Fantasy Football: Aaron Rodgers and the Top 30 Fantasy Options for Week 5

Heading into the fifth week of the 2011 NFL season, you and your fantasy football team could either be smooth sailing or holding on for dear life.

This year has featured quite an amount of surprises, both disappointing and bewildering. It's unfortunate for those who drafted Chris Johnson with their first-round selection, and if you picked up Cam Newton at some point before everyone else, well, congratulations, you're a guru.

Whether you're on top of your game, in need of direction, or simply love reading fantasy football projections, this article is for you.

Here is a preview for Week 5's top 30 fantasy football performers, including a projection and brief explanation.

30. Dwayne Bowe, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

at Indianapolis Colts

It looks like Bowe has gotten back on track after a very slow start. The 6’2”, 220-pound WR has combined for nine receptions, 174 yards and two TDs in the last two games.


Projection

5 rec, 56 yds, TD

11 points

29. Beanie Wells, RB, Arizona Cardinals

at Minnesota Vikings

Although I don’t think he’ll find the end zone three times like he did a week ago, Wells is getting the ball more and more. He should have a decent outing against the winless Vikings.


Projection

19 att, 61 yds, TD

12 points

28. Curtis Painter, QB, Indianapolis Colts

vs. Kansas City Chiefs

If your starting quarterback is on a bye and you don’t have a solid backup, it’d be a good idea to pick up Painter. He seemed well-fit to run the Colts offense (better than Collins, at least), passing for 281 yards and two TDs against a pretty good defense.

And now Indy plays Kansas City, which has allowed a league-leading 10 passing touchdowns.


Projection

16-of-33, 228 yds, TD, INT

13 points

27. Isaac Redman, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

vs. Tennessee Titans

Isaac Redman’s stock is on the rise with questions of Ben Roethlisberger, Mewelde Moore and Rashard Mendenhall’s health for Week 5’s battle with the Titans.


Projection

20 att, 88 yds; 4 rec, 42 yds

13 points

26. Greg Jennings, WR, Green Bay Packers

at Atlanta Falcons

Having Aaron Rodgers as your QB has its benefits, but it has downsides, too. Jennings will continue to put up solid numbers week in and week out, but it’s hard for him to have the breakout game since Rodgers loves to get every receiver involved.



Projection

7 rec, 72 yds, TD

13 points

25. Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars

vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert is still being coddled in Jack Del Rio's unimaginative offense, so the majority of the plays will continue to be based around JD.


Projection

17 att, 64 yds, TD; 2 rec, 18 yds

14 points

24. Fred Jackson, RB, Buffalo Bills

vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Jackson didn’t find much success against the Bengals in Week 4, but the Eagles give up the most fantasy points per game to RBs and involvement in the spread could produce mismatches.


Projection

14 att, 60 yds, TD; 4 rec, 24 yds

14 points

23. Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears

at Detroit Lions

Matt seemed to find his Forte (HA!) against the Panthers last week, rushing for 205 yards and a touchdown.

Recent history shows that he could pull a repeat against the Lions.


Projection

19 att, 83 yds; 6 rec, 57 yds

14 points

22. Cedric Benson, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

at Jacksonville Jaguars

Benson will receive a lot of carries in this week’s battle against the Jaguar’s mediocre rush defense.


Projection

22 att, 85 yds, TD; 1 rec, 7 yds

15 points

21. Steve Smith, WR, Carolina Panthers

at New Orleans Saints

Smith is second in the NFL with 530 receiving yards (behind Wes Welker) and is averaging just over 10 targets per game.

He owes a big thanks to the front office for drafting Cam Newton and reviving his career.


Projection

7 rec, 102 yds, TD

16 points

20. LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

at Buffalo Bills

Buffalo currently allows seven receptions per game to opposing running backs. In addition, its defensive line is soft and McCoy averages 5.5 yards per carry, so this looks like an alluring matchup for fantasy owners.


Projection

13 att, 65 yds; 6 rec, 38 yds, TD

16 points

19. Jason Campbell, QB, Oakland Raiders

at Houston Texans

On paper it isn’t a favorable matchup for the former Auburn QB. But keep in mind that he already has two 300-plus yard performances this year, equaling his total for the entire 2010 season.



Projection

18-of-30, 252 yds, TD

16 points

18. Matt Schaub, QB, Houston Texans

vs. Oakland Raiders

Schaub will take a hit with star receiver Andre Johnson on the sideline. Nonetheless, the Raiders allow 274.0 yards and two TDs through the air per game, so he should still fare pretty nicely.



Projection

19-of-27, 257 yds, TD

16 points

17. Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons

vs. Green Bay Packers

Green Bay’s defense ranks 31st against the pass. Matt Ryan throws the ball 41.0 times a game on average. You do the math.


Projection

29-of-44, 330 yds, TD, INT

17 points

16. DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

at Buffalo Bills

The Bills are susceptible to the deep ball, and DeSean Jackson averages 20.3 yards per catch. It could be a big day for No. 10.


