The Tim Tebow era appears set to begin in Denver. Tebow relieved the ineffective Kyle Orton and nearly led the Broncos to a comeback win over the visiting Chargers. Tebow completed only 4-of-10 attempts for 79, but passed for one touchdown and rushed for another (plus 38 yards) in the five-point loss. Tebow may be maddening, as he seemingly scrambles for his life on every passing attempt. However, he’ll make plays with his feet (he’s the new goal-line back) and his scrambling ability could allow the deep threats to break containment.
Raise your hand if you opposed Aaron Rodgers in your league this week. I got him three times. Like you, I sat down for Sunday night’s tilt just wishing and hoping that the John Abraham-less Falcons would solve the Green Bay juggernaut. For two-thirds of this game, they did just that. Increased blitzes then created voids in the secondary and Rodgers went to work. He broke through with a 70-yard touchdown strike to James Jones and finished the game with 396 passing yards with two touchdowns and four sacks. He completed passes to 12 different receivers in the game.
Jones led the Packers with five receptions for 140 yards on seven targets. His role had been adjusted early in the season following the emergence of Jordy Nelson and selection of Randall Cobb. In the past three weeks, Jones has reclaimed a sizable role in the passing game. He’s amassed 12 receptions for 212 yards during this period and has scored in back-to-back games.
Mark Sanchez wasn’t overwhelming, but the return of Nick Mangold certainly helped to settle down the New York offense. Sanchez delivered a solid performance, generating 166 passing yards (16-for-26) with two touchdowns and two sacks in the loss to New England.
Similarly, Santonio Holmes didn’t obliterate the beleaguered New England secondary, but he scored. Holmes caught four passes for 60 yards on six targets. Take the points, smile and move forward.
The return of Mangold also signaled the return of the power running game with Shonn Greene. Greene carried the ball 21 times for 83 yards and scored his second touchdown of the season. He added two receptions for nine yards.
Stevan Ridley appeared to have forced an equitable workload split with All-Name Team captain BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Bill Belichick pulled a Shanahan on us and turned back to Green-Ellis in a big way against the Jets. Green-Ellis logged 27 carries for 136 yards and scored twice in the Patriots’ 30-21 win. He added one reception for 13 yards.
The Orton-Tebow chatter will dominate the airwaves in Denver on Monday. Lost in the shuffle was the strong effort put together by tailback Willis McGahee as their lead back. McGahee ran with power and authority en route to a huge 125-yard day on 16 carries. Knowshon Moreno appeared as a secondary receiving option out of the backfield, producing three receptions for 40 yards, including a nifty catch and run for a touchdowns.
San Diego turned to second-year running back Ryan Mathews for a huge workload against the Broncos. Mathews piled up 24 carries for 125 yards (one reception for seven yards) to lead the Chargers to a narrow victory. He’s amassed at least 19 touches in four consecutive games. The Chargers quietly enter the Bye week with a strong 4-1 record.
Philip Rivers passed for 250 yards with one touchdown, but he gets the nod in this space for actually scoring a rushing touchdown. Rivers has now appeared in 89 regular season games. This was the third rushing touchdown of his career.
Malcom Floyd played through a myriad injuries and led the Chargers in receiving while Champ Bailey locked down on Vincent Jackson. Floyd caught a 42-yard touchdown pass near the end of the first half and later added a 38-yard reception. He finished the game with three catches for 100 yards on seven targets.
I tabbed Alex Smith as a Bye week start in my FOXSports.com video content this past week. I received some emails and Tweets questioning my sanity, but Smith and his teammates evidently wanted to reward my faith. He passed for 170 yards with three touchdowns in an efficient 11-for-19 outing during the obliteration of the Buccaneers.
Vernon Davis caught three passes for 39 yards and logged two touchdowns to reward fantasy owners. Davis has scored three touchdowns in the past two weeks and has logged 22 receptions overall. He’s making more noise on Monday, as quotes from the outspoken tight end about the Buccaneers quitting in Sunday’s game make the rounds.
Frank Gore ran over the Buccaneers for 125 yards on 20 carries, adding two receptions for 18 yards. He lost a fumble, but that’s hardly an issue in a blowout win to send the 49ers to a 4-1 record. Gore has rushed for 252 yards in the past two weeks with two touchdown runs (three overall). He’ll face the Lions in Week 6.
