Week 5 of the NFL season saw another significant injury to a franchise player and a couple of huge breakout performances in the same game.
Andy Dalton will take the reins from quarterback Dak Prescott in Dallas after Prescott sustained a horrific ankle injury that led to season-ending surgery. Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, rookie Chase Claypool posted four touchdowns for the Steelers, while Eagles wide receiver Travis Fulgham had 10 receptions for 152 yard and a touchdown.
NFL Nation is here to answer the biggest fantasy questions -- provided by ESPN fantasy football analyst Mike Clay -- across the league for Week 6.
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Buffalo Bills
Do you believe Gabriel Davis will plummet back to fourth in line for targets at wide receiver once John Brown returns?
Yes. The Bills trust Davis even this early in his rookie season -- but don't get it twisted. Stefon Diggs and Brown are the 1A and 1B options in Buffalo's passing game, with Cole Beasley operating as a safety net. Davis is an option in deeper leagues, but start him knowing he is touchdown-dependent. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques
Miami Dolphins
Can we trust wide receiver Preston Williams in a good matchup this weekend after he showed well in Week 5?
Yes. You did well if you listened and exercised patience with Williams. Now it's time to earn your reward as Williams is a good pick to feast on a Jets defense that just gave up a combined 209 yards to DeAndre Hopkins and Christian Kirk last weekend. Williams is only a few weeks shy of the year mark since tearing his ACL, so he's finally closing in on a return to full health. -- Cameron Wolfe
New England Patriots
Can we expect wide receiver N'Keal Harry to get back on track with Cam Newton back under center this weekend?
Absolutely. Newton and Harry have a big brother/little brother type of connection, with Newton looking to him in crucial situations (e.g., fourth down in Seattle in Week 2). So with Newton expected to start, it isn't an unreasonable expectation for Harry's production to increase. -- Mike Reiss
New York Jets
Do you expect Jeff Smith to sustain a significant offensive role even once Breshad Perriman returns?
Yes, because the Jets are gaining one wide receiver (Perriman), but losing another starter (Chris Hogan, placed on injured reserve). While it's probably a reach to say Smith will duplicate last weekend's 11 targets, he will remain in the three-receiver base offense. The problem is, he will face Miami's excellent corners, which could create separation issues. -- Rich Cimini
AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens
Is Lamar Jackson's recent dip in rushing production related to injury, and do you expect a rebound in that department?
Jackson's sore knee might have been the reason why the quarterback was limited to a career-low three carries last game, but decreased running has been a season-long trend for him. He has averaged a career-worst 8.2 runs per game as teams have loaded up the box more this season. But the Ravens understand that Jackson's running represented a big chunk of the offense, and they need more designed runs and scrambles from him to get the offense back on track. While Jackson won't come close to breaking last season's rushing record for quarterbacks, expect him to return to solid rushing numbers (at least 40 yards rushing per game) the rest of the way. -- Jamison Hensley
Cincinnati Bengals
Why have running back Joe Mixon's targets suddenly skyrocketed, and will that trend continue?
It's a function of the offense under Joe Burrow. It's a bit of a surprise but Burrow obviously feels comfortable throwing it to Mixon. It also helps that Mixon has lined up on the outside more frequently with the rise of empty formations. Look for the trend to continue. -- Ben Baby
Cleveland Browns
Should we be feeling good about Austin Hooper following back-to-back games with seven-plus targets?
Hooper was always going to be a key part of an offense that leads the league in snaps with multiple tight ends on the field. Given how well the Browns have run the ball and how dynamic Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry have been out wide, it was just going to be a matter of time before Hooper got going over the middle of the field. -- Jake Trotter
Pittsburgh Steelers
Can we feel good about wide receiver Chase Claypool moving forward, or will he play a reduced role once Diontae Johnson returns?
If Claypool has a reduced role at any point going forward, it won't be a direct result of Johnson coming back. Claypool has produced enough in Johnson's absence to merit targets regardless of Johnson's health. If he becomes less of a factor in any game going forward, it will be because the Steelers want to lean on the strength of the collective receiving unit with a balanced passing attack. Even so, Ben Roethlisberger has great trust in Claypool, and that could go a long way to keeping him involved in the offense. -- Brooke Pryor
AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans
Can we trust Brandin Cooks following a breakout Week 5 performance?
