What a great week of football. Each week this column will analyze a player at each position rostered in 50 percent of Yahoo leagues or less. For reference, the threshold used for Wins and Losses in this article will be if the quarterbacks can score at least 17 points, if the tight ends can score at least eight PPR points, and if the rest can score at least 10 PPR points. Here are the Week 5 streamers.
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Week 5 Streamers: C.J. Stroud, Jaleel McLaughlin, and More!
Week 4 Recap
Quarterback
- C.J. Stroud (HOU) v PIT – 24.84 points – W
- Matthew Stafford (LAR) @ IND – 20.16 points – W
- Baker Mayfield (TB) @ NO – 23.94 points – W
- Totals – Week: 3-0 / Year: 8-4
Running Back
- De’Von Achane (MIA) @ BUF – 30.00 points – W
- Matt Breida (NYG) v SEA – 12.80 points – W
- Roschon Johnson (CHI) v DEN – 2.50 points – L
- Totals – Week: 2-1 / Year: 7-5
Wide Receiver
- Joshua Palmer (LAC) v LV – 10.70 points – W
- Adam Thielen (CAR) v MIN – 15.20 points – W
- Tank Dell (HOU) v PIT – 3.90 points – L
- Totals – Week: 2-1 / Year: 6-6
Tight End
- Luke Musgrave (GB) v DET – 1.10 points – L
- Jake Ferguson (DAL) v NE – 14.70 points – W
- Dalton Schultz (HOU) v PIT – 13.20 points – W
- Totals – Week: 2-1 / Year: 5-7
- Grand Totals – Week: 9-3 / Year: 26-22
Week 5 Streamers
Quarterback – C.J. Stroud (HOU – 47%) @ ATL
That makes three great games for C.J. Stroud if you’re counting at home. In that span, he’s scored at least 20 fantasy points in all three and is averaging 23.3 fantasy points per game. Stroud has thrown at least 280 yards and two scores in all three without an interception. Those are great numbers for any quarterback, let alone a guy making his second, third, and fourth start in the NFL. He certainly looks like the real deal right now.
Stroud is currently on pace for 5,151 passing yards which would shatter Andrew Luck’s rookie record of 4,374. It’s hard not to be impressed with the rookie out of Ohio State. This week he gets a nice matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta is a mediocre secondary and defense in general so Stroud should be able to keep the good times going. They will be playing in a dome which is a nice boost to passing offenses as well and the Houston Texans have shown the willingness to let him drop back to pass early and often. Stroud is not only one of the best Week 5 streamers out there, but also a guy to grab and hold onto long-term to see if he can continue what he’s been doing.
C.J. Stroud through four games: 94-of-151, 1,212 passing yards, 6 TD, 0 INT.
That’s the second-most passing yards by a QB through 4 starts in NFL history.
And the third-longest streak without an interception to begin a career in NFL history.
The @HoustonTexans got a baller. pic.twitter.com/6Z8DL9F28r
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 1, 2023
Honorable Mentions – Matthew Stafford (LAR – 50%) v PHI, Sam Howell (WAS – 18%) v CHI
Running Back – Jaleel McLaughlin (DEN – 3%) v NYJ
It feels like a bit of a light week on the waiver wire in Week 5 at running back, which is probably a good thing since it means not as many guys got hurt. On the other hand, if you are a fantasy manager in need of running back help, that might not be so good. One guy that is out there in a majority of leagues that can help this week is Jaleel McLaughlin of the Denver Broncos.
Unfortunately, Javonte Williams did get hurt and is likely to miss this week (and possibly more). Samaje Perine looks completely washed up at this point so enter McLaughlin. He had some buzz in the preseason that he was making plays and showed that again this week turning his seven carries into 72 rushing yards. McLaughlin also caught all three of his targets for another 32 yards and a score. Hopefully, Sean Payton gives him more work than Perine moving forward as he’s clearly more explosive right now. The matchup against the New York Jets is not great but not one to fear either. On a week where the wire looks slim, McLaughlin looks like one of the better Week 5 streamers at running back.
Honorable Mentions – Devin Singletary (HOU – 15%) @ ATL, Justice Hill (BAL – 36%) @ PIT
Wide Receiver – Michael Wilson (ARI – 2%) v CIN
From one sleeper with preseason buzz to another, Michael Wilson is coming on strong right now. Wilson got even more buzz than McLaughlin did in the preseason as a late-round sleeper and best ball pick after the Arizona Cardinals drafted him in the third round of the NFL draft this year. It seemed likely that he would play from the start considering he’s the only wide receiver on their team that offers prototypical size.
That’s exactly what has happened so far as Wilson is second on the team with a 75% route participation behind only Marquise Brown among their wide receivers. He’s producing as well with a solid 17% TPRR and 14% target share. Even more encouraging is the 29% air yards share. Those numbers trail only Brown as well among their wide receivers. This past week it finally came together for a big game as Wilson caught all seven of his targets for 76 yards and two touchdowns on his way to 26.60 fantasy points. He’s now scored at least 8.60 fantasy points and recorded at least 50 receiving yards in three straight games.
This week he gets to take on the Cincinnati Bengals. The Cardinals are projected to be trailing and throwing often which makes Wilson one of the better Week 5 streamers.
Rookies with 50+ routes and 2+ yards per route run heading into today:
Puka Nacua
Tank Dell
*Michael Wilson*(Jayden Reed was at 1.97, Zay Flowers was at 1.94.)
— Adam Harstad (@AdamHarstad) October 1, 2023
Honorable Mentions – Tyler Boyd (CIN – 37%) @ ARI, Jayden Reed (GB – 24%) @ LV
Tight End – Dalton Schultz (HOU – 36%) @ ATL
Per usual, the tight end position remains as gross as it ever was. Heading into the season, Dalton Schultz was expected to be a top-12 guy with a safe weekly floor. As previously mentioned, rookie C.J. Stroud has played even better than anyone could have expected as well. Still, Schultz’s roster rate has only dropped after three straight dud performances to start the season.
He finally got it going this week by catching three passes for 42 yards and a touchdown. The touchdown was his first of the season and the yards were a season-high to this point. It would be nice to see the target share tick up a bit but as of now, it’s fine for a tight end. This week he gets a nice matchup against the Falcons who are not a good defense. They have also allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to tight ends so far in 2023. Add it all up and Dalton Schultz looks like one of the better Week 5 streamers.
Honorable Mentions – Hayden Hurst (CAR – 18%) @ DET, Zach Ertz (ARI – 26%) v CIN
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Main Photo: Troy Taomina – USA Today Sports
