Week five offers some very interesting decisions to make with some very tough match-ups for a few of the “Must Starts” around the Fantasy Football circles. So every week I’ll review my previous week’s Fantasy Football Hot Sauce and Weak Sauce picks and let you know how I did.
See below and come back every week to see if I got BURNED or was ON FIRE.
Last Week’s Hot Sauce and Week 4 Results
Dak Prescott – 245 yards passing, 2 touchdowns, and 3 yards rushing. ON FIRE.
Jordan Howard – 23 carries for 111 yards, 3 catches for 21 yards. ON FIRE.
Terrelle Pryor – 5 Catches for 46 yards, and a touchdown. MILD Sauce.
Tyrell Williams – 5 Catches for 40 yards. BURNED.
Last Week’s Weak Sauce
Drew Brees – 207 yards passing, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions. ON FIRE.
LeSean McCoy – 19 carries for 70 yards, 6 catches for 31, and 1 TD. BURNED.
Brandin Cooks – 3 catches for 31 yards. ON FIRE.
Record for week Two: 4-2-1
The Hot Sauce are players that you would consider fringe starters in your fantasy football leagues. These players I think have the right matchup to make it into your lineups. The Weak Sauce are players usually considered every week starters for your fantasy football leagues that are going to be underwhelming in the coming week.
This Week’s Hot Sauce
Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles @ Detroit Lions
Carson Wentz Has shown in his rookie season the same things Dak Prescott has shown; namely good poise and decision making.
The Philadelphia Eagles are 3-0 and Wentz is part of the reason why.
He’s thrown five touchdowns, zero interceptions, and before the bye had his first 300-yard game during their week three rout of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In week five, Carson Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles are facing a Detroit Lions team that ranks last in the NFL in passing touchdowns allowed with 12. The Lions rank 21st in the league in passing yards allowed.
With the bye week to prepare, this is shaping up to be a strong matchup for Carson Wentz.
Flavorful Fantasy Football Forecast: 290 yards, three touchdowns.
Jerick McKinnon, Minnesota Vikings vs Houston Texans
Jerick McKinnon is a pretty good back, as shown in the Minnesota Vikings’ week 4 win over the New York Giants. In all, he compiled 95 total yards and a touchdown, including three catches. He did lose a goal line score to Matt Asiata, but McKinnon appears to be the lead back in Minnesota.
In week five he’ll face the Houston Texans, who are allowing 115 total yards to running backs in 2016. The Texans defense also allows one touchdown per game to running backs, putting them in the middle of the pack.
Jerick McKinnon will continue to establish himself as Minnesota’s go-to back.
Flavorful Forecast: 20 touches 110 total yards and one touchdown.
Frank Gore, Indianapolis Colts vs Chicago Bears
Frank Gore is as close to an immortal as we have in the NFL. He is still doing good things at the running back position at the ripe old age of 33.
In each of the last three games Gore’s totaled at least 75 yards and a score.
In week five, he will play the Chicago Bears that are quite friendly to the running back position. They currently rank as one of the 7 worst rushing defenses in the NFL.
If the Indianapolis Colts were smart, they would seek to establish the run game early to make things easier on Andrew Luck.
Flavorful Forecast: 18 touches for 98 yards and two touchdowns.
Quincy Enunwa, New York Jets @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Quincy Enunwa has been playing well this season out of the slot for the New York Jets. Enunwa hasn’t seen fewer than six targets in any game this season.
For 2016, he’s averaging eight targets a game. Eric Decker is out and they will have to throw facing a Pittsburgh offense that will score a lot of points.
The Steelers have allowed the third most passing yards per game in the NFL. This makes for a strong opportunity for Enunwa to have a big game.
Flavorful Forecast: 6 catches 98 yards, one touchdown.
Terrelle Pryor, Cleveland Browns vs New England Patriots
Terrelle Pryor was featured in this column a week ago, and I’m dialing him up for your enjoyment again this week.
While his yardage totals were a bit underwhelming against the Washington Redskins, Pryor did score a touchdown.
This week, Pryor and the Cleveland Browns face the New England Patriots, who are allowing over 180 yards to receivers a game.
In week four the Patriots allowed the not-so-highly-regarded Robert Woods to finish his day with over 80 yards receiving. Pryor is a better wide receiver at this point and has the ability to make big plays. Include his passing and rushing ability and he could really fill up the box score for you.
Flavorful Forecast: Seven catches for 120 yards, one touchdown, and 20 yards rushing.
This Week’s Weak Sauce
Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers vs the New York Jets
It was a triumphal return for Le’Veon Bell in week five. On 18 carries, Bell rushed for 144 yards while adding five catches for 34 yards. He was great.
You aren’t going to sit him, and I’m not recommending you do. But you should temper expectations.
In week five the Pittsburgh Steelers face the New York Jets, who are holding running backs to 88.67 total yards per game through the first four weeks of the season. They have a formidable front-seven that has held opponents to 3.1 yards per carry and only one rushing touchdown.
Le’Veon Bell will have to win in the passing game because there won’t be a lot of running room.
Flavorless forecast: 17 carries for 65 yards, 3 catches for 18 yards and no touchdowns.
DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans @ Minnesota Vikings
In week five, Deandre Hopkins will face the Minnesota Vikings defense and Xavier Rhodes. In the last two weeks they’ve held Kelvin Benjamin and Odell Beckham Jr. to a combined three catches for 23 yards.
The Vikings rank sixth in the league in total WR yards allowed at 137.67. They also keep wide receivers out of the end zone, ranking third in the NFL in WR touchdowns allowed at 0.33 per game.
In week four, the Tennessee Titans held Hopkins to one catch for four yards. Teams are finding ways at taking him out of the game, and the Houston Texans are letting them.
Flavorless Forecast: Two catches for 34 yards and zero touchdowns.
Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons @ the Denver Broncos
Julio Jones is just a monster. Fifteen targets, 12 catches, 300 (!!!) yards receiving, and one touchdown. Not sure how he only scored one touchdown.
You aren’t going to sit Julio Jones this week, but much like Le’Veon Bell, it’s important for you to temper your expectations for the star wide receiver.
In week five the Atlanta Falcons travel to Denver to take on a Broncos team that is playing really good defense, allowing only 16 points per game.
For the season, the Denver Broncos have held opponents to two touchdowns through the air.
Aside from week one when Kelvin Benjamin hurt them for 90+ yards and a score, they’ve limited TY Hilton, AJ Green, and Mike Evans to a combined 17 receptions for 177 yards and zero touchdowns. That’s a per game average of 5.67 receptions for 59 yards per game. Not exactly what you want from your WR1.
Wade Phillips and the Denver Broncos defense find ways to slow you down. Don’t be surprised if Julio Jones isn’t as productive this week.
Flavorless Forecast: Five catches for 70 yards, and zero touchdowns.
