Week 5 was a wild week in the NFL! Starting Thursday night with an exciting divisional matchup between the Falcons and Bucs that went down to the wire, where Kirk Cousins set a single game franchise passing record. We had another huge divisional game between the Ravens and Bengals, and if you had players from that game in your fantasy lineup, you were probably happy about it. We had players break out for huge fantasy days, and we had players disappoint. Let’s check out who the biggest studs and duds of week 5 were!
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Quarterbacks
Studs:
Kirk Cousins – Cousins set an Atlanta franchise single game record for yardage on Thursday Night Football passing for 509 yards, in a big divisional game victory. That yardage wasn’t just empty yardage, as he found the end zone 4 times as well, earning him the week 5 QB1 title. I don’t think we’ll see Cousins throwing the ball 58 times on a regular basis, but this was an encouraging sign for Falcon’s pass catching fantasy owners that have been looking for those big numbers all season.
Joe Burrow – Burrow also had a monster day, throwing for 392 yards, completing 30 of his 39 passes, and 5 TDs, a career high. WR Ja’Marr Chase and WR Tee Higgins fantasy owners were happy with this performance, as they both had 2 TDs a piece. Unfortunately for this trio, the defense couldn’t hold off Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, and the Bengals lost 38-41. This offense is clicking, and with the defense unable to get stops on a regular basis, Cincinnati should be looking to continue to air out the ball and attempt to just outscore their opponents.
Lamar Jackson – Baltimore decided to go back to throwing the ball in week 5, as Jackson threw the ball 42 times (more than double from the previous week), completing 26 of them for 348 yards and 4 TDs. He added 55 yards rushing to boot. What I’m seeing in Baltimore, is that they can run the ball down their opponents throats if they choose to do so, or they can air it out. They just do what it’s going to take to get a win that week, which makes them very dangerous as an offense, but also unpredictable to fantasy owners.
Honorable Mentions:
Joe Flacco – 33/44 for 359 yards passing and 3 TDs
Kyler Murray – 19/30 for 195 yards passing and 1 TD, 83 yards rushing and 1 TD
Caleb Williams – 20/29 for 304 yards passing and 2 TDs, 34 yards rushing
Baker Mayfield – 19/24 for 180 yards passing and 3 TDs, 42 yards rushing
Duds:
Andy Dalton – As to be expected, Dalton did what Dalton does, which is come in for a game or two, look real good, then get exposed to the QB he is, which is why he’s been a back up QB for a number of years. A veteran back up QB can come in and look good for a game or two, but often not much more then that. I’m afraid for Panther fans, Dalton’s week 5 stats of 18/28 for 136 yards and 1 INT with 0 TDs, will be a little bit more of the norm.
Sam Darnold – Darnold and the Vikings got the W, and to them that’s all that counts, but for fantasy owners, Darnold had a real dud. After 3 solid fantasy performances in a row, Darnold came up with a goose egg in the TD column, and only completed 14 passes for 179 yards and 1 INT. He also lost a fumble to make his fantasy day even worse.
To get all the latest gear for these players and more, go check out the NFL Shop now!
Wide Receivers
Studs:
Ja’Marr Chase – Chase and his QB, Joe Burrow, have found their groove together again for the past 3 weeks. Week 5 being Chase’s best of the season thus far as he pulled in 10 of his 12 targets for 193 yards and 2 TDs, and fantasy’s WR1 title. As mentioned earlier with Burrow, the Bengals will most likely continue to attempt to out score their opponents by airing it out, which is exactly what Chase fantasy owners are hoping for.
DJ Moore – The Bears offense was cookin’ Sunday, with QB Caleb Williams throwing for over 300 yards, 105 of them and 2 TDs going to Moore. Moore has scored TDs in 2 consecutive games, and should be able to keep it going next Sunday when the Jags come into Chicago, as receivers have had plenty of success against a porous Jacksonville defense.
Darnell Mooney – Atlanta got into a shoot out Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. QB Kirk Cousins threw 58 pass attempts, 16 of them going towards Mooney. He was able to haul in 9 of them for 105 yards and 2 TDs. Cousins and Mooney seem to have found some chemistry, but Drake London is still WR1 for the Falcons.
Drake London – 2 receivers from the same team make the studs list for the 2nd time this season, in consecutive weeks. London actually had more receptions (12), and yards (154), than Mooney. He was only able to record 1 TD though.
Tee Higgins – So the first time 2 receivers from the same team make the studs list, it happens for 2 different teams. Higgins, on the other side of Chase, also benefited from QB Joe Burrow’s monster day, as he hauled in 9 receptions for 83 yards and 2 TDs.
Honorable Mentions:
Alec Pierce – 3 receptions for 134 yards and 1 TD
Darius Slayton – 8 receptions for 122 yards and 1 TD
Brian Thomas Jr – 5 receptions for 122 yards and 1 TD
Mike Evans – 5 receptions for 62 yards and 2 TDs
Duds:
Chris Olave – After 3 consecutive solid fantasy weeks, Olave struggled to get open against a tough KC secondary, and was only able to bring in 2 passes for 10 yards.
