Week 5 Fantasy Football PPR Rankings & Projections: Clyde Edwards-Heliare To Capitalize On Matchup With Raiders

Week 5 is the first week where we get some byes involved as Green Bay and Detroit are off. We have also begun to see the restructuring of the schedule due to the virus. Each week the rankings come out in anticipation that every game will play. That is the case at the moment as Tennessee was able to get under control and are going to play Buffalo on a long rest. Pittsburgh also will have that long rest against Philadelphia, but they did not play solely because of Tennesee. New England and Kansas City are both coming off a short week now as their game was moved to Monday, and Cam Newton’s test will cause him to miss this week as well.

Week 5 Quarterback Rankings

Quarterback scoring is at an unreal pace right now, as five quarterbacks are averaging over 25 points per game so far this season, and 11 are averaging over 20. There are a lot of guys who could end up being top ten guys this week because of the matchup and potential game script. Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert are two rookies showing up very early this year with no major signs of having an unusual offseason. Both get tougher matchups this week but with Burrow the volume is fantastic and Washington moved the ball well through the air against this defense last week. Burrow is the one I can see sneaking into the top ten this week.

There are a few names that are just absolutely crushing week-to-week. Russell Wilson had a “down” game against Miami and still produced 360 yards and two scores. This game has a lot of shootout potential with two capable offenses and two secondaries I want to target week in and week out. Minnesota has struggled against the pass this season and now faces what might be the best trio of weapons any offense as far as a quarterback and two wide receivers. Kirk Cousins on the other side has big-time potential as the Seahawks have allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks.

Lamar Jackson and Pat Mahomes have been slightly below Dak Prescott and Russell Wilson so far this season, but there is a lot as to why that is. Jackson and Mahomes have both had one really down game so far this year and have also had a game where they took their foot off the gas a bit. Both get great matchups this week as the Bengals and the Raiders are two secondaries we love to target.

Week 5 Running Backs Rankings

I am a big fan of Clyde Edwards-Helaire this week as he takes on a Raiders defense that has been thrashed for over 120 PPR points allowed to running backs in four games. That is 30 PPR points per game allowed and CEH is dominating touches and snaps in this loaded Chiefs offense. He has real potential to hit that ceiling game in this spot. On the flip side of this one, the Chiefs have been average against running backs, but Josh Jacobs hasn’t looked quite right over the last two weeks and the passing-down work still isn’t at a level where I want it to be.

With all the injuries to the position so far this season some names that wouldn’t find their way into the top ten are starting to sneak in. David Johnson is in a great spot going up against the Jaguars, who have allowed the 8th most FPPG to opposing backs so far this season and rank in the bottom half against the run. Kareem Hunt joins the top-ten list this week and is already a top eight back this season with 61.7 PPR points. Indy has a respectable defense these days but a slight uptick in the workload for Hunt makes him now an RB1.

It is a great spot for the remaining stud backs this week like Dalvin Cook, Ezekiel Elliott, and Alvin Kamara. Cook has been game script proof so far this season and the usage is high. Elliott gets a decent Giants run defense but this is finally a game where Elliott should see 30 touches and Dallas just controls this one. If they can’t do that then this team is in big trouble. Kamara gets the MNF game against the Chargers, who have been getting banged up defensively.

Week 5 Wide Receivers Rankings

Michael Thomas is going to return this week and gets a Chargers defense that just allowed Mike Evans to have a huge day. This secondary isn’t as stout as expected with the Chris Harris and Derwin James injuries. I expect Thomas to return to top form and he was close to returning last week. In this same game, Keenan Allen has 10, 19, and 12 targets with Justin Herbert starting. With that type of volume, the weekly upside is huge. Herbert has looked excellent so far and I prefer him to Tyrod Taylor when it comes to supporting the rest of the Chargers with fantasy potential.

Minnesota and Seattle both rank in the bottom five in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers. This game has a ton of shootout potential and brings three top-ten ranked wide receivers to the table this week. DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are both inside the top five in PPR scoring so far this season and Adam Thielen is in that mix as well. Justin Jefferson is now a top 20 fantasy scoring wideout. After this week those numbers should skyrocket even further.

This Bills-Titans game is an interesting one as both ranks in the bottom third in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers. For the Bills that is a surprise but for Tennessee not so much. AJ Brown has had some extra rest and is due back this week while Stefon Diggs and John Brown get a tasty matchup. Diggs was just on the outside of the top ten for me.

Week 5 Tight Ends Rankings

The Saints have now allowed a touchdown to a tight end in each of the first four games, and have allowed five all together this season. Hunter Henry is up this week and in a good spot to produce. Henry has been quiet this season, ranking 14th in fantasy points this season. That should improve after this week. Buffalo has seen a lot funneled down to tight ends against them and that makes me look at Jonnu Smith as a near-elite option this week. He is already crushing in scoring despite missing a game as he ranks top five in scoring. The top options remain a strong look of course, and Mark Andrews has been getting it done by finding the end zone.

Mike Gesicki and Dalton Schultz are two lesser names to consider as top ten options this week. Schultz is involved in a high flying Cowboys passing attack and ranks 6th in PPR scoring so far this season. Gesicki had the big game against the Bills but has been relatively quiet outside of that one. However, he still ranks as a top-ten play. Evan Engram might jump into the top ten this week if he can capitalize on a Dallas defense that has allowed the 5th most receptions to tight ends this season.

Week 5 Kicker Rankings

Randy Bullock has taken a step up with Joe Burrow moving the ball well in Cincinnati. This isn’t random as kickers thrive when offenses move the ball. Who would have thought? The tougher matchup for him this week but you can continue to start the league’s highest-scoring kicker. On the other side of that one, Justin Tucker is just simply in a great spot against Cincinnati and is top five in scoring so far this season. Rodrigo Blankenship now leads the league in field goal attempts as old man Rivers can move the ball but not a lot of Colts drives are finishing in touchdowns. Wil Lutz and Michael Badgley are two guys you can rely on against each other in the MNF game. It is an indoor shootout type of game that will play well for kickers.

Week 5 Defense Rankings

It is a pretty straight forward week for the defenses. The Steelers get the Eagles who can hardly field a team, although they did manage to win against San Francisco this week in what was an ugly game. While I like Cincinnati to move the ball, Baltimore should still be able to force some turnovers and generate sacks against one of the worst offensive lines in football. Chicago failed to impress despite the change at quarterback and Tampa Bay’s defense is looking to bounce back. The Cardinals and Cowboys are on alert because they play the New York offenses, so upside is there, their overall defenses are still a concern. Los Angeles is in a good spot after delivering last week as they get Washington. Both New England and Denver have watered down offenses due to injuries and with Cam out another week this is a good spot for both defenses.