The Rundown: Week 5 Stats to Know & Rams vs Seahawks

Week 4 represented a fun week in terms of breakouts and disappointments. We had a 500-yard passing game and a 200-yard rushing game. We also saw several top quarterbacks fail to throw a touchdown pass and Melvin Gordon’s lack of a return. Hopefully, Week 5 is focused around returns from injury, suspension, and holdouts rather than more missed time and overall fantasy team wreckage.

Each week, I will provide a preview article with some key overall stats to watch for along with the Thursday game preview that includes start/sit ratings. Then, there will be subsequent previews later in the week with all the other games in time for the remaining fantasy decisions before kickoff. For much of this data, I will be using 4for4's Snaps, Touches, and Targets Apps as well as analyzing each team's pace and play-calling tendencies.

Ten Stats to Know for Week 5

• Light up the sky: Jared Goff’s 517 yards passing were the most since 2014. His 68 passing attempts were the most since 2001 and third most since the NFL merger.
• Picked off or picked on: The Patriots are the third team in the last five seasons to manage two games of four interceptions in a season. They’ve done it in four weeks.
• Signal luller: There were four players with 30-plus fantasy points in Week 4. This is the first week none were quarterbacks.
• Overworked: Christian McCaffrey’s 37 touches in Week 4 were the second-most in the last two years. It’s just the sixth instance since the merger that included 10-plus catches.
• Lean on me: Lamar Jackson remains the only player who has 20-plus PPR points in every game this season.
• Triple Cherries: The Rams are the only team with three different receivers on pace for 1000 yards in Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, and Brandin Cooks.
• We’re going streaking: Patrick Mahomes has 20 straight games with 15 or more fantasy points. That is the second-longest since the merger trailing only Emmitt Smith’s 23 games.
• Let him through: The Eagles are the only team to allow a wide receiver to score 20 PPR points in each game this year. They lead the NFL with five total players reaching the milestone.
• Receiving targets: Austin Ekeler and Chris Thompson are the only two running backs with five or more targets in all four games. They are the only two with 50-plus receiving yards in at least three games.
• Old man strength: Frank Gore leads all runners with six rush attempts inside the five-yard line. Larry Fitzgerald leads all receivers with four targets from there.

Rams @ Seahawks

Spread: Seahawks -1.5 | Total: 49.5

A team that just gave up 55 points goes up against one of only three teams to score 21 or more in every game this season. The Rams have seven turnovers in the past two games, 23 teams have fewer than that on the entire season. The Seahawks defense hasn’t been successful with turnovers, only nabbing four thus far but are above average in yardage and points allowed. The offense has been great with the best red-zone conversion rate in the league with both the run and pass proving successful. The Seahawks rank seventh in plays of 20-plus yards this year but the Rams have allowed the second-fewest. That matchup could be where the game, both NFL and fantasy, is won or lost.

Los Angeles Rams

While the passing game accumulated the numbers, much of it occurred while trailing after several early miscues that ended in turnovers. In this game, Jared Goff will likely be more measured but has to continue to spread the ball around to his wide receivers. As for the run game, it continues to be opportunistic in nature, ranking second in touchdowns but below average in most other statistics. It will be difficult in this one for that to change much.

Team Trends That Matter

• Five of the eight top fantasy performances against the Rams occurred in Week 4.
• Tyler Higbee (five) and Gerald Everett (four) lead the team in red-zone targets.
• Cameron Brate was the first tight end to exceed eight PPR points against the Rams (12.6).

Fantasy Rating and a Stat to Know

• QB Jared Goff (3) - Week 4 was the first 20 point fantasy game of 2019. He had eight last year
• RB Todd Gurley (3) - Saw a season-high in snap share at 76% in Week 4
• WR Brandin Cooks (3) - Leads the team in yards per target at 9.5
• WR Robert Woods (3) - Scored nearly half his 2019 fantasy points in Week 4 (29 of 61)
• WR Cooper Kupp (4) - The only Rams receiver with multiple red zone touchdowns

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks have yet to throw an interception, but have four fumbles already. They try to play mistake-free, and largely have, and it likely won’t change in this one. Russell Wilson will take what the defense gives while they try to play 50/50 run versus pass with Chris Carson toting the ball. DK Metcalf could be shut down here with Tyler Lockett and Will Dissly operating underneath.

Team Trends That Matter

• No running back has surpassed 70 rushing yards against the Seahawks but two have managed over 90 receiving yards (Alvin Kamara and David Johnson).
• Tyler Lockett was the only non-quarterback to exceed 80% snap share in Week 4.
• One of six teams with 10 or more red-zone touchdowns this season.

Fantasy Rating and a Stat to Know

• QB Russell Wilson (5) - On pace for his seventh straight season absorbing 40-plus sacks. Would be an NFL record
• RB Chris Carson (4) - One of four running backs with 15-plus carries in all four games
• WR Tyler Lockett (4) - Scored 19.4 and 19.5 PPR points in his two games against the Rams in 2018
• WR DK Metcalf (2) - Has failed to catch any of his six red-zone targets. The most targets without a catch of any receiver in the NFL
• TE Will Dissly (4) - All four 2019 red zone receptions have been for touchdowns

Fantasy Rating Key

• (5) - Elite option. Must start.
• (4) - Strong option. Likely start.
• (3) - Good option. Low-end starter to high-end backup.
• (2) - Weak option. Possible flex or desperation play.
• (1) - Bad option. Bench in nearly all cases.
• (0) - Not an option. Injured, bench, or waivers.