Fantasy Football: Week 5 Sunday Superlatives
The fifth Sunday of the NFL season was once again the day of the underdog, as the Raiders, Broncos, Packers and Colts pulled off upsets the experts out in Vegas didn't expect. We witnessed a day where we had three quarterbacks throw for four-plus touchdowns, two wide receivers go for over 200 yards and a running back score four rushing touchdowns. Week 5 either left fantasy owners elated or frustrated.
Let's take a look back at the week that was.
Biggest Touchdown Vulture
Byron Pringle, WR, Chiefs
Demarcus Robinson and Mecole Hardman owners were excited to have another week to start either wideout before Tyreek Hill returned. WR Sammy Watkins was forced out with a hamstring injury after the first series of the game, and then both Robinson and Hardman owners were really pumped. Here’s how the next big play unfolded: Mahomes goes back to pass, scrambles, eludes the Colts pass rush and fires a strike on the run. It's complete for a touchdown! Who is it? Kelce? Robinson? Hardman? It's Byron Pringle!
Wait, who? The undrafted Pringle, who has two career receptions and is owned in 0% of leagues? Seriously? Pringle would go on to haul in six of nine targets for 103 yards. The only passing touchdown of the game by star QB Patrick Mahomes went to a fantasy irrelevant wide receiver who helped absolutely no one.
Surprise of the Week
DJ Chark, WR, Jaguars
Chark punished owners (started in less than 43% of leagues) who put the second-year WR on the bench in Week 5 and proved that he is matchup proof and needs to be started every week regardless of the opponent. In a tough draw against the Panthers, Chark snagged eight of his 11 targets for 164 yards and two touchdowns. His 36.4 PPR fantasy points were the highest of his career. He has now scored at least one touchdown in four of his first five games this season, en route to double-digit fantasy points in each of those games. Chark has emerged as Gardner Minshew’s top threat so far in 2019. If the Saints decide to employ CB Marshon Lattimore on fellow wideout Dede Westbrook, the emerging fantasy option could be in line for another solid game in Week 6.
Biggest Busts
Mike Evans, WR, Buccaneers
Fantasy owners suffered the dreaded empty stat line on Sunday from their likely first-round draft pick. Evans, who drew top CB Marshon Lattimore, failed to bring in any of his three targets on the road against the Saints. Things will not get any easier in Week 6 when Tampa Bay travels across the pond to London to take on a tough Panthers secondary.
Keenan Allen, WR, Chargers
Allen posted his second straight subpar game on Sunday against the Broncos, grabbing four his six targets for a woeful 18 yards (5.8 PPR pts). The Chargers star wide receiver, who had been excellent in his first three games of the season, has now failed to top 48 yards receiving in the last two weeks. He's earned fewer than double-digit PPR points in consecutive games.
Top Quarterback
Deshaun Watson, QB, Texans
Watson had been a boom or bust fantasy QB through the first four games of the season before Week 5 against the Falcons. Watson had alternated between 30-point and 14-point fantasy efforts before his 46-point breakout on Sunday. Watson was superb on Sunday, completing 85% of his passes for 426 yards and five touchdowns, while also adding 47 yards on the ground. If the early posted total (55) by the boys in Vegas is any indication, owners should expect another huge game from Watson in Week 6 when the Texans travel to Arrowhead to take on the Chiefs.
Top Running Back
Christian McCaffrey, RB, Panthers
There is no argument, McCaffery is the best non-QB player in fantasy football. McCaffery gained 176 rushing yards and grabbed six receptions for 61 yards while scoring three touchdowns en route to 47.7 PPR fantasy points. McCaffery now has scored 30-plus PPR points in four of his five games this season.
Aaron Jones, RB, Packers
Jones exploded in Week 5 against Dallas to the tune of 107 yards on the ground and became the first player to ever rush for four touchdowns in a game against the Cowboys in their storied history. Also, he added seven receptions for 75 yards in the passing game. Jones leads all running backs with eight rushing touchdowns so far in 2019. His 49.2 PPR points were tops among all running backs in Week 5, and the third-year pro has taken his game to the next level so far this season. Fantasy owners will be looking for his fifth-straight double-digit PPR performance next week against the Lions.
