NFL Player News

Wide receiver Victor Cruz and tight end Larry Donnell had been quarterback Eli Manning's favorite targets during his resurgence the last few weeks, the former coming off back-to-back 100-yard games and the latter coming off a three-touchdown performance Week 4 at Washington. But both became afterthoughts Week 5 against Atlanta as Manning worked other receivers into the mix.

Preston Parker led the way with 61 yards on three catches, but the ones hogging all the looks were Odell Beckham, who was making his NFL debut after missing the first four games with a hamstring injury, and Rueben Randle, who led the team with 10 targets. Each scored a touchdown in the contest.

Of course, neither had even 50 yards through the air on a day when Manning threw for just 200, but they were more involved than Cruz, who had three catches for 22 yards, and Donnell, who went without a catch. Cruz at least had the targets, finishing second behind Randle with six.

All it really means for Fantasy owners is that, particularly with Beckham getting involved, Cruz and Donnell may not be as reliable as you presumed coming into the week. You're probably starting them anyway, but not without considering your alternatives.

Given the abundance of targets on an offense that doesn't figure to be particularly pass-heavy, the problem is knowing who will step up when. If you believe Donnell's story, he sat himself for his three-touchdown performance against the Redskins only to start himself in this one. 

The Texans received minor contributions from several role players in a Week 5 loss to the Cowboys.

Alfred Blue took a backseat to a healthy Arian Foster and as result, he was limited to 16 yards on five carries. In the passing game, Ryan Griffin, Garrett Graham and Keshawn Martin each caught one pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick. Griffin logged eight yards, while Martin had seven yards and Graham only had three in a 23-20 overtime defeat.

Cardinals quarterback Logan Thomas was forced into action Week 5.

Thomas replaced starter Drew Stanton after Stanton left the game in order to be evaluated for a concussion. Thomas entered in the third quarter, and struggled initially. After starting things off with four straight incompletions, Thomas hit Andre Ellington down the field for a big play. Thomas fit the ball in a tight window, and Ellington took the ball 81 yards for the score. It was Thomas' only completion during the game. He finished 1 for 8, with 81 yards and a score. 

Thomas will take on Washington Week 6 if Stanton is unable to go.

Colts tight end Dwayne Allen came down with his fourth touchdown of the season Sunday afternoon at home against the Ravens in Week 5.

Allen caught a 6-yard pass from Andrew Luck in the end zone for a touchdown in the third quarter. He was targeted five times and finished with four catches for 59 yards and a score, averaging 14.8 yards per grab in his team's 20-13 victory.

Allen has caught a touchdown in each of his first four games played. He has 15 catches for 205 yards and four touchdowns this season.

Wide receiver Nate Washington led a group of minor contributors for the Titans against Cleveland on Sunday with four catches for 57 yards. He was targeted seven times.

Also pitching in were tight end Chase Coffman with two receptions for 18 yards and running back Leon Washington with a snag for seven yards. Running back Bishop Sankey added 27 yards on eight carries while wideout Dexter McCluster had 10 yards on three carries and caught a pass.

Browns backup tight end Jim Dray outperformed starter Jordan Cameron in Tennessee on Sunday. He caught three passes for 25 yards, but one of them was a 1-yard touchdown with 12 seconds left in the first half that launched a stirring comeback.

Dray added a 14-yard catch in the third quarter.

The Colts have managed to find ways to keep both tight ends involved in the offense, but the Ravens found a way to disrupt the duo of Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener in Week 5.

Allen was typically productive, as always, as he hauled in four passes for 59 yards and his fourth touchdown of the season. However, Fleener was targeted just twice in the passing game, hauling in his lone pass for 30 yards, after scoring in consecutive games.

The Colts use their tight ends a lot, but any kind of timeshare was going to limit their effectiveness as a tandem before long. At this point, Allen looks like the primary option, but Fleener has also been targeted more often than him in three of the team's five games so far, so there is no clear answer here.

Andrew Luck loves looking to his tight ends near the goal line, with six touchdowns split between the two. However, if you can afford to, neither player looks like an especially reliable option on a weekly basis. Whether you rely on Allen or Fleener, you will be rolling the dice every week.

Eagles tight end Zach Ertz caught three of six targets for 39 yards in his team's 34-28 win over the Rams in Week 5.

Ertz hasn't scored since reaching the end zone in Week 1, and he's been held to under 45 yards in each of the last three weeks after totaling 163 yards in his first two games. The Eagles host the Giants in Week 6.

Giants tight end Larry Donnell told reporters last week that he did not start himself in his Fantasy Football league when he went off for three touchdowns in a Week 4 win at Washington. On Sunday, he told reporters he made sure to put himself into his Fantasy lineup Week 5 vs. Atlanta, but the decision came one week too late as Donnell was held without a catch in a 30-20 win.

Donnell, who was targeted once, said he expected to receive extra attention from the Falcons defense.

"Yeah, but it kind of sucks," Donnell said, per the New York Daily News.

The Chargers will have their questionable players available for Week 5.

Dwight Freeney, David Johnson and Corey Liuget are all active for the contest. All three entered the week considered questionable, but will attempt to play.