Reviewing Week 5

Star Of Stars

QB: Drew Brees – The new record holder for consecutive games with a TD pass, Brees made the choice easy this week with 370 yards and four TDs (and one INT) against the Chargers.  While Brees’ numbers are lagging a bit from last season’s pace, he doesn’t need to match the 2011 numbers in order to justify his high draft spot. Brees conservatively remains a top-5 fantasy QB, with a strong argument for top-3 status.

RB: Ahmad Bradshaw – In case there was any doubt, Bradshaw owns the top chair in the New York Giants' running back group when healthy. And with 200 yards rushing and one TD against the Browns, Bradshaw appears healthy. When non-injured, Bradshaw profiles as a high end RB2, so start him every week if he’s healthy. But needless to say, it’s risky to count on him to stay off the injury list for the remainder of the season. 

WR: Marques Colston – Difficult choice here, with Victor Cruz and his three TD performances also deserving consideration, along with Reggie Wayne and his 212 yards and one TD performance, and several other WRs with strong performances this week. However, nine catches for 131 yards and threeTDs will earn you a spot among the Star of Stars. With the emergence of Jimmy Graham, Colston has fallen under the radar a bit, but he shouldn’t. Colston should put up high end WR2 numbers this season.

TE: Tony Gonzalez – While Gonzalez has indicated that he plans to hang it up after the season, the Falcons may need to plead with him to reconsider based on performances like the one he had on Sunday. Gonzalez had 13 catches for 123 yards and a TD – not bad for a 36 year old! Gonzalez remains a TE1 and you should enjoy his final NFL season, whether you own him on your fantasy team or not.

Unforeseen Explosions

QB: Alex Smith – At this point, you can make a case that Alex Smith belongs in the “Star of Stars” category. Smith falls into the “better real-life QB than fantasy QB” category, so his performance of 303 yards and three TDs gets placed here. Smith has continued to play well under Harbaugh, and you should expect to see solid, yet not spectacular numbers from him going forward. As the 49ers are a run-first, let-the-defense-dominate type team, Smith’s ceiling is as a high end QB2. 

RB: Alfred Morris – So has Shanahan listened to the pleas of fantasy owners worldwide and settled on a bell cow RB for the season? I’m not ready to go that far, but Morris has made his case to keep the role all for himself. While he didn’t find the end zone, 115 yards on 19 carries qualifies as a strong day. Morris’ situation needs to be reviewed week to week, unfortunately, but enjoy solid production from him until the mad scientist starts rotating the RBs again.

WR: Josh Gordon – Coming into the season with seven catches for 93 yards in his CAREER, Gordon certainly got his name out there with his 82 yards and two TDs on Sunday. How should Gordon be viewed going forward? While he only had the two catches, he was targeted by Weeden eight times. It’s way too early to make a definitive endorsement on Gordon’s behalf, but keep an eye on him in the next few weeks to see if Weeden continues to throw his way. 

TE: Vacant – No unforeseen explosions took place from TEs this week.

Expletive of the Week

RB Chris Johnson – Just one week after the unsuccessful motivational tactic of recognizing Johnson as the RB Star of Stars, I’m ready to concede defeat with this guy. Only 24 yards on 15 carries?! Don’t drop him quite yet if you own him, but he needs to find a comfortable seat on your bench. Blame several factors – mediocre offensive line, diminishing desire/skills, the Titans consistently falling behind early in games – this list goes much further than one of his rushing attempts. But CJ20, or actually in fairness, CJ24 this week, has been banished to the outside of the circle of trust. 

Week 6 Projections

Quarterbacks

1. Aaron Rodgers, Packers (at Texans)

2. Matt Ryan, Falcons (Raiders)

3. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers (at Titans)

