Week 5 fantasy football buy or sell

32 seconds for 32 teams — time to go get forgotten names like Doug Martin and Andrew Luck

Week 5 saw big games from star runners Ezekiel Elliott and Leonard Fournette, two guys we told you to go get last week. Terrelle Pryor was a success too, and Deshaun Watson rewarded readers with a huge five touchdown breakout performance. It all made for a nice bounce back after telling you to prioritize a Cleveland Brown in Week 3.

It was a brutal week of injuries around the league — naturally, just in time for all the bye weeks to start up with Atlanta, Washington, Denver, and New Orleans off next week. Lineup choices suddenly get much tougher and flex options go much deeper now, so make every roster spot count.

Arizona

Andre Ellington is the back to own in Arizona. He led the Cardinals in RB snaps and touches and went over 100 combined yards with nine catches. Chris Johnson is a limited low-flex guy. The overtime touchdown saved Larry Fitzgerald’s day, but he may be a sell high with the Cards sharing the wealth. Jaron Brown may have moved into the Arizona WR2 role with 10 targets a game the last three weeks. He hit 100 yards and looks worth owning, but John Brown and J.J. Nelson are in the mix too.

Atlanta

It was a bleak day for Atlanta with injuries to Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu, and the bye week couldn’t come at a better time. Jones is dealing with hip and back injuries but is expected to play after the bye, so this could be time to strike. If either misses time Taylor Gabriel could be worth a play but he was held without a catch against Buffalo. Instead Tevin Coleman could be the biggest benefactor. He led Atlanta in both rushing and receiving yards and is third on the team in targets through one month.

Baltimore

Javorius Allen played 40 of 68 snaps Sunday but had only two carries. He and Terrence West have seen their touches drop each game, but Allen caught six passes and should be more involved if Baltimore ever rights their offense. Ben Watson has 16 catches the last three weeks and leads the team in receptions, so he’s playable.

Buffalo

Charles Clay continues to put up big numbers with 5/112 on seven targets and should be even more valuable with Jordan Matthews out a month. Buffalo is 3–1 and has allowed just four touchdowns to teams (NYJ CAR DEN ATL) that are 10–2 when not playing the Bills.

Carolina

Did you stick with the Panthers? You wish you did after a huge Cam Newton game. His 8/44/1 rushing equaled his season output and his 3 TDs were more than his first three weeks combined. Kelvin Benjamin went over 100 yards but saw only four targets, with Devin Funchess looking more like the go-to receiver. The tea leaves suggest this is less Newton and Benjamin being “back” and more of a chance to sell high. Christian McCaffrey is now returning both punts and kicks. He out-touched Jonathan Stewart again and was on the field twice as many plays. Anyone getting that much volume is going to be useful.

Chicago

It was an encouraging week for Jordan Howard owners. Howard played twice as many snaps as Tarik Cohen, had as many targets, and tripled his carries, even adding a late touchdown. And he did it all in a blowout, when the script favored Cohen. Still, he could struggle Week 5 against a tough Minnesota run defense and with Mitchell Trubisky finally under center.

Cincinnati

It was a second straight week with big touches for Joe Mixon. He had 17 carries to nine for Hill and Bernard but disappointed with 48 yards in a blowout win. Mixon still has only four red zone carries to Hill’s 11, and that limits his upside. Tyler Kroft had 6/68/2 at tight end. He’s not worth adding but that’s a reminder of how valuable Tyler Eifert is when on the field.

Cleveland

It’s hard to believe, but this is the first time in Browns franchise history they’ve started 0–4 in back to back seasons. Isaiah Crowell is downright unplayable right now. He played only 22 snaps and had just eight touches, with Duke Johnson on the field catching passes most of the game as Cleveland trailed. Johnson had nine catches and a rushing TD and looks like the only even remotely playable Brown. Ricardo Louis has seen his snaps each week and got nine targets, so he could be a stash in deeper leagues.

Dallas

If he actually plays all season, Ezekiel Elliott may be the most valuable player in fantasy. He had his first monster game with 139 yards and two TDs with another big receiving game. Zeke now has 16 receptions, tied with Dez Bryant and just three off the team lead. Bryant continues to see huge targets with 40 in four games but has a miserable 40% catch rate. He’s not getting the separation he once was, but the volume is there so a big game is coming.

Denver

The Broncos didn’t do much, but it was another strong game from C.J. Anderson with 112 yards. If you were worried about Jamaal Charles eating into Anderson’s workload, you shouldn’t be. Anderson out-snapped him 44 to 11 and had 24 touches to six for Charles. Denver has a bye next.

