These Monday morning articles can be upwards of 2,000-2,200 words. I try to keep them as brief as possible. But I believe Sunday night / Monday morning is the most critical time to assess what's real and what isn't -- which booms or busts might signal what's to come, and which ones are outliers.
With that mind, here are my observations for each team -- principally, their most important fantasy storyline coming out of Sunday's matchups:
Jaguars -- The Christian Kirk vs. Calvin Ridley battle gets murkier, as both guys secured eight targets. If Zay Jones remains injury-riddled, the Kirk/Ridley question probably won't matter. But with Zay on the field, it'll be tough to predict which co-lead receiver will play the lead role. And I think games where both shine will be few and far between.
Bills -- If you're starting any Giants next week, think again. They're going on the road against Buffalo. Despite losing key defensive players, Buffalo almost assuredly will fix what broke in this one. Fantasy-wise, Gabe Davis has now scored in four straight games. He's on the verge of being overvalued, because that scoring clip is unsustainable. If you can part ways at an elevated market value, I'd take it.
Falcons -- Well, it happened. Drake London and Kyle Pitts both earned some fantasy love, as Desmond Ridder arguably played the best game of his young career. This is why I cautioned managers not to give up on London (and Pitts). An above-average running game and an opportunistic defense won't be enough to get this team to the playoffs. Their passing attack *should* continue to gel.
Texans -- Dalton Schultz finally emerged. Fluke? Tank Dell exited with a concussion, but Robert Woods' role has been declining. In other words, there's a path for Shultz to remain a TE streamer with plenty of pop.
Lions -- The 4-1 Lions dominated despite missing their #1 WR and "junior" #1 RB. Notably, Josh Reynolds and David Montgomery took over. Zooming in on Reynolds, he's been a fascinating fantasy hero this season. I would happily package him in a 2-for-2 to a manager who needs a #3/#4 WR. The fact is, as Jameson Williams acclimates, and when Amon-Ra St. Brown returns, Reynolds should struggle for consistency amidst a low target share.
Panthers -- Once again, Chuba Hubbard. Been stressing this for weeks. Miles Sanders lost another fumble. I'm not saying Hubbard is "the answer." But he's been a far better bargain than Sanders, and this is a key time to trade him to your opponent who has Sanders -- or to a manager desperate for an RB.
Colts -- On a day when Jonathan Taylor made his long-awaited return, Zack Moss dominated and Anthony Richardson was knocked out with a shoulder injury. It was a bizarre fantasy day for a team whose passing attack looks better with Gardner Minshew under center, and whose backfield increasingly looks like a long-term split-back situation -- despite Taylor's recent contract.
Titans -- Tyjae Spears outplayed Derrick Henry . . . again. On the season, Henry is averaging 0.72 fantasy points per touch. Spears is averaging 1.02. The rookie is benefiting from more targets. But more than that, he's running far better (5.8 YPC vs. 3.8 for Henry).
Dolphins -- Four fantastic performers, plus Tua. But because I'm boring, I want to highlight Cedrick Wilson's 4-52 receiving line. In some ways, it came out of nowhere. Wilson was a notable 2022 offseason signing who never made good on his contract. But with River Cracraft hurt last week, Wilson earned his first two targets of the year. And with Braxton Berrios primed for a decent showing, Wilson served as the #3 WR. Keep tabs on this, because any WR who can be the #3 in this passing game could be a long-term streamer.
Giants -- Daniel Jones exited with a neck injury, on pace to take a record 100+ sacks this season. He'll have an MRI soon. Tyrod Taylor could prove to be an upgrade through the air, though he probably can't match Jones's value on the ground. If Jones misses time, I'd expect Darren Waller and perhaps one wideout (a healthy Wan'Dale Robinson, for example) to get small bumps.
Patriots -- It's anyone's guess what's being said in New England's locker room, behind closed doors. On Saturday I shared with a friend that Bill Belichick -- while 100% deserving of his all-time-great-coach stature -- is one of the worst GMs in the league. This could be debated, of course. But with a few exceptions at RB, his past 10 years of drafting skill players has been truly horrific. And it's only grown worse in recent years. I cannot rationalize starting any Patriot in Vegas next week, except perhaps Rhamondre Stevenson if you're desperate. After catching 69 balls last year and six more in Week 1, he's reeled in only six in his last four contests. Worse, he's caught only three of his last nine targets. Abysmal. With Buffalo and Miami looming, we might expect this franchise to be sellers before the trade deadline.
Saints -- Notably, Alvin Kamara's targets dropped from 14 last week to a more normal three yesterday. Kendre Miller picked up the slack with four targets. This could be a tough backfield to figure out as the season progresses, especially when Jamaal Williams returns, and with the playoff-caliber Saints probably not wanting to over-work their aging RB (Kamara had 25 touches yesterday, which is too much).
