Joe’s Week 5 Notes & Observations

Power 5

Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten has rushed for at least 100 yards in each of the Hokies’ last four games.
Miami QB Cam Ward has accounted for at least 3 TDs in tall five games this season, but RB Damien Martinez’s fantasy appeal has taken a hit, as he has not rushed for more than 65 yards in four games against FBS opponents this year. TE Elijah Arroyo has caught a TD pass in three of the Hurricanes’ last four games.
Rutgers RB Kyle Monangai is averaging 26 rush attempts in games against FBS opponents and 147.3 rushing yards per game on the season.
Washington WR Denzel Boston has posted at least 120 receiving yards in each of the last two games and has caught at least one TD passe in four of five games this year.
Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr. has caught a TD pass in three of the Hoosiers’ last four games.
Syracuse QB Kyle McCord has thrown 4 TD passes in three of four games this year.
NC State WR KC Concepcion has not topped 53 yards receiving in four games against FBS opponents this year.
BYU WR Darius Lassiter has caught a TD pass in four consecutive games.
It took five games for Kansas State QB Avery Johnson to cash in a rushing TD, and he did so twice in the Wildcats’ 42-20 win over Oklahoma State.
Last year, Oklahoma State RB Ollie Gordon II totaled 1,39 scrimmage yards 21 TDs in 13 games. Through five games this year, he has 414 scrimmage yards and 4 TDs, and three of his four TDs were in Week 1 against South Dakota State. WR De’Zahn Stribling has posted two 150-yard receiving games in the last three weeks.
Michigan RB Kalel Mullings has rushed for over 100 yards and scored 2 TDs in three consecutive games.
Minnesota RB Darius Taylor only had 36 rushing yards against Michigan, but he scored 2 TDs and led the team with 10 receptions.
Ole Miss RB Henry Parrish Jr. has scored a rushing TD in four consecutive games, while WR Tre Harris has caught at least 10 passes in three consecutive games and is averaging 160.8 receiving yards per game.
UCF RB RJ Harvey led the Knights in rushing and receiving against Colorado, totaling 169 scrimmage yards, which included a 75-yard TD reception. His 10 TDs in 2024 is tied for second in the FBS with Tennessee RB Dylan Sampson.
TCU RB Cam Cook has yet to post a 100-yard rushing game, but he has scored at least one TD in four of five games this season. In four games against FBS opponents, WR Jack Bech is averaging 159.0 receiving yards per game and has totaled 6 TDs. WR Eric McAlister now seems like a better fantasy option than Savion Williams after back-to-back 100-yard performances and catching TD pass in three consecutive games. QB Josh hoover has thrown at least 3 TD passes in three consecutive games and has passed for at least 350 yards against all four FBS opponents this season.
Kansas RB Devin Neal was held under 100 yards rushing for the first time this season against TCU. WR Luke Grimm has caught a TD pass in four of five games this season.
Wake Forest RB Demond Claiborne has scored a rushing TD in three of four games this season.
Arkansas RB Ja’Quinden Jackson was held to a season-low 37 rushing yards in Saturday’s loss at Texas A&M, but he did score a rushing TD in his fifth consecutive game this season.
Texas A&M RB Le’Veon Moss is averaging 105.7 rushing yards per game over the last three games, but he has not scored a TD since the Aggies’ Week 2 win over McNeese. QB Marcel Reed has accounted for at lest 3 TDs in two of three starts this year.
As I mentioned on last week’s show, Oklahoma’s defense is going to keep them in games this season, and they were the reason they pulled out a win at Auburn. Again, the QB position is the only solid fantasy option on the Sooners’ roster right now. Right now that is Michael Hawkins, but I’m not sure he’s any better a fantasy option than was Jackson Arnold. I guess we’ll learn more about Hawkins when OU plays Texas in two weeks.
