Trending Wide Receivers and Running Backs- Week 5
With the first quarter of the season in the books, player trends have been all over the map and continue to provide little in terms of consistency.
While we aren’t surprised to witness the instability, our attempts to appropriately predict who will rise and fall will continue to be a challenge. Nevertheless, highlighting those players who have had off weeks and others who have produced sound numbers is key in preparation for upcoming contests. Let’s dive into our week five edition of trending players.
Trending Up
Geronimo Allison (GB)
Heading into week five of the season, a player we held in high regard going back to the offseason was the Packers Geronimo Allison. With nothing coming to fruition thus far it terms of statistical achievement, Allison is trending up in a very big way this week based on circumstances. With news that the Packers Davante Adams is dealing with a turf toe issue, Green Bay will look to their supporting cast to help ease the pain.
Granted, Adams hasn’t been ruled out of this week’s matchup just yet, but given that he couldn’t finish the contest last Thursday doesn’t leave us warm and fuzzy that he’ll suit up verse the Cowboys. Allison did show much better in relief last game finding the endzone for the second time this season. The potential for increased targets is very real and he could have a very big week.
Jordan Howard (PHI)
Essentially coming back from the dead, the Eagles head coach Doug Pederson finally realized that his club possesses two talented runners that could do damage when provided the opportunity. Jordan Howard became one of the biggest fantasy busts for the first quarter of the season until last week’s explosion. With the offense littered with injury, Howard was trusted to move the ball and did so emphatically.
When the Eagles traded for Howard this past offseason, we had high hopes this would be one of the best producing backfields in the NFL. Until now, nothing has materialized, but after what transpired a week ago, Howard has to be back in the conversation of value trends in the right direction. Workload will continue to be a fear with Pederson calling the shots, but this Philly offense demonstrated how much better they can be with a sound run attack. We’ll take our chances and preach Howard as a positive trend moving forward.
Golden Tate (NYG)
Things looked grim early in New York with a 0-2 start, and losing Saquon Barkley for multiple weeks. New fortune has graced the big-blue with Daniel Jones placing a new face on this offense. Adding to the encouragement, the Giants will get free agent signee - Golden Tate back from suspension to help aid in the new look offense.
Over his career, Tate’s office has been primarily in the slot where he has picked apart defenses while racking up the receptions. Looking to have a quarterback able to not only distribute the ball effectively, but Jones ability to scramble out of the pocket to extend plays is music to Tate’s ears. While the Giants are forced to play the next several weeks without their star running back, their receiving core looks to be quite dangerous with Tate in the fold. Even though he hasn’t played a game yet in 2019, Tate is firmly on the uptrend at the moment.
Melvin Gordon (LAC)
Yet another player back from a lengthy absence, the Chargers key piece to the puzzle has returned to the club after holding out for a better contract. As the Chargers stood their ground to not overpay a player that has dealt with his share of injuries, they will welcome Gordon back with open arms.
During the layoff, the Chargers have filled the role admirably with backup Austin Ekeler to produce solid productivity in the process. However, there’s no question who the better runner is between the two, and Gordon will slot back into his starting role. For those who took a chance in drafting the disgruntled running back in the summer, the risk is about to pay off. While Gordon is an obvious trend setter most weeks, we must highlight all applicable up trends.
Trending Down
Joe Mixon (CIN)
Heading back to the offseason, we were on record to not overly promote the Bengals star runner Joe Mixon, and boy are we glad we held that opinion. It’s not that Mixon doesn’t have supreme talent and ability, but the fabric in how this Bengals offense has been assembled, the prospects didn’t look abundant.
Cincinnati over the past several years have struggled in finding appropriate solutions on their offensive line, and the issues continue. Many want to blame Andy Dalton for the lack of success the Bengals have had thus far, but all problems identified start and stop with the line. Mixon has seen nothing favorable in terms of open lanes in the first four contests and it appears this could get worse before it gets better. Even with coach Zac Taylor attempting to get Mixon the ball in the open field through the pass game, the offensive line can’t seem to provide the blocks.
As much as it pains us to say, the value is dropping with each passing week and we fully recommend trading him away to recoup some value. Major down trend rests with Mixon after the first quarter of the season.
Calvin Ridley (ATL)
As we go back in review, (outside of the second week of the season), Calvin Ridley has been a colossal bust thus far in 2019. The Atlanta Falcons have had their issues in the past, but it appears they’ve adopted a new level of dysfunction as this offense is shades of their former self.
Heading back to the offseason, we mentioned the adjustment period Matt Ryan typically requires when a new offensive coordinator implements their systems. Hitting that nail right on the head, this offense can’t seem to generate anything tangible with consistency. Being subject to these struggles, Ridley has become the afterthought in this pass game seeing limited target share in the process.
There is hope in the onset but it will have to come from the Falcons quarterback. If Matt Ryan can manage to get on track, Ridley will see better days. As of our week five evaluation, Ridley is trending in the wrong direction.
Adrian Peterson (WAS)
When the Washington Redskins lost their future potential start Derrius Guice to another knee injury, thoughts in our camp believed the ageless wonder Adrian Peterson would manage to again find that fountain of youth. Unfortunately for Peterson, finding room to gallop has been rather challenging and perhaps father time has finally caught up with him.
While we can’t sit here at force all the blame on the future hall of famer, the Redskins roster was clearly built to fail. With Case Keenum anointed the starter at the beginning of the season, only to be benched for rookie Dwayne Haskins, the Skins run attack poses no fear to their opposition. Peterson hasn’t rumbled over 40-yards yet this season and will continue to struggle on this offense. For a player that has the starting role in the backfield and should be getting the volume, the production isn’t here anymore leaving Peterson to be trending to retirement.
Will Fuller (HOU)
A greater frustration we can find as we discuss the Texans speedy talent Will Fuller. Over the course of his career, big plays have been the thread, but medical issues have always limited the overall potential. This season appeared to finally be the difference as Fuller maintained full health throughout the preseason and training camp.
Excitement rose further after the first week shootout with the New Orleans Saints. Houston seemed to become an offensive juggernaut in that contest which we believed would translate to a weekly showcase. More wrong we couldn’t have been and with the demise and inefficiency of the offense, Fuller too has been nothing to speak of. While sound target share is positive, the production and big play threat is sorely lacking. We require a few games of highlight real plays to promote Fuller back in the good books.
