Fantasy Football Updates: Week 5 Insights
Here we are in the fifth week of the fantasy football season. Last week, the tight ends had a mix of touchdowns, even if nobody quite hit the 70-yard mark. Darren Waller made a notable return, securing two touchdowns for his team, which has been desperate for a reliable red zone option. It was hard to believe he could regain form after so many missed games and injuries, but he’s shown promising results so far.
As for some key teams this week, we have the Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, and Pittsburgh Steelers. A few notable players include Cole Kmet, Colston Loveland, Kyle Pitts, Tucker Kraft, Jonnu Smith, and Pat Freiermuth.
Ja’tavion Sanders, Panthers
Sanders is recovering from a high-end ankle sprain he sustained in week three, which means he’s out for a few weeks. In his absence, Tommy Tremble had a solid fantasy performance against the Patriots with five receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown. Though he may not consistently rack up the yards, he does have a favorable matchup against the Dolphins this week.
Unfortunately, I’ve been dealing with a bothersome knee injury. This situation has unintentionally allowed Olonde Gadsden to step into a bigger role, but his talent as a wide receiver has pushed the tight end position down the depth chart quite a bit.
After suffering a concussion against the Vikings in week three, another player missed last week’s game. There’s hope that he can pass the concussion protocol before this week’s match, but it’s tough for the offense to navigate challenges without Joe Burrow.
Looking at expected scoring for this week, here are some matchups to note:
- Bills vs. Patriots (50.5)
- Bengals vs. Lions (48.5)
- Commanders vs. Chargers (48.5)
- Colts vs. Raiders (47.5)
- Jets vs. Cowboys (47.5)
In contrast, the lower-scoring games might be:
- Browns vs. Vikings (36.5)
- Titans vs. Saints (41.5)
- Cardinals vs. Titans (41.5)
Highest Individual Team Totals
- Bills (29.5)
- Lions (29)
- Colts (27)
- Rams (26)
- Chargers (25.5)
Lowest Individual Team Totals
- Titans (16.5)
- Browns (16.5)
- Bengals (19)
Darren Waller, Dolphins, and Panthers
While Waller may not be a full-time tight end at this stage in his career, he plans to play a crucial role, especially near the end zone. Now, I don’t think we can expect two touchdowns every game, especially given he just returned after being sidelined for quite some time. Still, he has a solid opportunity, particularly with Tyreek Hill also out this season.
Mason Taylor, Jets vs. Cowboys
This week could be a big moment for Mason Taylor, as he finally got a fair amount of fantasy use last game. It might be somewhat premature to make him a starter, but I anticipate that the Jets will throw quite a bit in this matchup. Justin Fields is definitely looking for targets beyond just Garrett Wilson, and last week, Taylor stepped up with a 7-for-7 performance for 65 yards. He ranked just behind Wilson in terms of targets, receptions, and yards. The Cowboys are generally okay against tight ends, but they struggle more against passing in general.