Yes. Of course, not every week will be a eight-catch, 161-yard performance, but after that game, Deshaun Watson spoke about the confidence he has in his wide receiver. Will Fuller will still see plenty of targets as well, but as Cooks and Watson continue to get game reps and their chemistry grows, Cooks should be a solid fantasy starter. -- Sarah Barshop
Indianapolis Colts
Do you expect T.Y. Hilton's heavy usage to translate to the production we're used to from him anytime soon?
Hilton, who has spent the majority of his career as the team's No. 1 wide receiver, has gone 16 straight games without a 100-yard receiving game. The Colts say they don't want to force the ball to Hilton, but it was clear against Cleveland in Week 5 that they made a significant effort to get him the ball as the receiver had a season-high 10 targets. The Colts might have to find different ways to get Hilton the ball because they've struggled with the deep throws down the field. His longest reception this season is 28 yards. -- Mike Wells
Jacksonville Jaguars
Can we feel good about the prospects of Gardner Minshew this weekend against Detroit's shaky pass defense?
The Jaguars would rather Minshew not throw it more than 30 times. Offensive coordinator Jay Gruden said he has gotten away from running the ball the past two weeks -- against what at the time were the NFL's worst run defenses -- much too soon since the games were close, so expect a heavy dose of RB James Robinson this weekend. Gruden said his preference is to keep Minshew between 25 and 30 attempts and balance the offense, so this might not be the best week to have Minshew in your lineup. -- Mike DiRocco
Tennessee Titans
Do you expect Darrynton Evans to factor more into the offense anytime soon?
No. Evans was placed on IR so he won't be able to play for at least three weeks. But Jeremy McNichols was solid as a change of pace to Derrick Henry last game. McNichols is a capable pass-catcher, especially in the screen game. -- Turron Davenport
AFC WEST
Denver Broncos
Who stands to benefit most if Drew Lock is back under center this weekend?
Overall it should be rookie wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, but the sample size of Lock's work in the offense this season is still pretty small given he suffered his shoulder injury in his fifth quarter of work on the season and hasn't played since leaving the Week 2 loss against the Steelers. But in those four-plus quarters of work Jeudy was the clear leader in targets with Lock behind center. In the immediate future -- as in Sunday against New England -- that could be affected by whether the Patriots lock in Stephon Gilmore on Jeudy very often, but in the weeks ahead Jeudy figures to be plenty busy. -- Jeff Legwold
Kansas City Chiefs
Can we trust Mecole Hardman for consistent usage while Sammy Watkins is sidelined?
The Chiefs don't have a lot of options. Minus Watkins, they have only four wide receivers unless they promote someone from the practice squad. Without Watkins, Hardman is clearly among their top three receivers, and as much as they use three wide receivers, he could easily top his season high of 50 snaps, which he has done twice. -- Adam Teicher
Las Vegas Raiders
Do you expect more usage out of Henry Ruggs after he saw only three targets on Sunday?
In the immortal words of Jon Gruden, the Raiders did not bring Ruggs in to run hitch routes. Which means Ruggs and his 4.27-second time in the 40-yard dash is an explosive playmaker ... when healthy. True, he caught only two passes at Kansas City, but they combined for 118 yards, and what fantasy player is going to turn that down? That said, Ruggs is more than a decoy and showed he has hands to go with that world-class speed, so he does figure to be more involved in the offense as Gruden continues to get a better feel for Ruggs. Think jet sweeps and bubble screens. -- Paul Gutierrez
Los Angeles Chargers
Do you expect Justin Jackson to be the lead back with Austin Ekeler out?
As long as Joshua Kelley holds onto the ball, I expect a two-back system with him and Jackson. It's not easy to run the ball in this league, but the two of them have proved themselves -- at times. Quarterback Justin Herbert, though, is the key. He can utilize them by throwing short passes and letting them go. -- Shelley Smith
NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys
Do you think any of the team's pass-catchers will benefit from Andy Dalton stepping in at quarterback?
