NFL Week 5 Predictions: Picking Winners and Fantasy Stars for Upcoming Games

Aaron Rodgers has calmed down the Green Bay Packers faithful with two straight awesome games. In the process, Rodgers has led the Packers to back-to-back wins. Most recently, Mr. Discount Double Check efficiently sliced the Minnesota Vikings to shreds with three touchdown passes on just 17 attempts on Thursday night.

Green Bay trounced Minnesota, 42-10.

The Pack are suddenly 3-2 with two straight wins over division opponents and looking confident heading into Week 6. No one would have suspected this resurgence—besides Rodgers—after the team got off to a 1-2 start.

The rest of the Week 5 slate is on tap for Sunday and Monday night. Here's a look at the full schedule and predictions for each game.

Just below the table is a look at three players set up to shine for fantasy football owners.

Sunday, Oct. 5	Time (ET)	TV	Predictions
Monday, Oct. 6	Time(ET)	TV	Predictions
Chicago at Carolina	1 PM	FOX	Chicago
Cleveland at Tennessee	1 PM	CBS	Cleveland
St. Louis at Philadelphia	1 PM	FOX	Philadelphia
Atlanta at NY Giants	1 PM	FOX	NY Giants
Tampa Bay at New Orleans	1 PM	FOX	New Orleans
Houston at Dallas	1 PM	CBS	Houston
Buffalo at Detroit	1 PM	FOX	Detroit
Baltimore at Indianapolis	1 PM	CBS	Indianapolis
Pittsburgh at Jacksonville	1 PM	CBS	Pittsburgh
Arizona at Denver	4:05 PM	FOX	Arizona
Kansas City at San Francisco	4:25 PM	CBS	Kansas City
NY Jets at San Diego	4:25 PM	CBS	San Diego
Cincinnati at New England	8:30 PM	NBC	Cincinnati
Seattle at Washington	8:30 PM		Seattle

Drew Brees

Tim Sharp/Associated Press

The New Orleans Saints haven't had much luck stopping the pass so far this season, but like clockwork, head coach Sean Payton and his future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees have moved the ball well in the air.

The Saints have the third-best passing offense in the NFL, and the team is set to take on Lovie Smith's Tampa-2 look.

"

Saints quarterback Drew Brees responds to ‘panicked mob' http://t.co/q1zOAk2q4E

— ESPN NFL Nation (@ESPN_NFLNation) October 1, 2014"

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers would prefer to bend without breaking on defense. However, a lack of pass rush has generated more breaking than bending. Tampa's pass defense is ranked 29th in the league. It would be ranked even lower were it not for the team's five-sack performance in Week 4 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. That game brought the team total to just nine.

Brees is a good fantasy bet any week, but against the Bucs, he just might have a day that gets his fantasy owners 30-plus points.

Victor Cruz

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

The Atlanta Falcons are another team struggling to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. This has been a consistent problem for the Dirty Birds. Coming into the season, the Falcons had just 59 sacks as a team in the last two seasons.

Thus far this year, the Falcons have a total of three. Only the St. Louis Rams have fewer.

If a team doesn't get pressure on Eli Manning, it allows him to be a comfortable and dangerous pocket passer. That said, it's still hard to tab Manning as a fantasy star because of his penchant to throw picks.

The safer bet is his deep threat, Cruz.

With time to throw, Cruz should have a few opportunities to break the defense for big plays. Expect at least two salsa celebrations on Sunday.

Le'Veon Bell

The Pittsburgh Steelers' 22-year-old stud running back is moving toward claiming a spot as one of the top fantasy running backs in the league. He's had two 100-yard games, but a lack of touchdowns has prevented him from scoring big with fantasy owners.

Despite his yardage production, he's found paydirt just once this season.

With the Jacksonville Jaguars' porous run defense on the slab, Bell stands to be big on Sunday. The Jags have allowed 130 yards per game on the ground. That's the sixth-highest total in the league. 

Coming off a humbling loss to the Buccaneers in Week 4, the Steelers will be looking to play smashmouth football against the Jags. That should lead to a number of opportunities for Bell. He'll make good on his chances.

Stats per Pro-Football-Reference.