Gross Bombs: NFL Props for Week 16
Josh Gross
Week 5 brought out the dogs as six underdogs won their games outright. Pittsburgh defeated the division rival Ravens as five-point underdogs, and the Jaguars used their overseas training week advantage to defeat the Bills as 5.5-point underdogs.
Each Sunday night, I will provide my five instant fantasy football reactions from the slate of games. What were the key performances, surprises and disappointments from across the NFL?
Let’s get into Week 5!
Reaction No. 1: Dolphins Bounce Back
Miami shook off the rust from last week’s 48-20 drubbing at Buffalo to comfortably beat the Giants, 31-16. The Dolphins have incredible speed at every single position, and rookie De’Von Achane just keeps blowing by defenses.
Tyreek Hill (8 recs, 181 receiving yards) and Jaylen Waddle (5 receptions, 35 receiving yards) also scored touchdowns, and the Miami defense sacked Daniel Jones six times. The Dolphins face the Panthers at home before a massive Week 7 Sunday Night Football battle at Philadelphia.
Reaction No. 2: What’s Wrong With New England?
The most shocking result of the day occurred in Foxboro, where the Patriots were trounced 34-0 at home by New Orleans. The New England offense looks horrific, with quarterback Mac Jones getting benched for the second straight week. The most glaring concern is the running game, where Rhamondre Stevenson looks like one of the biggest busts of the fantasy season.
Things look bleak for the Patriots, with a game against former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels next week, followed by the Bills and at Miami. The Patriots look lost on both sides of the ball.
Reaction No. 3: Is Joe Burrow Back?
Maybe the Bengals should have listened to Ja’Marr Chase?
When the Cincinnati wideout stated in the preseason that Joe Burrow should sit until Week 5, he may have been right. Burrow finally looked healthy in the Bengals 34-20 blasting of Arizona. He connected on 78.3% of his passes, for 317 yards, and three touchdown passes, all of which went to Chase. The Cincinnati star wideout converted 19 targets into 15 receptions and 192 receiving yards.
If Burrow is truly healthy, this team is again dangerous, especially when wideout Tee Higgins returns. Cincinnati hosts Seattle next week, followed by a much needed bye week, before traveling to San Francisco against a (potentially) undefeated 49ers team.
Reaction No. 4: Could the Vikings Blow Up Their Roster?
Minnesota fell to 1-4 after a 27-20 home loss to Kansas City. Justin Jefferson left this game with a hamstring injury, which puts their playoff chances very much in jeopardy.
Questions remain about the long-term future for Jefferson and quarterback Kirk Cousins. Both the Patriots and Jets could certainly use a quarterback, and Cousins is scheduled to hit free agency. With a Minnesota defense that ranks among the bottom in the NFL, how much hope is left in the Vikings season?
Reaction No. 5: Detroit Among the NFL’s Elite
There are only five NFL teams with at most one loss, the 49ers, Eagles, Chiefs, Dolphins, and Lions…? Detroit scored an impressive 42-24 home victory over Carolina while missing two key offensive players. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs both missed this game due to injury, but quarterback Jared Goff was still fantastic. Goff threw three touchdowns and ran for one more, giving him 11 total touchdowns on the season.
The Lions have winnable games against the Buccaneers, Ravens, and Raiders before their Week 9 bye, and are 3-1 within the NFC. Their defense forced three turnovers against the Panthers, and remains among the league’s best against the run. The Lions have certainly met their preseason hype and are a legitimate threat to make this year’s Super Bowl.
