NFL Week 5 Takeaways

In Week 5, some well-known individuals made a comeback, stirring up a lot of excitement and anticipation in the world of fantasy. The expected leaders remained at the top, with no unexpected results to steal the spotlight. Moving forward, let’s examine some takeaways from Week 5 and anticipate what’s coming in Week 6…

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Jaguars at Bills

Jacksonville concluded their London trip with another victory, led by Travis Etienne’s 136 rushing yards with two rushing TDs and added four catches for 48 yards. Trevor Lawrence threw for 315 yards, and the Jags receiving corps was paced by Calvin Ridley’s seven receptions for 122 receiving yards.

Josh Allen put up the fourth-highest points for QBs in Week 5 with 359 passing yards with two passing TDs and added 14 rushing yards and a rushing score in defeat. The Bills were the first team in the NFL this season, with two WRs going over 100 yards receiving and TD. Stefon Diggs finished with eight receptions for 121 yards and one TD, while Gabe Davis totaled six catches for 100 yards and one TD.

Takeaway:

• The Jaguars have a Week 1 divisional rematch at home against the Colts in Week 6, who allow the sixth most points to QBs, ninth to WRs, and 12th to RBs. In Week 1, Ridley and Etienne each scored a touchdown with at least 75 scrimmage yards, with Lawrence throwing for two tuddies. Jags players are no-brainers next week, including Christian Kirk.
• Buffalo’s high-powered offense will go up against the Giants at home for Sunday Night Football. The Giants allowed 524 yards and four offensive TDs in Week 5 to Miami. Start all your Bills with confidence.

Giants at Dolphins

The Fins ran all over the Giants’ defense, who have allowed the fourth-most rushing yards this season, rushing for 222 yards, led by De’Von Achane’s 151 rushing yards and one TD. Raheem Mostert added 65 rushing yards and a score. Tyreek Hill secured eight balls for 181 yards and one TD. Jaylen Waddle saw 10 targets, finishing with five grabs for 35 yards and one TD.

Takeaway:

• Miami will look to continue their record-setting offensive pace with a very fantasy-friendly matchup against the Panthers defense, who’ve allowed the third most points to RBs this season despite allowing the sixth-fewest points to WRs and QBs.

Panthers at Lions

Jared Goff was at home, and his typical splits were apparent again after scoring the second-most points for a QB in Week 5. Goff went 20/30 for 236 yards with three passing TDs, adding one rushing score. Some trickery helped Sam LaPorta, three catches for 47 yards and two TDs, acquire his second score of the day from Goff. Amon-Ra St. Brown was ruled out for this one, and it was Josh Reynolds who led the Lions receivers with five targets, securing four balls for 76 yards and one touchdown. Jameson Williams returned from suspension, seeing three targets for two yards. David Montgomery handled the backfield by himself with Jahmyr Gibbs ruled out, carrying the rock 19 times for 109 yards and a 42-yard rushing TD while adding two catches for 20 yards off six targets. He’s in the RB1 mix moving forward. 

Rookie Bryce Young tallied his first three-touchdown passing game and was one of five QBs with at least three passing TDs in Week 5. Adam Thielen has become the Panthers’ favorite passing option with 13 targets, hauling in 11 for 107 yards and one touchdown. Thielen is averaging 9.4 targets per game this season and ranks ninth overall among WRs with 46 targets. 

Takeaway:  

• The Lions will travel to Baltimore, who allow the third-fewest points to QBs and the seventh-fewest to WRs on a per-game basis. The Ravens also allow the 13th-lowest points to RBs. I would temper expectations for the Lions, with Montgomery being the only surefire start next week if St Brown and Gibbs were to miss.
• The winless Panthers will be in South Beach in what should be a fantasy-friendly script for Young and his pass catchers. The Dolphins give up the third most points to QBs and 10^th most to WRs in part to game scripts as their offense forces the opponents to play catch up.

Eagles at Rams

Jalen Hurts clearly wanted to remain undefeated with his performance of 303 passing yards with one passing TD and contributed 72 rushing yards and a score. Dallas Goedert dusted off the cobwebs with eight receptions for 117 yards and one TD off nine targets. A.J. Brown handled eight targets for six catches and 127 yards. D’Andre Swift added 17 carries for 70 yards for the Eagles rushing attack and is clearly in the RB2 mix moving forward.

Cooper Kupp made his grand return and did not disappoint with eight receptions for 118 yards off a team-high 12 targets. Puka Nacua will still be a featured part of the offense moving forward after seeing 11 targets, securing seven catches for 71 yards and a TD. Matthew Stafford had a great start to the game but ended with what felt to be a disappointing 222 passing yards and a couple of TDs.  

