Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Week 5 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Deshaun Watson (Texans)
This performance belongs in the garbage time Hall-of-Fame. Deshaun Watson went off as soon as the game got out of hand, posting 292 total YDS (261 passing, 31 rushing), 5 passing TD's and a 2 point-conversion in a Sunday night loss against the Chiefs. Watson has been a top-tier fantasy option for the past 3 weeks and is in an excellent position to succeed once again this week in a home matchup versus the Browns awful defense.
Honorable Mentions: Dak Prescott (Cowboys), Carson Wentz (Eagles), Alex Smith (Chiefs)

LVP: Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers) 
If there was any doubt that nearly 15 years of getting pummeled by NFL defenses has finally caught up to Ben Roethlisberger, this week shattered it. Roethlisberger got devoured by Jacksonville's top-ranked passing D, throwing for 0 TD's and a career-high 5 INT's in a soul-crushing 30-9 loss in front of the Heinz Field faithful. Big Ben's streak of underwhelming play is likely to continue in Week 6 when the Steelers travel to the incredible hostile Arrowhead Stadium to take on the undefeated Chiefs.
Dishonorable Mentions: Tom Brady (Patriots), Russell Wilson (Seahawks), Carson Palmer (Cardinals)

Running Back
MVP: Leonard Fournette (Jaguars) 
After posting solid number numbers in the first quarter of the season, Leonard Forunette finally had his true breakout game in Week 5. Fournette manhandled the Steelers overrated run defense, managing 181 YDS and 2 TD's on 28 carries in yet another statement win for Jacksonville. The Jags rookie running back has found the endzone in 5 straight games and will look to make it 6 against a Rams D that has allowed the most fantasy points to RB's this season.
Honorable Mentions: Melvin Gordon (Chargers), Jerick McKinnon (Vikings), Aaron Jones (Packers)

LVP: Todd Gurley (Rams)
2017's biggest surprise fantasy darling finally showed his mortality against the Seahawks in Week 5. The Rams bellcow back was bottled up for 50 total yards (43 rushing, 7 receiving) on 16 touches and lost a fumble in a sloppy loss for Sean McVay's squad. Gurley has a great shot of returning to his dominant form in Week 6 against an inconsistent Jaguars run D that is giving up an average of nearly 150 yards on the ground.   
Dishonorable Mentions: Carlos Hyde (49ers), DeMarco Murray (Titans), Tarik Cohen (Bears)

Wide Receiver 
MVP: DeAndre Hopkins (Texans) 
Like his quarterback, DeAndre Hopkins took full advantage of the lax nature of garbage time to become a fantasy MVP this week. A trio of TD's helped bolster an otherwise pedeistairan statline (4 REC, 52 YDS) for the league's highest-paid WR. Hopkins has been one of the most consistent receivers in the league through the first 5 weeks of the season and he should be able to maintain his solid productivity level as long as Deshaun Watson continues to play well.
Honorable Mentions: A.J. Green (Bengals), Davante Adams (Packers), Will Fuller (Texans)

LVP: Mike Evans (Buccaneers) 
In a shocking development, Mike Evans became the 1st stud WR in 2017 to put up below-average numbers against the Patriots coverage-challenged secondary. While his teammates (DeSean Jackson, Cameron Brate) feasted against the league's worst pass defense, Mike Evans was left famished with a sad 5 reception, 49-yard performance. Despite scoring a pair of TD's in his first 4 games, Evans has yet to provide a great return for his top-8 draft position and has the unfortunate task of having to go up against Cardinals shutdown corner Patrick Peterson in Week 6. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Doug Baldwin (Seahawks), Alshon Jeffrey (Eagles), Amari Cooper (Raiders)

Tight End
MVP: Cameron Brate (Buccaneers)
As I just mentioned in my takedown of Mike Evans, Cameron Brate put forth another solid effort against the Patriots. The Bucs top receiving tight end finished the night with 68 yards and a TD on 5 receptions. Brate's healthy volume of redzone targets and strong rapport with Jameis Winston makes him one of the stronger options at the paper-thin TE position. 
Honorable Mentions: Zach Ertz (Eagles), Kyle Rudolph (Vikings), Hunter Henry (Chargers)

LVP: Evan Engram (Giants)
Evan Engram's catastrophic failure in Week 5 doesn't make a lick of sense. In a game where the Giants top 3 WR's (Odell Beckham Jr., Brandon Marshall, Sterling Shepard) exited the game with injuries by the time 4th quarter started, Engram failed to catch a single pass. With OBJ and Marshall officially out for the season, Engram appears to be in-line to become the focal point of the Giants passing attack and should be in the TE1 conversation just about every week moving forward.
Dishonorable Mentions: Delanie Walker (Titans), Jesse James (Steelers), Eric Ebron (Lions)

Defense/Special Teams
MVP: Jacksonville Jaguars
The schizophrenic Jacksonville D achieved a new high point in Week 5. The Jags made life a living hell for Ben Roethlisberger as they managed 5 INT's, 2 sacks and a pair of defensive scores in a stunning 30-9 upset of the Steelers. This erratic yet highly talented group will look to string together another dominant performance versus a Rams offense that is coming off a 5-turnover performance against the Seahawks.  
Honorable Mentions: Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Ravens

LVP: Houston Texans
The Texans once-feared defense couldn't even live up to the low expectations that were placed on them ahead of their Sunday night tilt with the Chiefs. Mike Vrabel's troops were completely overwhelmed by the Chiefs suddenly explosive offense, allowing 42 points while mustering only 1 sack and forcing 0 takeaways. With top pass-rushers J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus suffering season-ending injuries in Sunday's loss, owners might want to considering severing ties with this group.
Dishonorable Mentions: Arizona Cardinals, Oakland Raiders, Detroit Lions

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