NFL Week 5 gave us our first quadruple-header of the regular season. It started with the New York Jets taking on the Atlanta Falcons in London and concludes with the Buffalo Bills taking on the Kansas City Chiefs in a rematch of the 2020 AFC Championship Game.
PFF's fantasy football recap focuses on player usage and stats, breaking down all the vital information you need to achieve fantasy success in 2021.
Table Notes
- Snaps include plays called back due to penalties like offensive holding or defensive pass interference. The other three stats have these plays removed.
- Targets may differ from official NFL sources. The most likely discrepancy would be from a clear thrown away pass, where the NFL may give the target to the nearest receiver, while this data will not.
- Carries are only on designed plays. Quarterback scrambles won’t count for the total number of carries in the game.
NYG @ ATL | MIA @ TB | NO @ WFT | PHI @ CAR | NE @ HOU | GB @ CIN | TEN @ JAX | DEN @ PIT | DET @ MIN | CLE @ LAC | CHI @ LV | SF @ ARZ |
NYG @ DAL| BUF @ KC
Denver Broncos @ Pittsburgh Steelers
- Najee Harris: 23 carries, 122 yards, 1 TD, (3 explosive runs), 2 receptions, 20 receiving yards
- Courtland Sutton: 7 receptions, 120 yards, 1 TD (3.24 YPRR)
| Denver Broncos | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Tim Patrick | 57 | 40 | 9 | 0 |
| Courtland Sutton | 54 | 37 | 10 | 0 |
| Kendall Hinton | 39 | 27 | 2 | 0 |
| Tyrie Cleveland | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| David Moore | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Diontae Spencer | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Noah Fant | 58 | 37 | 4 | 0 |
| Eric Saubert | 16 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Melvin Gordon III | 36 | 22 | 2 | 9 |
| Javonte Williams | 25 | 13 | 3 | 8 |
| Total | 60 | 41 | 33 | 17 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Diontae Johnson | 60 | 25 | 2 | 0 |
| Chase Claypool | 36 | 21 | 6 | 0 |
| Ray-Ray McCloud III | 34 | 13 | 2 | 0 |
| JuJu Smith-Schuster | 25 | 9 | 1 | 2 |
| Cody White | 16 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Pat Freiermuth | 32 | 11 | 2 | 0 |
| Eric Ebron | 25 | 15 | 2 | 0 |
| Zach Gentry | 22 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Najee Harris | 42 | 12 | 5 | 23 |
| Benny Snell Jr. | 13 | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| Kalen Ballage | 10 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Total | 65 | 26 | 24 | 35 |
Monitor the JuJu Smith-Schuster injury: Smith-Schuster has dealt with a ribs injury the last two weeks that has at times limited him in practice, and now he has a shoulder injury as well. He went down hard in the second quarter and didn’t return to the game. If he misses time, Ray-Ray McCloud III would take over in the slot and would be worth a waiver wire target in deeper leagues. If anything, this should also mean more opportunities for the Steelers' star players. Chase Claypool is one player who potentially saw more targets, leading to five receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown.
Sell high on Courtland Sutton: Sutton’s fantasy production has been a roller coaster this season, and today was one of the peaks. Part of the reason for his success is that three of the Broncos' top six wide receivers/tight ends didn’t play in this game with injury. This allowed the players who were healthy to dominate in targets. Jerry Jeudy was expected to miss four to six weeks with his high ankle sprain, and that was four weeks ago. Once Jeudy is back, it will be harder for Sutton to consistently play well.
Avoid the Steelers tight ends: Neither of the Steelers' top two tight ends could stay fantasy relevant as long as they were fighting each other for snaps. It will be even harder now with 2019 fifth-round pick Zach Gentry becoming a bigger part of the offense. He’s primarily a run-blocking tight end, but he has the highest threat-rate of the three on the season. He’s also graded well the last two weeks as a receiver, which could lead to more opportunities. One day Pat Freiermuth will be a starting fantasy tight end, but that day seems further away now than before.
Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars
- Derrick Henry: 29 carries, 130 yards, 3 TD (5 avoided tackles)
- James Robinson: 18 carries, 149 yards, 1 TD (38.9% first down/touchdown rate)
| Tennessee Titans | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Marcus Johnson | 48 | 20 | 4 | 0 |
| A.J. Brown | 41 | 24 | 5 | 0 |
| Chester Rogers | 31 | 15 | 1 | 1 |
| Josh Reynolds | 18 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Cameron Batson | 10 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| TE | ||||
| MyCole Pruitt | 38 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Geoff Swaim | 36 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Anthony Firkser | 27 | 14 | 4 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Derrick Henry | 49 | 8 | 0 | 29 |
| Jeremy McNichols | 15 | 10 | 2 | 1 |
| Total | 64 | 26 | 18 | 35 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Marvin Jones Jr. | 66 | 33 | 4 | 0 |
| Laviska Shenault Jr. | 52 | 23 | 3 | 0 |
| Jamal Agnew | 45 | 26 | 7 | 1 |
| Tavon Austin | 24 | 19 | 5 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Dan Arnold | 52 | 30 | 8 | 0 |
| Chris Manhertz | 22 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Jacob Hollister | 15 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Luke Farrell | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| James Robinson | 48 | 21 | 1 | 18 |
| Carlos Hyde | 18 | 8 | 0 | 5 |
| Dare Ogunbowale | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 71 | 38 | 31 | 28 |
Add Dan Arnold: Arnold was traded to the Jaguars from Carolina two weeks ago. He was used in a limited role on Thursday Night Football a week ago after being on the team for just a few days. After over a full week of practice, he’s clearly the Jaguars' receiving tight end. He led the team in receptions (6) and receiving yards (64) despite Jacksonville relying heavily on the run. There are very few tight ends who run a route on nearly all of their team’s pass plays. With a quarterback who wants to target tight ends, he's a borderline starter.
