What You Need to Know From Week 5

Tampa Bay 24 - Dallas 16

• The Cowboys' defense couldn't get off the field against a UDFA rookie quarterback. Multiple penalties and poor efforts typified a performance that forced the team's hand. They brought on former Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine as offseason hire Christian Parker will go upstairs. We'll see if it makes a difference against the Packers in Week 6. Consider the Cowboys one of the best matchups to target when setting your lineup until further notice.
• Daniels played well, executing a short-range pass offense and handing off a lot to Bucky Irving, who recaptured his sensational rookie-year form in this game. Irving also was the primary back in the red zone, and he scored a short touchdown in this one. He's a borderline RB1 going forward and a buy high as the Bucs have a winning blueprint with Irving at the center.
• The offense should remain functional if Daniels starts against the Steelers, which is the current expectation. Daniels is a low-ceiling QB2/Superflex or desperation waiver-wire Burrow/Goff bye-week coverage play.
• Emeka Egbuka caught six balls for short gains and added a 14-yard touchdown on a jet sweep. He gave us a reason to play him as a WR3/Flex in Week 6 after a slow start to the season, and his value will go up when Baker Mayfield returns.
• Dak Prescott was off in this game, and he underperformed fantasy expectations. He's still a high-floor QB1 play in what should be a high-scoring game against the Packers, but this put a damper on elevated expectations after a scorching four-touchdown second half from the Cowboys against the Texans in Week 4.
• Javonte Williams ran well on the first drive and capped it with a rushing score, but was barely heard from after that as the Cowboys' poor defensive play shortened the game and induced Dallas to abandon the run. He needs the defense and Prescott to play better to have ceiling games.
• CeeDee Lamb was quiet in this game and then left with a bruised quad. He might not miss a game and obviously will be in lineups any time he is active, but we will be keeping an eye on his practice reports.
• George Pickens appeared to be the top target early in the game with mixed results, and then he was the primary target in the futile second-half comeback attempt with Lamb hobbled. He broke out of his fantasy slump in this game, which should give you more confidence to play him against Green Bay.
• Ryan Flournoy caught three balls for 90 yards, but his other target was a drop that turned into an interception. With Lamb's injury seal broken and clear deep ball chemistry with Prescott, he's worth an add in typical leagues. 

Jacksonville 19 - Philadelphia 17

• The Jaguars needed a miracle kick return by Ameer Abdullah to set up a 57-yard Cam Little field goal as time ran out to win a game that should have been easier. They had two drives with first-and-goal at the 1 and came away with no points. This offense still has room to grow, with the Jekyll-and-Hyde Texans defense coming to London in Week 6. 
• Trevor Lawrence had a huge passing day against a good Eagles defense and should remain in lineups in Week 6. He hasn't scored a touchdown as a runner yet, but the team may look at using him more in that capacity in the goal-line offense after their struggles in Week 5.
• Bhayshul Tuten was stopped at the goal line on an ill-advised fourth-down jet sweep. The size of his role and quality of performance should be creating more fantasy output in a good offense. He's a buy across formats.
• Parker Washington had two touchdowns, one on his run-after-catch skills and another fourth-down grab that put the team ahead late in the fourth quarter on his concentration and ability to make one-handed catches look routine. He'll be up and down given the nature of this offense, but the height of the ups make him an every-week WR2.
• Brenton Strange was a big part of the pass offense for the second straight week and caught both balls that placed the Jaguars offense at the Philadelphia one-yard line. He has put himself in the conversation to start for teams that don't have a dedicated TE1 and shouldn't be on the waiver wire.
• Brian Thomas Jr. couldn't get a second foot down on a good red zone throw from Trevor Lawrence. He continues to split his role with sixth-round pick Josh Cameron and isn't a compelling hold anymore.
• Jalen Hurts piloted two good drives - one that ended with a short Will Shipley rushing touchdown and one that ended with a go-ahead field goal with eight seconds left in the game. He also found Darius Cooper for a long score on a coverage breakdown by the Jaguars. Otherwise, it was slow going for the Eagles against a very good Jaguars defense. Lower expectations for the Texans in Week 6 against Jacksonville. Hurts isn't an automatic QB1 play against the Panthers in Week 6, but if DeVonta Smith can play, the Eagles' pass offense should be improved.
• Shipley was ineffective, and so was Dameon Pierce after Shipley left the game. There's no reason to use an Eagles back until Saquon Barkley returns.
• Dallas Goedert was back and caught six short passes, but he rumbled for a long gain with one of them to set up the go-ahead field goal. He's a streaming TE1 play against the Panthers and shouldn't be on the waiver wire.
• Makai Lemon and Dontayvion Wicks each caught five passes, and along with Cooper, they will all be desperation what-the-heck flex plays from the waiver wire against the backup Panthers cornerbacks.

