Week by week the tides change in the fantasy football landscape. Injuries, game plans, and flat-out luck affect players’ scoring each week. Of course, there are always the fantasy superstars who are must-starts no matter what. Then you have the players who either show up in a big way or not at all. Below are the players who exceeded projections for the week (boomed) and those who disappointed (busted) and probably cost you your game.
Boom
Garrett Wilson WR New York Jets
Through 4 weeks QB Aaron Rodgers and Garrett Wilson had not yet built chemistry resulting in the receiver’s slow fantasy start. In week 5, Rodgers and Wilson connected on 11 passes for 101 yards and a TD. His 22.6 points is the most he’s had thus far in 2024.
Much of his production in week 5 can be credited to a whopping 22(!) targets, but it showed a conscious effort to get Garrett Wilson involved. If it continues, Wilson will be the WR1 we all drafted him to be.
D’Andre Swift RB Chicago Bears
After a slow start to the season, Swift has finally solidified himself as a fantasy starter. In weeks 1-3, he failed to reach double-digit points, but he’s now done it two weeks in a row. Last week Swift exploded for 165 total yards and a TD for 26.0 points. He followed it up in week 5 with 19.0 points on 23 touches for 120 total yards and a TD.
Even though Roschon Johnson is part of the backfield mix in Chicago, Swift is an RB2/Flex play going forward in 2024.
Tucker Kraft TE Green Bay Packers
The Tight End position has been rough on fantasy managers in 2024. Blitz Sports Media listed Tucker Kraft as the best TE streaming option in week 5 and for good reason.
The Packers were without several offensive weapons this week which meant there would be more targets to go around. After a season-high 9 targets in week 4, we knew Jordan Love would come back to him in week 5. Kraft caught 4 of 5 targets for 88 yards and 2 TDs. He led all Tight Ends in week 5 with 22.8 points.
Kraft can be trusted as a TE1 at this point, especially considering the landscape of the position in fantasy football this year. He is still available in 30% of leagues on ESPN and should be picked up if available for you.
Bust
Sam Darnold QB Minnesota Vikings
As one of the most surprising fantasy stories of the season so far, Sam Darnold had thrown for multiple TDs in every game this season – until week 5.
In a sloppy game in London, the Vikings‘ defense held Darnold’s completion percentage to just 45.2 for 179 yards, 1 interception, and 0 TDs. He was only good for 5.26 fantasy points which was a huge disappointment for fantasy managers who started him this week (like me).
The Vikings are on a bye next week, but Darnold should be back in your starting lineup in week 7 when he faces the Detroit Lions.
Breece Hall RB New York Jets
Hall has been criminally underused by the Jets the last two weeks. With just 12 touches in each of his last two games, Hall averaged just 4 fantasy points per game. Braelon Allen has worked his way into the fold in the Jets backfield but still isn’t outworking Hall.
We can only hope that the Jets start feeding Breece Hall the rock for him to fulfill his RB1 status.
DK Metcalf WR Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks offense had been rolling, thanks in part to DK Metcalf. After recording 3 straight 100-yard games, DK came up with a stinker in week 5.
Metcalf was targeted 7 times but caught only 4 for 55 yards. He was held out of the end zone and lost a fumble. His 5.5 points was his lowest total since week 1. Metcalf faces a 49ers defense that held Marvin Harrison Jr. to 2 catches for 38 yardsin week 5. Despite this, Metcalf should still be in your lineup as a strong WR2.
More to Come
Check back next Tuesday as this will become a weekly article on Blitz Sports Media’s Fantasy Football content. We will post it each Tuesday so you can make the appropriate waiver claims to pick up those players trending upwards and drop the duds.
Check out all of the initial reactions from week 5 in fantasy football by clicking this youtube video
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