Buy low on A.J. Brown: Brown was a player to buy low after Week 2, as a lot of the reasons behind his poor numbers were unlikely to continue. Unfortunately, he suffered a hamstring injury in Week 3, which kept him out of most of that game as well as last week. Brown played today, but his playing time was limited compared to usual. He led the team in targets but only caught three passes for 38 yards. His talent should lead to much better games in the future once he's healthy and Julio Jones returns.
Buy low on Laviska Shenault Jr.: Shenault had one highlight-worthy play of 58 yards but wasn’t a large part of the offense outside of that. The Jaguars moved him to an outside receiver to replace D.J. Chark Jr. instead of the slot role he held all season. He had played both positions significantly as a rookie, and over his career he’s played much better out wide. Trevor Lawrence has also been much more willing to throw to outside receivers this year, with 66 targets out wide compared to 38 in the slot. It didn’t work out today, but in the long run this should be a positive move for Shenault’s fantasy value. The following are his career numbers at the two alignments.
Laviska Shenault
| Receiving Grade | Routes | Targets | TD | 1D | Explosive Plays | |
| Wide | 75.7 | 306 | 60 | 5 | 27 | 13 |
| Slot | 64.4 | 212 | 42 | 0 | 15 | 6 |
Green Bay Packers @ Cincinnati Bengals
- Davante Adams: 11 receptions, 206 yards, 1 TD (43.2% threat rate)
- Ja’Marr Chase: 6 receptions, 159 yards 1 TD (22.3 aDOT)
| Green Bay Packers | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Davante Adams | 58 | 37 | 16 | 0 |
| Allen Lazard | 55 | 37 | 2 | 0 |
| Randall Cobb | 35 | 25 | 3 | 0 |
| Equanimeous St. Brown | 12 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Amari Rodgers | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Malik Taylor | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Robert Tonyan | 38 | 25 | 2 | 0 |
| Marcedes Lewis | 29 | 9 | 2 | 0 |
| Josiah Deguara | 13 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Tyler Davis | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Aaron Jones | 44 | 29 | 5 | 14 |
| A.J. Dillon | 21 | 11 | 4 | 9 |
| Kylin Hill | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 64 | 41 | 35 | 23 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Ja'Marr Chase | 61 | 41 | 9 | 0 |
| Tyler Boyd | 55 | 38 | 5 | 0 |
| Tee Higgins | 47 | 36 | 8 | 0 |
| Auden Tate | 13 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Trenton Irwin | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| C.J. Uzomah | 56 | 35 | 2 | 0 |
| Drew Sample | 21 | 10 | 3 | 0 |
| Mitchell Wilcox | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Samaje Perine | 41 | 26 | 5 | 11 |
| Joe Mixon | 19 | 8 | 1 | 10 |
| Chris Evans | 7 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 67 | 43 | 36 | 23 |
Sell high on Aaron Jones: The veteran back has been a top-five fantasy running back so far this season and had a 100-yard game, but his time as an elite fantasy back might be coming to an end. A.J. Dillon has become more involved with the offense. On the season, Dillon has graded better as a runner. Jones has been the more explosive player, but Dillon has more consistently gotten first downs.
Dillon was the more effective receiver today with 49 yards on four catches and a touchdown. Jones had back-to-back weeks with 20-plus touches in Weeks 2 and 3, but those kinds of games will be hard to come by again with Dillon playing this well.
Monitor the Bengals RBs: Joe Mixon was surprisingly able to play in this game but on a limited basis. He and Samaje Perine split the carries, while there was a heavy three-back rotation for the pass work. As the game progressed, Perine took a higher percentage of the pass plays. Mixon didn’t play at all on third downs, which isn’t surprising considering his limited third-down snaps in recent weeks. As long as Mixon is able to practice some this upcoming week, he should be good to return to fantasy starting lineups next Sunday with a very favorable matchup against the Lions.
Bench and consider dropping Robert Tonyan: Tonyan was held to single-digit receiving yards for the fourth time in five weeks. Green Bay has used a four-man rotation at tight end. Tonyan is still far and away the one seeing the most snaps in passing situations, but he’s not seeing the targets. Davante Adams is taking a higher target share than ever, and the ball is getting spread out among everyone else. We all knew his touchdowns would regress significantly based on how he was used last season, and they have. He will score his share of touchdowns this year, but it’s not worth scoring 1.8 PPR points several weeks to get there.
