Unexpected Boom Performances: Fantasy Football Risers Include Kirk Cousins, Darnell Mooney, Tank Bigsby, Alec Pierce, more

Hayden's unexpected fantasy football performances, waiver wire sleepers, and trade targets for Week 6 (2024). Can these NFL players sustain Week 5's success?

The fifth NFL Sunday of the 2024 season was absolute cinema. Baltimore and Cincinnati faced off in an epic overtime duel, the Cowboys prevailed in the final minute versus the Steelers, and the Jaguars got their first win of the season in dramatic fashion over Indianapolis, to name just a few of the many captivating games.

A lot of players put up great fantasy performances as well. Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and Ja'Marr Chase dominated, but many expected them to play well. Some less-renowned players also shined this week, including a few from the Thursday night bout between Atlanta and Tampa Bay.

Let's take a look at five of this week's unexpected boom performances, beginning with two players from the Thursday night thriller.

Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons

Quarterback Kirk Cousins got off to a bit of a slow start in his first season with Atlanta. Through Week 4, he had not reached 250 passing yards in a game once, and he had just one outing with multiple touchdown tosses. With no rushing production at all, his fantasy numbers were uninspiring.

Then Week 5 happened. Cousins went berserk on Thursday, throwing for 509 yards. The yardage total set a new Falcons record and a new career best for Cousins. He also set new career highs with 42 completions and 58 attempts, and he tied his career high for touchdown passes with four. The output was stunning.

The only QB in the Super Bowl era to throw for 250+ yards in the first and second half of a game

😤 @KirkCousins8 pic.twitter.com/icpWwCcCvZ

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) October 4, 2024

Cousins's efforts helped Atlanta win a wild 36-30 overtime game against Tampa Bay. They also earned him 35.36 half-PPR points, making him Week 5's QB1 entering Monday. A 36-year-old passer coming off of an Achilles tear, Cousins managed to shut down his detractors at least temporarily.

For any fantasy managers needing quarterbacks, Cousins should be on the radar. He will not be piling up this many attempts every week, of course, but he is forging stronger connections with receivers Drake London, Darnell Mooney, and more as time goes on. Look for Cousins on waivers this week ahead of his game versus Carolina.

Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons

Cousins passed for 509 yards, so those yards all had to go somewhere. While Drake London led the team with 12 receptions for 154 yards and a touchdown, Darnell Mooney turned in an elite fantasy performance of his own. Mooney caught nine of 16 targets for 105 yards and two scores in the victory.

Let it rip 🔥@KirkCousins8 x @Darnell_M1https://t.co/4yVnQQsWkZ pic.twitter.com/6CquT83nzm

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) October 5, 2024

Mooney scored 27.0 half-PPR points, placing him as the week's WR3 through Sunday. His 16 targets tied his career high, and the game also marked Mooney's first performance with multiple receiving touchdowns since entering the league in 2020. While he did have a critical drop in the fourth quarter, that was a small blemish on an otherwise stellar showing.

Before this game, Mooney had not stood out this year in fantasy football. He had a solid 88-yard, one-score game in Week 2, and he caught eight passes in Week 3, so he had been a factor. However, his Week 5 eruption along with the rest of the Atlanta offense was rather unforeseen. He was coming off of a three-catch, 56-yard outing versus New Orleans.

Mooney is already rostered in many leagues, but he should be a top waiver priority in those in which he is available. The Atlanta offense is beginning to settle in with all of its new faces. Although Mooney will not be peppered with targets every week, he will meaningfully contribute to fantasy squads.

Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars

Tank Bigsby had a quiet rookie campaign a year ago, rushing for just 132 yards. He started to get more involved this season in Week 1 when he toted the ball 12 times for 73 yards. Bigsby suffered a shoulder injury in Week 2, and he did not resurface until rushing for 90 yards on seven attempts in Week 4.

That efficient showing set the stage for a Bigsby breakout. The 23-year-old posted 101 rushing yards on 13 carries in Week 5, and he found paydirt twice. Bigsby powered through defenders on his first trip to the endzone, and his second score was a long one to put Jacksonville up 14 in the fourth quarter.

TANK BIGSBY STIFF ARMS HIS WAY TO A 65-YARD TD.

📺: #INDvsJAX on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/oVugPI0X5s

— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2024

Bigsby currently ranks as Week 5's RB1 with 25.4 half-PPR points, with no other running back topping 20 points before Monday. Bigsby is definitely carving out a real role and outperformed teammate Travis Etienne Jr. this week, although Jacksonville's backfield will still be led by Etienne moving forward.

Any fantasy managers who have not hopped on the Tank hype train should do so now. He is a legitimate fantasy option, and he should be picked up off of waivers if he has not been already. Bigsby will hope to carry his momentum from this game into next week's road outing versus Chicago.

Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts

Colts receiver Alec Pierce appeared in the Week 1 version of this article after gaining 125 yards and scoring a touchdown against Houston. His fantasy production dwindled after that, though. Pierce's output bottomed out at one catch on two targets for nine yards in Week 4 versus Pittsburgh.

Now Pierce is suddenly back with another boom. He saw just three targets in Week 5 against Jacksonville, but he caught all three for 134 yards and a score. The touchdown was a 65-yarder to tie the game late, and his 45-yard reception set up the previous score. Pierce's big play ability was on full display.

FLACCO TO PIERCE FOR A 65-YARD TD TO TIE IT.

Joe Flacco MAGIC.

📺: #INDvsJAX on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/8Ce2qHZYMw

— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2024

Pierce and his 20.9 half-PPR points stand as the WR8 for the week before the Monday game. He has only gotten more than three targets in one game this season, so Pierce will suffer from major inconsistency from week to week. He has proven that he can explode in any given week, though, making him somewhat interesting in fantasy.

Many other players on waivers should be placed above Pierce this week, given his apparent unreliability in fantasy. However, fantasy managers in deeper leagues or who are looking for a boom-or-bust option can give him a look. Pierce will seek another strong stat line next week versus Tennessee.

Darius Slayton, New York Giants

Giants rookie wideout Malik Nabers has been sensational this season, but he missed Week 5 with a concussion. New York's other weapons needed to step up, and Darius Slayton did so. Slayton caught eight passes for 122 yards and a score for the Giants in their 29-20 win over the Seahawks.

Daniel Jones finds Slayton in the end zone 🎯

📺: #NYGvsSEA on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/clbzazMC51

— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2024

Slayton compiled 22.2 half-PPR points, placing him seventh among receivers this week entering Monday. He had just 17.2 half-PPR points total in his first four games of this season. Slayton also doubled his season receiving yardage figure, going from 122 yards to 244. His 11 targets came close to his sum of 15 through Week 4.

Nabers's absence was the driving factor behind Slayton's boom against Seattle. The fact that Slayton made the most of the opportunity is promising for his outlook should Nabers miss any further time this season. However, it likely says little about how Slayton would perform when the team is fully healthy.

With New York's passing attack unable to support many receivers for fantasy football, Slayton should be left on waivers outside of deeper leagues. The exception to this is if Nabers appears set to miss another game while in the concussion protocol. Make sure to monitor this situation in the coming days.

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