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| Tuesday, October 5, 2021 |
| Monday's game between the Raiders and Chargers was kind of a disappointment for everyone except Austin Ekeler. Just in case there were any questions about whether Ekeler is an elite Fantasy option -- there shouldn't be at this point -- his current 16-game pace is 1,132 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns, 72 receptions, 564 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns. And he hasn't even been that good as a receiver, his best trait, yet. Yeah, he's elite. |
| Derek Carr, Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams left us with some more questions, and Justin Herbert probably had his worst overall game of the season, though that didn't necessarily show up in the Fantasy score. I'm still optimistic about that whole crew, but if you were skeptical, they gave you some reason to be Monday. |
| We'll have to figure out what to make of all of them and the rest of the field for Week 5, amid another crowded injury report. We'll have updates on all of the injuries you need to know about in tomorrow's newsletter, but first, let's set our expectations for Week 5 with a first look at the rankings for each position. Plus, we've got Jamey Eisenberg's top waiver-wire targets for you today. |
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| And here's what we've got on tap in today's newsletter: |
- ➕Top Week 5 Waiver Wire Targets
- 📈Week 5 Rankings📉
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| ➕Top Week 5 Waiver Wire Targets |
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Injuries have created another couple of opportunities for waiver-wire targets to make a big impact. Here are Jamey Eisenberg's top targets plus one more for each position -- and you can read Jamey's breakdown of the top targets at every position here: |
| Jamey Eisenberg's top targets |
- Damien Williams (16% rostered) -- David Montgomery (knee) seems likely to miss upwards of a month, and could be out until the team's Week 10 bye, so Williams is the first potential long-term starter on the wire who actually has a track record of being good. Williams will likely take on an every down role for the Bears against the Raiders and beyond and is a top-24 back for me this week and likely until Montgomery returns..
- Samaje Perine (8%) -- If Perine were to get the start for the Bengals in Week 5, I might like him even more than Williams for the week, considering he plays in a better offense. The problem is, Bengals coach Zac Taylor told reporters Monday he views Joe Mixon (ankle) as more day to day than week to week. Of course, Taylor was overly optimistic publicly about Mixon's foot injury all last season, so take that with a grain of salt.
- Laviska Shenault (60%) -- With DJ Chark (ankle, IR) leaving Thursday's game early, Shenault had his best game of the season, catching six of seven passes for 99 yards. 52 of those yards came on a broken play, and otherwise Shenault was still mostly used on short-area targets, however, I think there's still a decent chance he's the team's top target moving forward, with Marvin Jones taking on some more of Chark's deep role. Parker isn't my top WR if you need a Week 5 starter, but he's worth adding for the potential that he breaks out and becomes a start. He has that kind of talent.
- DeVante Parker (52%) -- Parker came into the season with less hype than his other Dolphins teammates, but he's been the best one of them so far with at least seven targets in all four games. With Will Fuller (hand) out for Week 5 at least, Parker isn't a bad starting option if you need one.
- Jamison Crowder (31%) -- All Crowder does when he's healthy is earn targets, and he led the Jets with nine in his debut in Week 4. If you need a starter in PPR, he's not a bad option at all.
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| One (more) target for each position |
- QB: Trey Lance (50%) -- It's no guarantee Lance actually starts, but if Jimmy Garoppolo's calf injury keeps him sidelined, Lance is going to be a starting-caliber Fantasy QB if he can even be decent as a passer, given his rushing ability.
- RB: Brandon Bolden (6%) -- Bolden has been the clear beneficiary of James White's (hip) absence, and he's worth an add in PPR formats.
- WR: Rashod Bateman (24%) -- I'm not sure what to expect of Bateman when he returns from preseason groin injury, which could come any day now. The team's first-round pick has plenty of upside, however, and if he does hit the ground running, this is your chance to get in ahead of the rush.
- TE: Tyler Conklin (32%) -- Conklin was a disappointment if you started him in Week 4, but the process was sound. Despite being limited during practice, he played a season-high 85% snap share and was targeted six times. He has a healthy role in the offense right now and is one of the more interesting streamers at the position ahead of a great matchup.