Detroit Lions @ Minnesota Vikings
- Alexander Mattison: 25 carries, 113 yards, (108 yards after contact), 7 receptions, 40 receiving yards, 1 TD
- Justin Jefferson: 7 receptions, 124 yards (3.35 YPRR)
| Detroit Lions | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Amon-Ra St. Brown | 47 | 31 | 8 | 0 |
| Kalif Raymond | 46 | 28 | 2 | 0 |
| KhaDarel Hodge | 44 | 25 | 5 | 0 |
| Quintez Cephus | 22 | 13 | 3 | 0 |
| Trinity Benson | 21 | 10 | 2 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| T.J. Hockenson | 55 | 32 | 3 | 0 |
| Darren Fells | 21 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| D'Andre Swift | 50 | 29 | 6 | 11 |
| Jamaal Williams | 22 | 7 | 2 | 13 |
| Total | 68 | 39 | 31 | 24 |
| Minnesota Vikings | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Adam Thielen | 62 | 36 | 3 | 0 |
| Justin Jefferson | 61 | 37 | 8 | 0 |
| K.J. Osborn | 40 | 26 | 4 | 0 |
| Dede Westbrook | 13 | 11 | 4 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Tyler Conklin | 50 | 28 | 3 | 0 |
| Ben Ellefson | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Chris Herndon | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Alexander Mattison | 44 | 16 | 7 | 25 |
| Ameer Abdullah | 12 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 67 | 37 | 31 | 27 |
Buy low on T.J. Hockenson: The third-year tight end had an excellent start to the season with eight catches in each of his first two games. He’s caught eight passes over the last three games combined, including two today for 22 yards. It’s worth noting that Hockenson has dealt with a knee injury that kept him limited in practice all week. He should see a higher target share similar to the start of the season once he’s closer to 100%.
Hold onto Alexander Mattison: Dalvin Cook was a game-time decision all week and was ruled out earlier today. Mattison took advantage of the opportunity to be a centerpiece in the Vikings' offense which helped lead them to victory. Considering Cook has gone three straight weeks with either not practicing or being limited in practice, it wouldn’t be surprising if Mattison gets another start either this week or at some point in the season.
Monitor the Lions' wide receivers: The Lions' wide receiver situation has constantly evolved throughout the season. Detroit used their fourth and fifth wide receivers Trinity Benson and KhaDarel Hodge for 20 of the possible 22 snaps at wide receiver in 21 personnel. Quintez Cephus was carted to the locker room in the second quarter and didn’t return. This left Hodge getting playing time similar to the starters.
Kalif Raymond was the only starter who consistently played in both two and three-receiver sets but didn’t have a catch. Amon-Ra St. Brown was the star of the group, but he still very rarely plays in two-receiver sets. Someone could eventually emerge from this group with how many injuries they’ve had, but no one has consistently played well yet.
New York Jets @ Atlanta Falcons
- Kyle Pitts: 9 receptions, 119 yards, 1 TD (4 explosive plays)
- Cordarrelle Patterson: 14 carries, 54 yards; 7 receptions, 60 receiving yards (33.3% threat rate)
| New York Jets | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Corey Davis | 45 | 27 | 7 | 0 |
| Jamison Crowder | 34 | 24 | 6 | 0 |
| Keelan Cole | 31 | 18 | 3 | 0 |
| Elijah Moore | 23 | 16 | 2 | 0 |
| Denzel Mims | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Braxton Berrios | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Ryan Griffin | 51 | 24 | 2 | 0 |
| Daniel Brown | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Michael Carter | 29 | 15 | 3 | 10 |
| Ty Johnson | 22 | 13 | 3 | 4 |
| Tevin Coleman | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Total | 56 | 35 | 29 | 17 |
| Atlanta Falcons | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Olamide Zaccheaus | 66 | 40 | 4 | 0 |
| Tajae Sharpe | 63 | 35 | 5 | 0 |
| Christian Blake | 16 | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Kyle Pitts | 54 | 36 | 10 | 0 |
| Hayden Hurst | 43 | 26 | 5 | 0 |
| Lee Smith | 34 | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Mike Davis | 50 | 21 | 4 | 13 |
| Cordarrelle Patterson | 46 | 24 | 8 | 14 |
| Wayne Gallman | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 78 | 46 | 43 | 29 |
Keep starting Cordarrelle Patterson: Patterson didn’t score the touchdowns in this game, but he played a much bigger role in the offense compared to past weeks and surpassed 100 yards on offense. This increased workload could be down to the Falcons' injuries at wide receiver, but the veteran also handled an increased workload out of the backfield.
Patterson was more effective than Mike Davis today, which could lead to an even bigger role down the road. He needs to remain in starting lineups.
Don’t start Elijah Moore: Moore was questionable coming into the game due to the concussion he suffered in Week 3, but his small role in the offense was disappointing nonetheless. The rookie receiver was constantly rotating in and out with Keelan Cole and saw a relatively small target share, although there was one big play where a defensive pass interference penalty kept him from coming down with the ball.
Moore was targeted twice but didn’t catch a single pass. He played primarily out of the slot in college, but Jamison Crowder has that role wrapped up for the Jets. This offense needs to improve and Moore needs to see more opportunity before we consider putting the first-year wideout in lineups.
Monitor Kyle Pitts: Pitts had the best game of his short NFL career and even found the end zone for the first time as a member of the Atlanta Falcons. The injuries to the Falcons' top receiving targets presented him with an increased target share, but it didn’t necessarily increase his playing time. Atlanta still ran a lot of passing plays with Pitts off the field, which isn’t ideal for a borderline top-five fantasy tight end — he needs to stay on the field if he is ever to reach his full fantasy potential.
