Fantasy Football Storylines: Justin Fields, Anthony Richardson, Josh Downs (Week 5)

Week 5 is the first with byes. So, gamers must now navigate absences for injuries and byes. Fortunately, this week’s fantasy football storylines could help gamers who need assistance via streamers, dart throws or bench players stepping up in Week 5.

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Fantasy Football Storylines

Can Justin Fields Build on His Fantasy-Friendly Effort in Week 4?

Justin Fields had his best fantasy effort in Pittsburgh’s first loss of the season last week. Fields had a mix of good and bad in his profile. He reverted to taking too many sacks, absorbing a season-high four on a season-high 42 dropbacks after taking six on his first 90, per Pro Football Focus (PFF). Fields also had his first turnover-worthy play of the season in Week 4. However, according to Pro Football Reference, he also completed 64.7% of his passes for season-highs of 312 yards and 7.95 adjusted net yards per pass attempt. Fields’ adjusted net yards per pass attempt has increased every week, and he’s had his two highest passing yardage outputs in his last two games, passing for 245 and 312.

Fields has also thrown three touchdowns versus one interception this year and reached at least 55 rushing yards twice, rumbling for 57 in the opener and 55 with two touchdowns in Week 4. Fields has an excellent opportunity to finish as a top-12 quarterback this week. The Cowboys will be without two critical contributors on their defense. DeMarcus Lawrence has a Lisfranc injury, and Micah Parsons has a high-ankle sprain.

Arthur Smith might attempt to crank up Pittsburgh’s rushing attack against the Cowboys. Yet, Dallas tightened their run defense against the Giants in Week 4, and Pittsburgh’s running backs are banged up or ineffective.

Jaylen Warren was out in Week 4 with a knee injury, and Cordarrelle Patterson left the contest early with an ankle injury. Najee Harris is the club’s starter and leader in rush attempts (68) and rushing yards (228). However, among 47 running backs with at least 25 rush attempts before the Monday Night Football doubleheader, Harris was 38th in PFF’s rushing grade, 37th in yards after contact per attempt (2.40 YCO/A), 32nd in PFF’s elusiveness metric and tied for 21st in 10-plus-yard runs (five). He’s been wholly inefficient, and looks like he’s running in quicksand.

Smith and the Steelers might have to call Fields’s number this week as a passer and as a runner, especially if Warren and Patterson are out. Thankfully, Fields has the rushing chops to answer the call. He’s had the fifth-most rushing yards (145) among quarterbacks this season. So, again, Fields is a low-end QB1 this week with the upside of finishing higher.

Who Will Play for Indianapolis’s Offense in Week 5?

Jonathan Taylor has an ankle sprain. It’s not significant enough to put him on the Injured Reserve (IR), but his status for this week is unclear. Anthony Richardson was removed early from Week 4’s contest with a hip injury. Nevertheless, the injury isn’t considered serious, but his status is uncertain for an AFC South battle on Sunday afternoon against the Jaguars.

Trey Sermon is Taylor’s backup. Taylor has handled 72 rush attempts this year, and Sermon has tallied Indianapolis’s backfield’s nine other opportunities, rushing for 27 yards and a touchdown. According to PFF, Sermon has played 32 passing snaps and run 21 routes versus 81 and 67 for Taylor and nine and nine for Tyler Goodson. Sermon isn’t an exciting option against Jacksonville’s stingy run defense. Still, starting running backs have fantasy value, making Sermon a potential desperation bye-week fill-in.

Richardson’s availability or unavailability could have significant fantasy ramifications. Richardson’s been a train wreck passing the ball this season. Among 33 quarterbacks with at least 50 dropbacks this season, Richardson is 31st in PFF’s passing grade, first in turnover-worthy-play percentage (7.7 TWP%), 33rd in completion percentage (50.6%) and 33rd in adjusted completion percentage (60.6%). He’s been a nightmare for Indy’s pass-catching options.

Joe Flacco came to their rescue in Week 4. Flacco completed 16 of 26 pass attempts for 168 yards and two touchdowns against the Steelers. Pittman had three targets, two receptions and 60 receiving yards on Richardson’s pass attempts and six, four and 53 with Flacco in Week 4.

Meanwhile, Josh Downs was the largest beneficiary of Flacco relieving Richardson. Downs had an 11-yard reception on his only target from Richardson before erupting for eight targets, seven receptions, 71 receiving yards and a touchdown from Flacco. Downs is a worthy bench stash and a fantasy starter if Flacco starts at quarterback for the Colts this week. Pittman would also benefit from Flacco starting.

Can the Jaguars Take Advantage of a Cushy Matchup?

The Jaguars are the only winless team in the NFL, giving away two games and getting blown out in another. The seats must be scorching hot for everyone on the coaching staff and in the front office, which could lead to changes. It’s unclear if Travis Etienne was injured or in the doghouse in Week 4.

Tank Bigsby has outplayed Etienne this year. It’s a potentially messy situation, but gamers could desperately start either of them against Indy’s soft defense. Not including last night’s doubleheader, according to Pro Football Reference, the Colts have allowed the fifth-most rushing yards per game (119.0), 4.0 receptions per game, 38.0 receiving yards per game and one touchdown to running backs this season. Jacksonville is a 2.5-point favorite at home this week. Thus, the game script could be positive for Etienne and Bigsby.

The Colts have also struggled against the pass. Indianapolis has allowed the sixth-most passing yards per game (235.0) and tied for the eighth-most passing touchdowns allowed (six) this season. They’ve also coughed up 117 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns to quarterbacks. Trevor Lawrence is in the streamer mix for gamers without Jalen Hurts or Jared Goff this week.

Brian Thomas is a no-brainer starter. He’s Jacksonville’s best pass-catching weapon. However, Christian Kirk has re-entered the mix as a fantasy option after a nightmare start to the season. In the previous two weeks, Kirk was first on the Jaguars in routes (70), first in targets (22), first in receptions (15), first in receiving yards (140) and had a touchdown reception. Kirk would have a lower floor if Evan Engram returned from a two-game absence. Still, Kirk has played well enough to warrant consideration as a fantasy starter while navigating injuries and byes.

Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.