Quarterbacks

Brian Hoyer, SF – Hoyer seems to be developing some decent rapport with his receivers and could be a relevant fantasy asset during the next few weeks, since the 49ers don’t have their bye until Week 11. He’s coming off a 353-2-0 game against the Colts and while he’s not the most efficient QB out there, he’s in a good spot for production the next five weeks (@WAS, DAL, @PHI, ARI, NYG).

Jacoby Brissett, IND – Brissett will get a few more starts with the recent news that Andrew Luck (shoulder) probably won’t play until November. He’s about 25-30 percent owned in competitive leagues and like Hoyer won’t get a bye until Week 11, when Luck should already have a game or two under his belt. Brissett’s next three games (@TEN, JAC, @CIN) could be offensive shootouts.

Case Keenum, MIN – UPDATE: If you watched Monday Night Football, you’re probably aware that Sam Bradford was not ready to resume his duties as the starter. Bradford aggravated his knee injury and probably won’t get the nod this week against the Packers, so feel free to give Keenum (140-1-0/22 rushing yards in about one half of football this week) a shot if you’re desperate at QB. He’s capable of big numbers and has lots of weapons at his disposal.

Other QBs to consider: Joe Flacco (BAL), Blake Bortles (JAC)

UPDATES:

Carson Palmer, ARI – It was a relatively quiet day for Palmer, who threw for 291-1-0 in the loss to the Eagles. He’s got okay matchups the next couple weeks and maintains a decent floor since the Cards have to throw to win.

Tyrod Taylor, BUF – Taylor struggled in the rain, completing just 20 of 27 attempts and finishing with 166-1-1 in a day when he lost Charles Clay and ran for just 3 yards. I wasn’t bullish in my expectations but figured he needed to be included in the column last week. Should’ve just left him out.

Andy Dalton, CIN – Dalton’s 328-1-2 wasn’t too disappointing, but he’s on a bye in Week 6 and isn’t a very reliable fantasy option moving forward.

Mitchell Trubisky, CHI – UPDATE: Trubisky wasn’t awful in his debut on MNF, though he got out maneuvered by defensive back Harrison Smith, who goaded him into throwing a late INT that helped seal the game for the Vikings. Trubisky finished with 128-1-1 and lost a fumble, but it was obvious he’s a better option than Mike Glennon and has plenty of room to grow as an NFL QB.

Jay Cutler, MIA – Another dud (92-1-1) from Cutler, and I’m officially done. This entire team needs to evaluate its identity and where it wants to go from here. I have no interest in using Cutler even in favorable DFS matchups at this point.

Josh McCown, NYJ – I’m considering getting a few shares of McCown (194-2-1 in Week 5 @ CLE) in the matchup with the Patriots in Week 6, but he’s not a reliable fantasy QB even if Jermaine Kearse and Austin Seferian-Jenkins are looking like intriguing options.

Marlon Mack's strong showing in Week 5 (9-91-1) could earn him more playing time moving forward.

Running Backs

Marlon Mack, IND – Mack will be the most popular waiver wire pickup this week after rushing for 91 yards and a TD on nine carries in Week 5 against the 49ers. You’ve seen me discuss him in this column before, but now looks like the time to jump on board and roster him. I just dealt him in the FFToday Staff league to handcuff LeVeon Bell and I already regret it.

Jerick McKinnon, MIN – UPDATE: McKinnon had a monster game even though Latavius Murray got the start and the first five touches. After that, the versatile back out-touched Murray 22-9 and out-gained him 146-43 while scoring a 58-yard touchdown. In total, McKinnon’s 47 snaps more than doubled Murray's 22. He’s definitely the back that more resembles Dalvin Cook’s production, and he’s a must-own in all formats.

Adrian Peterson, ARI - UPDATE: The trade of Adrian Peterson to the Saints for conditional pick kills the already muted fantasy value of Chris Johnson and Kerwynn Williams and vaults the value of both Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara for the Saints. Peterson is about 40-50 percent owned in competitive leagues and should be added in all formats. The Cards will still use heavy doses of Andre Ellington in their pass-heavy offense, but Peterson's early down power running should help them find some identity until David Johnson returns from IR.

Javorius Allen, BAL – Allen had 73 rushing yards and a TD in Week 5 and added 4-12-0 receiving, a facet of his game that separates him from Alex Collins and makes him the more valuable back. Another injury to Terrance West only increases his current value.

UPDATE: West had an MRI on his calf and isn’t looking at an extended absence, but Allen still looks like the back to own in Baltimore.

Matt Breida, SF – Breida played 49 percent of the snaps in Week 5 and Kyle Shanahan has shown an affinity for the rookie RB in a “hot-hand” approach. Even if Carlos Hyde doesn’t continue to deal with occasional hip problems, Breida could be in for an increased workload in the coming weeks.

UPDATE: When healthy, Hyde is still the starter and best RB in the Niners’ backfield. But Shanahan confirmed Monday that he will ride the “hot hand” and give Breida touches if Hyde is struggling.

Orleans Darkwa and Shane Vereen, NYG – Perhaps the best thing for the Giants to do without live bodies at wide receiver is switch their offense to a wishbone and stick Darkwa, Vereen, and Wayne Gallman in the same backfield. All kidding aside, it won’t be unusual to see Vereen get more looks as a WR out of the slot in the coming weeks. Darwka made the most of his timeshare in Week 5 by running for 69 yards and a TD on eight carries.

UPDATE: During Week 5, Gallman slowly took over as Darkwa battled a calf injury, and Darkwa’s status hasn’t been updated. If Darkwa can’t go this week, Gallman could be in for a huge workload on a team desperate for offensive production.

