Weekend Wonderings: Week 05 (2025)

1. I wonder what the Cleveland offense will look like under rookie Dillon Gabriel (QB-Cle). There is a youth movement at the skill positions, with fellow rookies Quinshon Jenkins (RB-Cle), Harold Fannin Jr. (TE-Cle), and Isaiah Bond (WR-Cle).  There is noise that organization is really excited about this group moving forward. Gabriel is considered a solid distributor of the ball on the short-to-intermediate areas of the field.  Unfortunately, they will be squaring off against a stingy Minnesota defense (3rd fewest passing yards) in London Sunday morning.  Minnesota is, however, average against the run (4.5 YPA allowed). The over/under for this game is currently 36.5, which is the lowest of the week and will probably be one of the lower ones of the season.  Minnesota is favored by 3.5.  IF Gabriel can be relatively efficient, Jenkins should be okay.  As for the pass catchers, including Jerry Jeudy (WR-Cle) and David Njoku (TE), I would consider other options if available.  I still believe Fannin Jr. is going to finish strong this season and outperform Njoku, but there is a risk in this game with a QB making his first start. 

 

2. In the last few weeks, Troy Franklin (WR-Den) and Tre Tucker (WR-LV) were two waiver wire darlings, who looked like they could be starting a break-out season.  Both faltered miserably the following week(s). I still, however, would not dismiss either entirely, particularly Franklin, as he is tied with Courtland Sutton (WR-Den) for the lead on the team with 27.  He also actually led the team in targets (8) in Week 04—he would have helped my argument here if he was able to come down with a couple more of those passes.  Franklin’s snaps did drop, however, in Week 04, so this argument is predicated on that being more an anomaly than a trend.

 

3. Regarding the TNF between San Francisco and the Los Angelas Rams, my biggest takeaway is that just when it seemed Blake Corum (RB-LAC) may have lost future snaps in theLAR backfield due to his bobbling a pitch, Kyren Williams (RB-LAC) probably gave back those future snaps with his fumble.  Williams is still the guy, but he could have increased his snap percentage even more with a clean game. 

 

4. I am hesitant to react to the Arizona backfield with Trey Benson (RB-Ari) schedule to miss at least the next four games.  Most fantasy managers are looking at Emari Demercado (RB-Ari) and Michael Carter (RB-Ari) as the two players up next. For Week 05, it is a plus-matchup against a Tennessee defense that has given up the 5th most rushing yards (566)  and most rushing TDs (tied-7).  Demercado saw the most action once Benson went down, but Carter may have slipped up in an interview when he said he was starting Week 05.  I suspect a fairly even split, with a bit of Bam Knight (RB-Ari) sprinkled in as well.  I think this is really a coin flip, but I “think” I would lean toward Carter if I had to play one. 

 

5. With Bucky Irving (RB-TB) ruled OUT for Week 05, Rachaad White (RB-TB) is RB21 for me.  I think Sean Tucker (RB-TB), who would be a flex play consideration, is probably going to see more action than what many believe (35%ish of the snaps) and may even serve as the short-yardage/goal-line back, but White should still fare okay.

 

6. A.J. Brown (WR-Phi), who has not fared well in fantasy football thus far, suggested he was upset with his use on social media recently.  Is Week 05 where “the squeaky wheel gets the ?” Even against a stout secondary like the Denver defense, I think this will be the case, and I envision Brown having a top 20 WR rankings for Week 05.  

 

7. With Chuba Hubbard’s (RB-Car) being out, Rico Dowdle (RB-Car) is the player that will benefit greatly, but Trevor Etienne (RB-Car) could also be a sneaky flex play in Week 05 against a Miami defense that has given up the 3rd most rushing yards (632) this season.

 

8. After averaging 3.8 and 3.7 YPC over the last two seasons, Travis Etienne (RB-Jax) is currently leading the league in YPC (minimum of 25 carries) at 6.1 YPC! His yards before contact (YBC) is over a yard better than the previous two years, suggesting his offensive line is helping his cause, but he is also averaging over 1 yard after contact (YAC) better than the previous two seasons, which also suggests he has improved.  I wonder if he can keep this going, as we are still only 4 games in, thus a smallish sample size.  The Week 05, Kansas City, has a seemingly average rush defense, though don’t let that fool you.  The numbers are skewed due to a 4th quarter run against some back- up players.  KC also has shown to stop the rush when it needs to do so.  I will be interested to see if Etienne can keep it going, as this week’s test is more difficult than the numbers suggest. 

 

9. Incidentally, the player in 2nd place with 5.9 YPC (minimum of 25 carries) is of course…. Jacory Croskey-Merritt (RB-Was).  Chris Rodiguez Jr. (RB-Was) and Jeremy McNichols (RB-Was) are solid players, but Croskey-Merritt, I believe, is inevitable.  Speaking of who I believe is inevitable, Brashard Smith (RB-KC) will continue to see more snaps, and he will eventually lead KC’s backfield.

 

10. And finally…,I saw an ATM only give out coins the other day.  I wondered why, but then I concluded that it just made cents.