Big Blue View
Welcome to Week 5, and October! The leaves are changing, temperatures are cooling down, and it’s hard to tell what’s spookier, your neighbor’s Halloween decorations, or the Bye weeks arriving while injuries pile up like unpaid medical bills. Put it all together and one thing is abundantly clear: Football season is in full swing!
A personal note: I was at the Giants-Chargers game this past Sunday, and it was a strong reminder of the power that sports can have — to make your heart beat out of your chest, or to rip it straight out. Jaxson Dart capping his first drive by running in a TD was one of the top moments I’ve experienced at MetLife in years. Less than an hour later, the oxygen left the stadium when Malik Nabers tore his ACL. What a game.
Enough said. On to Week 5.
Stats of the Week:
Derrick Henry was held below 50 rushing yards only once during the 2024 season. He’s rushed for 50 yards or less in each of Baltimore’s last three games.
More Baltimore horror: The Ravens are on pace to surrender 560 points this season, which would break the NFL record (534) set by the 2024 Panthers. Last season, the Ravens allowed 361 points.
In the last 18 games that Jalen Hurts has started and finished (including playoffs), the Eagles are a perfect 18-0. I’ll post this stat each week until he loses.
Hurts did not complete a pass in the second half of the Eagles’ 31-25 win over the Bucs on Sunday, and the Eagles had negative yards in that half.
Jaxson Dart threw for a TD, ran for a TD, and had more than 50 rushing yards in his first NFL start. The last QB to do that in his starting debut was Tim Tebow, in 2010.
The Titans have scored just three TDs in their first four games, and of their 44 possessions on the season, only seven have moved into the red zone. They never crossed the Texans’ 20 on Sunday.
Over the past three games, the Cowboys’ defense has allowed 1,085 passing yards and 10 passing TDs. Warning: I might make this a running bit.
Week 5, here we go!
**Bye Weeks: ATL, CHI, GB, PIT
Week 5 Rides, Fades and Sleepers
For those who are familiar with this column, you know the drill. For everyone else: The Rides, Fades, and Sleepers is an analysis of players that I think are primed for an especially strong or poor performance, often as compared to consensus expectations. This isn’t a straight-up Start/Sit exercise. As a general rule, start your studs. I’ll rarely list the most obvious names at a position as “Rides” because those players are almost always expected to have strong performances. You don’t need me or anyone else telling you to start Josh Allen or Jahmyr Gibbs. While this analysis is intended for season-long play, it works for DFS formats too. Half PPR scoring...
