Joe’s Week 5 Notes & Observations

In case you have not noticed, most of the players highlighted are most likely the names that will end of on this week’s Waiver Wire piece.

Here are my notes and observations from Week 5:

Power 5 Notes

• Virginia Tech QB Ryan Willis has not accounted for more than 1 TD in two straight games (Furman & Duke).
• Duke RB Deon Jackson totaled over 100 yards for the first time this year and scored two touchdowns in the win over Virginia Tech.  TE Noah Gray has caught at least five passes in every game this year.  QB Quentin Harris has accounted for at least 3 TDs in three straight games and has rushed for 100 yards in back-to-back games.
• After Maryland’s 59-0 loss at home to Penn State, it seems RB Anthony McFarland will only be a matchup play moving forward.
• Penn State RB Journey Brown had 2 TDs, but only 7 touches.  Four different RBs carried the ball at least five times against Maryland.  WR KJ Hamler posted his second 100-yard receiving game of the season.
• Arizona State WR Brandon Aiyuk has 3 games this season with at least 90 yards receiving, but finished Saturday’s game at Cal with only 21 yards.  RB Eno Benjamin’s single-game high rushing total this year is 102 yards, but he has satisfied his fantasy owners over the past two weeks by scoring 5 TDs.
• Cal RB Chris Brown finished Saturday’s game against ASU with 18 carries, compared to 9 nine for teammate Marcel Dancy, but the loss of QB Chase Garbers to a shoulder injury clouds that offenses fantasy future.
• I had a feeling Syracuse Taj Harris would find the end zone against Holy Cross, which is why he made onto the Deep Sleepers list.  QB Tommy DeVito has accounted for at least 3 TDs in three of five games this year.  I am also seeing Moe Neal on a lot of rosters that come in looking for advice.  He has rushed for fewer than 50 yards in three of five games and I am not confident he will be consistent moving forward.TE Aaron Hackett has caught in back-to-back games.
• I wouldn’t want any part of the Texas Tech offense right now without QB Alan Bowman.  Consistency will be an issue, but if I’m holding on to one player right now, it would be WR TJ Vasher, who has at least 70 yards receiving in three of four games.
• How dominant has Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts been?  National rankings:  19th in passing yards; 1st in yards per attempt; 23rd in rushing yards; 3rd in yards per carry.  He has accounted for at least 3 TDs in every game this year and has accounted for at least 4 TDs three times.  WR CeeDee Lamb has caught a TD pass in every games this year.  Teammate Charleston Rambo has scored in three of four games and leads the team with three 100-yard receiving games.
• A couple of weeks ago, it was rumored that Michigan RB Zach Charbonnet had an injury.  After his 33-carry game against Army, the freshman back only has eight touches in two games.  The Michigan staff has been quiet, but the numbers paint the picture. WR Ronnie Bell has yet to catch a TD pass, but he does have three straight 80-yard receiving games.
• Numbers are also telling us the Northwestern RB Isaiah Bowser isn’t recovered from his knee injury.  Since his return in Week 4, Bowser has 19 carries for 49 yards, while teammate Drake Anderson has carried the ball at least 16 times and scored a TD in three straight games.
• He may not be the best option available on your waiver wire, but Emmanuel Esukpa looks like the new No. 1 RB at BYU with Ty’Son Williams out for the year.  WR Aleva Hifo has at least 87 receiving yards in two consecutive games.
• Vanderbilt WR Kalija Lipscomb has now scored in back-to-back games.  RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn has rushed for at least 130 yards in back-to-back games. TE Jared Pinkney has yet to score in 2019 after catching 7 TD passes in 2018.
• After losing RB Jashaun Corbin for the season, Texas A&M seems to have lost their running game.  
• Arkansas WR Trey Knox was a late scratch on Saturday and I do not have any insight. RB Rakeem Boyd has rushed for at least 89 yards in four of five games.
• Thank goodness TCU WR Jalen Reagor returned a punt for a TD yesterday.  His owners are not getting anything from him offensively.  I couldn’t blame anyone for moving on, but after watching that PR touchdown, it’s quite obvious that he’s so underutilized in that offense.  RB Darius Anderson has rushed for over 100 yards and scored at least one TD in three straight games.
