DFS: Week 5 Rookie Power Rankings
Here's a look at the rookie power rankings heading into Week 5:
Quarterback
1. Jameis Winston, Buccaneers (vs. Jaguars)
Winston recorded career highs in completions and passing yards in Week 4 against the Carolina Panthers. Despite throwing four interceptions on the day - bringing his season total to seven - Winston is slowly making the Buccaneers' offense look more dangerous.
The Jaguars have allowed six passing TDs to one interception through four weeks, and they've allowed the seventh-most passing yards (1,114).
2. Marcus Mariota, Titans (vs. Bills)
With the Titans coming off a Week 4 bye, Mariota has had a full week to put his first two NFL interceptions behind him. Along with the two picks, Mariota compiled a career-high 27 completions and a career-high 367 passing yards in Week 3 against the Indianapolis Colts.
Mariota will now a face a Buffalo Bills defense that has allowed more passing yards against than all but three teams in the NFL, and their 10 passing touchdowns allowed are more than all but the Kansas City Chiefs.
Don't expect Mariota to get much done on the ground against the league's third-best rush defense, but the passing yards/touchdowns should be there.
Running Back
1. Todd Gurley, Rams (at Packers)
In just his second game as an active player, Gurley rewarded the Rams' decision to make him the No. 10 overall pick in the 2015 draft.
With 161 total yards on 21 touches, Gurley officially laid claim to the feature-back role. Teammate Tre Mason received just two carries, and he finished with -1 yards.
The Packers are third last in the NFL with 4.8 yards allowed per attempt, making an excellent combination with the 7.7 yards per attempt Gurley averaged in Week 4.
2. T.J. Yeldon, Jaguars (at Buccaneers)
Primarily a volume-back, Yeldon broke through in Week 4 to average 4.8 yards per attempt on 22 carries against the Colts. Yeldon still hasn't been able to reach the end zone, but he'll have another excellent opportunity against a Buccaneers defense allowing one per week.
3. Melvin Gordon, Chargers (vs. Steelers)
Gordon squandered an excellent opportunity in Week 4, against the pour rush defense of the Cleveland Browns, but the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense has been rather pedestrian against the run as well.
Despite continuing to split snaps with veteran RB Danny Woodhead, Gordon remains the focus of the Chargers' ground game. The Monday-night matchup has one of the highest projected point totals of the week, and both teams will need to try to control the clock.
4. Duke Johnson Jr., Browns (at Ravens)
Johnson Jr. continues to out-snap counterpart Isaiah Crowell, and in Week 4 he finally capitalized on that fact.
Finally freed from blocking duties, Johnson Jr. caught nine of 10 targets and he turned those receptions into 85 receiving yards and a touchdown, while also contributing 31 yards on the ground.
The Baltimore Ravens' rush defense is coming off a horrible game against Le'Veon Bell and the Steelers, and although Johnson Jr. isn't Bell, he'll look to exploit the same weaknesses that were exposed in Week 4.
5. Matt Jones, Redskins (at Falcons)
Jones has all but disappeared since racking up 146 total yards and two touchdowns in Week 2, but it's tough to find a better cure for a slump than a date with an Atlanta Falcons defense allowing 4.4 yards per attempt, and a league worst 10 rushing touchdowns on the season.
It will remain to be seen if Jones can separate himself from RBs Alfred Morris and Chris Thompson, but with this matchup, he is worth a flier once again.
6. David Johnson, Cardinals (at Lions)
Despite Chris Johnson taking over the starting role in Arizona, and Andre Ellington a candidate to make a Week 5 return from injury, D. Johnson has done enough to retain some touches.
The least experienced member of the Cardinals' backfield had four receptions in Week 4, translating to 63 receiving yards and a touchdown, with the addition of 18 rushing yards on just three carries.
It was Johnson's most effective game of the season in terms of total yards from scrimmage, but he'll be best avoided until more his known about his role upon Ellington's return.
7. Tevin Coleman, Falcons (vs. Redskins)
The saying "you can't lose your job due to injury" will likely be thrown out the window in Atlanta. Despite Coleman's effective start to the season, Devonta Freeman's inspired performance the last two weeks will limit Coleman to backup duties in Week 5.
Coupled with a very difficult matchup against the Redkins' rush defense, thoughts of starting Coleman can be shelved for at least this week.
8. Ameer Abdullah, Lions (vs. Cardinals)
With Joique Bell on the sidelines due to injury, Abdullah got the bulk of the carries against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 4. Unfortunately for him, he failed to rush for more than three yards per carry for the third-consecutive week.
Abdullah can be left alone until the Lions show some signs of improving their running game, and overall offense.
Wide Receiver
1. Dorial Green-Beckham, Titans (vs. Bills)
Things are pretty bleak for the rookie wide receivers in Week 5. Green-Beckham may be the best bet for the group, in the hopes that a Week 4 bye was enough time for the Titans to realize he is their best outside receiver.
DGB had touchdowns in consecutive weeks entering the bye, coming on just five targets and three receptions over the two weeks. With WRs Harry Douglas and Justin Hunter completely ineffective, it's time for the 6-foot-5 rookie to be given a full opportunity.
2. Amari Cooper, Raiders (vs. Broncos)
Coming off two excellent games in Weeks 2 and 3, Cooper laid a bit of an egg against the Chicago Bears in Week 4. It won't get any easier in Week 5, when he'll face coverage from either CB Aqib Talib or Chris Harris Jr.
3. Nelson Agholor, Eagles (vs. Saints)
The preseason's most hyped rookie receiver finally showed some of those signs in Week 4, when he caught three of four targets for 64 yards against the Redskins.
It will continue to be difficult to trust QB Sam Bradford and the Eagles' offense, but it was finally a step in the right direction for Agholor.
4. Tyler Lockett, Seahawks (at Bengals)
If it wasn't for a lost fumble, Week 4 would've been Lockett's most impressive week as a wide receiver in the NFL. Still, he managed to catch four of his five targets and finished with a career high 58 receiving yards.
He'll continue to rely heavily on potential production in special teams, but he remains worthy of consideration for use as a FLEX option.
5. Ty Montgomery, Packers (vs. Rams)
Montgomery failed to capitalize on an excellent opportunity in Week 4, although the Packers' offense overwhelmed as a whole.
Montgomery led all Packers' receiver in snaps played at 99.0%, further complicating matters. Daily fantasy owners can make like QB Aaron Rodgers and ignore Montgomery.