Consider starting Michael Carter: The fourth-round pick served as the clear primary back for New York for the third consecutive game, and his role is very similar to several other starting fantasy running backs.
Unfortunately, the game script was as bad as it gets, as the Jets found themselves down 17-0 after 19 minutes of football. Still, he still managed double-digit carries and a touchdown while also catching a career-high three passes. If New York can improve offensively, he will be a clear every-week starter.
Miami Dolphins @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Antonio Brown: 7 receptions, 124 yards, 2 TD (3.88 YPRR)
- Mike Evans: 6 receptions, 113 yards, 2 TD (20.4 aDOT)
| Miami Dolphins | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Jaylen Waddle | 43 | 35 | 7 | 1 |
| Preston Williams | 40 | 32 | 4 | 1 |
| Mack Hollins | 14 | 11 | 2 | 0 |
| Albert Wilson | 12 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Isaiah Ford | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Mike Gesicki | 42 | 34 | 6 | 0 |
| Durham Smythe | 36 | 25 | 3 | 0 |
| Adam Shaheen | 21 | 11 | 2 | 0 |
| Cethan Carter | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Myles Gaskin | 37 | 22 | 10 | 5 |
| Salvon Ahmed | 11 | 7 | 3 | 2 |
| Malcolm Brown | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 54 | 44 | 38 | 9 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Mike Evans | 58 | 42 | 8 | 0 |
| Chris Godwin | 51 | 35 | 11 | 0 |
| Antonio Brown | 42 | 32 | 8 | 0 |
| Tyler Johnson | 38 | 27 | 3 | 0 |
| Jaydon Mickens | 13 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| O.J. Howard | 44 | 17 | 3 | 0 |
| Cameron Brate | 28 | 20 | 1 | 0 |
| Codey McElroy | 12 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Leonard Fournette | 46 | 29 | 5 | 12 |
| Giovani Bernard | 17 | 8 | 2 | 4 |
| Ronald Jones | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Total | 74 | 48 | 43 | 24 |
Sell high on Myles Gaskin: Gaskin notched career-highs in targets (10), receptions (10) and receiving touchdowns (2). He’s been very up and down this season in both his playing time and stats. His playing time was up in this game, but the stats he did well in aren’t sustainable. He had five or fewer carries for the third time in four weeks, which isn’t ideal for a running back. His double-digit targets were at least partially influenced by Miami missing two of its top three wide receivers. He will remain a very frustrating play for fantasy managers, so it would be better to let him be someone else’s problem.
Drop Ronald Jones: It’s becoming more clear each week that Jones is not a big part of the offense’s game plan. This is the kind of game script where Jones ideally would have had an OK game, but he was given just five carries and one target. Jones would have some fantasy value if Leonard Fournette gets hurt, but that seems to be the only scenario where he gets more involved at this point.
Monitor the Buccaneers' tight ends: Rob Gronkowski missed a second game with an injury, putting the two backup tight ends in the spotlight. Cameron Brate had been the clear receiving option over O.J. Howard after the first month of the season, with 84 routes run to 28. This week, they shifted to more of an even split. Howard ran fewer routes but had more targets, receptions and yards. It wouldn’t be surprising if the former first-round pick can maintain an extended role in the offense going forward.
New Orleans Saints @ Washington Football Team
- Antonio Gibson: 20 carries, 60 yards, 2 TD, (26.3% first down/touchdown rate), 2 receptions, 12 receiving yards
- Marquez Callaway: 4 receptions, 85 yards, 2 TD (18.9 aDOT)
| New Orleans Saints | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Marquez Callaway | 46 | 28 | 7 | 0 |
| Kenny Stills | 40 | 28 | 5 | 1 |
| Ty Montgomery | 25 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| Chris Hogan | 8 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Deonte Harris | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Adam Trautman | 48 | 23 | 2 | 0 |
| Garrett Griffin | 17 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Juwan Johnson | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Alvin Kamara | 49 | 24 | 8 | 16 |
| Devine Ozigbo | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Dwayne Washington | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 56 | 34 | 27 | 21 |
| Washington Football Team | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Terry McLaurin | 70 | 43 | 11 | 0 |
| DeAndre Carter | 58 | 35 | 7 | 1 |
| Adam Humphries | 52 | 36 | 4 | 0 |
| Dax Milne | 34 | 19 | 1 | 0 |
| Antonio Gandy-Golden | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Curtis Samuel | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| TE | ||||
| Ricky Seals-Jones | 82 | 42 | 9 | 0 |
| John Bates | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Antonio Gibson | 47 | 18 | 2 | 19 |
| J.D. McKissic | 34 | 23 | 3 | 3 |
| Jaret Patterson | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Total | 83 | 48 | 38 | 28 |
Monitor the Taysom Hill injury: Hill suffered a concussion and was carted off the field in this game. He’s been the closest thing the Saints have had to a receiving tight end the last few weeks. Adam Trautman had 43 receiving yards, which is more than the previous four games put together. Trautman should be left on the waiver wire, but there is a chance he sees more opportunities if Hill misses time.