• We found out about an hour before kickoff that Pitt QB Kenney Pickett and RB AJ Davis would not play against Delaware.  Not only did Pickett not playing hurt my predictions for Maurice Ffrench this week, but it almost cost Pitt the game.  WR Taysir Mack has two 100-yard receiving games in the past three weeks.
• Clemson RB Travis Etienne has not rushed for more than 76 yards in four consecutive games.  Don’t be surprised to see him ranked much lower in Week 6.  
• UNC WR Dyami Brown has now scored in four of five games this season.  QB Sam Howell has thrown at least 2 TD passes in each of the Tar Heels’ first five games.
• Wake Forest WR Sage Surratt has his lowest yardage total of the season (31), but extended his scoring streak to five games.  Teammate Scotty Washington has topped the 90-yard mark in three of the last four games and has scored in four of five games.
• After looking like Wake’s best back over the past couple of games, Kenneth Walker only got 2 carries against Boston College.  Cade Carney only had 58 yards on 24 carries.
• Boston College RB AJ Dillon rushed for a season-high 159 yards, but was kept out of the end zone for the first time this year.  RB Davi Bailey threw a TD pass, ran for a TD, and caught a TD in the Eagles 27-24 home loss to Wake Forest.
• Indiana QB Michel Penix was impressive in his return the lineup.  Penix had his most impressive game of the season against one of the tougher defenses in the country.  H was 33-of-42 for 286 yards and 3 TDs in a 40-31 loss at Michigan State.  RB Stevie Scott is still looking for his first 100-yard rushing game of the season.
• Michigan State WR Darrell Stewart has recorded three 100-yard receiving games in the last four weeks.  RB Elijah Collins has scored in three straight games.
• I was high on Purdue freshman WR David Bell and he caught eight passes for 114 yards against Minnesota.  However, the biggest news to come out of the Boilermakers’ Week 5 loss was the knee injury to WR Rondale Moore.  I’m sure we will find out the extent of his injury sometime in the next 24 hours.  Also, QB Elijah Sindelar left with an injury, too.
• USC WR Michael Pittman has caught a TD pass in three straight games and has established himself as the team’s top fantasy receiver.
• Washington RB Salvon Ahmed carried the ball 17 times for 153 yards and a TD in the Huskies’ 28-14 win over USC.  There is no doubt in my mind that Ahmed is available in a few leagues with owners that could no longer wait for him to produce.
• Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa has thrown at least 5 TD passes in three straight games.  I just want to type Devonta Smith’s Week 5 stat line because you may not see these numbers for quite some time:  11 receptions, 274 yards, and 5 TDs.
• That Baylor-ISU game opened up a lot later than I was anticipating.  It was a relief to see QBs Brewer and Purdy combine for 5 TDs given the game was 0-0 for 29 minutes.  Baylor WR Denzel Mims has topped the 100-yard mark in three consecutive games.  
• I’m not ready to get back on Notre Dame RB Tony Jones after his 100-yard rushing game against Virginia, but if you need RB help, you could do worse.
• Virginia WR Joe Reed has now caught a TD pass in four straight games. 
• Oklahoma State RB Chuba Hubbard is the nation’s leading rusher by 284 yards, has three 200-yard rushing games, and has scored in every game this season.  WR Tylan Wallace recorded his third 100-yard receiving game of 2019, but has not scored in back-to-back weeks.
• Kansas State RB James Gilbert has scored in two of three games, but after starting the season with back-to-back 100-yard rushing games, he has 103 yards combined yards over the last two games.
• Stanford RB Cameron Scarlett has rushed for at least 80 yards in four of five games and totaled over 100 yards of offense three times, but has only scored one TD this season.
• WR Michael Wilson has caught a TD pass in three of Stanford’s first four games.
• Oregon State RB Artavis Pierce carried the ball 16 times for 141 yards and 2 TDs against Stanford.  Teammate Jermar Jefferson only carried the ball 4 times for 17 yards.  In my opinion, either one of two things are going on with Jefferson:  1.  He’s going to be nagged by an injury and Pierce will carry the load for a bit.  2.  Jefferson returned too late to be ready for the matchup.  Best guess, #1.
• Mississippi Sttae QB Garrett Shrader has rushed for at least 80 yards in three straight games.  
