Drake Maye isn’t just back, he’s roaring, and if you doubted him like some of us (ahem, me), Week 5 just slapped you with a reality check. After some wobbly starts, Maye showed up big, proving exactly why some of us picked him so high. What a wild week for fantasy, and there are some huge takeaways shaping up as we push further into the season.
Winners and Risers
Let’s talk about the guys who absolutely shined, starting with Maye. Yeah, I called myself an idiot for doubting him, and you know what? I stand by it. He came back, plain and simple. That’s the kind of turnaround that makes you re-evaluate everything.
Over in Philly, Jalen Hurts put together an encouraging game, even if the raw numbers don’t scream “monster.” The fact he threw 40 passes? That’s huge! It makes you wonder if the Eagles are about to start slinging it more, even when Saquon Barkley returns. His schedule is about to get seriously sweet, so while the Eagles offense still has some warts, this was a massive step in the right direction. Just don’t expect him to be a buy-low option now.
And then there’s Jaylen Warren. This dude is straight-up awesome. The Steelers love their two-RB system, and Warren is consistently the better guy in that rotation. Rico Dowdle could be back soon, but seriously, Warren should be featured. Look, I’d probably trade him for Ashton Jeanty if I had the chance, mostly because Dowdle might have an annoying role, but if you’ve got Warren, you’re gonna be happy. Trust.
Marshawn Lloyd was a “winner, I guess?” for Green Bay. As long as Josh Jacobs is out, he’s the best option in that Packers backfield. But let’s not go crazy here, he only averaged 3.1 yards per carry against a pretty terrible Bears run defense. And Kaleb Johnson? All his carries were in garbage time. Don’t get too excited.
Question Marks and Trade Targets
Now, for the guys giving us heartburn. Ashton Jeanty from the Raiders, man, I’m not sure how I feel about him. He rushed 10 times for a paltry 27 yards, which is just not efficient. But then he got six targets and hauled in 50 receiving yards. What do you even do with that? His managers are probably panicking, and he even came into the game a little nicked up. I might want to buy low on him, but it’s a gamble.
Josh Downs for the Colts? Absolute loser. You just can’t trust him. He’s a WR3, plain and simple. Sure, he’ll have good games, but predicting them is like trying to guess the Seattle weather in October. Plus, Keenan Allen got more targets, which is just not cool if you’re a Downs manager.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt of the Commanders? Sell high, if you even can. He had a great game, including a beautiful 33-yard TD run on the opening possession. Yeah, Jayden Daniels might open things up for him, but the Giants were a great matchup, and their schedule is about to get way tougher. He rarely catches passes, and honestly, I’m not sure anyone’s buying. Speaking of the Commanders, “Winner: Anyone with NFL clock management experience. The Commanders are hiring.” You know it’s true.
And for the Bears offense? Just flush it and forget it. Caleb Williams could be back next week, and then they’ll finally start rocking and rolling again. We hope.
As we head into next week, keep a close eye on these names. Will Maye keep this surge going? Does Jeanty become the ultimate buy-low steal? And seriously, someone hire those Commanders a clock manager. Until then, keep those eyes peeled and those trade offers flowing. We’re just getting started.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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