Avoid the Saints wide receivers: Deonte Harris has been by far the most impressive wide receiver for New Orleans this season. He barely played in Week 6 due to a hamstring injury but caught a 72-yard touchdown pass. Marquez Callaway has made more plays in recent weeks, including a Hail Mary touchdown to end the first half. Next time we see the Saints — which will be after their bye next week — the starters could be Michael Thomas and Tre’Quan Smith. Smith said he’ll return after the bye, and Thomas will be eligible to come off the PUP list. The stats might look impressive, but the receiving room is about to get a lot more crowded.
Add Ricky Seals-Jones: Logan Thomas is on injured reserve and will miss a minimum of two weeks. Seals-Jones has taken on the exact same role as Thomas, leading to five catches for 41 yards in Week 6. His PFF grade is nearly identical on the season despite a dropped pass. His threat rate has been higher, and he has more explosive plays. He should not only be on rosters but also potentially in starting lineups for as long as Thomas is out.
Philadelphia Eagles @ Carolina Panthers
- Chuba Hubbard: 24 carries, 101 yards, (3.3 yards after contact per carry); 5 receptions, 33 receiving yards
- DeVonta Smith: 7 receptions, 77 yards (2-for-2 on contested targets)
| Philadelphia Eagles | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| DeVonta Smith | 62 | 40 | 9 | 0 |
| Quez Watkins | 56 | 34 | 3 | 0 |
| Jalen Reagor | 46 | 35 | 5 | 0 |
| Greg Ward | 11 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| J.J. Arcega-Whiteside | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Dallas Goedert | 46 | 23 | 3 | 0 |
| Zach Ertz | 39 | 23 | 5 | 0 |
| Jack Stoll | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Miles Sanders | 50 | 28 | 5 | 11 |
| Kenneth Gainwell | 16 | 10 | 3 | 2 |
| Total | 67 | 42 | 33 | 21 |
| Carolina Panthers | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| D.J. Moore | 63 | 40 | 7 | 1 |
| Robby Anderson | 61 | 39 | 7 | 0 |
| Terrace Marshall Jr. | 54 | 33 | 3 | 0 |
| Brandon Zylstra | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Alex Erickson | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Ian Thomas | 45 | 24 | 5 | 0 |
| Tommy Tremble | 27 | 16 | 3 | 0 |
| Colin Thompson | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Chuba Hubbard | 46 | 18 | 6 | 24 |
| Royce Freeman | 14 | 10 | 2 | 3 |
| Rodney Smith | 11 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 71 | 42 | 33 | 28 |
Bench Dallas Goedert: The Eagles' younger tight end has been borderline-benchable all season because of the time he is splitting with Zach Ertz. And that problem persisted in this game, as they split the receiving work evenly.
Ertz was targeted five times in Week 5 compared to Goedert's three. He’s now seen five or fewer tragets in six straight games, all with Jalen Hurts at quarterback. He is talented enough that he will still make a few big plays over the rest of the season, but they will come at unpredictable times.
Start DeVonta Smith: The first-round rookie continues to be the clear top receiving option in the Eagles offense. He’s seen six targets in each game so far, and that’s only gone up over the last two weeks. He didn’t catch any of his first seven contested catches this season but now has caught his last three.
The rookie pass-catcher had a few miscues in this game, with a drop and fumble, but those are unlikely to be a problem going forward. He’s a reliable player and we haven’t seen his ceiling yet.
Continue to start Chuba Hubbard as long as Christian McCaffrey is out: Hubbard had a much better game than he did last week, with nearly double the rushing attempts and yards. The Panthers used three different running backs in passing opportunities, but the rookie saw the most work. He rarely played on third downs but did stay in for the two-minute drill.
This led to career-high numbers across the board in the passing game, and the only problem is he didn’t find the end zone. He should remain among the league leaders in touches as long as McCaffrey isn’t playing.
New England Patriots @ Houston Texans
- Chris Moore: 5 receptions, 109 yards, 1 TD (74 YAC)
- Hunter Henry: 6 receptions, 75 yards, 1 TD (32% threat rate)
| New England Patriots | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Jakobi Meyers | 58 | 31 | 5 | 0 |
| Nelson Agholor | 43 | 25 | 4 | 0 |
| Kendrick Bourne | 32 | 20 | 3 | 1 |
| N'Keal Harry | 22 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Hunter Henry | 40 | 25 | 8 | 0 |
| Jonnu Smith | 40 | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| HB | ||||
| Brandon Bolden | 24 | 17 | 4 | 2 |
| Rhamondre Stevenson | 22 | 7 | 0 | 11 |
| Damien Harris | 21 | 4 | 0 | 14 |
| Total | 64 | 31 | 28 | 30 |
| Houston Texans | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Chris Conley | 54 | 29 | 4 | 0 |
| Brandin Cooks | 50 | 30 | 5 | 0 |
| Chris Moore | 37 | 22 | 5 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Pharaoh Brown | 37 | 11 | 3 | 0 |
| Jordan Akins | 27 | 21 | 2 | 0 |
| Antony Auclair | 20 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| David Johnson | 31 | 23 | 6 | 2 |
| Mark Ingram II | 26 | 7 | 0 | 16 |
| Phillip Lindsay | 13 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| Total | 59 | 32 | 26 | 24 |
Don’t add Chris Moore: Moore might seem like a good waiver wire target due to his impressive stat line, but there will be a lot working against him soon. Danny Amendola is the Texans' starting slot receiver but was limited in practice throughout the week and missed the game. Once he’s back, there’s a chance Moore doesn’t see any playing time. Nico Collins is on injured reserve but can return as early as next week. That will also probably push Moore down the depth chart.
