Fantasy
10/12/22
6 min read
What We Learned from NFL Week 5 in Fantasy Football
Five weeks of NFL football have come and gone, and just when we think we’ve seen it all, something even crazier happens.
This week, Buffalo WR Gabe Davis caught a 98 and a 62-yard touchdown on his first two receptions of the game. Saints TE Taysom Hill was responsible for four touchdowns and also recovered a fumble on special teams. Finally, the New York Giants beat the Green Bay Packers to advance to 4-1.
It’s time to take stock and think about where your fantasy team may be headed. After five weeks, most fantasy owners now know whether they are competing to win their league or to not come in last. Regardless of what you’re fighting for, here’s what we can take away from Week 5 in fantasy.
King Henry is Back on His Throne
Last year, Titans RB Derrick Henry was on pace for one of the most dominant running back seasons in NFL history. Unfortunately, halfway through the season, he broke his foot and was sidelined for the rest of the year. This year, many people thought he would bounce back, as he was one of the first players taken off the board in most fantasy drafts. Henry had a slow start to the season, putting up just eight fantasy points in each of his first two games.
However, he quickly recovered and has been spectacular in his last three games. Since Week 3, Henry is averaging more than 100 rushing yards per game and has scored four touchdowns. We’ve seen Henry put up these numbers most of his career. But now, the Titans are starting to get him involved in the passing game.
In the last three weeks, Henry has 10 receptions (as opposed to 0 receptions in Weeks 1 and 2). The Titans know they need to get more experimental on offense, especially after their first-round rookie WR Treylon Burks (foot) was placed on IR. If Henry stays involved in the passing game, he may be one of the most productive PPR fantasy players of all time.
This season, the Titans lost when Henry played poorly and won when he played well, so expect Henry to stay involved in the passing and running game. Many people counted the Titans out early, but they are still capable of competing for a playoff spot. Henry is the heart and soul of this team and is looking to reclaim his title as the best running back in fantasy football.
Jacksonville's Offense Has a Long Way to Go
Through the first three weeks of the season, the Jaguars looked like one of the NFL's biggest surprises. After back-to-back convincing victories against the Colts and Chargers, they looked playoff-bound. Two weeks later, they’re back to looking like the below-average Jaguars team we know and love.
The problem in Jacksonville does not fall on the defense. They have played well, holding every team they’ve played this season to less than 30 points. Their defense also has a shutout under their belt. However, on offense, the team lacks identity. This week, Trevor Lawrence threw the ball 47 times, and the offense only scored six points. To start the season, the Jaguars prioritized the running game with James Robinson, who had at least 64 yards and a touchdown in each of his first three games.
This proved to be effective, as the offense put up more than 22 points every week. However, now the offense has completely abandoned Robinson. He has less than 30 rushing yards and zero touchdowns in each of his last two games. Robinson’s success was key to the Jaguars' offensive efficiency. It opened up passing opportunities, which allowed WRs Christian Kirk and Marvin Jones to put up solid fantasy numbers.
The good news for Jaguars fans is this team has proven they are capable of playing at a high level on both sides of the ball. The bad news is they are running away from what works. This has made a lot of the Jaguars' offense unstartable in most fantasy leagues. Hopefully, this team turns it back around, and we can see them play at their full potential once again.
Seattle Has a Top Fantasy Offense
Going into the season, no one expected much from the Seattle Seahawks. They traded away their franchise QB and were left to choose between Drew Lock and Geno Smith. Personally, I believed Lock would take over as the starter after a few weeks of Smith's mediocrity. I will admit I was wrong. That is to say, Smith didn’t write me back.
After a slow offensive start through the first couple of weeks, Smith has become one of the league's best fantasy QBs. Many people thought without Russell Wilson, every player on this offense would be unstartable in fantasy. This is not the case. To everyone's surprise, Smith is outplaying Wilson this season and has established himself as the fifth-highest-scoring fantasy QB.
His wide receivers, Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf are both Top-25 fantasy WRs, and Will Dissly is a Top 10 fantasy tight end. Unfortunately, RB Rashad Penny recently suffered a season-ending injury, which means rookie RB Kenneth Walker will likely start from now on.
The Seahawks, like the Lions, have an atrocious defense. No matter how much they are scoring on offense, they will still be in a competitive game and trying to move the ball downfield. Despite their defensive woes, Seattle looks like they are playing with a chip on their shoulder. This team is likable and has played much better than their 2-3 record implies. Expect them to maintain their offensive efficiency throughout the rest of the season. As for fantasy, Smith, Walker, Lockett, Metcalf and Dissly are all reasonable starts.
Conclusion
We are nearly a third of the way through the season, and there are still plenty of unanswered questions. As you fight for a playoff spot in your fantasy league, remember to stay active on waivers. Players like Walker and Hill will be claimed in most leagues this week. Even if you drafted a bad team, the waiver wire can save your season. As the first five weeks have proven, anyone can step up and be a star.
WATCH MORE: Which Waiver Wire Players Should You Target?
