Phinsider Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings

To say the Miami Dolphins offense has been sputtering would be a massive understatement. This team is at the bottom of just about every statistical category when it comes to offensive production, and that fact has certainly been noticed by fantasy football owners of Miami’s offensive playmakers. Jay Ajayi, DeVante Parker, and Jarvis Landry have underwhelmed for two straight weeks against bottom tier defenses, making them difficult to trust with consistency moving forward. Their first true home game at Hard Rock Stadium this Sunday will be a good test as to whether or not the team’s offensive ailments are curable.

Each week, I’ll be giving an updated look at where the top players at each fantasy position stand, with matchups and injury concerns taken into account. For the sake of continuity, I’ll only be using standard scoring when constructing the rankings, so be sure to consider that when setting your lineups.

Quarterback

1. Aaron Rodgers - @ Dal
2. Tom Brady - @ TB
3. Jameis Winston - vs NE
4. Russell Wilson - @ LAR
5. Marcus Mariota - @ Mia
6. Matthew Stafford - vs Car
7. Carson Palmer - @ Phi
8. Dak Prescott - vs GB
9. Deshaun Watson - vs KC
10. Philip Rivers - @ NYG
11. Eli Manning - vs LAC
12. Ben Roethlisberger - vs Jax
13. Alex Smith - @ Hou
14. Carson Wentz - vs Ari
15. Jared Goff - vs Sea
16. Tyrod Taylor - @ Cin
17. Cam Newton - @ Det
18. Andy Dalton - vs Buf
19. Blake Bortles - @ Pit
20. DeShone Kizer - vs NYJ

The name to keep the closest eye on here would be Marcus Mariota. The Titans signal caller has a fantastic matchup against Miami’s struggling secondary, but is also highly questionable with a hamstring injury. Early reports are indicating that the young passer could be a game-time decision, so have a backup plan in place just in case he sits this one out. Jameis Winston and Dak Prescott are also players who need to be in starting lineups this week.

Running Back

1. Le’Veon Bell - vs Jax
2. Todd Gurley - vs Sea
3. Kareem Hunt - @ Hou
4. Ezekiel Elliot - vs GB
5. Carlos Hyde - @ Ind
6. Leonard Fournette - @ Pit
7. LeSean McCoy - @ Cin
8. Melvin Gordon - @ NYG
9. Jordan Howard - vs Min
10. Jay Ajayi - vs Ten
11. Bilal Powell - @ Cle
12. Lamar Miller - vs KC
13. Christian McCaffrey - @ Det
14. Latavius Murray - @ Chi
15. Ty Montgomery - @ Dal
16. James White - @ TB
17. DeMarco Murray - @ Mia
18. Duke Johnson Jr. - vs NYG
19. Tarik Cohen - vs Min
20. Ameer Abdullah - vs Car

Injuries have struck the running back position with force thus far this season. With consensus number one running back David Johnson out early, fantasy owners were already being forced to turn to other options. Now, trendy picks such as Dalvin Cook and Chris Carson are also down for the count. Ty Montgomery fans got a lucky break this week when it was discovered that the versatile back would be considered day-to-day, but he’s still a tough play this week while nursing a rib injury. Bilal Powell and Carlos Hyde are some of my favorite plays this week.

Wide Receiver

1. Mike Evans - vs NE
2. Antonio Brown - vs Jax
3. Jordy Nelson - @ Dal
4. Odell Beckham Jr. - vs LAC
5. Stefon Diggs - @ Chi
6. A.J. Green - vs Buf
7. DeAndre Hopkins - vs KC
8. Brandin Cooks - @ TB
9. Doug Baldwin - @ LAR
10. Keenan Allen - @ NYG
11. Dez Bryant - vs GB
12. Alshon Jeffery - vs Ari
13. Larry Fitzgerald - @ Phi
14. Tyreek Hill - @ Hou
15. T.Y. Hilton - vs SF
16. Chris Hogan - @ TB
17. Adam Thielen - @ Chi
18. DeVante Parker - vs Ten
19. Pierre Garcon - @ Ind
20. Golden Tate - vs Car

Week five is hitting hard with a wave of byes that take out some of the league’s top receivers. Julio Jones and Michael Thomas will both be among those sitting at home this weekend, meaning some fantasy owners will need to look for help elsewhere. Pierre Garcon and Adam Thielen are two of my favorite plays to promote from the bench this week (if you haven’t already) given their favorable matchups and guaranteed volume. I’d also be on the look out for a Dez Bryant breakout this week.