Other RBs to consider: Charcandrick West (KC), D’Onta Foreman (HOU), Alex Collins (BAL), Jalen Richard (OAK)

UPDATES:

Latavius Murray, MIN – UPDATE: As discussed in my comments on McKinnon, Murray looked terrible on Monday night, rushing 12 times for just 31 yards in the Vikings' Week 5 win over the Bears. A one-dimensional back, Murray is simply a TD-dependent deep league option.

Alvin Kamara, NO – Kamara was on a Week 5 bye but should have a big role in a favorable matchup against the Lions in Week 6.

Wayne Gallman, NYG – Gallman split carries with Darkwa and finished with 11 carries for 57 yards and 5-25-0 receiving. He’s a capable RB who should remain a part of the offense moving forward if he can stay healthy.

UPDATE: See comments on Darkwa and Vereen above.

Thomas Rawls, Eddie Lacy, C.J. Prosise & J.D. McKissic, SEA – The Seahawks offense looked sluggish behind a bad offensive line in Week 5. Rawls had 20 rushing yards on eight carries and 2-15-0, Lacy drew the start but finished with only 19 rushing yards on nine carries and added 1-9-0, and McKissic had two carries for zero yards and 3-36-0 on five targets.

UPDATE: The Seahawks are on a Week 6 bye which only adds more confusion to this situation, as everyone will get a little more healthy

Aaron Jones, GB – Jones exploded for 125 rushing yards and a TD on 19 carries and added 1-9-0 on his lone receiving target, but he’s clearly the best back behind Ty Montgomery in Green Bay. With Jones running so well, the Packers may choose to keep Montgomery inactive for a few weeks (they have a Week 8 bye) until his ribs are fully healed. Stay tuned.

Wide Receivers / Tight Ends

Roger Lewis, NYG – The Giants have lost Dwayne Harris (fractured foot) for the season and likely Odell Beckham Jr., who broke his ankle late in Sunday’s game versus the Chargers. In addition, Brandon Marshall suffered a sprained ankle that will likely keep him out a few weeks, and Sterling Shepard (ankle) appears to be week-to-week. This leaves Lewis as the Giants only healthy WR while they scramble to make promotions from the practice squad (Travis Rudolph, Ed Eagan and Marquis Bundy) and look at using Tavarres King this week, as he’s familiar with the offense. Realistically, this whole situation is one worth avoiding, but Lewis has shown he can post decent fantasy numbers and provides the best value off the wire.

UPDATE: As expected, the Giants started transitioning its young, inexperienced receivers from the practice squad, and it was revealed that Brandon Marshall will miss the remainder of the season following ankle surgery. This offense is a mess, but there could be some PPR goodness for Vereen and more relevance for Gallman on the horizon.

J.J. Nelson, John Brown and Jaron Brown, ARI – The Arizona Cardinals are learning that teams have no problem focusing on Larry Fitzgerald and letting the rest of Palmer’s weapons try to beat them. I expect them to game-plan more to funnel targets toward this talented group in the coming weeks, though you’ll have to follow their injury and usage progressions (as well as opposing DB matchups) to gauge who’s in the best spot. Remember – they are all boom-or-bust options, but can put a DFS lineup over the edge or provide a nice boost in season-long leagues when the matchup is right.

Marquise Goodwin, SF – Goodwin (concussion) didn’t seem limited in Week 5 and finished with 5-116-0 on a whopping 11 targets from Hoyer. He could be in line for more snaps and looks in the coming weeks against defenses that are vulnerable to the big play. Goodwin’s speed sets him apart and Shanahan and Hoyer are probably just fine with a 50% rate of return on his catches, since he’s often looking at big gains once he hauls it in.

TE Ed Dickson, CAR – Since Dickson saw just one target in Week 3 versus the Saints, I assumed he wasn’t a huge part of the Panthers game plan moving forward – a huge mistake. The veteran TE exploded for 5-175-0 against the Lions a week after hauling in 3-62-0 in the win over New England in Week 4. He’s not trustworthy as a top-end TE1, but he’s worth adding while Greg Olsen is on the shelf (likely until Week 12 or 13).

Other WRs/TEs to consider: Ricardo Louis (CLE), Torrey Smith (PHI), TE Tyler Higbee (LAR), TE George Kittle (SF), Robert Woods (LAR)

UPDATES:

Will Fuller, HOU – Fuller has made quite an impact in his two games back from a collarbone injury, following up a two-TD Week 4 performance with two more catches in Week 5 – both of which went for TDs. He’s now converted 9 targets into 6-92-4 over two weeks.

Brandon Marshall, NYG – The ankle injury almost surely puts him out of commission for Week 6, but we’ll have more info in the next 24 hours.

UPDATE: Marshall is done for 2017, and isn’t worth holding onto in any format – dynasty or otherwise.

Danny Amendola, NE – We got a nice week from Amendola, who caught 8-77-0 in the win over the Bucs on Thursday night.

Kendall Wright, Deonte Thompson & Josh Bellamy, CHI – UPDATE: Trubisky seemed to favor Wright (4-46-0 on five targets), and with Markus Wheaton active, neither Bellamy nor Thompson saw a target.

TEs Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard, TB – Brate (5-68-1) scored for the third straight week, while Howard was held without a catch and saw just one target Thursday night.

Zay Jones, BUF – Jones just isn’t getting it done. He had just one catch for 9 yards despite seeing six targets versus the Bengals. He should continue to see targets, especially with Charles Clay injured, but on the season, has just five catches on his 23 targets and is a better dynasty stash than relevant redraft asset.

TE Tyler Kroft, CIN – Kroft had 4-38-0 on five targets but the Week 6 bye almost assures he’s reached the last of usefulness, as Tyler Eifert could be back in Week 7 for a tilt in Pittsburgh.