Week 5 - Puff, Puff, Pass

Welcome to week 5 friends. My name is Josh ‘Smokey-Hell’ Nelson (@TNFF_Smokey) and this is “Puff Puff Pass,” my weekly start/sit article where I advise you on which players you should start and "puff" up the points in your starting line-up, or who you should sit and “pass” on down to your bench. Follow along every week to boost your knowledge and to gain an edge on your opponents.

Quarterbacks

DeShaun Watson (Houston Texans)

BoB is gone! Long live the BoB! Watson stands atop the ash heap of the Texans, looking at the tattered remains, and like a mighty Spartan warrior, throws this team on his back and makes it truly his. Who better to do that against than the Jacksonville Jaguars, who rank 25th in passing TDs allowed? My prediction of David Johnson doing well last week was a big whiff and I have little confidence in this run game being utilized properly. I think Watson beats the Jaguars through the air to the tune of 4 TDs.

Verdict - PUFF

Teddy Bridgewater (Carolina Panthers)

It’s finally starting to come together for this newly assembled offense - which was to be expected with so many new faces. Teddy has the ultimate matchup this week against the Atlanta Falcons, who are lucky there are no fans in the stands because they would be throwing just as much at this team as every QB that has faced them so far. I think Joe Brady schemes up some fun to highlight what this team can really do when opportunities are plentiful. Expect Teddy to smash with his receiving corps of YAC monsters.

Verdict - PUFF

Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills)

Yes, he was one of my Puffs last week. Yes, I was correct on my call of that. Yes, he is putting up numbers to put him in the fantasy MVP consideration. Yes, he plays Tennessee this week. Yes, they rank 1st in pass attempts allowed. Yes, they rank 2nd in plays allowed. Yes, they rank 4th in passing yards allowed. Yes, they rank 5th in yards allowed. My point is, there are few must start players in this league every week. Not all of us out there play in Superflex leagues and you might have better options to slot in at QB this week. Bold fade.

Verdict - PASS

Running (With The Devil) Backs

*RIP Eddie Van Halen*

Le’Veon Bell (New York Jets)

While we’re making bold calls, here’s another one for your eyeballs. Bell is coming off IR with a hamstring injury from Week 1, which would usually be something to be concerned with. Yet, placed within perspective of the apocalyptic dumpster fire that is the Jets, it’s one of my least concerns from a fantasy perspective. We know what Lev can be, and now that Darnold is not on the field, Bell is by far the most talented player on that offense and it should run through him. The Cardinals are a top 10 defense, yet rank 19th overall in both rushing attempts and rushing yards allowed. The Jets are going to need Bell to be the belle of the ball this fall y’all.

Verdict - PUFF

Jerick McKinnon (San Francisco 49ers) *WEEKLY WINNER*

Jet has been taking off! The long, painful wait for both Jerick, Kyle Shanahan, fantasy players and 49ers fans has finally paid off. Posting a TD every week, plus soaking up major touch volume and passing game involvement, McKinnon has been the kind of hot hand that Shanahan loves to ride. The Dolphins are surprisingly a top 10 defense, but they are bottom three in the league in rushing TDs allowed, giving McKinnon a juicy opportunity. I am predicting a two rushing TD performance, en route to San Fran laying a beat down on the Dolphins so bad, Tua comes in towards the end, starting his magical career with humiliation. The Dolphins Way.

Verdict – PUFF

Jonathon Taylor (Indianapolis Colts)

Don’t hear what I’m not saying, I love JT. I don’t love this matchup against the Browns, who are top 12 in run defense. Taylor is the undisputed RB1 in Indy, and the volume won’t be a concern as much as Cleveland’s improved defense. If Frank Reich is smart, he’ll scheme up ways for Rivers to win this game through the air, where the Brown’s defense is most vulnerable. If you have to play him (as I do in more than one spot) I can’t really hate on the decision. However, I am not expecting a huge game out of JT this week.

Verdict - PASS

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Wide Receivers

Robby Anderson (Carolina Panthers)

If you haven’t seen that Sweet Caroline video of the Carolina Panthers locker room last week, with Robby Anderson looking more out of place than Spongebob Squarepants in Casablanca, I highly recommend you do so. Well … maybe, after you put Robby in your starting lineup and finish reading this article. The coaching switch from Adam Gase in New York last year to his former college coach at Temple, Matt Rhule, has had a tremendous effect on Anderson’s fantasy output, as Gase escapees usually tend to have happen. I don’t play DFS personally, but I would imagine the Teddy/Robby stack would be an affordably attractive option in Week 5. Robby is on pace to finish as a WR1 in fantasy and should be able to keep that up against the Falcons.

Verdict – PUFF

Justin Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings)

After his breakout performance in Week 3, Jefferson posted a bonkers 25.75 yards per reception last week against Houston, showcasing what sort of floor we could possibly have with him. Seattle has been gifting blow-up games to WRs and this could be the type of matchup that vaults Jefferson into the offensive rookie of the year conversation. If Kirk Cousins can win this one with his accuracy through the air, delivering bombs to his gifted young receiver, Jefferson could be an underrated flex play this week.

Verdict - PUFF

Any Patriots Receiver (New England Patriots)

This is such a coward’s way out, but after what we saw Monday, I want no part of this receiver corps until Cam Newton is back. The Broncos are a bit banged up, but I’m avoiding this matchup for New England WRs.

Verdict - PASS

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Tight Ends

Cameron Brate (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

This is not a “Brady loves TEs'' narrative. This is an everyone else who can catch a pass is injured narrative. Brate has proven to be effective in this offense last season and when called upon last week when O.J. Howard went down, he caught a pass for 3 yards and a TD. Gronk is not the old Gronk anymore, and we should all know that by now as he is only averaging 3.5 targets per game. Is Brate going to put up a performance like Robert Tonyan did last week after I suggested starting him? Highly doubtful, but I think now is the time to grab him, especially in TE Premium leagues. He is likely free right now. Chicago has allowed either 65 yards or a TD to opponent’s TEs weekly. Look for Brate to hit at least one of those numbers.

Verdict - PUFF

Darren Fells (Houston Texans)

Another inexpensive DFS stack that could pay off big this week, Fells has a big opportunity with Jordan Akins still in the concussion protocol. Even with limited snaps, Fells boasts a 15.7% target share in the red zone, and with a very talented QB distributing the ball, I think Fells has all the necessary juice to make a fantasy impact on your rosters this week. He could be a streaming option for teams that are dealing with injuries to their TE and flex depth.

Verdict - PUFF

Tyler Higbee (L. A. Rams)

Fantasy players who drafted Higbee in the hopes of seeing the production we were wowed by at the end of the 2019 season have been sorely disappointed. Averaging 38.75 yards on 3.25 receptions per game, Higbee is inching towards bust territory at a medium pace. On top of that, the Rams face the Washington Football Team who, outside of Dallas Goedert in Week 1, haven’t allowed a TE to put up more than 57 yards in a game. Tyler Higbee sitting on my bench this week.

Verdict - PASS

Thank you for reading my "Puff, Puff, Pass" article for week 5. Do you agree or disagree with any of my starts and sits? Please leave a comment or let me know @TNFF_Smokey

Editor: Joe Simonetti (@joesimonetti77)

Graphic work: Dan Made Graphics (@DanMadeGraphics)