Every Monday of the NFL regular season we look at breakout performances from the weekend and analyze their potential for sustained success. We will rank these performances from 1-5 based on whether we believe they are momentary or long-term options for your fantasy teams.
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Fantasy Football Heat Index
Quarterback
Stats: 15-of-27, 131 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, six carries, 27 rushing yards
Position Rank (pre-MNF): QB16 (15.78 points)
Analysis: We’re getting the full Justin Fields experience this season. One week after scoring 31.98 points and finishing as the QB1, Fields was more Clark Kent than Superman in Week 5. Despite those struggles, Fields still limped to a QB16 finish (MNF pending) in Pittsburgh’s 20-17 defeat to Dallas.
We anticipated a stronger performance from Fields against a Cowboys defense being gashed by opposing quarterbacks (21.1 fantasy points per game). However, finishing as a borderline QB1 in a down week is a reminder of Fields’ floor.
Heat Index: 3
Running Back
Stats: 13 carries, 101 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, one reception, 28 receiving yards
Position Rank (pre-MNF): RB1 (25.4 points)
Analysis: Is it happening? Is Tank Bigsby finally overtaking Travis Etienne as the No. 1 RB in the Jacksonville backfield? If the last two weeks are any indication, the answer is maybe.
One week after out-producing Etienne against Houston, Bigsby continued that trend in Week 5. While Etienne was still effective in the passing game, Jacksonville’s No. 2 RB shouldered most of the rushing workload against Indianapolis. Bigsby led the backfield in snaps (23-22), carries (13-6) and rushing yards (101-17) en route to the (pre-MNF) overall RB1 finish.
Jacksonville seems to be taking a committee approach with their backfield, but that won’t keep Bigsby from being a popular waiver wire pickup this week. His role is growing by the week and he has weekly RB1 upside if Etienne’s shoulder injury lingers. He should be rostered in all formats.
Heat Index: 4
Wide Receiver
Stats: Nine receptions, 105 receiving yards, two touchdowns
Position Rank (pre-MNF): WR3 (27 points)
Analysis: After an offseason move from Chicago to Atlanta, wide receiver Darnell Mooney is finally living up to his early-career hype. All it took was getting away from the ineptitude in Chicago and attaching himself to an above-average quarterback in Kirk Cousins.
In Atlanta’s 36-30 victory over Tampa Bay, Mooney racked up 105 receiving yards and scored two touchdowns. He finished with 27 fantasy points and is the current WR3 on the week.
While this week’s pass-happy game script (16 targets on 58 pass attempts) won’t happen every week, Mooney is a strong Flex fantasy start sit option moving forward. His combination of floor (at least seven fantasy points in four straight games) and ceiling is an asset to fantasy rosters.
Heat Index: 3
Tight End
Stats: Four receptions, 88 receiving yards, two touchdowns
Position Rank (pre-MNF): TE1 (22.8 points)
Analysis: One week after scoring 14.3 points and finishing as the TE2, Packers tight end Tucker Kraft was even better in Week Five. Kraft hauled in 88 yards and two touchdowns in Green Bay’s 24-19 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. He scored a career-high 22.8 fantasy points and is the current TE1 on the week.
The drumbeat on Kraft has been pulsating since training camp and his recent play backs that up. Not only is Kraft the clear No. 1 TE in Green Bay, but he’s also a clear TE1 in fantasy football. In a year of disappointment at the position, Kraft has been one of the better waiver wire pickups of the season. He should be considered a high-end TE1 moving forward.
Heat Index: 5
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