Fantasy Stat Pack: Week Five

If you follow me on Twitter, you’ve probably noticed a series of tweets I share on a weekly basis regarding player and team defensive performances, all from a fantasy lens. I’m going to be sharing some of that same information with you here.

I use this each week as I am making my own lineup and waiver wire decisions and thought you might find this valuable as well.

Note: The scoring system used for this data is always PPR with four points for passing touchdowns.

All year to date fantasy ranks are based on total points.

Quarterbacks

Week Five QB1s (top 12 scorers)

The Texans and Falcons faced off in what was expected to be a high-scoring battle. It did not disappoint as the teams’ signal callers finished as the top-two fantasy quarterbacks of the week, with Deshaun Watson matched his career-high with five touchdowns. Ryan couldn’t keep up but did pass for three scores and finished as the QB2. Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater played his best game of the year and that was good enough for the QB4 spot.

Year to Date QB1s

Week Five was the first time all year that Lamar Jackson did not finish as a QB1, which cost him the top overall spot. He fell to QB4, while Seattle’s Russell Wilson jumped from QB3 to QB1. The previously mentioned Watson (QB6 to QB3) and Ryan (QB10 to QB6) were also big risers. Tom Brady, Kyler Murray and Gardner Minshew entered the top-twelve.

Along with Jackson, Carson Wentz fell from QB5 to QB9, while Matthew Stafford and Marcus Mariota fell out of the top 12 completely.

QB1 Games this Season

Most QB1 Games Allowed

We have a few teams to pick on this week. First, the Dolphins come off a bye and have given fantasy players little reason to expect a change. This week though, Miami hosts the Redskins, who just fired their head coach and have yet to name a starting quarterback. It appears that it will be one of the veterans – Case Keenum or Colt McCoy. Even in this matchup, surely there are better options on your team.

The Falcons and Cardinals have each allowed four QB1 games through five weeks and now face each other in a potentially high-scoring affair. Finally, the Giants travel to New England this week for a Super Bowl 42 and 46 rematch. The only concern here with using Tom Brady in your fantasy lineup is the possibility the Patriots roll over the bruised Giants so quickly that they don’t throw the ball much.

Shockingly, there are still six teams that have yet to allow a top-12 game to a quarterback. Of the six, Buffalo and Chicago are on bye this week, leaving multiple options to avoid. The Broncos defense has not been effective in creating turnovers or getting pressure on the quarterback, yet they still have not given up a QB1 game. This week, that likely won’t change against the Titans and Mariota. Their foe, the Titans, have also held tough against quarterbacks and now get to face Joe Flacco in hopes of keeping their streak going. This will be a game to avoid in general, for fantasy players. The Vikings face Wentz, who is coming off a disappointing fantasy performance

Running Backs

Week Five RB1s (top 12 scorers)

Week Five featured some monster games including a four-score performance by Packers back Aaron Jones, who took advantage of the absence of his running mate Jamaal Williams. With Melvin Gordon back in the lineup, Austin Ekeler didn’t get many chances to run the ball, but he did become the fifth running back in NFL history to record 15 receptions in a game.

Year to Date RB1s

There was actually very little movement among the top-twelve fantasy scorers at running back this week. Jones’ career-game moved him from RB11 to RB4, while Mark Ingram and Derrick Henry each fell slightly down the list. Steelers back James Conner dropped out while Denver’s Phillip Lindsay took his spot at RB12.

RB1 Games this Season

Most RB1 Games Allowed

The Bengals stand alone as the worst defense against fantasy running backs. In only five games, they’ve allowed six RB1 games and three more RB2 performances. This week, they have the tough task of facing the top-rushing team in the AFC, the Ravens. This should be a huge game for Ingram and also bodes well for running quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Six different teams have yet to allow an RB1 game and they are all in action this week. The Giants will be without running backs Saquon Barkley and potentially Wayne Gallman and face the Patriots on Thursday night. The Saints (vs. Leonard Fournette), Eagles (vs. Dalvin Cook), 49ers (vs. Todd Gurley) each face difficult matchups and could see their streaks end. The Steelers will have their hands full with the duo of Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler while Tennessee tries to stop Broncos backs Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman.

Wide Receivers

Week Five WR1s (top 12 scorers)

Week Five was certainly Will Fuller week. Many projected a breakout game from Fuller, but none expected the 50-point outbreak we witnessed against the Falcons. Young wideouts DJ Chark and Chris Godwin continued their breakouts and are leaving their doubters in the dust. With Sammy Watkins and Tyreek Hill out, relatively unknown Byron Pringle flashed with over 100 yards and a touchdown, good for his first career WR1 game.

Year to Date WR1s

The huge performances in Week Five really shook up the top-twelve receivers on the season. Godwin jumped up to the WR1 overall while Michael Thomas, Amari Cooper and Chark each climbed multiple spots. Will Fuller moved from WR56 last week to WR7 after his huge game.

Along with Fuller, Courtland Sutton, Tyler Boyd and Adam Thielen all moved into the WR1 range, replacing Kenny Golladay, Emmanuel Sanders, Sammy Watkins and Mike Evans.

WR1 Games this Season

Most WR1 Games Allowed

The Falcons, Eagles and Buccaneers have each emerged as teams to pick on when selecting wide receivers in weekly fantasy lineups. This week, the Falcons face the Cardinals, who will likely be without receiver Christian Kirk again this week. The Eagles travel to Minnesota and after last week’s breakout game for Adam Thielen, maybe this is the week Stefon Diggs comes alive. Tampa will meet the Panthers in London and while quarterback Cam Newton won’t play, receiver DJ Moore and Curtis Samuel should still be in fantasy lineups.

The Vikings and Patriots are the final two teams who have yet to allow a top-twelve performance to a wideout. That means we should consider benching receivers like Golden Tate and Alshon Jeffery.

Tight Ends

Week Five TE1s (top 12 scorers)

Rams young tight end Gerald Everett had his second straight impressive game and this one was good enough to rank as the TE2 for the week. There were very high expectations for veteran Jared Cook following his breakout season last year and his arrival in New Orleans to presumably serve as a key member of the Saints’ high-powered offense. Instead, he has been a virtual non-factor until he found the end zone in Week Five.

Year to Date TE1s

After falling out of the top twelve due to his Week Four bye, 49ers tight end George Kittle is back at TE8 and Everett’s game was also strong enough to propel him into the TE1 range. Rookie TJ Hockenson and Texans tight end Jordan Akins fell out of the group. The breakout seasons continue for Austin Hooper, Mark Andrews, Will Dissly and Darren Waller. These can each be viewed as replacements for David Njoku, Hunter Henry and OJ Howard.

TE1 Games this Season

Most TE1 Games Allowed

Veteran Greg Olsen struggled last week, failing to even catch a pass. This week, he gets the Buccaneers who have allowed five TE1 games through five weeks. It is difficult to find a better bounce-back spot. The Cardinals and Colts remain easy targets for opposing tight ends as well and Hooper, already the TE1 on the season, gets to face the Cardinals, while the Colts get to rest on their bye week.

The Patriots have yet to allow a TE1 game and it is expected they will face a Giants team without current TE2 Evan Engram. Over one-third of the league has only allowed one TE1 game on the season.

Finally, here is the chart summarizing how teams have fared against each position. I’ve also included

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Ryan McDowell

Contributor at Dynasty League Football

In addition to his senior leadership role here at DLF, Ryan is also a husband, father of three and PE teacher. Ryan is the commissioner of multiple dynasty leagues, most notably the Kitchen Sink Dynasty Leagues. Here at DLF, Ryan’s focus is on identifying, monitoring and analyzing player value.

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