America’s favorite game is back and The Sports Bank has you covered with the best and worst of what was Fantasy Football Week Five.
This week was all about the return of the running back as three backs scored 25 or more fantasy points.
Follow the jump to receive up-to-date fantasy analysis and the best waiver wire pick-ups for week six!
* Points and line-up statistics adapted from ESPN standard scoring leagues
Fantasy MVP: RB Adrian Peterson (29 RUSH, 122 YDS and 3 TD = 30 points)
Last week, AP had one of the worst fantasy performances, but I think it’s safe to say he’s now made up for lost time for fantasy owners. Not only did Peterson score three touchdowns in the first quarter, he constructed the blueprint on how the Vikings can win a game. Expect AP to get significant carries going forward, including against the Bears and Packers in the next two weeks. Despite the slow start, Peterson still ranks as a top-ten back and should only rise from here.
Honorable Mention: QB Ben Roethlisberger (27 points), QB Matt Cassel (27 points), RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis (26 points) and RB Fred Jackson (25 points)
Worst Performance of the Week: RB Darren McFadden (16 ATT for 51 YDS = 6 points)
McFadden entered Sunday’s game with the Texans as Fantasy’s number one running back while averaging 19.8 points per game. DMAC didn’t get anywhere close to that against the Texans, and the Raiders still found a way to win. Houston made it an emphasis to contain McFadden and did so successfully, but the fact remains that every team doesn’t have the resources to duplicate a similar performance. Expect DMAC to run wild in the next two weeks versus Cleveland and Kansas City.
Wasting Away (Best Bench Player): QB Matt Cassel (21/29, 257 YDS and 4 TD = 27 points)
Just when you thought he was dead, Cassel goes out and throws four touchdowns. I guess that’s what a game against the Indianapolis Colts will do for you. For those bold souls who still own Cassel in your league (60.3 % of leagues), he could be a decent bye-week fill-in as he does have WR Dwayne Bowe who’s pretty talented. In contrast, I wouldn’t expect Cassel to fill in as a starter in deep leagues because he’s too darn inconsistent.
Somebody Pick Me Up (Best Bench Player): WR Victor Cruz (8 REC, 161 YDS and 1 TD = 20 points)
After accumulating 23 fantasy points in week three, critics of Cruz weren’t sure if he could do the same with teammates Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks in the line-up. Well, after a 20 point performance this past week, we know he can. Eli Manning has taken quite the liking to his new weapon in the passing game and targeted him a surprising 11 times. With Nicks and Manningham drawing a lot of attention, Cruz has grabbed 14 receptions in his last two games. Remember what Steve Smith did in this Giants offense, don’t think Cruz can’t do the same thing. Oh yeah, he’s only owned in 38.4 percent of leagues, so go get him guys.
Seahawks D/ST (20 points, 1.1 %), Chargers K Nick Novak (19 points, 2.2 %), Colts QB Curtis Painter (19 points, 2.6 %) and Seahawks WR Doug Baldwin (19 points, 0.4 %) should also be considered for roster spots in the upcoming week.
Hurts So Bad (Worst Injury): DE Mario Williams (Pectoral Muscle)
The Houston Texans’ best offensive player (WR Andre Johnson) went down last week and now their best defensive player is out for the season. Not good news for fantasy owners of the surging Texans D/ST. Williams is like the Peyton Manning of the Texans defense and it will surely have an effect in the short-term. Whether the Texans can adjust to such a big loss by the end of the season is also a question mark. My advice would be to go shopping for another defense because the Texans won’t be as dangerous as when they had the dynamic Williams.
What surprised you the most in Fantasy Week Five? Let me know by commenting below!
Nick Grays is a senior writer at the Sports Bank where he covers the Wisconsin Badgers, Green Bay Packers, and Milwaukee Brewers. He also enjoys to share Fantasy Advice from time-to-time. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here or visit his blog Nick Knows Best.
2011 Fantasy Football Awards Archive
Week One
Week Two
Week Three
Week Four
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