Projection

6 rec, 113 yds, TD

17 points

15. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings

vs. Arizona Cardinals

Unfortunately for A.P., Donovan McNabb is his quarterback. This allows defenses to focus on the running game (due to the ineffectiveness of the passing game), which has resulted in a decline in fantasy points for the Pro Bowl running back.

However, even though Arizona’s rush defense has shown superiority, I still think Peterson can have a strong outing.


Projection

23 att, 103 yds, TD; 2 rec, 17 yds

18 points

14. Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland Raiders

at Houston Texans

Darren McFadden leads the NFL in rushing with 468 yards and has six runs of 20 or more yards, including three of 40 or more.


Projection

17 att, 95 yds, TD; 4 rec, 36 yds

19 points

13. Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants

vs. Seahawks

After a 18-for-32, 268-yard, no TD (one INT) performance in a 28-14 loss to the Redskins to start the season, Eli Manning has quietly rebounded. The eighth-year QB is currently ranked third in the NFL with a 105.6 passer rating.


Projection

20-of-30, 233 yds, 2 TDs, INT

19 points

12. Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions

vs. Chicago Bears

Stafford could pass for 20 yards in the first half and still end up with an exceptional performance due to his ability to lead incredible second-half comebacks. And on top of that, the Bears defense is giving up the fourth-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks.


Projection

23-of-37, 259 yds, 2 TDs, INT

20 points

11. Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Buffalo Bills

vs. Philadelphia Eagles

The Bengals brought Ryan Fitzpatrick’s surging Bills back to earth last week, in which the Harvard grad compiled a humdrum 75.5 quarterback rating. However, Philadelphia is giving up 2.5 passing touchdowns per game and may struggle against Buffalo’s spread offense.


Projection

24-of-37, 279 yds, 2 TDs, INT

21 points

10. Vincent Jackson, WR, San Diego Chargers

at Denver Broncos

Jackson may be a little banged up, but the Broncos are allowing the second-most points per game to wide receivers and he will benefit from Rivers’ success.


Projection

6 rec, 91 yds, 2 TDs

21 points

9. Phillip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers

at Denver Broncos

Rivers could throw the ball to himself against the Broncos and still have a good fantasy performance.

Denver allowed Aaron Rodgers to score six touchdowns (two rushing) last week and has let opposing QBs average a league-worst 110.7 rating.


Projection

25-of-35, 305 yds, 2 TDs, INT

22 points

8. Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions

vs. Chicago Bears

We might as well chalk up two more touchdowns for "Megatron" in Week 5, because he’s done it in every game so far.



Projection

8 rec, 102 yds, 2 TDs

22 points

7. Wes Welker, WR, New England Patriots

vs. New York Jets

In three of the Patriots’ four games this season, Welker has surpassed 150 yards receiving, including a 217-yard outburst in Week 3.

That’s ridiculous.

The Jets are vulnerable up the middle, and that’s his specialty.


Projection

10 rec, 100 yds, 2 TDs

22 points

6. Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots

vs. New York Jets

Brady may be coming off the most lackluster game of the season fantasy-wise (17 points), but that’s only because we’ve come to expect so much of the future Hall-of-Famer.

He’s passed for at least two TDs in 14 straight games and has a great background against the Jets at home.


Projection

22-of-33, 253 yds, 2 TDs

22 points

5. Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers

vs. New Orleans Saints

I’m done doubting Newton. Seriously, this guy should have his own comic book series—“The Amazing Rookie Phenomenon-man.” The former Heisman winner is on pace to break Dan Marino’s single-season passing record, and should stay on track against a subpar secondary.


Projection

26-of-45, 370 yds, TD, 2 INTs; 8 att, 34 yds, TD

26 points

4. Michael Vick, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

at Buffalo Bills

At 1-3, the “dream team” phase is dead and gone. In fact, Vick will be fighting to keep the Eagles’ playoff hopes alive.

The Bills have a terrible back end, which creates a lot of room for Jackson, Maclin and McCoy to reap the benefits of Vick’s big passing day.


Projection

27-of-44, 316 yds, 2 TDs, INT; 6 att, 34 yds

26 points

3. Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans

vs. Oakland Raiders

There are three things to look at here:

1) Arian Foster looked 100 percent healthy in last week’s win over Pittsburgh, rushing for 155 yards on 30 carries (5.2 ypc) against the steel curtain.

2) Andre Johnson is out, which means Foster will be taking on a heavier responsibility.

3) Oakland ranks 29th in rush defense, allowing 136.0 yards per game.

This game is set up for Foster to explode.


Projection

29 att, 154 yds, 2 TDs; 3 rec, 18 yds

29 points

2. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints

at Carolina Panthers

With Marques Colston back in the lineup, Brees is all-the-more dangerous. A terrible Carolina secondary helps a lot, too.


Projection

31-of-42, 354 yds, 3 TDs, INT

30 points

1. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers

at Atlanta Falcons

Rodgers hasn’t posted a fantasy performance under 21 points yet, and Atlanta’s defense couldn't even stop Tarvaris Jackson.

The reigning Super Bowl MVP tore the Falcons apart in last year’s appearances and will do it again in 2011.



Projection

29-of-40, 383 yds, 3 TDs; 4 att, 17 yds

35 points