After seeing just 21 touches over the past two games, Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy saw a major uptick in volume during Buffalo's Week 5 win over the Tennessee Titans, logging 26 touches for 108 yards. But after McCoy's top game of the year, is the time right for fantasy managers to deal the veteran back? Let's talk about McCoy's trade value while also hitting on Sammy Watkins' target share in the Kansas City Chiefs' explosive offense, Robby Anderson's Week 6 outlook after his breakout game, John Brown's expanding route tree, the Denver Broncos' fading defense and more.
Here are the Week 5 fantasy takeaways.
Trade LeSean McCoy while arrow is pointing up
Why trade McCoy? Look, his fantasy value is going to get a bump this week after he carried the ball 24 times for 85 yards on Sunday, while also chipping in two catches for 23 yards. The Bills' dialed-down offensive structure with Josh Allen at quarterback -- along with the game flow versus the Titans -- allowed McCoy to rack up touches.
And, yeah, that script could continue to play out for McCoy. The shake is still there. So is the wiggle inside of a phone booth. But I'm looking at loaded fronts that I expect to see for a while versus the Bills' offense, with a safety rolled down due to the lack of receiving threats outside. Really, I wouldn't play anything but single-high safety defenses versus the Bills.
That means seven in the box out of nickel defenses, too, with McCoy's low targets in the passing game also a real concern. Those two grabs on Sunday? It pushed McCoy to just 10 receptions for the season. Not enough given his skill set in space.
Now, what can managers get in return? McCoy has RB2/Flex value, regardless of where he was drafted. And he's being started as an RB2 in most lineups. As a manager, I would look for a running-back-needy team and flip McCoy for a WR3. Fair value, in my opinion.
Think of a Sammy Watkins or a Keelan Cole in this situation. Wide receivers who get pretty consistent volume in their respective offenses. And it's a move I would make with the Bills facing the Texans, Bears and Patriots' defenses over the next month of the season.
Chiefs WR Sammy Watkins has solid WR3/Flex value in Andy Reid's offense
Heading into this season, I was a bit skeptical on how Watkins would fit from a target share perspective in Andy Reid's offense. Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce and Kareem Hunt out of the backfield. That's a loaded group with Patrick Mahomes throwing the ball.
But after catching six of eight targets for 78 yards in the Week 5 win over the Jags, and 20 of 29 on the season, it's pretty clear that Watkins has a defined role in the Chiefs' system. An example? Look at Watkins' 33-yard reception in Sunday's matchup with Jacksonville. That was a three-level flood concept -- a staple of Reid's game plan -- with the ball designed to go to Watkins. Clear out over the top and create some room for Watkins to run the out/corner route. Plus, with opposing defenses planning for Hill and Kelce, Watkins is going to get his looks.
I would like to see that touchdown count -- only one on the season -- climb with Watkins. But given how he fits in this ultra high-powered offense, in addition to the screens and the occasional carry on a jet/fly sweep, Watkins has legit value for fantasy managers as a WR3/Flex on a weekly basis.
Can managers trust Jets WR Robby Anderson after breakout game?
Heading into Week 5, Anderson had caught only eight of 16 targets for 108 yards and a score, all but eliminating the Jets wide receiver from my weekly rankings. But after lighting up the Broncos on Sunday for 123 yards and two scores -- on just three grabs -- can managers count on weekly production with Anderson?
Look, it was all speed here in Anderson's matchup with Bradley Roby. And too much of it for the Broncos cornerback. Anderson smoked Roby with a hesitation release for a 76-yard touchdown, then came back and beat him again from a tight split alignment. Separate and stack on top to win for a 35-yard score. Anderson is a blazer when he gets a free release off the line.
However, with a Week 6 matchup versus the Colts -- a team that plays a ton of Cover 2 to put a tent on top of the secondary -- I don't expect Anderson to see as many vertical opportunities. If the Colts can keep those deep half safeties over the top, quarterback Sam Darnold could be in a position where he has to work the ball underneath or on the inside seams. Saying that, this feels more like a Quincy Enunwa game with short-to-intermediate throws.
Yes, Anderson still has value in deeper leagues for that Week 6 matchup with Indianapolis, because he can flip the field when the targets are there. But when I look at how the Colts have played from a coverage perspective this season, plus the low volume for Anderson, he is a true high-risk/high-reward option as a WR3/WR4.
Ravens WR John Brown is a must start every week
Brown caught just 4 of 14 targets for 58 yards in the Ravens' OT loss to Cleveland, but this is about the volume and the route tree with the Ravens wide receiver. In his past four games, Brown has seen at least seven targets a week, and that route tree I talked about is expanding.
Can Brown still get over the top? Yeah. And we saw that last Sunday night in the win over the Steelers. A deep "sting" route (corner-post) versus Cover 2. Shake the safety and go. His deep ball ability will get him looks every week. But Brown is also running intermediate cuts and working to the middle of the field.
Plus, with Michael Crabtree playing up-and-down football for the Ravens to start this season, which includes some key drops on Sunday, Brown continues to emerge as a go-to target for quarterback Joe Flacco. And that tells us he should be started every week in that Flex range.
Fantasy managers shouldn't fear the Broncos' defense
After watching the first-half film of the Denver-Kansas City matchup in Week 5, I was back on the train with the Broncos' defense. This unit clouded coverage looks, brought calculated pressure and challenged routes to limit Patrick Mahomes and that high-powered K.C. offense.
Sure, Mahomes made plays in the second half when he got outside of the pocket. That's what he does. But the game plan was nice, and the Denver defense looked like it was on the verge of returning to fantasy relevance.
Now? Nah. Not after the Jets gashed the Broncos for 323 yards rushing. The tackling was rough, the run fits were poor and the matchups in the secondary -- as we discussed above with Anderson versus Roby -- were exposed by a rookie quarterback. Up next? The Rams in Week 6. And until we see some major improvement, the Broncos' defense should be avoided when setting your weekly lineup.
Bump Kenny Golladay up as a solid WR2 in Detroit's passing offense
In the win over the Packers, Golladay led the Lions' wide receivers with nine targets, catching four passes for 98 yards -- plus a red zone score. That gives Golladay 40 targets on the season, with at least seven targets in four of the five games Detroit has played this year. Good volume there, and the upside is real when you watch Golladay produce on second- and third-level throws in the Lions' route tree.
We saw the play down the field on the 50/50 throw from Matthew Stafford. Just give Golladay a shot to finish there with that 6-foot-4, 213-pound frame. And the touchdown grab came on an inside breaking route in the tight red zone. Again, the size shows up when Golladay can gain leverage to the ball. Strong in traffic.
The Lions head into the bye, but when they return in Week 7 versus the Dolphins, Golladay is going to jump teammate Marvin Jones Jr. in my rankings. Along with Golden Tate, Golladay gives the Lions two solid WR2 options, with Jones still carrying starter value as a WR3.
Play the volume with David Njoku as a TE1
A couple of weeks back, we discussed Njoku as a top streaming option after Baker Mayfield was named the starter in Cleveland. That meant more seam routes and middle of the field throws with a quarterback who will aggressively challenge tight windows. And the volume for Njoku in Mayfield's first two starts is reflective of that, as the tight end has seen 18 targets in his past two games.
Without a touchdown grab this year, Njoku isn't racking up huge fantasy numbers, but he has caught 11 of 18 targets in his past two games for 121 yards. And I'm going to trust the uptick in volume with a quarterback who wants to put the ball inside of the numbers. He's a TE1 in Week 6 versus the Chargers, and I expect Njoku to see more red zone and shot zone looks (20-35 yard line) with Mayfield slinging it.