Each week, we’ll take a quick trip around the league to identify the top options available in standard sized leagues. The players here are all available in at least 55% of standard Yahoo! leagues and are generally arranged by position in the order in which we’d grab ’em.
Quarterback
Terelle Pryor (OAK)
Pryor missed Week 4 after his concussion symptoms recurred late Saturday evening, making him a question mark heading into Week 5 as well. We expect him to play and while the Raiders may struggle to generate much offense with their backfield hurting, Pryor will get you plenty of rushing yards and continue to provide solid fantasy totals.
Brian Hoyer (CLE)
After two straight wins, there is little question who deserves to be the starting QB in Cleveland. Hoyer has back-to-back 18-point games and has piled up 590 yards and five touchdowns over his first two starts this season. Facing a Bills defense that has allowed 35 fantasy points to opposing QBs over the past two weeks, Hoyer is a nice bye-week plug for Week 5.
Ryan Tannehill (MIA)
The Dolphins could not keep up with Drew Brees and the Saints on Monday, but Tannehill did make a nice throw here and there. He’s got a solid corps of receivers and has tossed a TD pass in each of his first four games this season.
Running Back
Jaquizz Rodgers (ATL)
Rodgers tops the list once again in Week 5. He didn’t do all that much against the Patriots this week, but Rodgers remains the starting back in an elite offense. He’s the top option as a plug and play until Steven Jackson returns.
Danny Woodhead (SD)
In a PPR league, Woodhead must be at the top of this list. San Diego mentioned putting the running back in a Darren Sproles type of role and have stayed true to that word. Don’t expect too many more multi-touchdown games, but 5 catches and some decent yardage totals will keep Woodhead in double digits each week for PPR owners.
Ronnie Hillman (DEN)
Hillman’s value has yo-yoed quite a bit this season. He looked like the back to own temporarily during the offseason only to fall to third on the depth chart once the games began. Now, he is moving in on Knowshon Moreno‘s role as the lead back and has shown nice burst and wiggle when given opportunity. It will likely take an injury or two for any Broncos’ running back to become a true stud, but during the bye weeks, Hillman certainly has a fair amount of flex appeal.
Johnathan Franklin (GB)
Eddie Lacy looks set to return this week, but with James Starks ailing the upstart rookie steps up to the No. 2 role. The Packers may very have themselves a bit of Thunder & Lightning with the rookies in their backfield and while we do believe Lacy is the man to own, we are also anxious to see what type of role Franklin has carved out. Prior to his game-changing fumble in Week 3, Franklin looked like the best player on the field and put together some tape that the Green Bay coaches simply cannot ignore.
Rashad Jennings (OAK)
Darren McFadden is down with a hammy and with Marcel Reese also suffering from a knee injury, so Jennings steps in as the next man up in Oakland. Jennings’ relief performance in Week 4 did not turn too many heads, but if you’re desperate, he’s gonna get carries.
Andre Ellington (ARI)
We keep plugging Ellington and he keeps chipping in solid if unspectacular totals with limited work. He’s going to be a fantasy force down the line so why not stash him not and wait for the upcoming Rashard Mendenhall injury.
Roy Helu (WSH)
Helu put together a nice effort while filling in for Alfred Morris (ribs) but the bye week comes at a fortunate time for Al Mo and he’s likely to be ready to rock come Week 6. Helu is the obvious add for Morris owners, though the bye week crunch may make that a tricky maneuver.
LaGarrette Blount (NE)
Blount broke off a nice long TD run this week and perhaps he’ll continue to function in a clock-killing role for the Pats. However, he’s in a messy situation and we believe that Stevan Ridley eventually steps back up.
Jonathan Stewart (CAR)
It’s hard to expect much from Stewart who just cannot stay healthy. Still, he’s been productive in the past and if those ankles are finally right, Stewart could be a steal in the second half.
Wide Receiver
Marlon Brown (BAL)
Another week, another touchdown for the Ravens’ rookie. Brown is establishing himself as a solid red one target and deserve to be owned in more leagues than not.
Justin Blackmon (JAX)
Well, the suspension is out of the way. Now, Blackmon just needs his awful quarterback to lose his job and we’ll really have something. Blackmon (and teammate Cecil Shorts) thrived down the stretch last year with Chad Henne at the helm. The problem is, the Jags are going nowhere and would perhaps be best-served letting the Blaine Gabbert experiment run its course. If the desire to put the best football team on the field, however, Henne will be back under center sooner than later.
Aaron Dobson (NE)
Kenbrell Thompkins is separating himself from the pack in New England with continued solid play, but Dobson should still see some opportunities from time to time. The hands are an issue for sure, but if Danny Amendola‘s return is short lived, there will be targets to go around later in the season.
Kendall Wright (TEN)
Jake Locker’s hop injury throws a wrench into these plans and it remains to be seen how Ryan Fitzpatrick will distribute his targets. Still, Wright has been seeing a helathy amount of targets so far this season and if that continues, he can put up numbers.
Ryan Broyles (DET)
Broyles whiffed in his first week with an “increased” workload, but the talent remains here. Perhaps he’s been slowed in his return from knee surgery, but Broyles is going to get some attention at some point down the line and is a fine bench stash for now.
Brandon LaFell (CAR)
LaFell garnered some attention early last season and is finally putting some solid work together early in 2013. Still, the Panthers are a team that will thrive on the run and LaFell’s upside is limited. He’s OK as a bye-week fill-in, but is worth little more than that.
Tight End
Heath Miller (PIT)
Miller was a borderline elite option last season as Big Ben’s go-to target in the red zone. Now that he’s healthy, expect the fantasy points to begin to pile up once-again.
Charles Clay (MIA)
Clay continues to be heavily involved in the Miami passing game and while we haven’t see him get a goal line carry for several weeks, he does appear involved in the passing game when the Dolphins get in close.