Quarterback position has been surprising — except for Mahomes
Week 5 of the fantasy football season is a world where Gardner Minshew has outscored Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, Lamar Jackson is on pace for 4,140 passing yards and 952 yards rushing and Deshaun Watson is projected to be sacked 72 times.
Patrick Mahomes didn’t have a touchdown last week, but still is the highest-scoring player in fantasy, so perhaps the NFL world isn’t that off-balance.
START
Jameis Winston, QB, Buccaneers: Over the past two weeks, Winston has completed 51 passes for 765 yards and seven touchdowns. He’s tied with Matthew Stafford (Lions) for the best average depth of target at 10.8 yards. A Saints defense that is 29th in fantasy points per game allowed to opposing passers had better be on notice.
SIT
Baker Mayfield, QB, Browns: He has yet to throw multiple touchdown passes in a game this season. Expecting Mayfield to do so on Monday night might a fool’s errand considering the 49ers are fourth in fantasy points per game allowed to opposing passers and are third overall in lowest passer rating (72.7).
START
Devonta Freeman, RB, Falcons: Freeman’s rushing totals have been underwhelming. However, he does have 17 receptions in his past four games and will face a Texans defense that’s allowed a league-high 8.5 completions per game to opposing running backs. Houston also gives up nearly 64 receiving yards to backs, making Freeman a solid RB2/Flex in PPR formats.
SIT
Miles Sanders, RB, Eagles: The Jets allow a mere 72 rushing yards per game, but have allowed an average of nine targets per game to opposing running backs. That translates into Darren Sproles cutting into Sanders’ touches, leaving the rookie only a handful of opportunities behind Sproles and Jordan Howard.
START
Josh Gordon, WR, Patriots: Only the Dolphins have allowed more touchdown passes than the 10 given up by the Redskins, who have the second-worst fantasy defense when it comes to points allowed per game. Tom Brady is coming off a so-so effort at the Bills and will look to get Gordon _ who has 18 targets the past two games _ more involved in what Gordon does best: hurting defenses with the deep ball.
SIT
Paul Richardson, WR, Redskins: Injuries to the receiving group will give Richardson an increase in targets. However, he will be challenged by a Patriots defense that has yet to allow a passing touchdown along with holding opposing receivers to a 44.4 percent completion rate. Only the Packers have allowed fewer fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts than New England’s 19.39 per game.
START
Eric Ebron, TE, Colts: If Indianapolis is without WR T.Y. Hilton, then Ebron will be in for a huge Sunday night against the Chiefs, who allow league highs in both targets
(11.3) and completions (eight) per game to opposing tight ends. Only three other teams have given up more yards per game to opposing TEs than the
71 per game that Kansas City allows.
SIT
Kyle Rudolph, TE, Vikings: Rudolph has been targeted once three different times this season. That trend could extend against the Giants, who have allowed 3.8 receptions and 44.5 yards per game to opposing tight ends.