Week 5: Bye week woes

Week 5: Bye week woes

            So, based off last week, one of three things is absolutely true:

1. Aaron Rodgers saved your team

2. Aaron Rodgers single-handedly demolished your team

3. You praised the fantasy gods that you didn’t have to face Aaron Rodgers that week.

On that note, it has been an incredibly high scoring fantasy season thus far. The league is all about passing, and even the leading running backs are huge beneficiaries of funning routes out of the backfield (see Darren McFadden, Lesean McCoy)

This makes games fun to watch, but also crushes your heart when you average 105 a game and consistently lose.

Pucker up kid, don’t lose your swagger.

Week 5 brings up some major manager responsibilities, as 6 NFL teams are on bye this week. The heat is on. The heat is aw aw on.

2 key pickups:

Ryan Torain, RB, Washington Redskins

            Well that was shocking. Wasn’t he supposed to be cut or something like that? In typical Shanahan fashion, a running back nearly forgotten about was given almost 20 carries and rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown. It appears that, as I successfully predicted last week, Hightower is losing touches. Fast. However, I was incorrect last week in predicting Helu would get the new touches. Ryan Torain is your new man. This is more of an investment pickup rather than a quick solution, as the Redskins are on bye this week.

Mark Ingram, RB, New Orleans Saints

            New Orleans is such a sticky situation when it comes to running backs. While it’s very common for teams to practice a 2-headed rushing attack, the Saints practice a 3-headed attack, making it very hard for any of their running backs to obtain substantial fantasy significance. If you are in need of a solid flex player though, Ingram has been given the most touches of the three backs, and is likely to get most goal line touches.

This or That

Deangelo Williams, (projected 12)

            Williams put up a season-high 82 rushing yards last week. He is up against the Saints, who do have a vulnerable run defense. However, the Saints are also known for going up on teams early, essentially taking the run out of the game. Williams’ performance will be dependent upon Cam Newton’s ability to keep the Panthers in the game.

Shonn Greene, (projected 12)

            Although Greene has yet to produce as much as he was given projected credit for thus far in the season, he still remains the lead back in New York. The Jets are playing a very succeptible run defense in the New England Patriots, but are also under the same circumstance as Williams finds himself against the Saints; an insane passing attack on the opposing team can quickly devalue running backs.

Drumroll…..

Deangelo Williams

            With Cam Newton’s competitive play, I think that the Panthers will be in a more competitive game than the Jets, giving Williams the opportunity to run the ball.