NFL Reactions: Week 5

It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.

Sound familiar? You may remember these opening words of Charles Dickens' classic novel "A Tale of Two Cities" from your high school English class. It was a story set in Paris and London during the French Revolution. Yet as I watched the Cowboys play host to the Giants on Sunday afternoon, I couldn't help but think of the tale of those two cities — Dallas and New York — as the game unfolded. It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.

On the one hand, Dallas is 4-1 through five games and is looking like it can be a true Super Bowl contender. Dak Prescott is playing at an elite level in 2021 in his return from the horrific ankle injury that ended his 2020 season. The Cowboys' signal caller looks poised and is leading his offense extremely well. Prescott has thrown for 13 touchdowns and 1,368 yards this season with no signs of slowing down. Additionally, his weapons in the passing game are bountiful. CeeDee Lamb, Amari Cooper and Dalton Schultz are all making noise in the passing game. Michael Gallup should also be returning soon. The arrow is pointing all the way up for the Cowboys' aerial attack.

Then there's the running game. After a slow start, Ezekiel Elliott has turned on the burners and is turning back to the Ezekiel Elliott that Dallas drafted fourth overall in 2016. Tony Pollard, the team's No. 2 running back, provides a great boost to the team whenever he finds himself on the field.

The Cowboys can attack you in what feels like a million different ways, and their play-calling has fantasy managers rejoicing every week. Even after all of that, the Cowboys have something that they haven't really had in quite some time: a formidable defense. They aren't the '85 Bears, but they are finding ways to make stops and collect turnovers. Trevon Diggs is having a ridiculously good year so far, totaling six interceptions in five weeks.

These Cowboys have what it takes.

On the other hand, there's New York. According to the Fox broadcast, the Giants are without 70 percent of their offensive starters. Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley, Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton are the fantasy relevant players who are out of the lineup due to injury. The Giants are 1-4 and are likely to drop another game in Week 6 when they take on the Rams. As a fantasy manager, I wouldn't go near a Giants player next week. If Saquon's ankle sprain isn't overly serious and the Giants' pass catchers can get healthy quick, this team can still do well — in fantasy. In reality — not so much. That proverbial ship has sailed.

It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. The Cowboys are starting a revolution, while the Giants are in a losing battle.

Still, the battle cry grows stronger in Dallas. Can you hear it?

"HOW 'BOUT DEM COWBOYS?!"

Sunday Takeaways

• Michael Carter rushed 10 times for 38 yards and a touchdown, while also catching two passes for 20 yards in a loss to the Falcons. This wasn't exactly a breakout performance for the rookie, but fantasy managers should be hopeful for his usage in the Jets' offense. It appears Carter is the preferred option in the backfield, as he has shown burst and found the end zone two weeks in a row.
• Alexander Mattison gained 113 yards on 25 rushes and secured all seven of his targets for 40 yards and a score against the Lions. Dalvin Cook was inactive for the contest with an ankle injury, and the Vikings were smart to give him time to heal. They know what they have in Mattison, which is a more than capable three-down running back. His time may be coming to an end soon, with Cook possibly making a return in Week 6. It is possible that the Vikings may elect to sit Cook through their Week 7 bye if he is not fully ready to go.
• How long can this workload possibly be sustained? That's right — I'm talking about Derrick Henry. The bruising back rushed 29 times for 130 yards and three touchdowns in a win over the Jaguars. One week ago, Henry carried 33 times. While the injury bug seems to be infecting running backs around the league, Henry seems indestructible. He'll square off against the Bills defense in Week 6.
• After rushing just two times for three yards against the Colts in Week 4, Myles Gaskin saw his best fantasy performance of the 2021 campaign in a blowout loss to the Buccaneers. Running against an extremely tough rush defense in Tampa Bay, Gaskin's damage did not come on the ground as he mustered just 25 yards on five carries. Instead, his involvement in the passing game is what rewarded fantasy managers that stuck with the young running back. Gaskin caught all 10 of his targets for 74 yards and two touchdowns, making him the leading receiver in the contest. Although this can't be expected every week, it is promising to see that the Dolphins are still invested in Gaskin. The Dolphins get a much easier matchup in Week 6 when they visit the Jaguars.
• Not many NFL teams can produce two start-worthy fantasy running backs week in and week out. Not many teams are the Browns. Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt both had monster fantasy days against the Chargers in a shootout they would eventually go on to lose. Chubb rushed 21 times for 161 yards and a touchdown, while Hunt carried 12 times for 61 yards and two touchdowns. In the Browns' elite rushing attack, these two likely will continue to share the love.
• Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay offense had a down week in Brady's return to New England. His response: Five touchdowns in a huge win over the Dolphins. Antonio Brown caught two of those touchdowns while racking up 124 receiving yards. Mike Evans caught two touchdowns of his own while gaining 113 yards. With so many mouths to feed in the passing game, days like these when Brady has 41 passing attempts allow for the ability to truly spread the ball around. Start all of the major pieces of this passing attack every week and don't think twice.
• Jalen Hurts had a bad day throwing the ball, but that didn't stop him from having a very solid fantasy day. The thing that makes Hurts an intriguing fantasy option is his ability to use his legs, and he used them to the tune of two touchdowns in the Eagles' Week 5 win over the Panthers. Through the air, Hurts totaled just 198 yards and threw an interception. Philadelphia's signal caller will get an even greater test when the Buccaneers come to town Thursday night.
• D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams were nearly at a 50-50 split in rushes today, with Williams handling 13 carries to Swift's 11. Williams gained 57 yards, while Swift gained 51 yards on his way to a touchdown. Swift's involvement in the passing game gave him the edge in the backfield, as he secured all six of his targets for 53 yards. Detroit's backfield has become an interesting one for fantasy managers to monitor. The team's coaching staff seems intent on using both backs almost interchangeably, with Swift getting more of a nod for passing work. For that reason, Swift should remain the favorite for fantasy purposes.
• Davante Adams had 11 catches on a massive 16 targets for 206 yards and a touchdown. Adams usually soaks up a ton of targets, but his nearly 50 percent target share was a nice surprise for fantasy managers in a win over the Bengals. Aaron Rodgers and Adams have an unstoppable connection, and any game where Rodgers throws 39 times likely will include an incredible stat line like the one Adams enjoyed Sunday. The Packers will face the Bears in Week 6.
• The Chargers won a crazy game against the Browns on Sunday that produced a ton of fantasy points on both sides. What's interesting for the Chargers' offense, though, is what is happening in the receiving corps. Keenan Allen may be passing the torch as the team's WR1 to Mike Williams. Williams had a great fantasy day, catching eight of his team-high 16 targets and two touchdowns. Although Allen is still heavily involved, it's Williams that appears to have the slight edge when it comes to getting high-value touches in the Chargers' high-flying offense.

