 1 catch, 7 yards
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