Every passing week creates more distance from draft day, allowing fantasy football managers to forget everyone’s original stock and accept the current circumstances.
There are only so many times everyone can stick C.J. Anderson high up the rankings, hoping he finally turns the corner. While it’s certainly possible—Jeremy Hill and Justin Forsett delivered strong bounce-back efforts in Week 4—the Denver Broncos running back is simply not the star drafters anticipated.
It’s October, so who cares if most fantasy managers liked Andre Johnson more than Larry Fitzgerald in August? At the same time, it’s important not to pass unwarranted judgement too soon. If that sounds confusing, well, it is. Nobody said fantasy football is easy.
Let’s see how Week 5’s flex rankings shape up for standard and point-per-reception (PPR) leagues.
The good news? DeMarco Murray played on Sunday and advanced the football in a forward direction. Entering Week 4 with 11 rushing yards on 21 attempts, his 36 yards on eight carries looks pretty good by comparison.
When a star running back receiving 10 touches constitutes a moral victory, there’s reason to worry. His workload is especially tame after receiving 28 touches per game last season. ESPN’s Trey Wingo noted the huge dip in his involvement:
Heading into the season, Murray and all fantasy drafters had to know his usage rate would decline. The Philadelphia Eagles have three hungry mouths to feed in their backfield, and they all split playing time against Washington. Pro Football Focus monitored the snap counts:
Perturbed fantasy players aren’t the only ones complaining about the situation. Murray expressed disapproval about his lack of opportunities to the Philadelphia Inquirer‘s Zach Berman:
Don’t expect the public grievance to lead to 25-30 touches against the New Orleans Saints. But at least he showed a pulse against Washington, whereas Ryan Mathews fumbled one of his five carries.
After a horrendous start, the Eagles have fostered a healthy running attack over the past two weeks. The Saints have permitted 4.2 yards per carry, so keep Murray in the starting lineup.
Meanwhile, Sunday coerced mixed feelings for Arian Foster investors. The star running back made his highly anticipated 2015 debut, but it wasn’t pretty. He ran for 10 yards on eight carries, and his teammate forced a fumble.
Rather than freaking out, ESPN’s Matthew Berry urged patience:
Per Pro Football Focus, Foster logged one more snap than Chris Polk, but the Houston Texans were simply exuding caution during a blowout. In a 48-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, they had little reason to overextend him while needing to pass anyway.
A Thursday night tilt isn’t ideal as Foster catches his bearings, but the Indianapolis Colts have yielded 119.5 rushing yards per game and 4.1 yards per carry. Also, this is a consistent fantasy stud who has always delivered when healthy.
Patience pays off. Just ask anyone who stayed the course with Todd Gurley.
One of two teams saddled with a Week 4 bye, the Tennessee Titans will return from an early rest to face the Buffalo Bills. What was supposed to be a dreadful matchup for passing offenses suddenly is advantageous; Buffalo has allowed the third-most ESPN.com fantasy points to wide receivers this season.
Had the Titans played last weekend, Kendall Wright would have received a bright spotlight. The wide receiver caught seven passes for 95 yards and a score against the Colts in Week 3. A 13-yard run gave the 25-year-old his second 100-yard outing in three tries.
Along with leading the team in catches (13) and targets (20), Wright is making the most of his touches. Nerdy Football’s Cian Fahey pointed out his rising yards-per-catch rate:
Wright sandwiched two strong games with a 13-yard dud against the Cleveland Browns, so he hasn’t yet entered must-start territory. Still, given his prominent role in an offense improved by rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota, he’s worth playing in most situations.
With the Bills allowing gains through the air, even if it amounts to volume rather than inefficiency, he’s a strong No. 3 wide receiver or flex play, especially in PPR leagues.
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