Don’t worry about Damien Harris: Harris had a fine game on the ground, gaining 58 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown. This was particularly impressive considering New England was missing four-fifths of its offensive line. The third-year back suffered a chest injury that cost him significant time in the second half. Rhamondre Stevenson saw four snaps in the first half and then received extensive work in the second. He wasn’t as effective as Harris, which should help secure Harris’ starting role for the foreseeable future as long as he’s healthy.
Cut Jonnu Smith: Through four weeks, Smith had been used more as a blocking tight end, while Hunter Henry the bulk of the receiving work. That was even more true in this game, resulting in Smith having single-digit routes run. He was held under 30 receiving yards for the fourth consecutive week. There is still a chance the Patriots could change their offense at some point this season to get Smith more involved, but that is more unlikely by the week.
Cleveland Browns @ Los Angeles Chargers
- Austin Ekeler: 17 carries, 66 yards, 2 TD, (0% stuffed rate); 5 receptions, 53 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD
- Nick Chubb: 21 carries, 161 yards, 1 TD, 9 avoided tackles
| Cleveland Browns | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Odell Beckham Jr. | 58 | 31 | 3 | 0 |
| Donovan Peoples-Jones | 49 | 26 | 6 | 0 |
| Rashard Higgins | 34 | 22 | 6 | 0 |
| Anthony Schwartz | 9 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Demetric Felton | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Austin Hooper | 52 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| David Njoku | 46 | 21 | 7 | 0 |
| Harrison Bryant | 31 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Nick Chubb | 40 | 15 | 1 | 21 |
| Kareem Hunt | 32 | 13 | 6 | 12 |
| Total | 72 | 35 | 30 | 33 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Keenan Allen | 67 | 45 | 9 | 0 |
| Mike Williams | 58 | 39 | 15 | 0 |
| Jalen Guyton | 43 | 29 | 3 | 0 |
| Josh Palmer | 16 | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| K.J. Hill | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Jared Cook | 50 | 30 | 3 | 0 |
| Donald Parham | 41 | 14 | 2 | 0 |
| Stephen Anderson | 15 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Austin Ekeler | 53 | 28 | 5 | 17 |
| Joshua Kelley | 26 | 19 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 75 | 48 | 41 | 20 |
Cut Austin Hooper: Hooper has been fighting David Njoku for receiving snaps at tight end all season. The two ran a similar number of routes this week, but the stat line couldn't be more different. Njoku caught seven passes for 149 yards and a touchdown, while Hooper wasn’t targeted. Njoku can be left on the waiver wire unless he takes the vast majority of the receiving work. Hooper can be cut, as he should only see a decrease in workload from now on.
Sell high on most players in this game: This was an exciting game that featured a number of positive performances on offense. Along with Ekeler and Chubb, Kareem Hunt and Mike Williams also put up dominant performances, scoring two touchdowns apiece. All four players should remain every-week starters regardless of matchup, but it can never hurt to see what you can get for big-name players after they have a big game — it can potentially lead to multiple starters in your fantasy lineup.
Monitor the Chargers' tight ends: The 34-year-old Jared Cook has been the Chargers' primary receiving tight end so far this season, but he's been far from efficient through five weeks. This was a particularly poor game, as he was held to one catch for 29 yards while backup Donald Parham scored a touchdown in his second straight game on limited routes. There has yet to be a sign that Los Angeles is looking to limit Cook’s snaps, but based on the quality of play, they might want to consider it.
Chicago Bears @ Las Vegas Raiders
- Damien Williams: 16 carries, 64 yards, 1 TD, (1.9 yards before contact per carry); 2 receptions, 20 receiving yards
- Josh Jacobs: 15 carries, 48 yards, 1 TD (3 avoided tackles); 4 receptions, 19 receiving yards
| Chicago Bears | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Allen Robinson II | 53 | 22 | 5 | 0 |
| Darnell Mooney | 49 | 21 | 5 | 1 |
| Damiere Byrd | 28 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Marquise Goodwin | 24 | 9 | 2 | 0 |
| Jakeem Grant | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Cole Kmet | 51 | 16 | 4 | 0 |
| Jimmy Graham | 25 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Jesper Horsted | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Khalil Herbert | 34 | 7 | 0 | 18 |
| Damien Williams | 31 | 10 | 3 | 16 |
| Ryan Nall | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 64 | 24 | 20 | 37 |
| Las Vegas Raiders | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Henry Ruggs III | 56 | 36 | 3 | 0 |
| Bryan Edwards | 51 | 33 | 6 | 0 |
| Hunter Renfrow | 50 | 34 | 8 | 0 |
| Zay Jones | 12 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Willie Snead IV | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Darren Waller | 64 | 36 | 8 | 0 |
| Foster Moreau | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Nick Bowers | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Josh Jacobs | 46 | 20 | 5 | 15 |
| Kenyan Drake | 12 | 6 | 1 | 2 |
| Jalen Richard | 10 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 67 | 40 | 35 | 20 |
Cut Kenyan Drake: Peyton Barber has received the majority of carries with Josh Jacobs out, and Jalen Richard has taken the third-down role after returning from the injured reserve. This left Drake with just two carries and no catches in Week 5. It would now take multiple injuries for Drake to become a fantasy starter. The best-case scenario is that the Raiders trade him before the deadline.