• Auburn RB JaTarvious Whitlow has scored a rushing TD in four straight games and has 7 TDs through 5 games.  Last year, he only scored 5 touchdowns.  WR Seth Williams nearly matched his season totals in the Tigers’ 56-23 win against Mississippi State.  Williams’ stats before the game:  9 rec., 128 yards, 2 TD.  Williams’ stats against MSU:  8 rec., 161 yards, 2 TD.
• NC State made a switch at QB from Matt McKay to Bailey Hockman early in their game at Florida State.  Hockman finished 21-of-40 for 208 yards and a TD.
• Florida State RB Cam Akers continued his scoring streak with a rushing TD against NC State.  Akers has scored in all five games this year.  WR Tamarrion Terry still doesn’t have a 100-yard receiving game, but has scored in three of five games.
• Ohio State RB JK Dobbins failed to score for the first time this season, but he rushed for 177 yards in the Buckeyes’ 48-7 win at Nebraska.  Dobbins has topped the 140-yard rushing mark three times this season.  WR KJ Hill caught a TD pass in his fourth straight game.
• Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez threw for a season-low 47 yards in the Cornhuskers’ 48-7 loss to Ohio State.  RB Dedrick Mills scored for the third straight game and has scored in four of the team’s first 5 games.
• Devonta’e Henry-Cole carried the ball 15 times for 79 yards against Washington State and it seems as if he will be the Utes’ top back until Zack Moss returns.
• Arizona QB Khalil Tate put a lot of his owners in a tough spot this past weekend.  Shortly before kickoff, we learned that Tate and RB JJ Taylor were not playing against UCLA.  As the last P5 game of the weekend, many owners were stuck taking a zero for Tate’s scratch.  
• I predicted on last week’s podcast that we were about to see the Joshua Kelley of 2018.  I think we started to see in Week 4 at Washington State, but a 27-carry game at Arizona put a stamp on that prediction.  

Group 5 Notes

• When Memphis RB Patrick Taylor returns from injury, don’t get off the Kenneth Gainwell bandwagon. Remember what Taylor and Henderson did in 2018.  Gainwell will have fantasy value when Taylor returns.  WR Damonte Coxie caught his first TD of the year against Navy, but teammate Antonio Gibson has caught a TD pass in three different games.  
• Navy QB Malcolm Perry has accounted for 9 TDs in the past two games (3 pass, 6 rush).
• Air Force WR Geraud Sanders has caught at least four passes and scored in three straight games.
• If you want someone to add onto your watchlist, take a look at Miami (OH) Jaylon Bester.  He had not received a touch since the Red Hawks Week 1 matchup at Iowa.  On Saturday, he carried the ball 24 times for 107 yards and a TD.  I was high on Bester in the preseason as one of the team’s top backs, but he fell off my radar.
• Toledo WR Bryce Mitchell has at least 50 yards receiving in each of the Rocket’s first four games.  RB Bryant Koback only has one 100-yard rushing game, but has scored in every game this season.
• Central Michigan WR Kalil Pimpleton has caught at least six passes in 4 of 5 games.  RB Jonathan Ward returned from injury and carried the ball 19 times for 107 yards, and his return should cause owners to cut bait with Kobe Lewis.  
• Northern Illinois WR Spencer Tears has two 100-yard receiving games, but he has only caught more than three passes in a game one time.  
• Temple RB Re’Mahn Davis carried the ball 29 times for 135 yards and 2 TDs in the Owls’ 24-2 win over Georgia Tech.  I am not ready to publish Davis’ name on the waiver wire, as this was the first game he finished with more carries than teammate Jager Gardner.  
• Appalachian State RB Darrynton Evans has rushed for at least two TDs in three straight games.
• FAU WR John Mitchell has at least four receptions and 70 yards receiving in three straight games.
• SMU RB Xavier Jones has three 100-yard rushing games, has scored in each of the Mustangs’ first five games, has four multiple-TD games, and has clearly established himself as one of the top fantasy backs through the first half of the 2019 season.  WR James Proche has caught a TD pass in four consecutive games.  
• Blake Barnett led South Florida to three second-half TDs when the game was out of hand, but honestly, he looks better than Jordan McCloud, who started his second game.  HC Charlie Strong stated that McCloud is still their guy, but we’ll see what next week brings at UConn.  That game may be one of only two games remaining on the Bulls’ schedule in which they might be favored.
