We’re five weeks into the season with more teams enjoying bye weeks including the Bucs and Bears. After Ezekiel Elliott and both Alvin Kamara erupted for 30-plus points last week, who will
breakout in this week?
Here are Jordan Goethe’s rankings.
QUARTERBACKS
1) Ben Roethlisberger vs Atl
2) Matt Ryan vs Pit
3) Cam Newton vs NYG
4) Phillip Rivers vs Oak
5) Drew Brees vs Wsh
6) Aaron Rodgers vs Det
7) Jared Goff vs Sea
8) Patrick Mahomes vs Jax
9) DeShaun Watson vs Dal
10) Carson Wentz vs Min
11) Kirk Cousins vs Phi
12) Mathew Stafford vs GB
13) Andy Dalton vs Mia
14) Alex Smith vs NO
15) Blake Bortles vs KC
16) Derek Carr vs LAC
17) Russell Wilson vs LAR
18) Marcus Mariota vs Buf
19) Ryan Tannehill vs Cin
20) Dak Prescott vs Hou
— I never would have thought going into season that at some point both Ben Roethlisberger and Matt Ryan would be No. 1 and 2 in my weekly rankings, but here they are. This game has the makings of a shootout with both teams struggling on defense side.
— I’ve had Jared Goff ranked pretty high throughout the year so far, but after his fantastic performance vs the Vikings last Thursday, Goff is a top-10 play for the rest of the season.
— Patrick Mahomes will finally get his first real test this weekend as he takes his No. 1 offense in the league against the No. 1 defense in the Jaguars.
RUNNING BACKS
1) Todd Gurley vs Sea
2) Alvin Kamara vs Wsh
3) Melvin Gordon vs Oak
4) Ezekiel Elliott vs Hou
5) Christian McCaffrey vs NYG
6) Saquon Barkley vs Car
7) James Connor vs Atl
8) David Johnson vs SF
9) Davonta Freeman vs Pit
10) Kareem Hunt vs Jax
11) Joe Mixon* vs Mia
12) Chris Thompson vs NO
13) TJ Yeldon* vs KC
14) Matt Breida* vs Ari
15) Carlos Hyde vs Bal
16) Dalvin Cook* vs Phi
17) LeSean McCoy vs Ten
18) Phillip Lindsay vs NYJ
19) Dion Lewis vs Buf
20) Mark Ingram II vs Wsh
21) Marshawn Lynch* vs LAC
22) Jay Ajayi vs Min
23) Kerryon Johnson vs GB
24) Kenyan Drake vs Cin
25) Alex Collins* vs Cle
26) Adrian Peterson* vs NO
27) Chris Carson* vs LAR
28) Aaron Jones vs Det
29) Tevin Coleman* vs Pit
30) Lamar Miller* vs Dal
31) Austin Ekeler vs Oak
32) Royce Freeman vs NYJ
33) Bilal Powell vs Den
34) Giovanni Bernard vs Mia
35) Alfred Morris vs Ari
36) Javorius Allen vs Cle
37) Isaiah Crowell vs Den
38) Derrick Henry vs Buf
39) Jamaal Williams vs Det
40) Nick Chubb vs Bal
— There are a lot of injuries this week to the runningback position, so hold off on any tough decisions until the final injury report comes out early Sunday morning. Guys like Joe Mixon and Devonta Freeman should return from their injury.
— Mark Ingram is finally coming back after his four-game suspension. Alvin Kamara owners are probably a little worried about his workload going forward. Don’t be. I believe it’s going to increase Kamara’s ability in both the passing and running game.
