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Mike Fanelli gives his fantasy football bold predictions for Week 5 of the NFL season, giving fantasy players something to think about when setting their lineups.
Week 5 is here, and I’m back with another edition of fantasy football bold predictions. This week’s list of bold predictions will include Zach Wilson, Kyren Williams, Breece Hall, Michael Pittman Jr., and Zach Ertz.
Every week, I will provide some fun and bold fantasy football predictions. While these bold predictions aren’t the most likely outcomes, they are things I believe could happen this week.
Let’s look at my five bold predictions for Week 5 of the 2023 NFL season.
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Zach Wilson…
Throws three touchdowns for the first time in his career
When Aaron Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles five minutes into his career as a member of the New York Jets, everyone knew what was coming next. After struggling his first two years in the NFL, Wilson took back over under center. He had 467 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 23 fantasy points over the first three games this season. However, things changed for him in Week 4.
Wilson had arguably the best game of his career against the Kansas City Chiefs. The former BYU star had 245 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 19.2 fantasy points. More importantly, he had two passing touchdowns for only the sixth time in his career. Wilson has thrown one or fewer passing touchdowns in over 75% of his career contests.
However, fantasy players should expect the third-year quarterback to have a career performance against the Denver Broncos this week. Denver’s defense has been awful this year. They have surrendered 302.5 passing yards per game, the third-most in the NFL. More importantly, the Broncos have given up the most passing touchdowns this season (13), including a career-high four to Justin Fields last week. Fantasy players can have high expectations for Wilson for the first time this year.
Kyren Williams…
Has his worst fantasy performance of the season
The 2023 NFL season has provided multiple surprise players. One of those players is Williams. Many considered him an afterthought entering the year. Instead, he is the new No. 1 running back for the Los Angeles Rams. Furthermore, the former Notre Dame running back is the RB4 for the season, averaging 19 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. However, he has been super touchdown-dependent.
Williams has been a scoring machine this year, totaling six touchdowns. Furthermore, the second-year player has scored twice in all but one contest. In those three games, the former Notre Dame running back has averaged 22.9 fantasy points per contest, with the touchdowns accounting for 52.5% of his fantasy production. By comparison, he scored only 7.5 fantasy points in the one matchup he didn’t find the end zone.
Unfortunately for the Rams and fantasy players, Williams faces a suffocating run defense this week. The Philadelphia Eagles have surrendered only 48 rushing yards (the third-fewest in the NFL) and 11.4 fantasy points (the second-fewest) per game to running backs. More importantly, the Eagles have given up only one touchdown to running backs this year. Williams will struggle against Philadelphia.
Breece Hall…
Is a top-three fantasy running back
The second-year running back has had an up-and-down past few months. There were reports that Hall wouldn’t be ready for Week 1. Then, the New York Jets signed Dalvin Cook, adding more fuel to the bust fire. Thankfully, the former Iowa State star was on the field opening weekend against the Buffalo Bills, totaling 127 rushing yards and 15.2 half-point PPR fantasy points.
However, Hall has had inconsistent touches over the past three weeks. The team wants to protect the running back from himself as he is coming off a torn ACL from last year. After totaling 10 rushing attempts in Week 1, the former Iowa State star has averaged 7.3 rushing attempts per game over the past three contests. Thankfully, that’s going to change this week. Head coach Robert Saleh said Hall is no longer on a pitch count.
While that doesn’t mean Cook and Michael Carter will never see the ball again, fantasy players should start the second-year running back this week and expect massive production. The Denver Broncos have surrendered the most rushing yards (233.5) and fantasy points (59.9) per game to running backs over the past two weeks. Now is the time to trade for Hall, as he will be a top-three running back in Week 5.
Michael Pittman Jr.…
Totals 100 receiving yards and 17 half-point PPR fantasy points
Many fantasy players wouldn’t draft Pittman this year because he had a rookie quarterback. However, the former USC star has been productive. He is the WR24, averaging 11.4 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. Unfortunately, Pittman struggled in Week 4, totaling only one reception on five targets for 15 receiving yards and four fantasy points.
Yet, the fourth-year receiver will bounce back against the Tennessee Titans. Pittman hasn’t had 100 receiving yards against the Titans since his first career matchup against the division rivals. Furthermore, the former USC star hasn’t had 100 receiving yards this season. However, he has consistently been the team’s top option in the passing game, totaling 11 or more targets in all but one game.
Meanwhile, the Titans have been bludgeoned by No. 1 wide receivers this year. They have surrendered at least 111 receiving yards and 15.2 fantasy points to opposing No. 1 wide receivers in all but one game. The one exception came last week against a banged-up Joe Burrow-led offense. Yet, Ja'Marr Chase still had 73 receiving yards and 10.8 fantasy points against the Titans.
Zach Ertz…
Is a top-four fantasy tight end
Last week, Ertz was the TE14, scoring 8.3 half-point PPR fantasy points. He finished the game with six receptions on 10 targets for 53 receiving yards. However, the veteran could have been a top-three tight end in Week 4. Unfortunately, Ertz dropped an easy touchdown late in the game against the San Francisco 49ers.
The veteran tight end would have scored over 16 fantasy points had he held onto that easy touchdown catch. However, Ertz will bounce back this week and have a massive fantasy performance. Despite coming off a torn ACL from last year, the veteran has averaged 7.5 targets per game this season, totaling eight or more in all but one contest.
Meanwhile, he faces a Cincinnati Bengals defense that struggles to slow down opposing tight ends this year. They have surrendered 12.6 fantasy points per game to tight ends, the fifth-most in the NFL. Furthermore, tight ends have scored three times against the Bengals this season, averaging 5.3 receptions for 55 receiving yards per game. Ertz will make up for last week’s mistake and be a top-four tight end in Week 5.
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