Sell high on Damien Williams: Williams was expected to be the Bears' primary ball carrier with David Montgomery out. Instead, he and rookie Khalil Herbert split snaps fairly evenly throughout the game. The Bears held a lead for most of the game, which allowed them to rely heavily on the running game. Both backs recorded more than 16 rushing attempts, with Herbert finishing with more rushing yards but Williams scoring the touchdown. The even split will make it much harder to start either one of these backs in games where Chicago is playing from behind.
Leave Justin Fields on the bench: Fields once held starting fantasy potential due to his accuracy passing and his ability to run. He didn’t really show either in this game, though, with a 54.5% adjusted completion percentage and only three carries. He will need to improve on his accuracy and his impact in the running game before he can safely go into lineups.
San Francisco 49ers @ Arizona Cardinals
- DeAndre Hopkins: 6 receptions, 87 yards, 1 TD (All first downs/touchdowns)
- Trey Lance: 15 for 29, 192 yards, 1 INT, (10.0 aDOT), 16 carries, 89 rushing yards
| San Francisco 49ers | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Deebo Samuel | 56 | 33 | 6 | 1 |
| Brandon Aiyuk | 46 | 27 | 3 | 0 |
| Mohamed Sanu | 30 | 17 | 3 | 0 |
| Travis Benjamin | 15 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Trent Sherfield | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Ross Dwelley | 59 | 26 | 3 | 0 |
| Charlie Woerner | 21 | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| Tanner Hudson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Elijah Mitchell | 44 | 18 | 2 | 9 |
| Trey Sermon | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 65 | 35 | 24 | 24 |
| Arizona Cardinals | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| DeAndre Hopkins | 56 | 34 | 9 | 0 |
| A.J. Green | 49 | 30 | 2 | 0 |
| Christian Kirk | 33 | 18 | 5 | 1 |
| Rondale Moore | 29 | 20 | 6 | 3 |
| Antoine Wesley | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Demetrius Harris | 32 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Maxx Williams | 25 | 14 | 1 | 0 |
| Ross Travis | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Chase Edmonds | 37 | 16 | 4 | 7 |
| James Conner | 29 | 12 | 2 | 10 |
| Total | 61 | 34 | 29 | 27 |
Rondale Moore is now a must-add: Moore’s role has expanded in the Cardinals' offense. He played 26 of a possible 102 offensive snaps in 11 personnel over the first four weeks. The three starting wide receivers were all at 80-plus snaps. This week, he played in 13 of 27, while Christian Kirk was restricted to 16. The increased role allowed him to lead the team in rushing yards while also having the second-most targets. Tight end Maxx Williams was carted off with what appeared to be a serious injury. Demetrius Harris took over as the receiving tight end. Arizona already runs significant four-receiver sets, but that could increase even more with Williams presumably out. Moore’s route to a consistent fantasy wide receiver became a lot clearer today.
Monitor the 49ers' backfield: Elijah Mitchell missed the past two games with injury but went right back to his role as the first- and second-down back. Trey Sermon was active but didn’t play an offensive snap until late in the fourth quarter. Kyle Juszczyk remained the third-down back. The 49ers have a bye next week, and then Jeff Wilson Jr. is at least eligible to return. Once he’s back, it will be interesting to see how playing time is distributed. Wilson should get picked up off the waiver wire, as this could eventually be his job.
Start Trey Lance as long as he starts: Lance had a rough start when it came to helping the 49ers win, but what he did on the field is promising for fantasy managers. He had a similar debut to Jalen Hurts, running the ball 16-plus times in his first start. Hurts has consistently been a fantasy starter since becoming the Eagles' QB1. Lance will be in a similar situation, where his rushing floor is so high that even a bad performance won’t stop him. Unfortunately, he didn’t score a touchdown in this game, but they will come — both on the ground and through the air.
New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys
- Ezekiel Elliott: 21 carries, 110 yards, 1 TD, (5 explosive runs); 2 receptions, 2 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD
- Kadarius Toney: 10 receptions, 189 yards (54.2% threat rate)
| New York Giants | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| John Ross | 41 | 28 | 5 | 0 |
| Kadarius Toney | 37 | 24 | 13 | 1 |
| Collin Johnson | 30 | 18 | 3 | 0 |
| Kenny Golladay | 24 | 15 | 3 | 0 |
| C.J. Board | 21 | 10 | 3 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Evan Engram | 50 | 30 | 4 | 0 |
| Kyle Rudolph | 41 | 22 | 1 | 0 |
| Kaden Smith | 24 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Devontae Booker | 60 | 30 | 4 | 16 |
| Elijhaa Penny | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Saquon Barkley | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Total | 68 | 41 | 37 | 23 |
| Dallas Cowboys | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| CeeDee Lamb | 65 | 33 | 5 | 1 |
| Amari Cooper | 57 | 29 | 5 | 0 |
| Cedrick Wilson | 52 | 27 | 1 | 1 |
| Noah Brown | 23 | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| Malik Turner | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Dalton Schultz | 57 | 25 | 8 | 0 |
| Blake Jarwin | 31 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Jeremy Sprinkle | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Ezekiel Elliott | 47 | 18 | 3 | 21 |
| Tony Pollard | 31 | 12 | 4 | 14 |
| Total | 78 | 36 | 30 | 38 |
Add Devontae Booker: Saquon Barkley had his ankle rolled up on, which led him to get ruled out for the game shortly thereafter. Booker took over as the running back for the Giants. He ran 14 times for 35 yards and a touchdown. He wasn’t all that effective on the ground, but any back who sees that many carries needs to be on a roster. Ideally, Barkley won’t miss much time, but Booker will be a borderline fantasy starter for as long as Barkley is out.
