Fantasy Football Week 5: Latest Stat Predictions for the Top 50 Players

After about one-quarter of the NFL season, we are finally starting to realize which players can be trusted and which cannot.

DeMarco Murray and Antonio Brown have clearly become top options to put in your lineup every week, while you might have to reconsider using Tom Brady. 

No matter what your team looks like, though, it is still important to check the matchups to get the most out of your week. The good news is the byes should not be too damaging with just the Oakland Raiders and Miami Dolphins on bye.

Here is a look at the top 50 players for Week 5 with projections for each.

Quarterbacks

Peyton Manning has a difficult matchup this week against the Arizona Cardinals, but giving the veteran quarterback a week to prepare with a bye should give him a huge advantage.

He is just part of what should be a big week for a number of quarterbacks thanks to good matchups for Philip Rivers, Russell Wilson and Ben Roethlisberger. Each player has shown plenty of ability already this season and now get a chance to be a top scorer against poor secondaries.

Meanwhile, fantasy owners can start giving up on Tom Brady after yet another poor performance in Week 4. Steve Palazzolo of Pro Football Focus provides one reason for the recent struggles:

Rank	Pos. Rank	Player	Team	Opp.	Pass Yards	Rush Yards	Receiving Yards	TDs	Fantasy Pts
1	QB1	Peyton Manning	DEN	ARI	356	0	0	3	26
2	QB2	Russell Wilson	SEA	WAS	303	24	0	3	26
3	QB3	Philip Rivers	SD	NYJ	331	0	0	3	25
4	QB4	Aaron Rodgers	GB	MIN	312	7	0	3	24
5	QB5	Drew Brees	NO	TB	328	13	0	2	22
6	QB6	Andrew Luck	IND	BAL	284	16	0	3	22
7	RB1	DeMarco Murray	DAL	HOU	0	125	23	1	20
8	QB7	Ben Roesthlisberger	PIT	JAX	309	0	0	2	20
9	RB2	Le'Veon Bell	PIT	JAX	0	108	36	1	19
10	WR1	Julio Jones	ATL	NYG	0	0	129	1	18
11	QB8	Jay Cutler	CHI	CAR	274	0	0	2	18
12	WR2	Antonio Brown	PIT	JAX	0	0	126	1	18
13	QB9	Matthew Stafford	DET	BUF	266	0	0	2	18
14	RB3	Marshawn Lynch	SEA	WAS	0	106	14	1	17
15	WR3	Jordy Nelson	GB	MIN	0	0	117	1	17
16	QB10	Matt Ryan	ATL	NYG	287	0	0	2	17
17	TE1	Jimmy Graham	NO	TB	0	0	114	1	17
18	RB4	Giovani Bernard	CIN	NE	0	94	25	1	17
19	QB11	Eli Manning	NYG	ATL	293	0	0	2	17
20	QB12	Tony Romo	DAL	HOU	241	0	0	2	17
21	WR4	Calvin Johnson	DET	BUF	0	0	108	1	16
22	RB5	Rashad Jennings	NYG	ATL	0	91	17	1	16
23	WR5	Demaryius Thomas	DEN	ARI	0	0	105	1	16
24	QB13	Nick Foles	PHI	STL	216	0	0	2	16
25	WR6	Michael Floyd	ARI	DEN	0	0	103	1	16
26	RB6	Matt Forte	CHI	CAR	0	75	34	1	16
27	QB14	Cam Newton	CAR	CHI	197	16	0	2	16
28	TE2	Julius Thomas	DEN	ARI	0	0	101	1	16
29	WR7	A.J. Green	CIN	NE	0	0	96	1	15
30	WR8	Jeremy Maclin	PHI	STL	0	0	94	1	15
31	QB15	Mike Glennon	TB	NO	238	0	0	2	15
32	RB7	LeSean McCoy	PHI	STL	0	84	16	1	15
33	WR9	Dez Bryant	DAL	HOU	0	0	92	1	15
34	WR10	Kelvin Benjamin	CAR	CHI	0	0	90	1	15
35	RB8	Doug Martin	TB	NO	0	73	23	1	15
36	RB9	Andre Ellington	ARI	DEN	0	94	62	0	15
37	WR11	Brandon Marshall	CHI	CAR	0	0	88	1	14
38	WR12	Keenan Allen	SD	NYJ	0	0	86	1	14
39	RB10	Frank Gore	SF	KC	0	89	7	1	14
40	QB16	Andy Dalton	CIN	NE	221	0	0	2	14
41	TE3	Delanie Walker	TEN	CLE	0	0	84	1	14
42	WR13	Randall Cobb	GB	MIN	0	0	81	1	14
43	RB11	Jamaal Charles	KC	SF	0	55	32	1	14
44	RB12	Alfred Morris	WAS	SEA	0	86	5	1	14
45	QB17	Kirk Cousins	WAS	SEA	254	0	0	1	14
46	RB13	Ahmad Bradshaw	IND	BAL	0	43	36	1	13
47	WR14	Andre Johnson	HOU	DAL	0	0	77	1	13
48	RB14	Zac Stacy	STL	PHI	0	71	7	1	13
49	QB18	Tom Brady	NE	CIN	229	0	0	1	13
50	WR15	Alshon Jeffery	CHI	CAR	0	21	54	1	13

