Week 5 is in the books and we are back with the Concern-O-Meter. What a week it was, starting with the absolute nail-biting Broncos and Colts game. The week was full of shock results and finally it was a breakout week for the elite running backs. However, it was another week where top profile players let us down.
What is the Concern-O-Meter?
It’s a traffic light system where we highlight five players at each position who underperformed as we identify if you should be concerned or not ahead of the forthcoming week’s schedule.
No Concern at all
Slight Concern
Very Concerned
Concern-O-Meter Week 5 QB - 12 points or less
Ryan Tannehill (TEN) 11.54FPts
Tannehill joins us for the first time this season. To be honest, I expected him here a lot more considering that the Titans offense runs through Derrick Henry. This is notable in Tannehill’s passing game though, in the last four games he has attempted less than 30 pass attempts. Furthermore, only twice this season has he exceeded 200 yards through the air. A bye week lays ahead for the Titans however a game after their week off against an under par Colts should see him bounceback.
Matthew Stafford (LAR) 11.32FPts
What’s crazy here is that in the loss to the Cowboys, this was Stafford’s first 300 yard game of the year. However, he was intercepted again as he moved to a 5:7 TD to INT rate for the year. The problem is that whilst Stafford can ping the ball everywhere, all too often he takes too much time, resulting in getting sacked 5 times against Dallas and fumbling on two of them – he is currently the most sacked QB in the league, 21 times so far this year. A matchup against the Panthers is next and they will be under new management following Matt Rhule’s firing. I think Stafford tidies up his game with less turnovers and puts up a nice display.
Russell Wilson (DEN) 11.16FPts
I don’t know what is worse: the Broncos and Colts game or Russ in his post match presser saying “Broncos Country, let’s ride” after a defeat. What I do know though, Russell Wilson is the biggest disappointment in fantasy football this year. Whilst Wilson racked up his second highest passing yard total of the season, he failed miserably at crucial points on scoring drives, giving up two interceptions – most notably with just over 2 minutes remaining with the Broncos up by 3 points. A game against the Chargers is next, I still have a glimmer of hope that Wilson comes good but I’m nowhere near confident.
Matt Ryan (IND) 8.14FPts
No surprise here, another QB from that atrocious TNF game between the Colts and Broncos. The analysis is very similar to Russell Wilson, he put up good numbers through the air as he racked up 251 yards but he gave up two interceptions and two forced fumbles, recovering one. Hopefully Ryan should have Jonathan Taylor back for a divisional game against the Jags, if he does then I’m confident he’ll come good.
Jared Goff (DET) 6.86FPts
Perhaps the biggest shock from the week 5 slate of games. Going into the game the Lions were the number 1 ranked offense in yards and points in the NFL however they put up a big fat goose egg against the Patriots, this was despite Goff having his number one target, Amon-Ra St. Brown, back. Goff had a tough afternoon as he saw a lot of pressure from New England, giving up a fumble for 6 points and an interception. A bye week is next for the Lions before a game against the Cowboys. After seeing what Dallas did to the former Lions QB Stafford, I fear for Goff.
Concern-O-Meter Week 5 RB - 9 points or less
Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) 7.8FPts
The only thing that is keeping Zeke Fantasy relevant right now is the volume he’s seeing. Albeit against one of the best rush defense units in the NFL, but to muster up 78 yards on 22 carries is lacklustre, especially when Pollard looked the much better back with his workload. Next up is a game against the only undefeated team in the NFL, the Eagles. A very slow start to this campaign doesn’t leave me too excited to roll out Elliott right now.
Antonio Gibson (WAS) 6.9FPts
One of the feel good stories of the year was seeing Brian Robinson return to action just 42 days after being shot in a car hijacking. Despite Robinson seeing a pitch count, Gibson’s numbers fell significantly and wasn’t a feature of the Commanders run game at all as he had just 3 rush attempts. He did have 3 receptions but McKissic will be competing for touches too. Right now, with a healthy backfield in Washington, I’m not keen on Gibson whatsoever as a viable Fantasy option. Red alert!
Najee Harris (PIT) 6.6FPts
Two consecutive weeks on the Concern-O-Meter for Najee Harris and I fully expect the hattrick this time next week. Harris averaged just 1.8YPC in the torching that the Bills handed Pittsburgh. Yes, the assignment was always going to be tough but a game against the Buccaneers doesn’t fill me with much hope.
James Robinson (JAX) 5.9FPts
First off I want to say sorry. Last week I promised he would have a huge day against the Texans and I couldn’t have been any more wrong. Etienne once again outperformed Robinson for a second consecutive week which is a big cause for concern. A game against the Colts lies ahead and I’m not confident at all, red alert.