I don't think you will see one receiver became his No. 1 target. While that's what he had in A.J. Green for years in Cincinnati, he has three potential No. 1s in Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and CeeDee Lamb. All three were targeted three times by Dalton when he took over for Dak Prescott, and Gallup had three catches while Cooper and Lamb had two apiece. Dalton has played long enough and has seen Prescott flourish with the idea of throwing it where the defense dictates the ball to go. Mike McCarthy does not want quarterbacks to force the action. Dalton is patient enough to go through his reads and make decisions that way. -- Todd Archer
New York Giants
Is it safe to say Devonta Freeman has locked down feature-back duties?
Yes. Freeman is going to get a significant majority of the touches, even if Dion Lewis is playing a good chunk of passing downs. Freeman has corralled 65% of the Giants' running back touches the past two weeks. The former Pro Bowl back also seems to be getting in better playing shape each week. He ran the ball well in the second half against the Rams and vs. Dallas. It also doesn't hurt his fantasy value that he's the Giants' top red zone option. -- Jordan Raanan
Philadelphia Eagles
Can we trust wide receiver Travis Fulgham again this weekend, and has he cemented a full-time role moving forward?
There isn't much of a sample size with him so it's hard to know just how long the good times will last, but why not ride the hot hand? That's what coach Doug Pederson is doing. "Obviously, Travis has made a case to continue to play and play at a high level," he said. Even with DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery nearing a return, Fulgham will continue to get opportunities for the time being. -- Tim McManus
Washington Football Team
Should we be worried about Terry McLaurin this weekend with red-hot James Bradberry's shadow coverage on tap?
A little bit, yes. In their matchup last season, McLaurin caught just two passes against Carolina in a Washington victory. McLaurin is a better receiver this season and Washington has done a good job moving him around to create favorable situations -- often aligning him inside. He already has caught nine passes as a slot receiver, only four fewer than last season. And if Washington is going to win, McLaurin will probably play a key role. The Giants rank 17th in receiving yards allowed, so despite Bradberry's strong start, there's still room for McLaurin to have a good day. -- John Keim
NFC NORTH
Chicago Bears
Do you expect Cole Kmet's role in the passing game to expand anytime soon?
I would hope so. The Bears touted Kmet's pass-catching potential as a major reason why they drafted him No. 43 overall out of Notre Dame. Kmet and veteran tight end Jimmy Graham both looked good in training camp, when they raised hopes the Bears had not one but two tight ends they could target in the passing game. Five games into his rookie season, Kmet has one reception for 12 yards. The only place to go is up. The Bears don't want another Adam Shaheen situation on their hands. I have a strong suspicion coach Matt Nagy spent the long weekend after the victory over Tampa Bay figuring out ways to get Kmet more involved. -- Jeff Dickerson
Detroit Lions
Do you believe D'Andre Swift will exit the bye week with a larger role?
Maybe? The Lions have been clear about wanting to find ways to get Swift a role, and facing a bad Jacksonville team should help with that. I don't know how much he'll cut into Adrian Peterson's share of the carries, but he should be more involved in the passing game and be in line for at least more work than he has been getting, which has been scattershot dependent on the week. Detroit's backfield is still not one to trust, though. -- Michael Rothstein
Green Bay Packers
Should we have any concern with Davante Adams this weekend off the injury and with Carlton Davis shadow coverage looming?
Not necessarily, especially given that the Packers had a bye last weekend, which meant extra time to rest. But it's worth noting that Adams' first game back from his turf toe last year wasn't so hot (seven catches for just 41 yards in a loss at the Chargers). A week later, he was back to his old self with 118 yards in a win over the Panthers. -- Rob Demovsky
Minnesota Vikings
Is it fair to say Alexander Mattison will shoulder the load at running back if Dalvin Cook sits out this weekend?
Yes. Cook (groin) hasn't practiced this week and with the bye coming up, it's safe to assume the Vikings will put him on ice until they open the second half of their season at Green Bay. Mattison rushed for a career-high 112 yards in relief of Cook in Seattle, including 99 yards in the second half, on 20 carries and caught three passes for 24 yards. That's a Cook workload as it is. The reason the Vikings are so fond of their backup is because they feel the offense can get similar production from the second-year back that it does with Cook. Expect a Cook-level workload again for Mattison assuming he receives his first NFL start. -- Courtney Cronin
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta Falcons
Do you expect any major offensive adjustments following the team's coaching change?