WIDE RECEIVER
1) Antonio Brown vs Atl
2) Michael Thomas vs Wsh
3) Julio Jones* vs Pit
4) DeAndre Hopkins* vs Dal
5) Adam Thielen vs Phi
6) Keenan Allen vs Oak
7) Ju-Ju Smith Schuster vs Atl
8) AJ Green vs Mia
9) Odell Beckham Jr. vs Car
10) Cooper Kupp vs Sea
11) Devante Adams vs Det
12) Golden Tate vs GB
13) Jarvis Landry* vs Bal
14) Stefon Diggs vs Phi
15) Brandin Cooks vs Sea
16) Kenny Golladay vs GB
17) Tyreek Hill vs Jax
18) Robert Woods vs Sea
19) Marvin Jones vs GB
20) Calvin Ridley vs Pit
21) Amari Cooper* vs LAC
22) Alshon Jeffrey* vs Min
23) Emmanuel Sanders vs NYJ
24) Tyler Boyd vs Mia
25) Doug Baldwin vs LAR
26) Will Fuller* vs Dal
27) John Brown vs Cle
28) Demaryius Thomas vs NYJ
29) Keelan Cole vs KC
30) Corey Davis* vs Buf
31) Nelson Agholor vs Min
32) Sterling Shepard* vs Car
33) Quincy Enunwa vs Den
34) Michael Crabtree vs Cle
35) Dede Westbrook vs KC
36) Kenny Stills vs Cin
37) Larry Fitzgerald* vs SF
38) Geronimo Allison* vs Det
39) Mike Williams vs Oak
40) Devin Funchess vs NYG
— Calvin Ridley owners should be pretty happy with his early season production, and I believe it
should continue. Defenses are going to continue to double-team Julio Jones, leaving Ridley more
looks down the field.
— I really like Marvin Jones’s matchup this week vs Green Bay. In the past, Jones performed well against his NFC North rival. Green Bay is still trying to figure out its secondary issues, and with Golden Tate and Kenny Golladay attracting a lot of attention over the middle, that should open up some more looks for Jones down field.
— I also really like the matchups for John Brown, Keelan Cole and Dede Westbrook. Brown has been one of the more consistent fantasy WRs this season. The game in Kansas City could turn into
a shootout, which means the Jaguars will have to rely heavily on their Dede Westbrook and
Keelan Cole.
TIGHT ENDS
1) Travis Kelce vs Jax
2) Zach Ertz vs Min
3) George Kittle vs Ari
4) Jared Cook vs LAC
5) Jordan Reed vs NO
6) Kyle Rudolph vs Phi
7) Jimmy Graham* vs Det
8) Vance McDonald vs Atl
9) David Njoku vs Bal
10) Ricky Seals-Jones vs SF
11) Austin Hooper vs Pit
12) Antonio Gates vs Oak
13) Austin Seferian-Jenkins vs KC
14) Tyler Kroft vs Mia
15) Nick Vannett vs Sea
16) Benjamin Watson vs Wsh
17) Charles Clay* vs Ten
18) Rhett Ellison vs Car
19) Ian Thomas vs NYG
20) Geoff Swaim vs Hou
— I love George Kittle going forward this season. If he stays healthy, I believe he has the potential to finish as a top three TE, or at least a top five.
— David Njoku has not performed well so far this season, but he should get more looks with Baker Mayfield now leading the way in Cleveland.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
1) Rams vs Sea
2) Ravens vs Cle
3) Titans vs Buf
4) Broncos vs NYJ
5) Panthers vs NYG
6) Cardinals vs SF
7) Jaguars vs KC
8) Chargers vs Oak
9) Browns vs Bal
10) Bengals vs Mia
11) Texans vs Dal
12) Vikings vs Phi
13) Jets vs Den
14) Eagles vs Min
15) Bills vs Titans
— Some streaming options I like are the Titans vs the Bills, Cardinals on the road vs the 49ers, and if you’re in a deeper league, maybe consider looking at the Jets.
KICKERS
1) Justin Tucker vs Cle
2) Matt Prater vs GB
3) Will Lutz vs Wsh
4) Harrison Butker vs Jax
5) Robbie Gould vs Ari
6) Matt Bryant vs Pit
7) Jake Elliott vs Min
8) Mason Crosby vs Det
9) Ryan Succop vs Buf
10) Chris Boswell vs Atl