Devin Singletary (BUF) 5.6FPts
Despite the blowout win against the Steelers, Singletary just couldn’t get anything going. A joint season low 54% snap count meant he saw limited action. However, he was efficient with the little workload he did have, rushing 6 times for 42 yards and hauling in a catch for 4 yards. Not quite time to panic yet, after all he did give way to James Cook once the game was out of reach. One thing to keep an eye on though, recent trade rumours of Christian McCaffrey to the Bills, surely not?!
Concern-O-Meter Week 5 WR - 8 points or less
Robert Woods (TEN) 7.7FPts
After an impressive outing last week I was expecting that to be the springboard to Bobby Trees mania, it wasn’t meant to be. Woods led the Titans offense in targets with 8 but hauled in just 4 of them for 37 yards. Woods is on a bye week followed by a home tie against the Colts which leaves me on the fence, he’s clearly a target that Tannehill likes but I just don’t like the matchup too much.
Darnell Mooney (CHI) 7.2FPts
Momentum is gathering pace for Mooney as he reached over 50 yards in a game for a second consecutive week. It’s unfortunate that he is a Bear because he’s clearly a talented player as we saw from the one handed grab. However, as long as he’s in Chicago with Justin Fields as his QB, I’m really not interested.
Adam Thielen (MIN) 6.7FPts
Another NFC North receiver but a different story. Thielen posted a season low for reception yards but he did have plenty of targets, only Justin Jefferson had more looks from Kirk Cousins. The veteran receiver will continue to be the second option in Minnesota but encouragingly he’s had a minimum of 7 targets over the past four weeks. No worries at all here for Thielen as the Vikings head to Miami this weekend.
A.J. Brown (PHI) 6.2FPts
We aren’t going to worry here. It’s the first time since Brown became an Eagle that he has underperformed. On paper this was a game I expected Brown to go off as he faced a poor Cardinals defense. Although, a season low three receptions from seven targets is a big factor as to why Brown failed to reach the dizzy heights. Furthermore, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert got the best picks of the Eagles passing game. Normal service to be resumed against the Cowboys.
Allen Robinson II (LAR) 4.2FPts
Yes, Allen Robinson is droppable now. Through the first 5 games for the Rams, Robinson has failed to make an impact. For context, Ben Skowronek has had a similar amount of production but is averaging 1.2YP/Rec more. If you are willing to roll the dice for a further week then a game against the Panthers could pay off. I’m not buying in though.
Concern-O-Meter Week 5 TE - 6 points or less
Mike Gesicki (MIA) 4.0FPts
Gesicki had to make do with rookie QB Skylar Thompson for most of the game but even when Tua and Bridgewater were fit and under center he was Fantasy irrelevant. For context, the scoring play on the goal line once again saw the Dolphins’ go to their other tight end Durham Smythe. Gesicki is a player I’m dropping right now, I’d rather roll out players such as Irv Smith or Robert Tonyan for the rest of the season.
Austin Hooper (TEN) 1.7FPts
Whilst Hooper had his highest snap count since week 1, he only had a single target which he hauled in for 7 yards. Prior to the season, Hooper was regarded by many as a Sleeper candidate but it’s safe to drop him now. The Titans are on a bye week so now really is the best time to drop him and find a replacement on waivers. No confidence whatsoever moving forward.
T.J. Hockenson (DET) 1.6FPts
From hero to zero for the Lions tight end. The Lions were missing key players against the Patriots which meant Hockenson had a lot more coverage than normal and stuffed him. A bye week lies ahead but once they return in week 7 I’m confident Hockenson will bounce back, especially as the majority of the Lions’ weapons should be back in action.
Albert Okwuegbunam (DEN) 1.5FPts
Remember at the start of the season when many people were saying Albert O would be a breakout tight end, those claims seem a long shot. He featured on just 15 snaps, the lowest of all Broncos tight ends. I predict, now that Greg Dulcich has returned from IR, Albert O will lose further relevance. It’s time to cut ties with Okwuegbunam, red alert for Albert.
Gerald Everett (LAC) 1.2FPts
The Chargers offense seemed to run through Austin Ekeler as he destroyed Cleveland on the ground and this impacted the Chargers passing game. I keep saying but Keenan Allen is expected to return this week, this is normally when we see the best out of Everett. If Allen plays, then Everett should be good to bounce back.
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Image Credit: James Lang – USA TODAY Sports
