Week five of the NFL season is officially over, which means we have a ton of new information to break down. That said, let’s dive right into the Top 10 dynasty football takeaways from week five.
Takeaway #1: Jonathan Taylor Skyrockets in Dynasty Rankings With His Extension
It’s official: Taylor signed a three-year, $42 million extension with the Colts. This is a massive deal, and this extension instantly makes Taylor one of the top dynasty backs. The talent has always been there, but his job security at 24 is unmatched.
This contract guarantees that Taylor will be the starter for the next three years, which is so hard to find the running back position. Now that Taylor is officially under contract, he’s a top-five dynasty back going forward.
#2: Breece Hall Crushed in His First Week Off a Snap Count
Early in the season, Hall was reportedly on a snap count, but it was lifted in week five. Up until this point, Hall was averaging a meager 7.5 PPG. However, in week five, Hall exploded for a 28.4-point performance.
CBS Broadcast: "Breece Hall isn't a 4.4 guy but he's deceptively fast at 220"
— Glenn Naughton (@JNRadio_Glenn) October 8, 2023
Hall ran a 4.39 pre-draft. pic.twitter.com/UnZ1CqwKZK
Remember that this performance was against the Broncos, making it slightly less impressive. That said, from what I saw, Hall looks much more explosive and healthier. This performance makes me feel great about Hall in the future.
#3: Travis Etienne Is an Elite Dynasty Back
Etienne has seen an elite-level workload all season, but his first breakout game was in week five. In a tight matchup against the Bills, Etienne scored a whopping 36.4 points. Not only was Etienne incredibly efficient on the ground, but he also had four receptions for 48 yards.
The rookie Tank Bigsby has been a nonfactor so far, and you have to wonder how long this will continue. That said, Etienne looks phenomenal, and the Jaguars could easily turn into an elite offense. Right now, Etienne should be viewed as a borderline top-five back.
#4: De’Von Achane Is the Truth
In his first three games, Achane has averaged 33.27 PPG. This isn’t a typo; he has been phenomenal in every game he’s played in. The efficiency drop-off hasn’t happened yet, but it’s clear Achane is an elite talent.
Of course, we don’t expect him to continue this up, but even when he drops in efficiency, he’ll still be an elite back. After seeing Achane dominant in every game he’s played in, it’s time to proclaim him the truth in dynasty.
#5: Josh Downs Is Rising Up the Dynasty Ranks
Downs was one of my favorite rookies this off-season, but his stock dropped a ton after the Colts drafted him. However, after a big game against the Titans, it’s safe to say Downs is officially on the rise.
Even in an offense that doesn’t have much passing volume, Downs has been serviceable even before this week. Downs is currently averaging 8.2 PPG, and in week five, he scored 15.7 points. Downs is one of my favorite buys in dynasty, and I would like to try to acquire him before he gets too expensive.
#6: Ja’Marr Chase Is Officially Back
Ja'Marr Chase is only the fifth player in NFL history to record 15 receptions and 3 TDs in a single game 🔥 pic.twitter.com/QJsRuwjWQC
— ESPN (@espn) October 8, 2023
Although Chase had a big game in week three, this 50-point performance officially signifies his return. Joe Burrow didn’t look great but was still solid, resulting in a Chase masterclass. Those who were waiting for Chase to get back to his elite-level status can finally rejoice.
#7: Rhamondre Stevenson Is Cooked
Although I was extremely high on Stevenson heading into the year, I’m completely out on him now. So far, Stevenson is averaging 9.1 PPG, and at this point, he isn’t even startable. You can blame how bad the offense is, but the bottom line is that he has looked terrible. There hasn’t been a game yet where Stevenson ran for over 3.3 YPC.
He typically provides his value as a pass catcher, but he didn’t record a single reception this past week. After his 15-point week two performance, Stevenson has been on the straight decline. All you can do if you own Stevenson is hold him, but things are looking rough,
#8: Adam Thielen Is a Must-Have for Contenders
If you’re a contender, you need Thielen. Thielen is averaging 17.6 PPG in silence, and you can buy him extremely cheap because he’s 33 years old. Even though the Panthers have younger receiving options, Thielen isn’t going away this season.
On an offense that throws the ball a lot due to their game script, Thielen is racking up a ton of targets. Thielen looks surprisingly good for his age and has shown his ability to dominate on a weak Panthers receiving core.
#9: Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp Co-Exist
One of this week’s biggest questions was whether Nacua and Kupp could Co-Exist. Kupp still didn’t seem 100%, but the answer is yes. Kupp returned to being the alpha wide receiver, but every target was between Nacua and Kupp.
Matthew Stafford has looked great and will continue to force-feed his top two wide receivers. In Kupp’s first game back, he scored 19.8 points, while Nacua scored 20.1.
#10: Jordan Addison Continues to Impress
So far this season, Addison has been an impact player for the Vikings. Even though they lost to the Chiefs, Addison had his best game of the season by far. In this week five matchup, Addison had six catches on nine targets, along with 64 receiving yards and a touchdown. This Stateline was good enough for an excellent 18.4-point performance by Addison.
who started jordan addison?? 🙋♂️ pic.twitter.com/MQtJSdceH2
— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) October 8, 2023
It’s great to see Addison getting more involved in the offense week after week. Showing his ability to earn targets is a massive deal, and I expect Addison to keep climbing up the dynasty ranks this season.
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