4. Michael Vick, Eagles (Lions)

5. Philip Rivers, Chargers (Broncos)

6. Tom Brady, Patriots (at Seahawks)

7. Robert Griffin III, Redskins (Vikings)

8. Peyton Manning, Broncos (at Chargers)

9. Matthew Stafford, Lions (at Eagles)

10. Michael Vick, Eagles (Lions)

11. Eli Manning, Giants (at 49ers)

12. Tony Romo, Cowboys (at Ravens)

13. Matt Schaub, Texans (Packers)

14. Andrew Luck, Colts (at Jets)

15. Christian Ponder, Vikings (at Redskins)

16. Joe Flacco, Ravens (Cowboys)

17. Andy Dalton, Bengals (at Browns)

18. Carson Palmer, Raiders (at Falcons)

19. Alex Smith, 49ers (Giants)

20. Kevin Kolb, Cardinals (Bills)

Running Backs

1. Arian Foster, Texans (Packers)

2. Ray Rice, Ravens (Cowboys)

3. LeSean McCoy, Eagles (Lions)

4. Trent Richardson, Browns (Bengals)

5. Jamaal Charles, Chiefs (at Buccaneers)

6. Adrian Peterson, Vikings (at Redskins)

7. Ryan Mathews, Chargers (Broncos)

8. Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks (Patriots)

9. Frank Gore, 49ers (Giants)

10. Reggie Bush, Dolphins (Rams)

11. Darren McFadden, Raiders (at Falcons)

12. DeMarco Murray, Cowboys (at Ravens)

13. Alfred Morris, Redskins (Vikings)

14. Michael Turner, Falcons (Raiders)

15. Doug Martin, Buccaneers (Chiefs)

16. Stevan Ridley, Patriots (at Seahawks)

17. Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers (at Titans)

18. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Bengals (at Browns)

19. C.J. Spiller, Bills (at Cardinals)

20. Chris Johnson, Titans (Steelers)

21. Steven Jackson, Rams (at Dolphins)

22. Ahmad Bradshaw, Giants (at 49ers)

23. Alex Green, Packers (at Texans)

24. Willis McGahee, Broncos (at Chargers)

25. Shonn Greene, Jets (Colts)

26. Fred Jackson, Bills (at Cardinals)

27. Kendall hunter, 49ers (Giants)

28. Jackie Battle, Chargers (Broncos)

29. Brandon Bolden, Patriots (at Seahawks)

30. Mikel Leshoure, Lions (at Eagles)

Wide Receiver

1. Calvin Johnson, Lions (at Eagles)

2. Percy Harvin, Vikings (at Redskins)

3. A.J. Green, Bengals (at Browns)

4. Roddy White, Falcons (Raiders)

5. Julio Jones, Falcons (Raiders)

6. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals (Bills)

7. Demaryius Thomas, Broncos (at Chargers)

8. Mike Wallace, Steelers (at Titans)

9. Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs (at Buccaneers)

10. Antonio Brown, Steelers (at Titans)

11. Victor Cruz, Giants (at 49ers)

12. Andre Johnson, Texans (Packers)

13. Reggie Wayne, Colts (at Jets)

14. Jordy Nelson, Packers (at Texans)

15. Wes Welker, Patriots (at Seahawks)

16. Miles Austin, Cowboys (at Ravens)

17. Brandon Lloyd, Patriots (at Seahawks)

18. Vincent Jackson, Buccaneers (Chiefs)

19. Torrey Smith, Ravens (Cowboys)

20. James Jones, Packers (at Texans)

21. Malcom Floyd, Chargers (Broncos)

22. Dez Bryant, Cowboys (at Ravens)

23. DeSean Jackson, Eagles (Lions)

24. Eric Decker, Broncos (at Chargers)

25. Pierre Garcon, Redskins (Vikings)

Tight Ends

1. Tony Gonzalez, Falcons (Raiders)

2. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots (at Seahawks)

3. Vernon Davis, 49ers (Giants)

4. Kyle Rudolph, Vikings (at Redskins)

5. Heath Miller, Steelers (at Titans)

6. Owen Daniels, Texans (Packers)

7. Antonio Gates, Chargers (Broncos)

8. Brent Celek, Eagles (Lions)

9. Fred Davis, Redskins (Vikings)

10. Martellus Bennett, Giants (at 49ers)

11. Jason Witten, Cowboys (at Ravens)

12. Jermichael Finley, Packers (at Texans)

13. Brandon Pettigrew, Lions (at Eagles)

14. Jared Cook, Titans (Steelers)

15. Aaron Hernandez, Patriots (at Seahawks)