With Week 5 of the 2021 NFL season now complete, it’s again that time to look at the players who excelled in fantasy despite mainly being unowned.
In order to be eligible, the player must be owned in less than 25 percent of ESPN fantasy football leagues. One quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, and one tight end will be highlighted each week.
QB - Jameis Winston, Saints (24.0%) - 279 passing yards, 4 passing touchdowns, 1 interception, 26 rushing yards, 1 fumble lost
Winston threw at least four touchdowns (threw five in Week 1). This year, New Orleans hasn’t been a high-octane pass offense as Winston averaged about 153 passing yards in his first four contests.
Head-scratching INT immediately followed by a 73-yard touchdown.
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) October 10, 2021
Welcome to the Jameis Winston experience. pic.twitter.com/OyNjPUwB6V
RB - Devontae Booker, Giants (3.8%) - 42 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 3 receptions, 16 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
With Saquon Barkley leaving Sunday’s game with an ankle injury, Booker carried the ball 16 times in Week 5 after just receiving seven in the team’s first four games. According to ESPN, Barkley is expected to miss a “couple weeks,” which will make Booker one of the more popular waiver pickups.
My Week 6 Waiver Wire column
— Justin Boone (@justinboone) October 11, 2021
Darrel Williams, Devontae Booker, Kadarius Toney, Tua Tagovailoa, David Njoku, TIM PATRICK and over 50 other players mentioned as possible adds. (Will be updated after MNF) https://t.co/qSJV1cF0ov pic.twitter.com/raotW1O9cq
RB - Giovani Bernard, Buccaneers (10.8%) - 21 rushing yards, 2 receptions, 14 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
For his second straight game (missed Week 4 with a knee injury), Bernard is included on the list. His exploits have been in the passing game this year (15 catches in four games) as his four rush attempts in Week 5 were his first four of the season.
Buccaneers final HB snap count #MIAvsTB
— Nathan Jahnke (@PFF_NateJahnke) October 10, 2021
Leonard Fournette 46
Giovani Bernard 17
Ronald Jones 10
WR - Kadarius Toney, Giants (10.7%) - 10 receptions, 189 receiving yards, 7 rushing yards
The 20th overall pick in 2021, Toney potentially could have had a 200-yard day if he wasn’t ejected in the fourth quarter on Sunday for throwing a punch. His role has expanded substantially with Darius Slayton and Sterling Shepard missing the past two games.
New York Giants QB Mike Glennon believes rookie WR Kadarius Toney is “special” and several members of the Dallas Cowboys completely agree. https://t.co/KqrfCJuZYw
— TheGiantsWire (@TheGiantsWire) October 12, 2021
WR - Chris Moore, Texans (0.0%) - 5 receptions, 109 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
Moore had a career game just one day after being called up from the practice squad. He had never totaled more than three receptions or 48 yards in his previous 62 regular-season games.
Chris Moore takes it 67 yards to the house 💨
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 10, 2021
(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/WXPDgG0bFG
TE - David Njoku, Browns (1.7%) - 7 receptions, 149 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
After being targeted just 10 times in his first four games, Njoku caught all seven of his targets in Week 5. It was the first time of his career that the 2017 first-round pick went over the century yardage mark in receiving.
Baker Mayfield ➡️ David Njoku
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 10, 2021
FOR 71 YARDS 🔥
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/AjKJYWJQ6f