Tight End

1. Rob Gronkowski - vs TB *UPDATE: Rob Gronkowski has been officially declared OUT for New England’s Thursday night game against Tampa Bay.
2. Travis Kelce - @ Hou
3. Zach Ertz - vs Ari
4. Charles Clay - @ Cin
5. Delanie Walker - @ Mia
6. Martellus Bennett - @ Dal
7. Evan Engram - vs LAC
8. Jason Witten - vs GB
9. Jimmy Graham - @ LAR
10. Jared Cook - vs Bal
11. Cameron Brate - vs NE
12. Kyle Rudolph - @ Chi
13. Benjamin Watson - @ Oak
14. Hunter Henry - @ NYG
15. David Njoku - vs NYJ
16. Jesse James - vs Jax
17. Tyler Kroft - vs Buf
18. Zach Miller - vs Min
19. Eric Ebron - vs Car
20. Ryan Griffin - vs KC

Boy, this has not been the year for tight ends in fantasy football. Outside of Travis Kelce, Rob Gronkowski, and Zach Ertz, no tight ends have provided the type of production that makes owners comfortable playing them week in and week out. Sure, all players will have their ups and downs, but it feels as though almost everyone is a risky play. This week, I’d look to Jason Witten and Martellus Bennett as two of the safer options based on matchups. Dallas-Green Bay is gearing up to be a shootout, which means plenty of passing for Aaron Rodgers and Dak Prescott.

Defense/Special Teams

1. Houston - vs KC
2. Baltimore - @ Oak
3. Philadelphia - vs Ari
4. Detroit - vs Car
5. Pittsburgh - vs Jax
6. Kansas City - @ Hou
7. Buffalo - @ Cin
8. Jacksonville - @ Pit
9. Cincinnati - vs Buf
10. Seattle - @ LAR
11. Los Angeles - vs Sea
12. Arizona - @ Phi
13. Carolina - @ Det
14. Minnesota - @ Chi
15. Tennessee - @ Mia
16. Los Angeles (Chargers) - @ NYG
17. Green Bay - @ Dal
18. San Francisco - @ Ind
19. Oakland - vs Bal
20. New York (Jets) - @ Cle

Quite a few defenses have surprised fans and analysts this season, but none more so than that of the Detroit Lions. The Lions have currently given up the fourth fewest points in the league (17.5), have the second most interceptions (7), and second most fumble recoveries (4). That kind of production on the defensive side of the ball is what this team has lacked for so many years. Should Jim Caldwell’s unit continue to produce at such a high level, and should Matthew Stafford and the offense keep up on their end, the Lions could be a sleeper pick to make a deep run into the playoffs.

Kicker

1. Greg Zuerlein - vs Sea
2. Ryan Succop - @ MIa
3. Ka’imi Fairbairn - vs KC
4. Matt Prater - vs Car
5. Mason Crosby - @ Dal
6. Dan Bailey - vs GB
7. Jake Elliot - vs Ari
8. Stephen Gostkowski - @ TB
9. Robbie Gould - @ Ind
10. Graham Gano - @ Det
11. Chris Boswell - vs Jax
12. Stephen Hauschka - @ Cin
13. Nick Folk - vs NE
14. Chandler Catanzaro - @ Cle
15. Adam Vinatieri - vs SF
16. Justin Tucker - @ Oak
17. Phil Dawson - @ Phi
18. Jason Myers - @ Pit
19. Blair Walsh - @ LAR
20. Randy Bullock - vs Buf

Greg Zuerlein has taken the league by storm this season. Last week, the Los Angeles Rams kicker connected on all seven of his field goal attempts on the way to a Rams win over the Dallas Cowboys. With a few of the more reliable kickers on a bye this week, Ka’imi Fairbairn is one of my favorite pickups. The second year Texans kicker went nine for nine with 12 extra points on one of the league’s most improved offenses last Sunday. Also, just for the record, his full name is John Christian Ka'iminoeauloameka'ikeokekumupa'a Fairbairn.