However, things do not appear to be getting better anytime soon, which makes him almost unstartable until things turn around.

Running Backs

John Froschauer/Associated Press

As long as he is healthy, DeMarco Murray has ensured himself the top fantasy option going forward. Le'Veon Bell is also a must-start regardless of matchup after his latest success.

Fans thought they would be able to say that about LeSean McCoy all season, but he has not been productive in the past few weeks. The problem is the offensive line, which has been decimated by injuries.

"We just got whooped up front," coach Chip Kelly said after the game. "We're not very good up front right now. We've got a lot of guys banged up, and that's not an excuse, it's just the reality of it."

Lane Johnson returning in Week 5 should help McCoy be productive, but he will not be a top back until players like Jason Kelce and Evan Mathis return from injury.

Meanwhile, Jamaal Charles showed that he can be an elite option once again, although he could have a tough time breaking out again versus the San Francisco 49ers.

As far as those in crowded backfields go, Chris Ivory remains a better option than Chris Johnson going forward, while Matt Asiata is more trustworthy than Jerick McKinnon at the moment, although that could change quickly.

Wide Receivers

Julio Jones and Antonio Brown becoming the top options is not too surprising, but it is more shocking to see them being joined in the WR1 category by Jeremy Maclin, Kelvin Benjamin and Michael Floyd. Each player is the top option on their team, and in Benjamin's case, he is much better than anyone realized.

Doug Gottlieb of CBS Sports had this to say after the receiver's third touchdown catch in four games:

He should be able to continue his impressive production regardless of matchups.

Of course, bringing this group of receivers higher on the list does not mean guys like Calvin Johnson and Demaryius Thomas should be forgotten. Despite a few mediocre games, they are still top options and should remain in lineups.

On the other hand, do not be surprised to see Steve Smith come back to Earth after a huge game against his former team in Week 4.

Tight Ends

It is clear Jimmy Graham and Julius Thomas are well ahead of the rest of the tight ends in the NFL at this point. Even when Graham was having a bad game against the Dallas Cowboys, he still managed to be productive in garbage time.

The good news is there are more options on the way after some impressive showings in Week 4. Travis Kelce turned heads on Monday Night Football against the Patriots, totaling eight catches for 93 yards and a touchdown. Albert Breer of NFL Network was impressed:

Additionally, Larry Donnell scored three touchdowns on Thursday night against the Washington Redskins and seems to be a big part of the New York Giants offense going forward. 

Both of these players should be good pickups and starts in Week 5.

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