Jauan Jennings – I know plenty of fantasy owners were jumping on the Jennings ban wagon after a week 3 monster game of 175 yards, 3 TDs and WR1 title. In week 5, Jennings only brought in 1 reception for 13 yards.
Deebo Samuel – Not only is it the first week 2 receivers from the same team were on the studs list, but it’s also the first week 2 receivers from the same team are on the duds list. Samuel, like Jennings, also only had 1 reception, but for 11 yards, in San Francisco’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Running Backs
Studs:
Tank Bigsby – RB Travis Etienne may have suffered injury during the game, so Bigsby filled in by running for 101 yards on 13 carries and 2 TDs. He also had a reception that went for 28 yards, and earned the fantasy RB1 title for week 5. Bigsby may have earned some extra carries moving forward, so it will be worth while for fantasy owners to keep an eye on that situation.
D’Andre Swift – Swift finds himself on the studs list for the 2nd consecutive week, after 3 rather pedestrian games prior. In week 5 Swift had 21 carries for 73 yards and 1 TD, and 2 receptions for 47 yards.
Kareem Hunt – As of 2 weeks ago, Hunt wasn’t even rostered on an NFL team. Monday, in his second game of the season, Hunt rushed 27 times for 102 yards and 1 TD, with 1 reception for 15 yards. I’m not sure if that says more about Hunt keeping himself in good enough shape to be able to show up and carry the ball 27 times effectively, or to KC’s offensive line. Either way, it was a pretty impressive night for Hunt and the Chiefs.
Rico Dowdle – Dallas has been searching for something resembling a running game and Dowdle delivered rushing for 87 yards on 20 carries and catching 2 passes for 27 yards and 1 TD in a 20-17 win over Pittsburgh on Sunday Night Football. I’m not rushing out to attempt to grab Dowdle off any waiver wire, as this is his first game of the season going over the century mark in yards from scrimmage.
Honorable Mentions:
James Cook – 20 carries for 82 yards and 1 TD, 2 receptions for 17 yards
Derrick Henry – 15 carries for 92 yards and 1 TD
Josh Jacobs – 19 carries for 73 yards and 1 TD, 1 reception for 21 yards
Rhamondre Stevenson – 12 carries for 89 yards and 1 TD
Duds:
Breece Hall – Hall is at the top of the list for fantasy duds for the second consecutive week. Hall rushed 9 times for 23 and had 3 receptions for 14 yards. The Jets seem to give up on the run game quickly, relying heavily on QB Aaron Rodgers to air it out every game, which hasn’t been much of a winning recipe.
Alvin Kamara – Kamara rushed 11 times for only 26 yards. He was able to pick up 40 receiving yards with his 6 receptions. After rushing for 362 yards and 5 TDs, and catching 17 receptions for 174 yards and 1 TD in the previous 4 weeks, this one was a dud for Kamara fantasy owners, for sure.
To get all the latest gear for these players and more, go check out the NFL Shop now!
Tight Ends
Studs:
Tucker Kraft – Kraft earned the fantasy TE1 title in week 5, catching 4 of his 5 targets for 88 yards and 2 TDs, both coming on back to back possessions. Kraft has 10 receptions for 141 yards and 3 TDs over the past 2 games. We’ll see if this Love to Kraft connection continues the rest of the season.
Brock Bowers – Bowers was a lone bright spot in an ugly Raiders loss to their rival Denver Broncos, Sunday. He snatched a 57 yard TD in the 1st quarter to put the Raiders on the board first. He was open again in the end zone later in the 1st quarter, but QB Gardner Minshew sailed it high, right into the hands of corner Patrick Surtain, who took it to the house for a 100 yard pick 6. it was all down hill from there for Bowers and the Raiders. Bowers was still able to finish with 8 receptions for 97 yards and 1 TD.
Duds:
Dalton Kincaid – QB Josh Allen only completed 9 of his 30 pass attempts, and Kincaid hauled in 2 of them for 34 yards. Kincaid found the end zone in week 3, but other than that, has been a bit of a disappointment for Kincaid fantasy owners all season.
Defense
Studs:
NY Giants – The G-Men were able to get to QB Geno Smith 7 times, and blocked a field goal, scooped up the loose ball and took it 60 yards to the house, to seal a 29-20 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
Minnesota Vikings – The Vikings had QB Aaron Rodgers all discombobulated sacking him 3 times, and picking him off 3 times, 1 of those INTs going for 6 the other way, in their 23-17 win over the NY Jets in London.
Denver Broncos – Once corner Patrick Surtain picked off QB Gardner Minshew and took it 100 yards to the house, it was all over for the Raiders. The Broncos defense continued to be able to harass the QB all day, recording 3 sacks, 3 INTs, and said TD, in their 34-18 win over the Raiders.
Duds:
Baltimore Ravens – Baltimore had 3 sacks, 1 INT and the win. Not bad, right. Well, they also gave up almost 400 yards passing and 5 TDs to QB Joe Burrow, allowing 38 points.
Thanks for checking out this weeks addition of fantasy football’s biggest studs and duds. I hope you enjoyed this article. I’d love to hear your thoughts, so as always, feel free to leave a message below! Good luck with all your fantasy football endeavors in week 6!