Fantasy Football Report: Week 5

By - Tim Swift

Here's the lowdown heading into Week 5.

1. Matt Ryan is currently your Fantasy Football MVP.

Photo by: Kevin C. Cox

In the fantasy preview I said that Ryan would have a monster year, and through the first quarter of the season, he's done just that. Ryan has 11 TDs, 1,192 yards, is completing 69% of his passes, and has only thrown 2 picks. If he gets anything out of his running game from here on out, it could make Atlanta's passing offense even more dangerous. Right now, Ryan is on pace for over 40 TDs and 4,500 yards, which would put him in the top 3 QBs in fantasy football.

2. Trust in Joe Flacco.

In most leagues when Joe Flacco was drafted, he was selected as a backup, but he is beginning to emerge as a full time starter. 317 yards per game and 7 TDs are very solid numbers for the Baltimore QB through 4 weeks. A lot of times in fantasy football, we get bogged down in the numbers and we don't just study the player. What I saw from Flacco last Thursday night was a guy that the coaching staff had full confidence in, and despite the rainy weather, they trusted him to throw 46 times for 356 yards. Flacco will still throw the occasional pass into double coverage, but John Harbaugh has full trust in him, and so should fantasy owners.

3. The skinny on Brian Hartline.

The 4th-year wide receiver from Ohio State has never had more than 43 catches and 615 yards in a season, but through Week 4, he is leading the league in receiving yards. Paul Warfield, Nat Moore, Mark Duper, and Irving Fryar are a few of the outstanding pass catchers in Dolphin history, and none of them had a day like Hartline had on Sunday, with 13 catches for 251 yards. I mentioned him a couple of weeks ago as a good waiver wire pickup, but he's now developing into a consistent starter in some leagues. Something to note however -- it's been feast or famine. In 2 of the games, he only had a total of 4 catches for 91 yards. Another key number for Hartline is 48 targets, which means he has earned trust from rookie QB Ryan Tannehill.

4. Tight Ends and touchdowns.

At this point, I'm not sure if it's a trend, but 8 tight ends have at least 3 scores through Week 4, and I'm not even counting one week wonder Dante Rosario, who had 3 touchdowns in Week 2 alone. This group includes Scott Chandler in Buffalo and Kyle Rudolph in Minnesota, guys that still may be available on your league's waiver wire. Most of the guys outside of Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski aren't good enough to lead a team in targets, but 50 yards and a TD is a realistic stat line for most starting TEs in the NFL right now.

5. Use Alfred Morris while you can.

Morris entered Redskins camp 4th on the running back depth chart, and most thought he would struggle just to make the roster. Now entering Week 5, he's 5th in the league in rushing with 376 yards and has 4 touchdowns. As I've mentioned in the past, Mike Shanahan is notorious for changing his backs like he changes his clothes, but so far Morris has established himself as the clear-cut No. 1, so ride the momentum he has right now. Another very important stat in Morris' favor is that he has yet to fumble this season, which should help keep the confidence of Shanahan.

Solid Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups:

Andre Roberts WR (ARI), Jackie Battle RB (SD), Scott Chandler TE (BUF), Minnesota D/ST

The Underrated 15 For Week 5:

Quarterbacks:

1. Ben Roethlisberger (PIT)
2. Philip Rivers (SD)

3. Jay Cutler (CHI)

Running Backs:

1. Frank Gore (SF)
2. Michael Turner (ATL)
3. Alfred Morris (WAS)

Wide Receivers:

1. Greg Little (CLE)

2. Andre Roberts (ARI)
3. Brandon Lloyd  (NE)

Tight Ends:

1. Kyle Rudolph (MIN)

2. Fred Davis (WAS)
3. Jermichael Finley (GB)

Defense/Special Teams:

1. Minnesota

2. New York Giants
3. Cincinnati

*Catch me on Fantasy Football Live every Sunday morning from 8:00-9:00, and on the Thom Abraham Show every Wednesday afternoon starting at 3:40 for even more Fantasy Football talk on Sports Radio 560 WNSR Nashville.