Top Wide Receiver
Will Fuller, WR, Texans
Fuller was sensational Sunday against the Falcons hauling in 14 of 16 targets for 217 yards and three touchdowns. His 53.7 PPR points earned him top billing among all wideouts in Week 5. Fuller owners finally were awarded the production they were expecting when they invested valuable mid-round draft capital this summer. To put his performance in perspective, Fuller scored more PPR fantasy points in Week 5 than wide receivers Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Curtis Samuel, Josh Gordon, Stefon Diggs, Alshon Jeffery and Mike Williams all have on the entire season!
Michael Thomas, WR, Saints
Thomas has not missed a beat since starting QB Drew Brees went down with injury three weeks ago. Thomas hauled in 11 of his 13 targets from backup Teddy Bridgewater for 182 yards and two touchdowns. His 41.2 PPR points were nothing short of spectacular on Sunday against the Buccaneers. Thomas has rewarded fantasy owners who made the first-round investment this summer with double-digit PPR performances in every game this season.
The New Sheriff In Town
Mohammed Sanu, WR, Falcons
Sanu, who my model flagged as a top streaming option, did not disappoint, posting his fourth double-digit PPR effort in five games this season. Sanu caught all five of his targets for 42 yards and a touchdown. Sanu, who has emerged a reliable flex option, will once again offer excellent streaming potential in Week 6 with a plus matchup against Arizona.
Burned By Injury
Sammy Watkins, WR, Chiefs
Watkins was forced to exit the Sunday night game with the Colts without getting on the stat sheet. The dreaded goose-egg frustrated his fantasy owners who have steadily seen the oft-injured wideout get worse since his amazing Week 1 performance against the Jaguars. Since scoring three touchdowns in Week 1, Watkins has not topped 64 yards receiving and hasn't found the endzone in his last four games. With star WR Tyreek Hill likely returning next week against the Texans, Watkins is trending in the wrong direction and will be dangerous to trust if Hill is healthy enough to return in Week 6.
Wayne Gallman, RB, Giants
Many owners depended on Gallman performing at a high level for one more week before incumbent starter Saquon Barkley makes his speedy recovery from a high ankle sprain. However, fantasy owners were left frustrated by the second-year, back who only managed 1.4 points before exiting with a concussion. Many owners go their hopes up after he posted 28.8 PPR points in Week 4 against Washington. With Barkley's expected return Thursday night against New England, Gallman owners will return him to the bench for the foreseeable future.
Stop and Take Notice
Courtland Sutton, WR, Broncos
We highlighted in our streaming feature last week that Sutton deserved more attention from fantasy owners. Sutton was once again solid on Sunday against the Chargers, filling up the stat sheet by making four receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown. Sutton now has double-digit PPR performances in four of his five games this season. Still only started in less than 57% of leagues, Sutton is proving that he needs to be started regardless of the matchup.
"This Guy is GOOD" Award
Chris Godwin, WR, Buccaneers
Godwin was once again fantastic in Week 5 against the Saints, grabbing seven receptions for 125 yards and two touchdowns, and he now stands as the overall WR3 in PPR formats. The third-year wideout has emerged as the player to own in the Buccaneers offense and is a WR1 that should be started every week regardless of the opponent.
"Can't Touch This" Award
Austin Ekeler, RB, Chargers
Austin Ekeler continued his dominating season in Week 5 by tying a Chargers franchise record with 15 receptions en route to his third 20-point plus PPR performance in his last four games. Ekeler now stands as the overall RB2 on the season, behind only Christian McCaffery. He has proven that even with Melvin Gordon returning, he has high RB2/flex appeal going forward for the rest of the season at a minimum.
Getting Defensive!
Eagles D/ST
We highlighted in the streaming feature last week, that should Sam Darnold miss the game, this would be the easiest call of the week—and boy was it! The Eagles recorded 10 sacks, a forced fumble, and two interceptions against the woeful Jets. Also, they took two of the turnovers back for scores en route to amassing an astounding 29 points in the SI Fantasy Football World Championships.
The Luckiest Number
Four
Four proved to be the luckiest number of the day in the NFL in Week 5. Four kickers each connected on four field goals on the day: Justin Tucker (Ravens), Dan Bailey (Vikings), Adam Vinatieri (Colts) and Zane Gonzalez (Cardinals). Packers RB Aaron Jones had four rushing touchdowns. Two quarterbacks had four touchdown passes: Russell Wilson and Teddy Bridgewater.