Not necessarily, since Dirk Koetter remains the offensive coordinator and since Falcons president Rich McKay said they aren't planning to trade away veterans to stockpile draft picks. But obviously the offense is in drastic need of improvement after Matt Ryan has thrown just one TD pass over the past three weeks. So you would have to expect them to focus heavily on getting the most out of stars Calvin Ridley and Julio Jones. Ryan insisted this week that the passing game is "just a little bit off" as Jones has been in and out of the lineup and he is still trying to build a chemistry with new tight end Hayden Hurst. -- Mike Triplett
Carolina Panthers
Do you believe Mike Davis' strong play will lead to him eating into some of Christian McCaffrey's workload once he's healthy?
Not substantially if at all. A healthy McCaffrey seldom comes off the field and that won't change when he returns. What could change is you might see McCaffrey and Davis on the field at the same time a little more with McCaffrey lined up in the slot or as a wide receiver. He's still the best route-running back in the league. -- David Newton
New Orleans Saints
Following a career-high 12-catch game, can we trust Emmanuel Sanders once Michael Thomas is back in the lineup?
We probably can't expect 12 catches again, since that was a career high for the 11-year veteran on Monday night. But that should add confidence to our initial projections that he would be more involved than other No. 2 Saints receivers have been in recent years. Sanders admittedly needed time to adjust to New Orleans' complex offense, calling himself "85 percent" there in Week 1. But he said he was "all the way there" a couple weeks ago, and it's clear that he and quarterback Drew Brees have really started to develop a trust and chemistry. -- Mike Triplett
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Do you anticipate a consistent role in the passing game for Cameron Brate moving forward?
Yes, although he's not the same caliber of blocker as fellow tight ends O.J. Howard and Rob Gronkowski. But he's moving better than Gronkowski, and he's regained his health from two years ago after battling a hip injury that forced him to undergo surgery after the 2018 season. I would also keep in mind that the tight end position isn't heavily prioritized in Bruce Arians' offense, so I would still temper expectations. -- Jenna Laine
NFC WEST
Arizona Cardinals
Do you believe Chase Edmonds could overtake Kenyan Drake as lead back?
Yes, I do. Do I think it'll happen? No. I think if Drake continues to struggle running the ball and isn't as much of a factor in the passing game as was expected, and Edmonds continues to hit his spots in both the running and passing games, then I think Edmonds could and should become Arizona's RB1. Coach Kliff Kingsbury is known to want to go with the hot hand, but why do I think it won't happen regardless of how well each player plays? Because of Drake's $8.4 million salary. -- Josh Weinfuss
Los Angeles Rams
Do you expect Jalen Ramsey to spend a lot of time covering George Kittle this weekend in his new box defender role?
It's a definite possibility. The Rams have moved Ramsey around this season to utilize his skills where most needed. It would not be surprising if he matched up against Kittle, at least for a portion of the snaps. -- Lindsey Thiry
San Francisco 49ers
Should we try again with Deebo Samuel this weekend after he managed only 19 yards but saw eight targets in Week 5?
Logically, the 49ers' offense should be better this weekend assuming most of their skill position players get a full week of practice together, and that should be good for Samuel. Remember, last weekend was the first game the Niners had their primary pass-catchers, running back and quarterback, but they didn't even have multiple practices together to get some cohesion. Samuel missed two practices with illness. A full week will help him and so, too, should the potential for Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey to move around and potentially cover tight end George Kittle instead of Samuel the entire game. Of course, if the Niners' pass protection doesn't improve, it doesn't matter much who is at quarterback or receiver. -- Nick Wagoner
Seattle Seahawks
Why have Tyler Lockett's targets dipped the past two weeks, and should we be concerned?
It might have more to do with DK Metcalf's ascension and the trust he has gained from quarterback Russell Wilson than anything else. Wilson targeted Metcalf 11 times last week against Minnesota. Six of them came on the game-winning drive, including a 39-yarder on fourth-and-10 and the final touchdown on fourth-and-goal. Metcalf now leads Seattle wide receivers in targets and snaps while Lockett still leads them in catches. It looks like the Seahawks have two No. 1 receivers as opposed to a clear-cut No. 1 and 2. -- Brady Henderson