Start Dalton Schultz: Schultz had his third consecutive week with six catches. He gained 79 yards on those plays but failed to score a touchdown. He and Blake Jarwin split playing time the first three weeks, but Schultz earned a bigger role last week. He maintained that by staying on the field for the vast majority of the Cowboys' pass plays. This role makes his play much more sustainable over time. He will eventually have a bad week while other wide receivers shine, but he should be a solid starter more often than not.
Monitor the Kenny Golladay injury: Golladay was ruled out with a knee injury. He was held without a catch in this game. He’s already appeared on the injury report in four of the first five weeks with a hamstring, a groin and a hip injury. The Giants were also without Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton in this game. That all contributed to Kadarius Toney’s breakout game. Toney definitely needs to be on fantasy rosters. There is no guarantee he keeps an every-down role once everyone is healthy, though. Slayton is likely the odd man out of three-receiver sets once the corps is at full strength. Availability will likely dictate who is on the field the next few weeks at least.
Buffalo Bills @ Kansas City Chiefs
- Josh Allen: 15-for-26, 316 yards, 3 TD, (3.1-second average time to throw); 11 carries, 59 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
- Dawson Knox: 3 receptions, 117 yards, 1 TD (28.3 aDOT)
| Buffalo Bills | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Emmanuel Sanders | 45 | 28 | 6 | 0 |
| Stefon Diggs | 42 | 24 | 5 | 0 |
| Cole Beasley | 22 | 16 | 2 | 0 |
| Gabriel Davis | 14 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Isaiah McKenzie | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Jake Kumerow | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Dawson Knox | 55 | 26 | 4 | 0 |
| Tommy Sweeney | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Zack Moss | 42 | 19 | 4 | 11 |
| Devin Singletary | 15 | 8 | 2 | 6 |
| Total | 57 | 30 | 25 | 24 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Tyreek Hill | 73 | 54 | 14 | 1 |
| Demarcus Robinson | 65 | 48 | 2 | 0 |
| Mecole Hardman | 59 | 45 | 12 | 0 |
| Byron Pringle | 26 | 20 | 2 | 0 |
| Josh Gordon | 9 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Marcus Kemp | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Travis Kelce | 75 | 56 | 8 | 0 |
| Blake Bell | 17 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Joe Fortson | 14 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Darrel Williams | 37 | 24 | 4 | 5 |
| Jerick McKinnon | 27 | 22 | 2 | 1 |
| Clyde Edwards-Helaire | 22 | 13 | 2 | 7 |
| Total | 86 | 63 | 48 | 16 |
Monitor the Clyde Edwards-Helaire injury: Somehow, Edwards-Helaire's fantasy stats were improving while his playing time was decreasing. Tonight, the reduction in playing time continued, but it coincided with a large drop-off in his fantasy production. Tonight, Kansas City used a very heavy rotation of their backs, rotating them in and out every play or two.
His night got worse when he suffered what could be a significant knee injury. If he misses a significant amount of time, expect Darrel Williams to be the primary rushing back and Jerick McKinnon to serve as the primary receiving back. This makes Williams the player to pick up off the waiver wire. Williams has only played in over 50% of offensive snaps twice in his career and has never topped 11 carries.
Derrick Gore is on the practice squad and is the current favorite to be the third back on the roster. He would likely see a few carries each game and be worth an add in deeper leagues. It’s possible Kansas City makes a trade for a running back who could complement Williams in the run game or potentially see more carries than Williams.
Monitor the Kansas City wide receivers: Kansas City made headlines a week ago when they added Josh Gordon to the roster. He was used sparingly tonight, taking a few snaps from each of the other receivers. The addition may have motivated Mecole Hardman, as he led the team in receptions (9) and yards (76). Hardman was WR60 coming into the week, though that will likely go up this week. Still, it’s not out of the question that Gordon takes snaps away and at least one receiver sees a significant decrease going forward.
Don’t start Cole Beasley: Beasley’s role in the offense has steadily declined as the season has progressed. He played over 90% of offensive snaps in Week 1, which fell to the 50%-70% range the previous three weeks to under 50% tonight. He caught one pass for five yards, while Buffalo made an effort to get the fourth, fifth and sixth players on the depth chart some playing time.
It’s probably too early to cut him, as he’s just two weeks removed from an 11-catch, 98-yard performance. If this trend continues for another week or two, he can be left off rosters.
Start Dawson Knox: The Bills tight end caught a touchdown for the fourth straight game. His 53-yard catch alone made this one of his top-five games ever in receiving yards. The other two catches brought him 50 yards over his previous best. At some point, he will have a game without a touchdown, but right now he is one of the top few options on the highest-scoring offense in the NFL
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