Detroit

The Lions might actually be decent, but that’s probably hurting Matthew Stafford’s value. The richest man in football has seen his TDs drop each week and he’s averaging just 222 yards per game. He’s not a weekly starter. Ameer Abdullah might be. He had his best game of the season against a tough Minnesota D with 20/94/1 on the ground and added three receptions for the third time. He’s a solid RB2 now.

Green Bay

The Packers got the win Thursday, but the injuries are piling up. Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb have each missed a game, Ty Montgomery is day-to-day with a rib injury, and Davante Adams may miss time after that dirty hit. Geronimo Allison had 13 targets in two Green Bay games without Nelson and Cobb, so he looks like a worthy play if any Packers receiver misses time. Aaron Jones is worth stashing after 13/49/1 rushing on 30 snaps with Montgomery and Jamaal Williams sidelined, but wait to see more before you put him in your lineup.

Houston

Hope you picked up Deshaun Watson while he was available. Watson had a rookie record five TDs and got nine points running the ball again. He could turn into a weekly start if he keeps this up. Lamar Miller had a huge game with 131 yards and two TDs but this might be a chance to sell high. D’Onta Foreman played a career-high 24 snaps and is getting as much time in the red zone as Miller. Make sure you pick up Will Fuller. Fuller up up 19/323/2 his first four games as a rookie before playing the rest of the year injured. His 4/35/2 this week may be a fluke, but you need to roster him just in case.

Indianapolis

If someone in your league has given up on Andrew Luck, you definitely need to grab him. Would you pick up Luck if someone cut him on his bye week? Of course you would — he’s a top five QB when healthy. And make sure Jack Doyle is in your lineup. Doyle leads the Colts in receptions now and is on pace for 68 catches and 650 yards, and he should only get better once Luck is back.

Jacksonville

Did you trade for Leonard Fournette while his price was low? He had 147 yards and a touchdown this week and has a soft schedule ahead. Marqise Lee was quiet with only three targets to 10 for Allen Hurns but still leads the team in targets. Blake Bortles was 15/35 and is awful. Even Bortles’ grandmother doesn’t own him, and she’s in a 2-QB league.

Kansas City

Kareem Hunt had his worst game with “just” 121 yards and has forced 11 more missed tackles than anyone else in football. He’s real good, and so is Travis Kelce. Hunt might be a rare buy high if someone wants to sell him off “before he fades.” He really pops on screen and looks like a bona fide star.

Los Angeles Chargers

How is a team this talented 0–4? (Ask the Giants.) Antonio Gates had 37 snaps to 35 for Hunter Henry, and the two splits five catches, neither even hitting 20 yards. Both continue to be unplayable. This was one of those rough games for Melvin Gordon. He had only 29 yards on 11 touches and his 3.1ypc is bad, so you’re relying on receptions and TDs to save the day.

Los Angeles Rams

Todd Gurley has 596 yards and seven TDs in four games, so that’s fun. The Rams schedule is brutal the rest of the way, so test the waters if you can get a windfall. It’s not as fun for Sammy Watkins owners. He had two catches for 17 yards and is fourth on the team in targets with four per game. You were told to draft Gurley and stay away from Watkins. Hope you listened.

Miami

I don’t mean to alarm you, but Jay Cutler is bad at football. Thankfully, DeVante Parker still looks good with a nice 6/69 receiving on eight targets. He’s a high upside WR2 worth trading for. Jay Ajayi lost his third down role and played only 62% of the snaps. That’s going to limit his upside and hurt him in games like this where the Dolphins are behind all game.

Minnesota

Sorry, Dalvin Cook owners. Minnesota fans can’t have nice things. Looks like Latavius Murray gets first crack at the lead RB role. He out-snapped Jerick McKinnon 20 to 5 after the injury, though neither will be as dynamic or valuable as Cook. Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen put up solid numbers in a tough game. Minnesota should pass more with Cook out, but they’re bound to regress from such high production so far.

New England

James White continues to play a huge role. He played 57% of the snaps and caught ten passes. Mike Gillislee played 18 snaps and had 12/49 rushing. He’s TD or bust, a guy you might only want to play when the Pats are a big favorite. You should worry about Brandin Cooks after another quiet game, fifth in Patriots targets per game. Chris Hogan looks like the lead option. Conventional logic says he’s a sell with four TDs, but he’s second in the league in red zone targets so maybe just keep him in your lineup. Danny Amendola is averaging 5/63, so he’s playable too. Right now Patriot fantasy plays may go Gronk, Hogan, Cooks, White, Gillislee, Amendola in that order, but all six are conceivable plays.