Injury Notes

• JuJu Smith-Schuster exited the Steelers' Week 5 win over the Broncos with a shoulder injury. The wideout was in a good deal of pain on the sidelines. Fantasy managers should monitor his status ahead of a Week 6 matchup against the Seahawks. If Smith-Schuster can't go, Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool likely will continue to operate as Pittsburgh's best options in the passing game.
• Taysom Hill was ruled out of the Saints' matchup with Washington with a concussion. He was carted off the field and will have to clear the concussion protocol to return to the field in Week 6. If he is forced to miss time, his absence should have some benefit to Alvin Kamara, as Hill is always a threat to steal goal-line work as a rusher.
• Damien Harris suffered a rib injury in the Patriots' win over the Texans. The running back, who fumbled away a sure touchdown during the contest, was in and out of due to injury. If Damien Harris must miss time, rookie Rhamondre Stevenson and veteran Brandon Bolden  likely will handle rushing duties in New England.
• Quintez Cephus was ruled out with a shoulder injury in the Lions' loss to the Vikings on Sunday. It remains to be seen if Cephus will have to miss time, but the Lions can ill afford to lose a talented pass catcher in their underwhelming receiving corps.
• Saquon Barkley injured his ankle and was forced out of the Giants' loss to the Cowboys. X-rays on the ankle were negative, and it appears the star running back suffered a low ankle sprain. It's likely that Barkley will miss at least Week 6, which will make backup running back Devontae Booker the next man up in the backfield. If Booker is the starter in Week 6, he gets a tough test against the Rams defense.
• Joe Burrow was taken to a Cincinnati area hospital Sunday following the Bengals' loss to the Packers, as he suffered a throat contusion during the game. It is unclear if Burrow will miss time, but if he must, Brandon Allen would be in line to start in Week 6 against the Lions. This would likely mean a downgrade for most of Cincinnati's skill position players.
• Curtis Samuel exited Washington's loss to the Saints with a groin injury. Fantasy managers hoping for a breakout year for Samuel may be losing hope with the wideout. His long recovery from a groin injury in the offseason may have taken a significant step back Sunday. If Samuel misses time, Adam Humphries and DeAndre Carter are candidates to see an increased workload.
• Daniel Jones left Sunday's loss to the Cowboys with a concussion. He suffered the injury when attempting to run in a score. As he tried to make it back to the huddle, Jones was noticeably shaken and stumbled. Backup Mike Glennon came in finished the game at quarterback. Jones now enters the concussion protocol and, and if he is to play, he will need to be cleared ahead of a Week 6 matchup against the Rams.
• Kenny Golladay hyperextended his knee in the Giants loss to the Cowboys. The wide receiver will have an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of the injury. Golladay is the latest to get bit by the injury bug on the offensive side of the ball in New York. Kadarius Toney, John Ross, and CJ Board should see an uptick in their usage in the event that Golladay must miss time.