• Cincinnati scored 52 points, and not only did RB Michael Warren not score, but he only rushed for 42 yards.  TE Josiah Deguara has caught a TD pass in three of four games.
• Louisiana RB Trey Ragas has scored in every game this season and teammate Elijah Mitchell has three consecutive multiple-TD games.  WR Ja’Marcus Bradley only had 2 catches against Georgia Southern, but has scored in three of his last four games.
• Over the last three games, Liberty RB Joshua Mack has been more consistent than teammate Frankie Hickson.  WR Antonion Gandy-Golden has four 100-yard receiving games this season and has three consecutive games of 140-plus receiving yards.  
• Arkansas State QB Layne Hatcher will be the most sought after player on this week’s waiver wire.  In a 50-43 win at Troy, Hatcher completed 25-of-35 passes for 440 yards and 4 TDs.  When the 2018 CFB season started, Hatcher, Jalen Hurts, and Tua Tagovailoa were all on the Alabama roster.  After five weeks, WR Omar Bayless leads the nation with 689 receiving yards.  WR Kirk Merritt has scored 2 TDs in consecutive games.   
• Troy QB Kaleb Barker has accounted for 4 TDs in three consecutive games, RB DK Billingsley has run for 100 yards in back-to-back games, WR Kaylon Geigor has scored in three of four, and WR Khalil McClain has scored in three consecutive games.  
• Louisiana Tech RB Justin Henderson has now scored in three of his last four games.
• South Alabama WR Kawaan Baker has only caught 2 passes in each of the Jaguars’ last four games.  
• UL Monroe Josh Pederson has a TD reception in three straight games.  RB Josh Johnson’s scoring streak was snapped but he still topped the 90-yard mark for the third time this season.
• Southern Miss RB De’Michael Harris was listed on Friday’s Deep Sleepers and totaled 142 yards and scored 2 TDs in the Golden eagles’ 31-13 win over UTEP.  WR Jordan Mitchell has caught a TD pass in three of the last four games.
• UCF WR Gabriel Davis has scored in four of five games and has three multiple-TD games.  
• UAB RB Spencer Brown is still looking for his first 100-yard rushing game of 2019, but he did find the end zone for a second consecutive game this past Saturday.  QB Tyler Johnston threw 4 INTS in the 20-13 loss at Western Kentucky. 
• Ty Storey has taken over at quarterback for Western Kentucky and threw 2 TDs in the Hilltoppers’ win against UAB.  WR Jahcour Pearson has caught a TD pass in three consecutive games. 
• Colorado State RB Marvin Kinsey, who was listed as doubtful earlier in the week, carried the ball 22 times for 70 yards against Utah State.  Kinsey has now scored in four straight games.  WR Nate Craig-Myers has at least 85 receiving yards in both games in which he has played.  
• RB Gerold Bright carried the ball 36 times for 179 yards in Utah State’s 34-24 win over Colorado State.  Teammate Jaylen Warren suffered an injury an only carried the ball five times for 15 yards.  WR Deven Thompkins has caught a TD pass in three of four games.
• Fresno State had a really good matchup against New Mexico State and QB Jorge Reyna did not account for a single TD.
• WR Tony Nicholson has caught at least 6 passes in four of five games and has now scored in back-to-back weeks.
• It was nice to see Wyoming RB Xazavian Valladay found the end zone two times against UNLV, but take note of the freshman Titus Swen, who carried the ball 14 times for 136 yards and a TD.
• Clayton Tune has taken over at quarterback for Houston and led the Cougars to a 46-25 win at North Texas.  RB Patrick Carr is incredibly more valuable with D’Eriq King sitting out the remainder of the year.  Against the Mean Green, Carr ran the ball 16 times for 139 yards and 3 TDs.
• North Texas WR Michael Lawrence has caught at least five passes in three of the past four games.  Teammate Jyaire Shorter caught a TD pass in his third consecutive game and RB Tre Siggers has rushed for at least 80 yards in four consecutive games.
• Hawaii WR Cedric Byrd has now caught a TD passion four of the team’s first five games.  QB Cole McDonald has thrown at least 4 TD passes in four of five games.