Participants in “Survivor” leagues are still cursing Eli Manning on Monday morning following the heavily-favored Giants’ loss to Seattle. Manning passed for 420 yards with three touchdowns and four turnovers in Sunday’s loss. The effort still makes him a “Hero” for fantasy purposes, but that game was just maddening.
Victor Cruz shone once again, catching tipped balls and making moves along the sidelines en route to an eight-reception, 161-yard game. Cruz scored his third touchdown of the season and topped 98 yards for the third consecutive game. He lost a fumble and couldn’t corral a pass over the middle that resulted in a back-breaking interception, but Cruz’s fantasy owners couldn’t care less.
Unheralded receiver Doug Baldwin out of Stanford will be a hot commodity on the waiver wire for long-term play following his huge effort against the Giants. Baldwin caught eight passes for 136 yards and scored his second touchdown of the season in the upset victory. He’s registered at least 83 receiving yards in three of the Seahawks’ first five games.
Look out! We have a Marshawn Lynch sighting! Lynch carried the ball 12 times for 98 yards and scored for the second straight week. He also caught four passes for 33 yards to offset a lost fumble.
Matt Cassel was a Tweener in fantasyland for this week’s tilt against the Colts. He struggled early before turning it up to lead a huge comeback win. Cassel completed 21-of-29 pass attempts for 257 yards with four touchdowns and two sacks. He’s thrown seven touchdowns against one interception in his past three games.
Throw it up and let him make plays! That’s the line I’ve been shouting with regard to Dwayne Bowe. Bowe caught seven passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns. Bowe’s caught 18 passes for 302 yards and four touchdowns in the past three weeks.
Steve Breaston was a “Ninja” play for Sunday’s game against the Colts. Breaston delivered four receptions for 50 yards and two touchdowns. He’s caught 11 passes in the past three weeks.
Jackie Battle emerged as a late-week fantasy option as the Chiefs’ discomfort with Thomas Jones and Dexter McCluster as the primary backs became evident. Owners who were not locked out of late add/drops received a huge spot start from the Houston product with 19 carries for 119 yards.
Curtis Painter paid dividends for gutsy owners seeking Bye and injury alternatives for Week 5. Painter only completed 15 passes, but produced 277 passing yards and two touchdowns.
Once again, Painter generated fantasy magic with favorite target Pierre Garcon. Garcon caught five passes for 125 yards and scored twice for the second straight game.
Give AP the ball and get out of the way. For the first time, Leslie Frazier and the coaching staff listened to fans in the cheap seats and pounded the ball with Adrian Peterson. He rushed 29 times for 122 yards and scored three touchdowns in the first quarter of Sunday’s blowout win. Peterson was the first player to score three rushing touchdowns in the first quarter of a game since Tshimanga Biakabutuka. Biakabutuka, the former Michigan standout (they’re 6-0), accomplished the feat for the Panthers in 1999.
Early Doucet led all receivers with 16 targets in Sunday’s loss to Minnesota. He caught eight passes for 92 yards.
Michael Vick set several records in Sunday’s road loss to Buffalo. For fantasy purposes, Vick got the job done with 315 passing yards, two touchdowns and 90 rushing yards to offset his four interceptions (one sack).
Jason Avant led the Eagles with nine receptions for 139 yards with a lost fumble, the latest receiver to cough up a fumble in a critical situation.
DeSean Jackson (five receptions for 86 yards) and Jeremy Maclin (six receptions for 54 yards) both scored in the loss.
LeSean McCoy rebounded from a subpar effort with 80 rushing yards on 11 attempts and scored his fifth rushing touchdown of the season. He caught four passes for 27 yards.
Buffalo tailback Fred Jackson continued his early-season brilliance with another monster game in vanquishing the Eagles. Jackson carried the ball 26 times for 111 yards and scored a rushing touchdown. He would not be denied on that touchdown run! Jackson was also active in the passing game, generating 85 receiving yards on six catches in support of Ryan Fitzpatrick. Jackson has already amassed 712 total yards this season.
Jason Campbell didn’t obliterate the Texans, but I’ll give him a nod here for leading the Raiders to a huge road win. Campbell completed 15-of-36 attempts for 190 yards with two touchdowns and an interception (one sack). He’s showing more and more confidence in his arm and those speedy receivers. Campbell is worthy of a roster addition heading into Week 6.
Darrius Heyward-Bey followed up his 115-yard Week 4 effort with another strong performance. Heyward-Bey caught seven passes for 99 yards and a touchdown.
