Booms and Busts in Week 5: Ravens and Bengals deliver a fantasy football show in a 79-point OT thriller

September often feels like the NFL’s glorified preseason. We need football in October to cleanse our palates and feel good again.

Baltimore and Cincinnati answered that call on Sunday. Jacksonville and Indianapolis did too.

However, the Ravens and Bengals deserve the top spot. Competing teams, well-known quarterbacks. The Ravens escaped with a 41-38 overtime win in a game that featured 962 yards of offense and 53 first downs. Almost every plausible fantasy angle was implemented.

Lamar Jackson led Baltimore’s offense brilliantly, throwing for 348 yards and four touchdowns. He added 55 more yards on the ground. There were occasional mistakes – two fumbles (one was lost) and a safety, although he only absorbed one sack. But Jackson’s highlights, the splash plays, more than make up for the rare mistakes. I can’t imagine how the commanders will keep him under control next week (now there’s a wonderful duel, Washington vs. Baltimore).

Baltimore’s passing tree can be a tricky solution some weeks, but Jackson focused on his receivers, driving 20 targets to Zay Flowers (7-111-0, 12 targets) and Rashod Bateman (4-58-1, eight targets). The tight end work was split three ways: Isaiah Likely caught two short touchdowns, Charlie Kolar went 3-64-1 on every waiver wire in America and Mark Andrews finally joined the party, four grabs for 55 yards. Given that Andrews had two targets and zero catches in the previous two weeks, I suspect this is progress.

Overall, the Bengals did a great job with Derrick Henry, but two plays saved the day – a short touchdown run in the first half and a 51-yard gallop in overtime, the final play from scrimmage of the game. That’s the joy of Henry – it can feel like he’s doing nothing, and he still manages to cobble together 16.10 fantasy points. Surprisingly, Justice Hill was only targeted twice.

Jackson’s preference for wideouts was reflected in Joe Burrow, and more so; Burrow sent 26 of 39 targets to Ja’Marr Chase (10-193-2) and Tee Higgins (9-83-2). Chase could legitimately be the No. 1 overall pick if you redraft tomorrow, especially considering the leaky Cincinnati defense on the other side. Higgins looks fully healthy again after missing the first two games of the year.

The Bengals already had a tight usage tree, and it could get even tighter in the future. Chase Brown was more effective than Zack Moss on Sunday, and Moss ultimately left the game with a nasty-looking ankle injury. Brown caught a touchdown catch and a 2-point conversion and moved into the top 10 in running back rankings as the window closed at 1 p.m. ET. The Giants present a good matchup next week.

Burrow obviously didn’t make a good impression in the season-opening loss to New England, but he’s thrown 12 touchdown passes in the four games since. Funnily enough, the Bengals lost three of those games, scoring 26, 38, 24 and 41 points during that stretch.

Maybe Cincinnati is the best fantasy carnival in the league right now. But the Colts are also starting to spread a carnival atmosphere.

The wonderful Joe Flacco rushed for 359 yards and three touchdowns in Jacksonville, but his defense let everything happen and repaired Trevor Lawrence in a magical three hours (371 yards, two touchdowns, one interception). The Colts know that Anthony Richardson’s development is an in-season priority, but fantasy managers may be yearning for more Flacco, especially given the way he has thrived here with the receivers. Lawrence hit Brian Thomas Jr. (5-122-1) for an 85-yard touchdown, but it’s criminal that Thomas never saw 10 scores in a game. Use your best players, people.

Tank Bigsby appears to be Jacksonville’s best running back. He managed 101 rushing yards and two scores on 13 carries, including a 65-yard romp. Travis Etienne Jr. was held to 6-17-0 on the ground, although he was useful in the passing game (6-43-0). Bigsby seemed lost as a rookie, but he is currently one of the most improved players in the league. It’s time to proactively launch him in mid and deeper fantasy formats. He is only on the roster in 22% of leagues.

Jacksonville travels to London for two weeks to face the Bears and Patriots. Flacco or Richardson will tie Tennessee in Week 6.

Other booms

The Bears are really starting to get going

The Bears immediately controlled their game against Carolina, so the volume would be difficult for the passing options. But DJ Moore still prevailed in his revenge game against Carolina, posting a 5-105-2 record against his former club. There’s talent behind Moore in Chicago’s passing tree, but we all know who the alpha is.

Let’s say this for D’Andre Swift: The Bears are sticking with him. Despite failing to reach four yards per carry against Carolina, he racked up 23 touches for the second straight week and totaled 120 yards and a score. Yes, Roschon Johnson managed two short touchdowns, but Swift is the team’s undisputed feature back. He’ll be targeting the Jaguars in the breakfast game in London next week.

Rhamondre Stevenson overcomes fumbles

Stevenson didn’t start in Miami, a slight slap on the wrist for recent fumble issues. He then went 12-89-1 on the ground and caught four passes that went nowhere. New England has scored a measly 62 points in five games, so it feels like the limit is one touchdown per week. But if you had to bet, you’d expect Stevenson to score.

In other early window busts

Bills (and opponents) are putting pressure on Josh Allen

Do the Bills need Davante Adams more than the Jets? Allen doesn’t get much help these days. He was forced into a miserable 9-for-30 passing game in Houston and endured three hours of physical exertion (he briefly went to the medical tent in the fourth quarter but was quickly cleared). Keon Coleman did have a 49-yard catch, but his other targets hit the turf. No one else on the Buffalo roster gained 35 yards receiving. The Buffalo coaches also need to look in the mirror; Mysterious decisions in the final minute of the game gave the Texans the game-winning field goal.

The Dolphins remain lost despite the win

The Dolphins got a win in New England, but there are no fantasy winners if your key players can’t score touchdowns. The Dolphins’ only TD was a troll job by Alec Ingold, of all people. At least Tyler Huntley went up to 6.3 YPA on his 31 attempts, so Tyreek Hill (6-69-0) and Jaylen Waddle (4-46-0) produced like WR3-4 for fantasy. De’Von Achane suffered a concussion in the first half, giving Raheem Mostert (19-80-0) and Jaylen Wright (13-86-0) more work. Miami is quietly hoping Tua Tagovailoa can return around Week 8.

Deshaun Watson’s struggles continue

I don’t know what it would take to get Deshaun Watson on the bench, but it looks like we’re not there yet. Watson recorded seven sacks and managed a putrid YPA of 4.5 against a Washington defense widely considered one of the five worst in football.

Would the Browns listen if someone called about an Amari Cooper trade?

note: I will continue to add analysis for Week 5 throughout the day.