NY Giants 27 - Washington 27

• This game was played in the rain and was typified by poor plays and decisions as much as it was quality play. The Commanders were up 14 in the fourth quarter, but let good Jameis Winston come to life on two last-gasp touchdown drives. The Giants then should have had a game-winning field goal attempt in overtime, but Cam Skattebo fumbled that away. Then the Commanders drove into position for a game-winning field goal, but Jayden Daniels got tackled in the field of play in the final seconds without a timeout to stop the clock. Fittingly, neither team deserved to win this game.
• Winston threw 54 passes in a performance unlikely to be repeated. He is a Burrow/Goff bye coverage option against the Saints in Week 6 if you aren't carrying a good backup, but the Giants should have lost this game because of his looseness with the ball and lack of urgency at times. Winston could be replaced by J.J. McCarthy if the Giants have a losing streak.
• Malik Nabers took over in the fourth quarter and posted a huge game thanks to the come-from-behind game script. He'll be a high-ceiling WR1 as long as Winston is out there.
• Isaiah Likely joined Nabers in the 11-catch club, and two of his went for scores. It was a replay of Week 1 as Likely owned the middle of the field like a power forward in the low post. He did limp off the field in overtime, so monitor his practice reports before plugging him in for Week 6.
• Cam Skattebo wasn't much of a factor on his touches, and his fumble could have the Giants reviewing their backfield split. Najee Harris is the grizzled veteran that coaches like, but Tyrone Tracy Jr. is the only Giants back showing any juice right now. He's worth a preemptive pickup in deep leagues in the wake of Skattebo's costly mistake.
• Jayden Daniels scrambled to gain a key first down in the red zone early and showed no fear as a runner in his return from a dislocated elbow. He is playing with a brace, but his weekly ceiling is intact as he later broke away for two long touchdown runs. He faces the 49ers on the road in the Week 6 Monday night matchup.
• Jacory Croskey-Merritt got free for a 33-yard score as Daniels' presence opened things up for the running game. Croskey-Merritt is back to being a what-the-heck RB2/Flex after a slow start, and Rachaad White isn't an essential hold with Croskey-Merritt reasserting himself.
• Terry McLaurin was a game-time decision, but played and came on with a few big plays late in the game. Daniels' return makes him a high-ceiling WR3/Flex now that it appears the hamstring issue that cost him Week 4 is behind the Commanders' #1 receiver.
• Chig Okonkwo was targeted early and looked good on the hoof after the catch. He's a desperation LaPorta bye coverage play if you need someone from a thin waiver wire.

NY Jets 17 - Cleveland 12

• Garrett Wilson caught three balls for 70 yards and a score on the Jets' first drive, but the passing game went dormant in the rain after that. The Jets' pass offense is probably in for another floor game against the Patriots, although Wilson is delivering with Adonai Mitchell still sidelined by a finger injury.
• Braelon Allen got a lot more work than he did in Week 4 and ended up scoring the game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter. He should be in as an RB2 or Flex while we wait for Breece Hall to return from his quad injury. Allen is playing well enough to be more than a mere backup when Hall plays again.
• Deshaun Watson looked like a shaky post-injury player after reviving memories of Texans-era Watson in the first four games of the season. He did lead a go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter for the fourth straight week, but Allen's run kept it from being a game-winning fourth-quarter drive - which also would have been Watson's fourth in a row. Otherwise, the offense was quiet as #2 overall pick David Bailey was in Watson's grill all day and notched three of the Jets' eight sacks. Watson and the fantasy value in this pass offense is getting shakier heading into a matchup with the Ravens. Watson is losing luster as a high-floor streamer or QB2/Superflex play and isn't an essential hold in 1QB leagues.
• Quinshon Judkins was bottled up and then seen in a walking boot after the game. He's only a volume-based flex play if he can go against the Ravens. Audric Estime was signed from the Vikings practice squad after backup Raheim Sanders also suffered a hip injury in this game. The Browns running game isn't going to take off any time soon.
• KC Concepcion Jr. left early with a head injury after a Minkah Fitzpatrick helmet-to-helmet hit. Isaiah Bond replaced him and made a few big plays after Watson was flushed from the pocket, but there's probably nothing for fantasy given Watson and this offense's limitations. Concepcion hasn't come through for us in fantasy leagues yet, so he's not an essential hold in short bench leagues.
• Harold Fannin Jr. was quiet with only one catch. His value may be touchdown-dependent if Watson continues to play like he did in Week 5, and Fannin has failed to live up to his TE1 expectations after being drafted as one. 
• Denzel Boston caught his third touchdown of the year and remains a WR3/Flex play, but like the rest of the offense, he depends on Watson to support his value.

Pittsburgh 34 - Indianapolis 22

• Jaylen Warren became the sixth player in NFL history to record an 80-yard touchdown catch and 50-yard touchdown run in the same game. Herschel Walker was the last to do it in 1986, and two of the other four players to have done it are Gale Sayers and Jim Brown.
• Aaron Rodgers has a clear #1 target in the red zone as he found Pat Freiermuth for their third and fourth touchdown hookups of the season. Freiermuth should be added if you need tight end help, especially in .5 and non-PPR leagues.
• Roman Wilson left with a finger injury, and rookie second-round pick Germie Bernard played well in his stead, posting a 6-80 line and making a case to stay in a central role even after Wilson and Michael Pittman Jr. (who is on injured reserve with a foot injury) return.
• DK Metcalf was canceled out by Sauce Gardner, but the Steelers have shown the ability to use that kind of pawn-for-pawn trade to their advantage in the passing game. Metcalf is just a what-the-heck flex against the Bucs in Week 6.
• Aaron Rodgers threw three scores for the third straight game as he is finding different ways to beat pass defenses every week. He is worth a pickup as Burrow/Goff bye coverage and maybe even as a backup in 1QB leagues, as this offense will continue to go through him. The Colts also remain a pass defense to pick on, but not this week when they face Tennessee.
• The Colts turned the ball over six times against the Steelers in a loss last year. This year, there were no giveaways and only one sack, but the offense settled for field goals five times, and that was a big part of the outcome. Daniel Jones and this passing game are underperforming. If they don't have a bounceback game against the Titans, the future of this team becomes even cloudier. Consider Jones a boom/bust streaming QB1 or QB2/Superflex play and go back to Josh Downs as a WR3/Flex because of the Titans' problems in the secondary.
• Tyler Warren was used more as a downfield target in this game, and he also got the one-yard rushing score with the Steelers doing a good job of neutralizing Jonathan Taylor. Warren is moving up the tight end ranks heading into a high-ceiling spot against the Titans.

Houston 26 - Tennessee 3