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| 📈Week 5 Rankings📉 |
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Here's where things stand for me in my first run through of the Week 5 rankings for PPR leagues. You can find Jamey, Dave, and Heath's rankings right here: |
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- Josh Allen @KC
- Patrick Mahomes vs. BUF
- Lamar Jackson vs. IND
- Kyler Murray vs. SF
- Jalen Hurts @CAR
- Tom Brady vs. MIA
- Justin Herbert vs. CLE
- Dak Prescott vs. NYG
- Matthew Stafford @SEA
- Aaron Rodgers @CIN
- Russell Wilson vs. LA
- Derek Carr vs. CHI
- Kirk Cousins vs. DET
- Daniel Jones @DAL
- Trey Lance @ARI
- Sam Darnold vs. PHI
- Joe Burrow vs. GB
- Matt Ryan vs. NYJ
- Taylor Heinicke vs. NO
- Jared Goff @MIN
- Zach Wilson @ATL
- Ryan Tannehill @JAX
- Mac Jones @HOU
- Trevor Lawrence vs. TEN
- Baker Mayfield @LAC
- Jacoby Brissett @TB
- Andy Dalton @LV
- Ben Roethlisberger vs. DEN
- Drew Lock @PIT
- Carson Wentz @BAL
- Jameis Winston @WAS
- Davis Mills vs. NE
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- Derrick Henry @JAX
- Austin Ekeler vs. CLE
- Dalvin Cook vs. DET
- Aaron Jones @CIN
- Najee Harris vs. DEN
- D'Andre Swift @MIN
- Saquon Barkley @DAL
- Ezekiel Elliott vs. NYG
- Alvin Kamara @WAS
- James Robinson vs. TEN
- Darrell Henderson @SEA
- Chase Edmonds vs. SF
- Josh Jacobs vs. CHI
- Leonard Fournette vs. MIA
- Jonathan Taylor @BAL
- Antonio Gibson vs. NO
- Nick Chubb @LAC
- Mike Davis vs. NYJ
- Kareem Hunt @LAC
- Samaje Perine vs. GB
- Cordarrelle Patterson vs. NYJ
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire vs. BUF
- Damien Williams @LV
- Chris Carson vs. LA
- Damien Harris @HOU
- Jamaal Williams @MIN
- Miles Sanders @CAR
- Melvin Gordon @PIT
- Michael Carter @ATL
- Chuba Hubbard vs. PHI
- Trey Sermon @ARI
- Tony Pollard vs. NYG
- Nyheim Hines @BAL
- Myles Gaskin @TB
- Devin Singletary @KC
- Javonte Williams @PIT
- Alexander Mattison vs. DET
- Latavius Murray vs. IND
- James Conner vs. SF
- Zack Moss @KC
- Brandon Bolden @HOU
- J.D. McKissic vs. NO
- Kenyan Drake vs. CHI
- Jeremy McNichols @JAX
- Kenneth Gainwell @CAR
- Mark Ingram vs. NE
- David Johnson vs. NE
- Ty Johnson @ATL
- Le'Veon Bell vs. IND
- Sony Michel @SEA
- AJ Dillon @CIN
- Ronald Jones vs. MIA
- Royce Freeman vs. PHI
- Malcolm Brown @TB
- Darrel Williams vs. BUF
- Phillip Lindsay vs. NE
- Carlos Hyde vs. TEN
- Alex Collins vs. LA
- Peyton Barber @LV
- Salvon Ahmed @TB
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- Davante Adams @CIN
- Tyreek Hill vs. BUF
- Stefon Diggs @KC
- Cooper Kupp @SEA
- D.J. Moore vs. PHI
- Justin Jefferson vs. DET
- D.K. Metcalf vs. LA
- Calvin Ridley vs. NYJ
- Keenan Allen vs. CLE
- Diontae Johnson vs. DEN
- Terry McLaurin vs. NO
- CeeDee Lamb vs. NYG
- Deebo Samuel @ARI
- Mike Williams vs. CLE
- Chris Godwin vs. MIA
- Tyler Lockett vs. LA
- DeAndre Hopkins vs. SF
- Amari Cooper vs. NYG
- Brandin Cooks vs. NE
- Ja'Marr Chase vs. GB
- Mike Evans vs. MIA
- Tyler Boyd vs. GB
- Odell Beckham @LAC
- Marquise Brown vs. IND
- Antonio Brown vs. MIA
- Kenny Golladay @DAL
- Adam Thielen vs. DET
- Jakobi Meyers @HOU
- DeVonta Smith @CAR
- DeVante Parker @TB
- Courtland Sutton @PIT
- Jaylen Waddle @TB
- Robert Woods @SEA
- Michael Pittman @BAL
- Allen Robinson @LV
- Cole Beasley @KC
- Corey Davis @ATL
- Emmanuel Sanders @KC
- Darnell Mooney @LV
- Jamison Crowder @ATL
- Marvin Jones vs. TEN
- Laviska Shenault vs. TEN
- Hunter Renfrow vs. CHI
- Sammy Watkins vs. IND
- Robby Anderson vs. PHI
- JuJu Smith-Schuster vs. DEN
- Henry Ruggs @LV
- AJ Green vs. SF
- Brandon Aiyuk @ARI
- Rondale Moore vs. SF
- Tim Patrick @PIT
- Mecole Hardman vs. BUF
- Kadarius Toney @DAL
- Christian Kirk vs. SF
- Curtis Samuel vs. NO
- Jalen Reagor @CAR
- Nelson Agholor @HOU
- Nick Westbrook-Ikhine @JAX
- Zach Pascal @BAL
- Collin Johnson @DAL
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- Travis Kelce vs. BUF
- Darren Waller vs. CHI
- George Kittle @ARI
- T.J. Hockenson @MIN
- Mark Andrews vs. IND
- Kyle Pitts vs. NYJ
- Noah Fant @PIT
- Dalton Schultz vs. NYG
- Tyler Higbee @SEA
- Dallas Goedert @CAR
- Mike Gesicki @TB
- Tyler Conklin vs. DET
- Dawson Knox @KC
- Anthony Firkser @JAX
- Evan Engram @DAL
- Jonnu Smith @HOU
- Jared Cook vs. CLE
- Robert Tonyan @CIN
- C.J. Uzomah vs. GB
- Austin Hooper @LAC
- Zach Ertz @CAR
- Hunter Henry @HOU
- Dan Arnold vs. TEN
- Cole Kmet @LV
- Blake Jarwin vs. NYG
- Tommy Tremble vs. PHI
- David Njoku @LAC
- Cameron Brate vs. MIA
- Mo Alie-Cox @BAL
- Maxx Williams vs. SF
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| Top-150 Flex Rankings |
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