Steelers -- A truly shocking victory, at least from where I'm sitting. It all happened so fast at the end. George Pickens literally took over. He's now on pace for 1,336 yards, which doesn't seem possible in that offense. Of course, Diontae Johnson's eventual return will complicate things. But if you drafted Pickens, you've now secured two elite performances in five weeks. Not bad.
Ravens -- Fantasy-wise, Lamar Jackson is doing just fine. Hard to believe, but an elite running game can take you far. Notably, Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews combined for 21 of 38 targets. Fantasy managers rostering one or both of these guys have to hope things remain that clear going forward. Because Jackson usually doesn't throw enough to feed more than one or two receivers per week. On a side note, those who questioned my preseason poo-poo'ing of OBJ hopefully understand why. Approaching 31 years old, with a significant recent injury history, and in a run-friendly offense with more dependable receivers on board, he never had much of a chance.
Cardinals -- As you know, I've been baffled by how great James Conner has looked this year, proving me wrong with every terrific outing. At the same time, I've continually cautioned that his extensive injury history makes him a huge season-long risk. He exited yesterday with a knee injury, giving way to rookie UDFA Emari Demercado. Arizona's minimal postseason prospects and thin backfield are a intriguing combination. There's room for Conner to return and continue shining. But there's also the potential for the Cards to play if safe with their bell cow, making someone like Demercado a must-add if Conner's Week 6 outlook appears dim.
Bengals -- Break up the Bengals! Or really, break up Ja'Marr Chase, who put this offense on his back and led his team in a must-win game. Believe it or not, he entered this week with zero scores. With a surprisingly exploitable defense, the Bengals arguably need Chase now more than ever. If you drafted him, do not "sell high." He's now on pace to do what was expected from him.
Rams -- I'll take a big loss with Puka Nacua's impressive showing alongside the returning Cooper Kupp. As I wrote a couple weeks ago, Matthew Stafford has a history of locking in primarily on one favorite receiver. In this game, he locked in on two. If this is the Rams' path going forward, it'll be my biggest and most brutal whiff of the season.
Eagles -- On the flip side, I tried to reassure managers last week and then yesterday morning that Dallas Goedert was a big rebound candidate. Jalen Hurts targeted him plenty on the opening drive, and it continued for most of the afternoon. When the season ends, we should see A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Goedert all should be among the elites (Brown) or near-elites at their respective position.
Broncos -- Jaleen McLaughlin had 17.3 fantasy points in his first nine touches. Javonte Williams has 29.9 on 49 touches. There's no putting McLaughlin back under wraps. He's the most valuable fantasy RB in Denver, and barring an injury, he has a good shot at leading this backfield in fantasy going forward.
Jets -- Publicly predicted a monster day for Breece Hall, because candidly, this franchise had almost nothing to lose by turning their young star loose. While Zach Wilson continued scuffling on a team that had no real backup plan when Aaron Rodgers got hurt, Hall reminded the real world and fantasy world that he's one of the most talented young RBs in the league.
Vikings -- Justin Jefferson's hamstring injury was one of the biggest Week 5 stories, as it impacted so many head-to-head matchups. We'll await word on its severity. If he misses time, clearly Jordan Addison and K.J. Osborn would be must-starts next week against Chicago, though San Francisco the following week is murkier. On a critically importantly side note, if the 1-4 Vikings can't turn things around quickly, there might be growing buzz around moving Kirk Cousins before the trade deadline, which would partially wreck Vikes' receivers' fantasy values. Rostering Justin Jefferson is now officially "risky." In other words, managers need to decide if they're all in on Minnesota remaining all in, or if the risks of QBs Nick Mullens and/or rookie Jaren Hall taking over are too great to ignore.
Chiefs -- Another big-name injury, though Travis Kelce returned and triumphed with a vintage Kelce-like day. Notably, while Rashee Rice found the end zone, Kadarius Toney led all WRs with six targets. Things just got a bit more confusing, because if Toney is once again emerging -- and with MVS and Justin Watson remaining weekly deep threats -- the clutter might be too great to reliably bet on Rice (or, of course, Skyy Moore). This is a certifiable spread-the-ball offense, minus Kelce and Isiah Pacheco, and there's no sign of things clearing up.
Cowboys -- Uber-positive and uber-negative game scripts have wreaked havoc on this team, and Dak Prescott is enduring his worst statistical season since 2017. It's too soon to panic. There's too much talent on this team. I'd advise Superflex managers to buy low if possible, especially with the Chargers up next.
49ers -- A statement win for a team poised to challenge K.C. and Philly (and others) for the Super Bowl. George Kittle proved me wrong with another huge showing. I could nit-pick and say he earned only four targets, and that his targets per game are by far the lowest since his rookie campaign. But again, nit-picking. I'd sell high, and there's probably a 49% chance I'd be wrong to do it. Oh, and the CMC usage watch: 21 more touches, a lost fumble, and 2.7 YPC. Managers have to love everything they've seen from him. But he's still on pace for 400+ touches. Be wary.