New Orleans

Alvin Kamara had another big game with 10 catches for 71 yards and a TD, but he’s still a risky play. He played only 26 snaps to 46 for Mark Ingram, and Ingram out-touched him 18 to 15. Many may drop Willie Snead after a goose egg coming off his three-game suspension, but he didn’t even play with a sore hamstring. The Saints have a bye, and Snead should be a WR3 after.

New York Giants

Rookie Wayne Gallman led the Giants with 11/42 rushing and a TD, so he’s worth an add. Paul Perkins has an ugly 1.9ypc and hasn’t had 10 carries in a game yet. He can be dropped. Brandon Marshall has 14 receptions the last two weeks and looks worth a hold. Evan Engram continues to look like a useful TE. He had a career high six catches and is second on a pass-heavy team in targets.

New York Jets

Bilal Powell had 190 yards, 75 on a fluke TD when the Jags forgot to touch him down, but a great day even without that. He absorbed Forte’s touches and looks like a clear play if Forte misses again. Don’t forget about TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins. He led the Jets in catches and faces a Browns defense next that’s given up big games to Jesse James, Ben Watson, and Tyler Kroft.

Oakland

Derek Carr is out 2–6 weeks and you might consider dropping him, as deep as QB is. Amari Cooper has single digit yards two straight games, but it’s been the perfect storm of awful. He won’t play Denver every week and should be better once Carr is back, and he’s top ten in red zone targets. He’s a buy low but you may need to be patient. Jared Cook still looks usable. He had another eight targets and faces the league’s worst TE defense, Baltimore. Marshawn Lynch had just 12 yards but got nine of 13 RB carries and logged 23 snaps to six each for Washington and Richard. Oakland may need to turn to their run game with Carr out, so he too could be a decent buy low.

Philadelphia

LeGarrette Blount put up 156 yards in a run-heavy script, but Wendell Smallwood out-snapped him 35 to 26 and had 79 yards and a touchdown. They’re splitting things down the middle, and that makes both risky flex plays until one steps forward.

Pittsburgh

LeVeon Bell finally had a monster game, but if he gets 39 touches every game, he’ll be dead by the end of the season. Martavis Bryant hasn’t done much. He’s at a meager 43% catch rate and yet to surpass three receptions in a game, so it’s long ball or bust for him.

San Francisco

An encouraging week for Carlos Hyde, who put up 95 yards and got a normal workload despite being listed as questionable all week. He’s second in the NFL in red zone carries and continues to produce but expect those injuries to nag him the rest of the way like they usually do. Pierre Garcon is still a huge target leader for the 49ers, even after a quiet 4/36 outing.

Seattle

Is that Eddie Lacy’s music?? With Chris Carson injured, Lacy led the way with 11/52 on the ground, though J.D. McKissic caught everyone’s attention with a touchdown and 65 yards on five touches. It looks like McKissic filled the C.J. Prosise receiving back role, and Lacy may have only gotten so many touches because Thomas Rawls was inactive. All four could be in the mix, and none of them are worth much until we know more.

Tampa Bay

Doug Martin should step into the starter role after a great preseason, and Tampa used Jacquizz Rodgers on 42 touches in three games to just 12 for Peyton Barber and nine for Charles Sims. Martin could have a big role and is at least a good RB2 going forward, but don’t be surprised if he has a limited role with a short week ahead. Mike Evans continues to look like a beast. He was inches from a two TD game and gets the Patriots next, and Jameis continues to throw it up to him often in the endzone. You already know Evans is good, but he looks like he has #1 fantasy WR potential.

Tennessee

DeMarco Murray had only seven carries on 23 snaps, barely ahead of Derrick Henry in the pecking order. He just doesn’t look right, but maybe Mariota’s injury will force them back into the run game. Rishard Matthews is emerging as Tennessee’s top receiver with 32 targets. He should be owned in all formats.

Washington

Terrelle Pryor finally showed up with a long early TD but did little else, despite leading Redskins in snaps again. Jordan Reed finally passed 100 yards on the season but has done little, and he makes a good buy low if you can wait out the injury he’s nursing. Chris Thompson had 27 yards on seven touches. You were warned, and the sell window may be closed with a bye week next. Robb Kelley and Samaje Perine split snaps and carries otherwise, but neither looked particularly good.

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