Matt Schaub lost his top receiving option last week, and it showed often in Sunday’s loss to Oakland. Schaub passed for 416 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, including the fantastic closeout interception by Michael Huff as time expired.
Arian Foster failed to score in Sunday’s loss, but he amassed 184 total yards on 27 touches (68 rushing and 116 receiving).
Joel Dreessen stepped into a huge role in Johnson’s absence with five receptions and 112 yards with a touchdown grab.
Kevin Walter also rebounded from a Week 4 disappearing act with five receptions for 81 yards and a touchdown.
The Saints’ issues in the red zone continued once again in Sunday’s narrow victory at Carolina. Drew Brees passed for 359 yards (32-for-45) with two touchdowns, one interception and two sacks, but this unit continues to leave points on the field. Fantasy owners are incensed!
All-world tight end Jimmy Graham led the Saints with eight receptions for 129 yards.
DeAngelo Williams registered only nine carries for 115 yards, but he turned in a 69-yard touchdown sprint in support of Cam Newton. It was a fantastic follow-up effort to his 82-yard performance against the Bears in Week 4.
Cam Newton and the Panthers have become “must-watch” football. The Panthers have yet to get over the hump and are absorbing narrow loss after narrow loss. Newton completed 16-of-31 attempts for 224 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Newton also rushed for 27 yards, including his fifth rushing touchdown of the season. To put that total in perspective, only five running backs have rushed for at least five touchdowns.
Steve Smith continued his hot start with a 54-yard touchdown reception and finished Sunday’s game with three catches for 79 yards.
Greg Olsen remains Newton’s favorite target in the red zone. He registered only three receptions for 21 yards on five targets, but scored for the third straight game.
I went out on a limb and put out a cautionary note on Maurice Jones-Drew for Sunday’s tilt against the Bengals. Jones-Drew posted a strong first half and finished the game with 19 carries for 85 yards and a touchdown. He’s rushed for at least 84 yards in each of the Jaguars’ first five games.
Jason Hill of the Jaguars made things interesting with his 74-yard touchdown reception from Blaine Gabbert. Alas, Hill’s heroics could get Jack Del Rio over the hump against the Bengals in the home tilt. Hill caught five passes for 118 yards. He’d recorded seven receptions for 92 yards in the Jaguars’ first four games.
I banged the drum for the Bengals to roll into Jacksonville and pull over another victory. Andy Dalton made Bengals fans and gutsy fantasy owners sweat it out, but the Bengals finally pulled out the win. Dalton passed for 179 yards with two touchdowns, two sacks and an interception.
Fellow rookie A.J. Green continued his early brilliance with another huge effort despite subpar weather conditions in Jacksonville. He caught five passes for 90 yards and scored his third touchdown of the season. Green has amassed 24 receptions for 402 yards (three games with at least 90 receiving yards).
While he wasn’t dominant against the Jaguars with just 21 receiving yards, Jermaine Gresham scored for the third time this season. Gresham caught five passes to bring his season total to 21. He’ll next face the Colts, a defense that he torched for 85 yards and a touchdown on nine receptions as a rookie in 2010.
Ben Roethlisberger of the Steelers gutted through a foot injury and made the most of his chances against the Tennessee secondary. He passed for 228 yards with five touchdowns and an interception after producing three touchdowns and nine turnovers in the Steelers’ first four games. I wrote in my Week 5 “Lineup Calls” piece that I wouldn’t be surprised to see Roethlisberger shine in a “get right” game for the Steelers. I certainly didn’t anticipate him hanging five scores in a blowout win.
Jonathan Dwyer rushed for 107 yards on 11 carries, including a 76-yard sprint as the backup to Isaac Redman. He and Isaac Redman rumbled for a combined 156 rushing yards, a fantastic effort following a rough first quarter of the season for the Pittsburgh running attack. Welcome back, Max Starks!
Mike Wallace’s streak of 100-yard games ended at six, but he delivered another big play for the Steelers in Sunday’s rout. Wallace had been held in check by the Tennessee secondary for much of the day before popping free for a 40-yard touchdown reception. He finished the game with six receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown on seven targets.
Hines Ward lobbied for more chances to make plays coming out of Week 4. The squeaky wheel got the grease, as Ward finished the game with seven receptions for 54 yards and two touchdowns. He’d caught only eight passes in the Steelers’ previous three games.
Heath Miller delivered for owners making a quick trip to the waiver wire to replace Jason Witten. Miller caught three passes for 46 yards with a touchdown. The veteran tight end has now caught at least three passes in three consecutive games.
