Here's a recap of last week's big performances and my Week 5 likes. I am sure you will recognize some of these names below.
Best of Week 4
Eli Manning (QB, N.Y. Giants) –It's been a long time since Eli Manning had a big game. But if you give him time to throw, this is what could happen: 300 passing yards, four passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown in a blowout win versus an NFC East rival.
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DeMarco Murray (RB, Dallas) – **The NFL's leading rusher again had a monster game, recording 149 rushing yards with two scores. Dallas seems to have the perfect formula right now for winning, and it goes through Murray.
Steve Smith, Sr. (WR, Baltimore) –He promised there would be "Blood and Guts" when he faced his former team. But instead, he totaled 139 receiving yards and two scores to help the Ravens improve to 3-1.
Aaron Rodgers (QB, Green Bay) –I was one of those that asked what happened to Aaron Rodgers but he seems to be just fine. Rodgers threw for 302 yards and four touchdowns to guide the Packers to an impressive win at Chicago.
Andrew Luck (QB, Indianapolis) –Though he's thrown an interception in three-of-four games this season, you can live with it when he throws for 393 yards and four touchdowns, like he did vs. Tennessee last Sunday in a 41-17 blowout.
Week 5 Likes:
Quarterbacks
Philip Rivers (vs. N.Y. Jets) –Rivers is quite possibly playing the best football of his career. He has nine touchdowns to just one interception and will be facing a Jets' defense that allows the second-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.
Ben Roethlisberger (at Jacksonville) –This will be the fifth straight week that I've picked the quarterback playing the Jaguars. Jacksonville allows nearly 40 points per game and give up the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Roethlisberger should have himself quite the afternoon.
Drew Brees (vs. Tampa Bay) –The Saints are struggling and Brees needs to guide his team to a victory this Sunday. He's at home, where he has thrown 29 touchdowns in his last nine games. The Bucs are coming off of a big win, but they have given up a lot of yards to quarterbacks this season.
Running Backs
DeMarco Murray (vs. Houston) or Le'Veon Bell (at Jacksonville) –These are the top-two backs in the league right now. They will get you yards and they will get you points regardless of matchups.* *
Giovani Bernard (at New England) –I'll bet anything that Coach Belichick will have the Patriots' defense ready to stop Andy Dalton. But I don't think they will be able to stop Bernard. He has gained 100 scrimmage yards in every game this season.
LeSean McCoy (vs. St. Louis) –The Eagles' running game has struggled but their last two opponents had great rush defenses. "Shady" is due for a breakout game and it comes this Sunday.
Wide Receivers
Antonio Brown (at Jacksonville) –Last Sunday he set an NFL record with five receptions and 50 receiving yards in 20 straight games. He's also scored multiple touchdowns in two straight games. And he has quite the matchup against a struggling Jaguars' defense.
Emmanuel Sanders (vs. Arizona) –Sanders has recorded two straight 100-yard games, the first two of his career. Peyton Manning has a myriad of receivers that he can throw to, but Sanders has been on fire as of late.
Michael Floyd (at Denver) –Floyd has two 100-yard games in three outings this season. Denver's secondary has done a great job so far this season but the Cardinals have multiple weapons at wide receiver, particularly Floyd who can get behind safeties.
Tight Ends
Jordan Cameron (at Tennessee) –He's finally healthy coming off a shoulder injury and the bye week only helped him heal. Cameron has yet to make an impact this season but that will change this Sunday.
Larry Donnell (vs. Atlanta) –Most didn't even know this young man's name before he hauled in three scores last week. He is the Giants' go-to guy in the red zone.
Heath Miller (at Jacksonville) – Miller is coming off of a career-best 10 catch performance last Sunday and should get plenty of targets this Sunday as he faces a struggling defense.
Defense/Special Teams
San Diego Chargers (vs. N.Y. Jets) –The Chargers are clicking on all cylinders and their defense has gotten better by the week. The Jets' offense is struggling and has turned the ball over eight times already this season.
Kansas City Chiefs (at San Francisco) –The Chiefs got after the Patriots last Monday night and look to continue that in a big game out west. San Francisco has committed five turnovers at home this season and has allowed three defensive touchdowns.
Cleveland Browns (at Tennessee) –The Browns defense should have a nice Sunday facing a team that has only averaged 11 points per game in their last three contests.
Kicker
Blair Walsh (at Green Bay) –Walsh has made seven field goals his last two games and his leg could be the deciding factor in this NFC North matchup.
Adam Vinatieri (vs. Baltimore) –He hasn't missed yet this season (8-8) and has made 16 PATs. The 41-year old just won't slow down.
Josh Scobee (vs. Pittsburgh) –Blake Bortles can't do it all himself. Scobee gives Jacksonville the best chance to score points besides Bortles.