Auburn WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith has caught a TD pass in four of five games this season, and we can only wonder how good his numbers might look if Auburn gets improved quarterback play.
Louisville WR Ja’Corey Brooks has caught a TD pass in three of four games this season. WR Caullin Lacy made his season debut against Notre Dame and caught 5 passes for 71 yards against the Irish.
Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love has scored a rushing TD in all five games this season and QB Riley Leonard has rushed for 7 TDs in the last four games and he has only thrown 3 TD passes in five games this year.
USC WR Ja’Kobi Lane has caught a TD pass in three of the Trojans’ first four games.
North Carolina TE Bryson Nesbit has caught a TD pass in three of there Tar Heels’ last four games.
Duke RB Star Thomas has averaged 133 rushing yards and scored 4 TDs in the last three games.
Iowa State RB Abu Sama finished with 111 rushing yards and a TD in the Cyclones’ 20-0 win at Houston. I am still not convinced Sama is worthy fantasy option. Before his 77-yard TD run with 5 minutes to play, Sama only had 24 rushing yards on 10 attempts. WR Jayden Higgins has caught a TD pass in each of the Cyclones’ first four games of the season.
Clemson QB Cade Klubnik continues to roll, as he totaled 5 TDs (1 rush) in Saturday’s win over Stanford. He has totaled 16 TDs (4 rush) in the Tigers’ last three games. RB Phil Mafah has not carried the ball more than 10 times in a game since Clemson’s season opener against Georgia.
Penn State RB Nicholas Singleton has scored a TD in all four games this season.
Ohio State freshman WR Jeremiah Smith extended his scoring streak to four games, as he scored a rushing TD and receiving TD against Michigan State. WR Emeka Egbuka has caught a TD pass in back-to-back games and QB Will Howard has totaled at least 3 TDs in three of four games this year.
Alabama freshman WR Ryan Williams’ game-winning TD catch against Georgia was a highlight reel moment, and that TD extended his scoring streak to four games. It’s incredible to see a 17-year old kid look so dynamic against some of college football’s best. QB Jalen Milroe has accounted for at least 4 TDs in every game this season. He is also the Tide’s leading rusher with 273 yards and 8 TDs on the ground, and in my opinion the Heisman front-runner at the moment.
LSU RB Caden Durham has scored 5 TDs in the last three games despite only averaging 9.7 touches per game during that stretch. Aaron Anderson has been a consistent WR2 for the Tigers, catching at least 5 passes in every game this season. RB Josh Williams has scored a rushing TD in three consecutive games.
Cincinnati RB Corey Kiner suffered an injury to his midsection in the first quarter of Saturday’s game at Texas Tech and did not return.
Texas Tech RB Tahj Brooks has rushed for 100-plus yards in all four games in which he has played this season.
SMU RB Brashard Smith has scored at least 1 TD in four of five games this year and has run for over 100 yards in three of the last four.
Florida State QB DJ Uiagalelei has thrown 6 INTs this year in five games. He only threw 7 INTs at Clemson in 2022 and 7 INTs at Oregon State in 2023.
Washington State WR Kyle Williams has caught a TD pass in four of five games this year and his three 100-yard receiving games were against three G5 schools. The Cougars only have one more game remaining against a P5 school (Oregon State).
So much was made of Evan Stewart’s transfer from Texas A&M to Oregon, but after four games, Treason Holden has been the second-best fantasy receiver one the Ducks’ roster. WR Tez Johnson has been targeted at least 9 times in three of the Ducks’ first four games.

