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Fantasy Football Week 5: 5 Biggest Takeaways

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 12:49 p.m. ET

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Oct 9, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) runs off the field following the game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Patriots won 33-13. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

The five biggest fantasy football takeaways from Week 5 of the 2016 NFL season.

Fantasy football is fickle, to put it kindly. Week in and week out, we can only go with what we know about players and their matchups. However, sometimes that doesn’t matter with what happens on the field. We simply have to move on and add another week worth of knowledge to the tank.

That was certainly the case in Week 5 of the 2016 NFL season. There were studs who looked more the part of duds, players who showed up out of nowhere, and a number of other surprises as well.

After such a week, here are the five biggest fantasy football takeaways from Week 5.

Oct 9, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) looks for an open receiver during the first half against the New York Giants at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Wood/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY Sports

5. Aaron Rodgers No Longer Fantasy Elite?

With the game on the line and your team needing a touchdown, Aaron Rodgers is a guy you want leading that charge. He’s a Super Bowl winner and a future Hall-of-Famer. I get all of that. However, as far as fantasy football goes Rodgers might not be that elite guy he once was.

The last time Rodgers threw for 300 yards in a game came back in Week 10 of the 2015 season. The next time he takes the field will be on Oct. 16 against the Dallas Cowboys. At that point he will officially be less than a month away from a full calendar year since the last time he had 300 passing yards in a game.

Over the last 19 games (including the playoffs) Rodgers has not had three touchdowns in 15 of those games. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has over three touchdowns in four games this season. The best quarterback on the Bears roster, Brian Hoyer, has thrown for 300+ yards in three straight games.

I know throwing 300+ passing yards or scoring three touchdowns in a game is a tough task for any quarterback. It’s not as easy as tying your shoes so lets not pretend that it is. Yet, that’s what we expect from Rodgers week in and week out.

The problem is, maybe we shouldn’t.

Oct 9, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter (99) celebrates with defensive end Everson Griffen (97) and defensive tackle Tom Johnson (92) during the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Texans 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

4. Bench Players Playing Against the Vikings

Right now the Minnesota Vikings remain the last undefeated team in the NFL. The main reason for that is due to the play of their elite defense. On Sunday they absolutely shut down the Houston Texans, who were 3-1 coming into the game. Their starting running back, Lamar Miller, only had 20 rushing yards. Their rookie standout wide receiver, Will Fuller, finished with one reception for, four yards. Quarterback Brock Osweiler only managed 184 passing yards. All of these numbers were season-low for all three of these players.

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This was a week after they held Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to a career-low 23 receiving yards. The week before that the Vikings defense forced last year’s MVP, Cam Newton, to throw three interceptions and Kelvin Benjamin didn’t have a single catch in that game.

On the Texans last drive of the game, DeAndre Hopkins bailed out owners when he was able to catch a garbage-time touchdown pass with 3:49 left in the game. Before that drive he only had 3 receptions and 42 receiving yards on the day.

Owners that have players playing against the Vikings elite defense, especially quarterbacks, might want to find a plan B for that week. This defense is 100 percent legit and suffocating for fantasy value. Chances are trying them won’t work in your favor if you don’t.

Oct 9, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Tennessee Titans wide receiver Rishard Matthews (18) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. The Tennessee Titans defeat the Miami Dolphins 30-17. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

3. The Dolphins Defense is a Slump-Buster

Do you want to boost your offense’s confidence? Do you want to get your offense back on track or try out some new things? Then go ahead and play against the Miami Dolphins defense.

Woof this defense (and team) is just awful.

Yesterday Titans struggling quarterback Marcus Mariota, who did not have a single touchdown in Weeks 3 and 4, managed four total touchdowns against the Dolphins. At the same time, Mariota did not turn the ball over once against the Dolphins after doing so seven times in his first four games of 2016.

Here are a few more things that happened yesterday during that game:

Do you own any Pittsburgh Steelers? You do? Good! Then start them against the Dolphins in Week 6.

Aw you don’t own any Steelers? Well go pick one or two up off of waivers and start them against the Dolphins. Heck, take a chance and start the Steelers backup quarterback. There’s a chance he’ll get mop-up duty and have himself a day too.

Oct 9, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Tevin Coleman (26) carries the ball in the second half against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Falcons defeated the Broncos 23-16. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

2. The Falcons Dangerous Duo

When the season started over a month ago the Falcons backfield looked like a mess. Devonta Freeman owners were upset because they realized the backfield was a timeshare. The chances of Freeman repeating his 300+ touches from a season ago was basically zero. What to do with Tevin Coleman? Sure he’s good but is he going to see enough touches to be a weekly fantasy starter?

After yesterday’s performance against the Denver Broncos, it’s safe to say both of these guys are very much fantasy starters. Freeman finished the day with 123 total yards and a touchdown on 26 touches.

Coleman had 163 total yards and a touchdown on just 10 touches. He led the team in receptions (4) and receiving yards (132). Heading into Monday Night Football, these two own two of the top-six fantasy performances in Week 5 by a running back.

The two finished for a combined 286 total yards against one of the best defenses in the NFL. In Week 2 against the Oakland Raiders the two combined for 164 yards and a touchdown. In Week 3 against the New Orleans Saints they combined for 296 yards and four touchdowns.

These two are easily the best running back tandem in the NFL and are both weekly starters for fantasy teams.

Oct 9, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

1. Tom Brady is Back

Rust? What rust? I do not care that it was “only against the Cleveland Browns”. Tom Brady came back with a vengeance yesterday and the NFL should be worried.

Brady finished the day 406 passing yards, touchdowns, and no turnovers. Right now his 406 passing yards is the most in the NFL for Week 5 and unless a quarterback on Monday Night Football throws more, it will finish that way.

It’s obvious Brady’s presence elevates the entire offense to another level. Here’s a look at what some of the other Patriots players did yesterday:

Rob Gronkowski had a season-high in receptions (5) and receiving yards (109). Martellus Bennett had a season-high in receptions (6) and touchdowns (3). Chris Hogan had a season-high in receiving yards (114). James White had a season-high in carries (5), rushing yards (26), and receiving yards (63).

Like I said before, I do not care that this game was against the Browns. Brady was not able to be in the Patriots facility since the preseason ended. This was his first week back with the coaching staff, with his teammates, and actually practicing. With more time, this offense is only going to get better and more dangerous.

If you invested a pick in Brady, you should be excited. If you held onto your Patriots despite most of their slow starts and did not trade them, good for you. If you’re the owner who NOW tries to trade for a Patriots offensive player, sorry—it’s too late.

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