NFL Week 5: Late Game Wrapup

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Indianapolis Colts

Jeff Garcia - 18/23, 143 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 1/7. Another workman-like performance from Garcia who continues his QB2 performances.

Michael Pittman - 5/-1, 2/16. Not only did he suck, he tore tendons in his ankle. Pittman is out at least 6 weeks and leaves the Tampa Bay backfield to...

Earnest Graham - 6/11, 2/18. I'm sure Graham owners were elated to check the box scores and 2 three yard TD passes to Alex Smith. Graham is the alpha dog in the TB backfield meaning he's well worth owning if he wasn't owned already.

Joey Galloway - 4/50. Not bad considering the solid job the Colts did of limiting what TB could do through the air. Indy has a good secondary scheme that doesn't give up a bunch of yardage, so this was a solid effort in a fairly tough matchup.

Alex Smith - 2/6, 2 TD. Well, he sure made those 2 catches count. He's not used to stretch the field, so he's nothing more than a TE2 who will score here and there.

Peyton Manning - 29/37, 253 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 2/-2. He's no Tom Brady, that's for sure. ;)

Kenton Keith - 28/121, 3/37, 2 TD. Indy is the new Denver, apparently. Plug in RB, receive 100 yards and a TD. Addai should be back after the bye week, so since Keith's value returns to that of a handcuff, see what you can get out of the Addai owner.

Reggie Wayne - 7/62, 1 TD. Every since week 1, teams seem intent on not allowing the Colts to beat them deep. That being said, it'll limit Wayne's value somewhat if teams are successful at doing this, but Wayne is still an elite WR2 at the very least.

Anthony Gonzalez - 7/71. Gonzalez shows that if Harrison doesn't return after the bye week, he'd be a fantasy factor. If Harrison owners have a bench spot around, it's not a bad idea to grab him.

Dallas Clark - 7/49, 1 TD. Clark was almost decapitated on a vicious hit in the first half, but he returned to the game and put up another fine performance. Some fantasy outlets wondered if Clark's emergence during the playoffs in 2006 was for real, and he's sure proving that's the case with a great start to the 2007 season.

San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos

Phillip Rivers - 13/18, 270 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 2/-3, 1 TD. Rivers shocked everyone by turning in his best fantasy performance of the year against what looked like his toughest matchup to date. Rivers looked much more like his 2006 version by racking up solid yardage despite not throwing a whole lot. Hopefully the offense has turned the corner. Norv Turner has quite a history producing great offenses, so let's hope the early season struggles were simply that of acclimation.

LaDainian Tomlinson - 21/67, 3/73. LT continues to disappoint with the TD total so far, and Denver definitely wanted Rivers to beat them in this contest. This was especially disappointing considering that the Broncos were the 2nd worst rushing defense in the league. If you can somehow find an LT owner that wants out, go for it. There's no way he'll continue to struggle like this.

Michael Turner - 10/147, 1 TD. This is a perfect sell-high opportunity for Turner owners that sniped him from LT owners on draft day. This performance doesn't do anything other than show that Turner is a beast when given the ball.

Vincent Jackson - 3/84, 1 TD. He's a very risky PPR WR, but he'll make enough downfield plays to remain a very solid asset in normal leagues. If Rivers can get this turned around, Jackson will become more consistently on a weekly basis.

Antonio Gates - 7/113, 1 TD. Gates is on his way to the best TE season ever in fantasy football. Turner realizes what a special talent that Gates is and is doing his best to consistently target him like a WR each and every week. He's somehow outperforming his already lofty draft day price.

Jay Cutler - 23/36, 232 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 3/7. Cutler has been extremely erratic this year, and he really seems to miss Javon Walker. Much more was expected against a poor SD secondary so far, but I would imagine defenses are now simply keying in on Marshall and forcing someone else to beat them. The bye week comes at a good time.

Travis Henry - 16/65. A solid YPC effort against a stout SD run defense, but with the Broncos getting blown out, they just couldn't run much. Two things of note here for Henry owners. The bad thing is that veteran center Tom Nalen went down with a season-ending injury, and whoever replaces him won't be as good. The good thing is that he's going to be able to delay a suspension thanks to the legal proceedings that need to take place prior to a suspension being handed down, so it could be over a month before he's actually suspended. Trying to buy low is not a bad idea at all if you can get 4-5 weeks out of him.

Brandon Marshall - 7/72, FL. He predictably lead the Broncos in receiving, but he didn't make any big plays down the field, plus he lost a fumble. We liked him better when Walker was starting across from him.

Baltimore Ravens at San Francisco 49ers

Steve McNair - 29/43, 214 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 4/10. Another yawn-inducing performance from McNair. McNair has had a very admirable career, but I think the Ravens would improve their offense by going to Kyle Boller. Who would have thought we'd be saying this 2 years ago?

Willis McGahee - 22/88, 7/48. 5 games, 464 yards, 4.5 YPC, and a shocking 18/143 in the passing game. However, the dude can't score a damn TD on the ground. A very frustrating fact to say the least, both the good and the bad, but the rest of his production has been very solid, if not a bit surprising.

Derrick Mason - 11/85. He continues to post similar numbers every single week. A switch to Boller would hurt his production, so PPR leaguers should keep an eye on the QB situation and attempt to sell high if a switch is ever made.

Trent Dilfer - 12/19, 126 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1/4. Plus, one of the most emphatic fist pumps I've ever seen after the TD pass. A solid effort against a solid BAL defense, but Smith should be ready after the bye.

Frank Gore - 16/52, 3/23. SF really needs to find a way to stretch the field and get the 8th and 9th guys out of the box so Gore has some room to run.

Darrell Jackson - 2/6. Bench him.

Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers

Brian Griese - 15/25, 214 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 1/-1. A very efficient performance from Griese against a pretty solid GB defense. It's really hard to recommend him as a fantasy option, but Minnesota's shaky secondary is up next, and you could do worse for a one week option.

Cedric Benson - 27/64, 1/5. It honestly looks like he's running through quicksand into a wall on over half his carries. He shows no burst whatsoever, and the offensive line isn't doing him many favors. With Minnesota's #1 run D up next, I'd try to avoid using him, although there's a good chance he could score and save what projects to be a miserable yardage performance. They Bears will stay dedicated to feeding him the ball as long as he doesn't put it on the ground.

Bernard Berrian - 1/10. Berrian left with a toe injury and didn't return. He's sunk to an average WR3 option with Griese at the helm.

Desmond Clark - 3/62, 1 TD. He's a solid TE2 with Griese starting. He'll look to his TEs, and even if he's sharing time with Olsen, both could become solid plays as the Bears would be smart to continue using them both off of playaction passes.

Greg Olsen - 4/57, 1 TD. See above.

Brett Favre - 29/40, 322 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT. He racked up the vast majority of that in the first half, and then Green Bay imitated a turtle by going into a conservative shell and never re-emerging.

DeShawn Wynn - 13/78, 1/13, 1 TD. As with Favre, most of that came in the first half. Brandon Jackson seems likely to return this week, and while Morency was also very productive in this game, his knee is bothering him again. It's a mess worth avoiding in starting lineups.

Donald Driver - 4/51. Green Bay seems intent on using all 3 WRs, although if James Jones receives less targets thanks to his fumbilitis, Driver would benefit.

Greg Jennings - 4/83, 1 TD. He's their best deep threat and he's settling in as a solid WR3.

James Jones - 5/61, 2 FL. Tillman kept punching the ball loose, and owners kept punching the nearest thing to them.

Donald Lee - 3/23. His quiestest yardage game of the season. He's still a solid TE2.