Photo: USA Today Sports

We are now at the point in the season where we have little understanding of what we are seeing from players. The players who have aged are showing some regression. There are players that we didn’t know that are now carving out roles within their teams. Just because we know things that maybe we didn’t to start the year, doesn’t mean that we are finished learning. Fantasy football is a game that requires you to intake information and then apply that to what is available to you on the waiver wire. Is there a gem that will immediately help your team? Is there a player that will provide depth for bye week points? Maybe there is a player who you have been holding onto that just needs to go! Whatever your situation make sure you continue learning. Here are the players that need to be talked about this week in the market. Maybe something here helps you to make that nagging decision about what to do with your team! Ring the bell please!

The Fortune 5

Fred Warner: The big man on campus for the 49ers defense is quietly putting together a fantastic fantasy season. Through the first five weeks, he has put up massive tackle numbers with 41 and has two sacks and three defended passes to boot. The additional stats are the cherry on top of this linebacker desert because frankly, tackles are the name of the game. He has had one “dud” week where he had four total tackles, but outside of that random low mark, he has had no less than eight total tackles. The best sign of them all was that in the stand-alone Sunday Night Football game against the Cowboys, Warner had arguably his best game all season. Eight total tackles, a pass defended, and a sack! This goes to show you that he will show up for his team, and yours when the lights shine the brightest.

Trey Hendrickson: One of the few bright spots of the Cincinnati Bengals this young season is the play of the defense specifically that of Trey Hendrickson. Hendrickson has been a monster for opposing offense lines to attempt to slay this season. Four of his first five games have been double-digit scoring efforts and he is currently tied for second in the NFL for sacks. The risk is apparent when playing Hendrickson due to his lower volume of tackles, but he has recorded a sack in all but one of his games on the season. He hovers around that 2-3 tackle mark which isn’t going to win you weeks, but in multiple games this season he has recorded more than one sack. He is a player that needs to start in your lineups until he cools down.

Ed Oliver: Oliver is currently having his best season as a pro and he is likely a free agent in your leagues. As an interior defensive lineman, he is going overlooked and this is a travesty. His career-best tackle mark is 43. He has 24 through five games. His career best for sacks is five, he currently has four through the first five games. He has four games with double-digit point production, four games with at least 0.5 sacks, and has not had a game yet with less than three tackles. In dynasty leagues, he needs to be rostered. He is 25 years old and is with a defensive head coach. He is showing us that he is worth every bit of that contract he signed and he will likely be an impact player for years to come. Get him now!

Rudy Ford: If you are anything like me, this may be the first season where you have continually seen the name Rudy Ford pop up within the IDP world. It is time we talk about what we are seeing. The first thing that should pop up for you is his incremental statistical growth throughout the season. In Week 1, we saw Ford play 93% of the snaps and only compile four total tackles, three of them being assists. Not exactly a boom play for your roster. Since then, he has played 100% of the snaps and has had no less than five solo tackles and no less than seven total tackles. He also is defending passes and has four already on the year. Ford is the preferred safety for the Packers and is significantly out-snapping all the others and is likely available in your league. With the injury to his counterpart Darnell Savage, he may even begin to have more of an impact on the game, resulting in more points for your team!

Azeez Al-Shaair: If you have been following me since last season, you know I am a huge fan of Al-Shaair. To start the season, I had to eat a little crow, but lately, he has been on fire! He has increased his point production each week of the year. He has never scored less than the week prior. Since Week 1, he has not had less than eight total tackles, including a 15-tackle explosion this past week against the Colts. He must be a starter for your team and if you still aren’t comfortable with what you are seeing, he is a dynamite trade asset. At just 26 years old and on a prove-it deal with the Titans, he has a lot more football to play in his career. Don’t worry about Jack Gibbens (who will be mentioned here shortly), taking away from his snaps, he has only one game where he played less than 98% of the team's snaps.