Kaleel Weatherly and Mitchell Westall, staff writers
As the National Football League (NFL) heads into its sixth week, it’s time for fantasy football fanatics to take a look at the wins and defeats on the field and in their brackets. Fantasy football owners will finally find out about the players that could potentially put up solid statistics this week.
Biggest Disappointments from Week 5
Jamaal Charles (KC, RB) – He spent the first four weeks as the highest scoring running back in all of fantasy. However, now fantasy owners are going to have to find a replacement for their first-round draft pick. Charles went down Sunday with his second torn ACL in the past three years. Seeing him on the sidelines in the future will be a big disappointment for fantasy owners.
Eddie Lacy (GB, RB) – Since his week one performance of 9 points, he has failed to live up to the expectations that made him the first overall pick in most leagues. On the field, he seems just too big to make a huge play. In the last four weeks, he has posted a total of 22.4 points, which would be impressive if that was just for one week.
Matt Ryan (ATL, QB) – Ryan scored 6.16 points after turning the ball over twice Sunday against none other than the Redskins. The Redskins have improved this season; however, they were without their top two cornerbacks, leaving them with three bottom-tier corners to cover Julio Jones, Roddy White and ex-Skin Leonard Hankerson. Ryan should have played his best game of the season, but instead he threw for just over 250 yards with an interception and a fumble. Chalk this one up as a mulligan because Ryan’s skills are just too strong for him to continue having games like these.
Surprise Performances from Week 5
Gary Barnidge (CLE, TE) – Barnidge had a monster game this week by recording 19.50 points for fantasy owners. Barnidge caught eight passes for 139 yards Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. He even put the proverbial cherry on top by scoring a touchdown. It would be wise for owners to get this man off of waivers. All Barnidge’s fantasy owners are screaming “encore.” Can Barnidge repeat that breakout performance? Tune in Week 6 to find out.
Todd Gurley (STL, RB) – Rumble, young man. That is exactly what Gurley did against the Green Bay Packers Sunday. He put up 15.90 points this week. Gurley toted the rock 30 times for 159 yards. Okay, so maybe he had a stellar game against the Cardinals in Week 4, but was anyone expecting an encore performance like this? It seems like he gets all of his yardage in the fourth quarter, and he is always likely to break off a huge rushing gain. If you are looking for a running back that will produce solid numbers, pick up Gurley now. His production will only increase because he is the Rams’ lone hope of generating any kind of offense this year.
Dion Lewis (NE, RB) – Each year there is always a player on this team that comes out from obscurity and shocks fans. Lewis is the man who did just that this past Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. Lewis posted 15.30 points, and owners should be aware of this young man’s play. He ran the ball six times for 34 yards, but he also caught eight passes for 59 yards. Where does Robert Kraft find these players?
Potential fantasy studs for Week 6
Tom Brady (NE, QB) – Brady takes on the Indianapolis Colts’ defense this week. Here we go again, ladies and gentlemen! This is what you have all been waiting for. It’s a “deflategate” reunion. He is looking at a favorable match up this week against the Colts’ passing defense. This defense ranks twenty-eighth against the passing game this season. In fact, this will be the Colts’ greatest challenge. From Week 1-5, the Colts have faced quarterbacks like Tyrod Taylor, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Marcus Mariota, Blake Bortles and Ryan Mallet.
The Colts are ranked ninth against quarterbacks in fantasy leagues, but they have not faced an elite quarterback so far. In Week 5, Brady registered 25.30 points in fantasy leagues. Look for him to creep around 30.00 points this week, as the Colts will have a difficult time stopping this high-power offense. As of right now, Brady is playing like he did in 2007.
Sam Bradford (PHI, QB) – Bradford takes on the New York Giants’ defense this week. Bradford’s play this season has been up and down, like the Drop Tower: Scream Zone ride at Kings Dominion. This week, look for Bradford to record monster statistics against a Giants’ defense that ranks last in the NFL against the pass. Last week against the New Orleans Saints, Bradford recorded 19.62 points against a defense that is ranked third against opposing quarterbacks in fantasy leagues. Look for Bradford to come close to 25.00 points this week. And, Bradford, you are not in St. Louis anymore. You can start throwing the ball down the field more often. Please don’t start to turn into Captain Checkdown.
Matt Forte (CHI, RB) – Forte is up against the Detroit Lions’ defense this week. Forte recorded 16.90 fantasy points last week against the Kansas City Chiefs. He is coming into Sunday’s match with momentum. On the other hand, Detroit’s rushing defense is ranked twenty-seventh in the NFL. Last week, this defense made Arizona Cardinals running back Chris Johnson look a lot like retired Lions running back Barry Sanders. Look for Forte to come close to 25.00 points by the end of the week. With Alshon Jeffery injured, Forte is now crucial to Chicago’s offense.Watching the Lions rush defense is as bad as watching fresh paint dry.
All statistics and facts were compiled with the help of espn.com, Yahoo Sports and nfl.com.
