Fantasy Football Week 5: Weekly Fantasy Trends Report

Welcome to Week 5 of the fantasy football season and the second week of byes!

Yay...bye weeks.

I know, they are no fun, but you're in luck! In this slideshow there are a few notable options you should target that are still hanging on many leagues' waiver wires.

Week 5 has the Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks on bye—many players that are staples in your weekly lineup are taking a breather this week.

We all need bye-week fill-ins this week.

Let's get this show on the road.

Ravens RB Terrance West Sees Huge Ownership Increase

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Ravens RB Terrance West

This is a no-doubter.

After coming off a 100-plus-yard performance in Week 4, Baltimore Ravens running back Terrance West saw the largest ownership increase in Yahoo leagues.

With running back Justin Forsett being cut, it further paved the way for West and company to become more fantasy relevant.

In Week 5, the Ravens will host a Washington Redskins team that gives up the second-most fantasy points to opposing running backs.

Week 5 will also be the NFL debut for Ravens rookie running back Kenneth Dixon, so it will be interesting to see how he factors in.

Nonetheless, West will be the lead back for the Ravens in Week 5.

Bears WR Kevin White Placed on IR; Eddie Royal Just over 40 Percent Owned

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Bears WR Eddie Royal

According to Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com, the Chicago Bears are placing wide receiver Kevin White on injured reserve with a severe high ankle sprain that resulted in a fractured fibula.

First of all, uh, ouch.

Second of all, you need to go pick up fellow Bears wide receiver Eddie Royal.

After White left the team's game in Week 4, Royal managed to finish with seven receptions for over 100 yards and found the end zone.

Opposite No. 1 wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, Royal will get plenty of opportunities to produce and is especially valuable in PPR leagues.

Given the White injury news is so fresh, your league members will catch on and scoop him up if you don't—he's owned in just over 40 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Buffalo Bills Most Added D/ST

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Bills CB Ronald Darby

The Los Angeles Rams are 3-1.

Nonetheless, that is not stopping fantasy owners from scooping up the Buffalo Bills defense and special teams unit for their starting lineups in Week 5.

Through the first four weeks of the season, the Bills rank third overall in fantasy points among defenses, averaging over 14 points per contest.

The Rams are an odd team, to say the least. They have perhaps one of the top running backs in the sport in Todd Gurley, but their passing attack is simply brutal.

As a result, it is impossible for Gurley to get going. In fact, as Matt Harmon of NFL.com and their Next Gen Stats show, Gurley has faced eight-man boxes 33 times this season, which is tied for the most in the league.

On those 33 attempts, he's been held to under 100 yards rushing, whereas other running backs such as Isaiah Crowell of the Cleveland Browns is averaging eight yards per carry on 28 carries.

The game plan here will be the same as every other teams'—shut down Gurley and make Rams quarterback Case Keenum beat you through the air.

However, the Bills do give up over 280 passing yards per game, but then again, this is Keenum we're talking about.

The Bills are one of the better defensive units to own this week, but there is some risk here.

Regardless, if the Bills defense is available in your league, pick them up and start them.

Bills WR Sammy Watkins Dropped by over 100,000 Teams

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Bills WR Sammy Watkins (left)

Per the "Research" tab on Yahoo's fantasy football interface, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins has been dropped by over 100,000 teams.

I'm one of those 100,000 teams.

Look, not only has Watkins been frustrating when he has played, it's been just as frustrating to figure out when he will play.

After being placed on injured reserve, that's when it was time to call it quits.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Watkins was slated to visit with Dr. Robert Anderson to determine if another surgery is needed.

A visit to Dr. Anderson is similar to a baseball player visiting Dr. James Andrews in regard to a Tommy John injury.

It's not good.

If I had to bet, I'd saying Watkins is done for the year.

Get rid of him and look to pick up fellow Bills wide receiver Robert Woods if he is somehow still available in your league.

Let go.

Raiders RB Latavius Murray Continues to Be Traded at High Rate

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Raiders RB Latavius Murray

Like in last week's Fantasy Trends piece, Oakland Raiders running back Latavius Murray continues to be traded at a high rate.

Given what is essentially a timeshare for Murray and his dependence on touchdowns, it makes entirely too much sense to trade him.

Here are four examples of straight-up trades involving Murray:

• Murray for Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb
• Murray for Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford
• Murray for New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount
• Murray for Cleveland Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor Sr.

That's not bad if you ask me, especially if you can get Blount or Pryor for Murray—I'd do that in a heartbeat.

If you own Murray, shop him before it's too late. He's set up to be a fantasy failure this season.

Bears QB Brian Hoyer Has Hot Matchup, Only 9 Percent Owned

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Bears QB Brian Hoyer

Pretend you didn't know this slide was about Chicago Bears quarterback Brian Hoyer.

OK, now, what would you say if I told you there was a starting quarterback in the NFL available in 88 percent of Yahoo leagues that is coming off back-to-back 300-plus-yard, two-touchdown games.

Would it be something like: "How is he still a free agent?"

Probably, but because it's Hoyer, people are staying away.

In Week 5, Hoyer draws the Indianapolis Colts, who, outside of cornerback Vontae Davis have an utterly horrid defense.

Week 5 has teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks on bye, so, that's QBs Blake Bortles, Alex Smith, Drew Brees and Russell Wilson, respectively, missing action.

Most of those guys are starters on fantasy teams, so you need a bye-week fill-in.

Well, here he is, and his name is Hoyer. Don't be afraid.

Panthers RB Fozzy Whittaker 26 Percent Owned, Has 3 Straight Double-Digit Weeks

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Panthers RB Fozzy Whittaker

This is far from a sexy pick—I know that.

However, Carolina Panthers running back Fozzy Whittaker is a quality play this week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Coming off a nine-reception Week 4, Whittaker is—at a minimum—an above-average bye-week fill-in in deeper leagues.

As mentioned in the previous slide, the Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks are on bye.

Almost all of the running backs on those teams—T.J. Yeldon/Chris Ivory, Spencer Ware/Jamaal Charles, Mark Ingram and Christine Michael, respectively—are RB1s or a lock to be in your lineup when they play, so, once again, you need a solid fill-in.

With fellow Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart out for the foreseeable future, Whittaker is the man in their backfield this week.

Whittaker is out there in 72 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Rams WR Brian Quick Only 5 Percent Owned, Has 3 Touchdowns in 2 Games

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Rams WR Brian Quick

"Boom or bust" is as good a phrase as you'll find to describe Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Brian Quick.

Over the last two games, Quick has scored three touchdowns on four receptions, so, yeah, boom or bust definitely works here.

Like the two players in the preceding slides, Quick is a quality bye-week fill-in, and he's available in essentially every Yahoo league.

Hopefully there are more trustworthy options out there on the wire, but in deeper leagues, Quick might be the cream of the crop.

Hosting the Buffalo Bills, Rams quarterback Case Keenum will be taking on a defense that allows over 280 passing yards per game.

Granted, Keenum isn't known for his passing prowess, but it's definitely a statistic that stands out.

This move could pay off royally or frustrate you all afternoon along.

The Bills are a beatable opponent for Quick—spin that roulette wheel.

Stats courtesy of Pro Football Focus and ESPN.com.

Follow me on Twitter @RichardJanvrin.