Takeaway:

• The Eagles’ passing offense may only be able to produce two passing options each week as Goedert overshadowed DeVonta Smith’s one-catch day. Philly turns their focus to the Jets at MetLife Stadium, where New York has allowed the sixth most rushing yards to QBs, and the most points to TEs but third-fewest points to WRs this season.
• Arizona will visit the Rams in Los Angeles, who are allowing the seventh most total yards this season. The Cards allowed the Niners to score 35 points and Bengals 34 points in back-to-back weeks. Rams offensive players are all no-doubt starts next week.

Bengals at Cardinals

Who Dey? Who are these Bengals? Are these Bengals we are going to see moving forward? Joe Burrow broke out in a big way with 317 yards and three passing TDs. Former Bayou Bengal Ja’Marr Chase scored the second-highest points for a WR this week with 15 catches for 192 yards and three TDs off 19 targets. Tee Higgins did not suit up for this contest. Trenton Irwin saw 10 targets with Higgins out, amassing 60 yards and eight catches.

James Connor left the game for the Cardinals after taking a shot to his knee following an exciting 35-yard rush and did not return. Emari Demercado was the next man up, rushing 10 times for 45 yards and one TD. If Connor misses time, Demercado will be a top waiver add for next week. Last week’s waiver wire flavor of the week, Michael Wilson, finished with one catch for 18 yards.

Takeaway:

• Cincinnati will host the Seahawks, who are coming off their Week 5 bye. Seattle allows the sixth-most fantasy points to WRs, third-most yards to WRs, and tied for the third-most TDs to WRs through the first four weeks. They’ve also allowed the 11th most fantasy points to QBs.
• The Red Sea will visit Hollywood next week, and if Connor is out, I cannot see a single player worth starting in that matchup against the Rams. 

Notables:

• Jonathan Taylor returned from the PUP List, totaling six carries for 18 yards. Zach Moss carried the ball 23 times for 165 yards with two TDs. Not the return Taylor was looking for.
• Anthony Richardson left the game due to spraining his right AC joint.
• DeAndre Hopkins turned in eight catches for 140 yards off 11 targets against the Colts, who are allowing the eighth-most points to WRs. Hopkins will see the Ravens’ seventh-best defense against WRs in London next week.
• Alvin Kamara handled 22 carries for 80 yards and one TD vs. the Patriots and will face the Texans’ ninth-friendliest defense to RBs in Week 6. 
• Travis Kelce left the game due to an ankle injury but returned against the Vikings, putting up the fourth most points by TE in Week 5 with 10 catches for 67 yards and one TD. Taylor Swift’s Boo will face the Broncos on Thursday Night Football, who gives up the third-most points to TEs this season. Chiefs against the Broncos on a short week should be a home run for Patrick Mahomes and Isiah Pacheco.
• Justin Jefferson left in the fourth quarter due to a hamstring injury, and the severity is unknown at this time. Jordan Addison stepped up, leading the Vikings with six catches for 64 yards and one TD off targets.  
• Brock Purdy and the Niners put it on the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. Purdy threw for 252 yards and four touchdowns, scoring the third most points by a QB this week. The Cowboys’ defense entered the game, giving up the second-fewest points to QBs this season and only allowed two passing TDs to QBs in 2023. The Niners face another stout defense in the Browns, who are coming off a bye week, and are allowing the fifth-fewest points to QBs, RBs, and the fewest points to WRs this year.
• Geroge Kittle was the main beneficiary of Purdy, catching three passes for 67 yards and three scores. Kittle was the highest-scoring TE in Week 5 and is now tied for most receiving TDs by a TE this season.
• Week 6 Byes include the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers. Adjust your Week 6 lineup accordingly.

🚨 A stat worth monitoring are team’s Red Zone TD Scoring Percentage. Through five games, we can start seeing trends with teams in the Red Zone, which equates to fantasy points. 🚨

• Miami leads the NFL with 76%, and rounding out the top 10 are Buffalo (73%), Baltimore (72%), San Francisco (70%), Green Bay (69), LA Charges (69%), LA Rams (64%), Detroit (63%), Kansas City (63%) and New England (63%).
• The bottom five teams with Red Zone TD Scoring Percentages are Pittsburgh (28%), NY Jets (31%), Houston (35%), Tennessee (35%), and Dallas (37%).

Thanks for your time checking out Week 5 takeaways. While you’re here, check out more fantasy goodness at Razzball. Follow me on Twitter/X @Jefferson__21. 

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