Week 5 Rankings: Standard | PPR
Thursday night games are rough for Fantasy.
The short week tends to impact offensive game-planning more than defense, and so the games have a bit of a stilted feel at times. That isn't good news for Fantasy players, typically.
Of course, as we saw when the Jets and Bills engaged in a shootout a few weeks back, it certainly isn't a hard-and-fast rule. The bad games stand out more in our minds, but there have been plenty of fireworks on Thursday nights in the past.
Don't expect them in Week 5.
The Cardinals have the potential for fireworks, but their offense has been ho-hum this season, mostly as a result of Carson Palmer's regression. They won't even have Palmer this week, most likely, as he recovers from a concussion, which means we're about to witness a Drew Stanton-Blaine Gabbert "quarterback battle."
Are you ready for some football? Featuring a lot of David Johnson and Carlos Hyde? I sure hope so!
Smartest Sit
There haven't been many bigger disappointments than Michael Floyd this season, who has really struggled to get on the same page as Palmer. Palmer has still looked for him -- especially in the red zone -- but Floyd has been able to haul in just 12 of 31 targets through four games for 170 yards. A pair of touchdowns have salvaged his season, but Floyd has obviously been the third-most effective receiver in this offense -- he's behind Johnson as a pass-catcher, too -- and that isn't a great place to be with Stanton running the offense. You can make an argument for sitting John Brown and Larry Fitzgerald in a matchup the running game will be featured prominently, but Floyd is the most obvious sit among the group based on the way this season has gone.
Biggest No-Brainer
There may not be a tougher player to tackle in the NFL right now than David Johnson, the Cardinals' second-year back. He is averaging 127.5 yards from scrimmage through four games and is one of the few backs in the league these days who doesn't have to worry about splitting work -- he has at least 15 touches in each game. The 49ers running defense has been more or less average so far, ranking 19th in FootballOutsiders.com's rush defense DVOA, and they absolutely fell apart after NaVorro Bowman's injury in Week 4. The Cowboys' backs rushed for 115 yards on 16 carries after Bowman left that game. Johnson is an obvious must-start every week and there is no reason to go away from him this week. With Stanton under center you can bet on the Cardinals riding Johnson hard, and he has a chance to be the top scorer at the position.
Lineup Hail Marys
You'd prefer not to rely on a wide receiver with a limited track record of success who is catching passes from Blaine Gabbert, but Kerley has been playing a ton this season and has already been targeted 32 times. That includes at least six in each game. When you are that involved in even a bad offense, you will turn in solid Fantasy performances by accident from time to time even if you aren't a great player, and Kerley showed that with 14 Fantasy points in Week 4 against the Cowboys. It's difficult to rank Kerley even in the top 40 among wide receivers against a matchup like this, but if you're looking for a flier, his role in the offense gives him a chance to contribute.
There isn't much here beyond the highly owned guys, but the tight ends have been a big part of the offense for the 49ers this season. The decision is simple -- neither Vance McDonald nor Garrett Celek is a top-15 tight end this week, but either could be useful as a Hail Mary play, depending on health. If McDonald's hip keeps him out for the second week in a row, Celek becomes a worthwhile roll of the dice coming off a game that saw him haul in five passes for 79 yards. If McDonald plays, he has already shown his big-play ability, hauling in two touchdowns among his five passes in a little over two games. You're just hoping for a touchdown here, but if you don't have a tight end you believe in, one of these guys might have a chance in a game the 49ers should still be trailing in.
Scout Team
With Chris Johnson placed on IR with a groin injury, Andre Ellington has an opportunity to work his way back into the offense. Ellington has touched the ball just six times so far this season, and really hasn't been much of a contributor since his rookie season, but he has also shown game-changing ability when healthy. If Ellington gets on the field and shows a spark, he will certainly be worth picking up as a handcuff option if nothing else.
Jaron Brown has always been the No. 4 receiver in this offense, but he actually pulled even with Floyd in pass routes run last week with 30. He couldn't do much with them, picking up just 7 yards on five targets, but he still has a chance to emerge as a contributor in what was one of the best passing offenses in the NFL just a year ago. If Brown keeps pushing Floyd for time, he could become a Fantasy-relevant player down the line -- which would only lead to more jersey confusion with the other Brown in this receiving corps.