Group 5

Army QB Bryson Dailey has rushed for 3 TDs in consecutive weeks, has rushed for 2 TDs in three of four weeks, and is averaging 123.0 rushing yards per game.
Temple WR Dante Wright has posted at least 98 receiving yards and a TD in four consecutive games.
In four games this year, Navy QB Blake Horvath has accounted for 12 TDs (7 rush) and totaled 366 rush yards.
It was nice to see UAB RB Lee Beebe get on the scoresheet against Navy. UAB hasn’t looked, but I would still be holding Beebe.
Tulane RB Makhi Hughes has scored at least one TD in each of the Green Wave’s first five games.
USF QB Byrum Brown’s three toughest defensive games are behind him. It should be clear sailing from Week 6 on.
Western Kentucky WR Kisean Johnson has caught at least 6 passes in four consecutive games and has caught a TD pass in three consecutive games.
Northern Illinois RB Antario Brown is averaging 24 rush attempts per game against FBS opponents.
James Madison QB Alonza Barnett III has accounted for 13 TDs (3 rush) in his last two games and is a must-add if available on the waiver wire. WR Omarion Dollison has caught a TD pass in all three consecutive games.
Texas State QB Jordan McCloud has accounted for at least 3 TDs in all four games this season. RB Ismail Mahdi scored at least 1 offensive TD in eight of twelve games last year, but only has one offensive TD through four games this season.
Sam Houston State RB Jay Ducker has scored 4 TDs in the last two games and had a 148-yard rushing performance three weeks ago. He looks like a decent waiver option if you need RB depth, especially with the 4-1 Bearkats looking much improved in 2024.
Georgia State WR Ted Hurst has posted back-to-back 100-yard receiving games and has caught a TD pass in three consecutive games.
Marshall WR Christian Fitzpatrick has caught a TD pass in three of four games this year, and his one scoring blank was against Ohio State.
In the absence of Jalen Buckley, Western Michigan RB Jalen Nixon has totaled 335 rushing yards and 3 TDs in the last two games.
UMass WR Jakobie Keeney-James has totaled at least 90 receiving yards and scored a TD in three of his last four games.
Eastern Michigan RB Delbert Mimms III has scored a rushing TD in four of five games this season, and in Saturday’s win over Kent State, he topped the 100-yard mark for the first time this season.
Kent State WR Chrishon McCray has caught a TD pass in three of four games this season, with his lone scoring blank on the road at Tennessee.
UNLV QB Hajj-Malik Williams has already made us forget about Matthew Sluka after the Rebels’ 59-14 win over Fresno State, and the quarterback change seems to have benefited WR Ricky White III, who caught 10 passes for 127 yards and 2 TDs. Williams threw 3 TD passes and ran for 119 yards and a TD.
Louisiana QB Ben Wooldridge has accounted for at least 3 TDs in three of four games this season and has totaled 8 TDs (3 rush) in the last two games.
In his last three games, Bowling Green TE Harold Fannin has averaged 10.3 receptions, 156.7 receiving yards, and has scored 4 TDs.
FIU WR Eric Rivers has caught a TD pass in three of the Panthers’ last four games and has totaled at least 97 receiving yards in three consecutive games.
FAU RB CJ Campbell Jr. has scored 5 rushing TDs in the Owls’ last three games.
Louisiana Monroe RB Ahmad Hardy has scored a rushing TD in three of four games and has two 100-yard rushing performance this year.
North Texas QB Chandler Morris has accounted for 4 or more TDs in three of five games this year.
Rice WR Matt Sykes has been targeted at least 11 times in each of the Owls’ last two games.
Memphis RB Mario Anderson Jr. has three multiple-TD games this season and has rushed for 100-plus yards in three of the last four game. Last year, QB Seth Henigan threw 32 TD passes, but through five games this season, he has only thrown 7 TD passes. As a team, Memphis has scored 14 rushing TDs and 7 passing TDs.
Note that Air Force RB Dylan Carson made his return in Week 5 against Wyoming.
Boise State TE Matt Lauter has caught 11 passes for 187 yards and 3 TDs in the Broncos’ last two games. RB Ashton Jeanty continues to roll, posting another 100-yard game and running his FBS-leading TD total to 13. Jeanty is averaging 211.3 rushing yards per game through four games, and because of the 12-game schedule, could make a legitimate run at Barry Sanders’ single-season records of 2,628 rushing yards and 37 rushing TDs.

If streaming DST, here are some Week 6 schools to consider:

Sam Houston St. @ UTEP
Jacksonville St. v Kennesaw St.
Tulane @ UAB
Indiana @ Northwestern
James Madison @ UL Monroe
Iowa St. v Baylor