Fantasy Footnotes: Manning, Thomases get hot; hobbled Megatron disappoints again
Every gameday during the regular season, theScore's fantasy editors recap the most important news and notes from around the league.
These are the Broncos we know and love
A Week 4 bye didn't cool off the Denver Broncos' offense. If anything, it took a flamethrower to it.
Peyton Manning threw for 479 yards and four touchdowns Sunday, the highest yardage total of any quarterback this season.
Demaryius Thomas was the primary beneficiary. Thomas looked a step slow in the season's first three games, prompting speculation that he's battling an injury, but looked fully healthy and ridiculously explosive on this day. Thomas finished with eight catches for 226 yards (the highest yardage total by any wideout this season) and two touchdowns. The screen pass from Manning to Thomas is as unstoppable as any play in football.
The Broncos' other Thomas, Julius, caught Manning's other two touchdowns. Thomas now has seven touchdown grabs in four games, putting him on pace for 28 touchdowns on the year. The record for touchdowns in a season by a tight end is 17 (Rob Gronkowski, 2011).
Don't expect the Broncos' passing game to slow down. Running back Montee Ball exited the game Sunday with an apparent groin injury and the Broncos don't have much depth behind him. Manning is going to have to keep slinging it.
Megatron burns owners for second straight week
If Calvin Johnson is active, you put him in your starting lineup. Even if he's hurt, he's a threat to score multiple touchdowns.
That's the advice fantasy experts across the land gave last week, and it's what they gave again this week.
It probably won't be what they give next week.
Johnson, with his injured ankle, caught just two passes for 27 yards last week, and followed up that performance with one catch for seven yards this week.
He's killing his fantasy owners.
It's clear that Johnson needs to sit out a few weeks and get healthy. Unfortunately, the Lions know the value of using him as a decoy, so they keep trotting him out even though they know he can barely move.
Fantasy owners need to do what the Lions won't and sit Johnson until he proves he's healthy.
Say hello to Branden Oliver
The San Diego Chargers showed off their impressive running back depth Sunday as rookie Branden Oliver shredded the NFL's top-ranked run defense for 182 total yards and two touchdowns.
Oliver, playing in relief of the injured Donald Brown - who previously started in relief of the injured Ryan Mathews and Danny Woodhead - carried the ball a team-high 19 times for 114 yards and a score, including a 52-yard scamper. He also tied for the team lead in receptions, grabbing four passes for 68 yards and a score.
An undrafted free agent, Oliver suddenly finds himself atop the depth chart on one of the NFL's best offenses. He gets the Oakland Raiders' woeful run defense next week.
Notable Fantasy Lines
Peyton Manning, QB, Broncos
479 yards passing, 4 TDs, 2 INTs
What can you say about Manning that hasn't already been said a thousand times? He's the best. It doesn't matter a lick that his arm strength isn't what it used to be.
Austin Davis, QB, Rams
375 yards passing, 3 TDs, 2 fumbles lost
Davis plays a little like Tony Romo - he just slings it. The emergence of third-year wideout Brian Quick is helping to boost his fantasy value.
Branden Oliver, RB, Chargers
114 yards rushing, 68 yards receiving, 2 TDs
Donald Brown's injury thrust Oliver into a major role and he delivered in a big, big way.
Arian Foster, RB, Texans
157 yards rushing, 15 yards receiving, 2 TDs
Foster's oft-injured hamstring looked just fine Sunday. He ran circles around an overmatched Cowboys defense.
Matt Forte, RB, Bears
61 yards rushing, 105 yards receiving TD
Finally, Forte scored a touchdown.
Pierre Thomas, RB, Saints
35 yards rushing, 77 yards receiving, 2 TDs
Thomas and teammate Khiry Robinson ran for more than 200 total yards against the Buccaneers.
LeSean McCoy, RB, Eagles
81 yards rushing, 5 yards receiving, fumble lost
A slightly better day on the ground for the consensus top-two draft pick, but it won't be enough to please most fantasy owners.
Demaryius Thomas, WR, Broncos
226 yards receiving, 2 TDs
The window to buy low on Thomas has now closed.
Kendall Wright, WR, Titans
47 yards receiving, 43 yards rushing, 2 TDs
Wright got it done even on a day that saw starter Jake Locker leave with an injury, again.
Brian Quick, WR, Rams
87 yards receiving, 2 TDs
Quick is a classic third-year breakout. He's easily the Rams' best offensive weapon.
Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions
7 yards receiving
Hopefully you're one of the few owners smart enough to sit him down this week.
Tim Wright, TE, Patriots
85 yards receiving, 1 TD
Wright was considered a deep fantasy sleeper prior to the season, and made his first major contribution in the win over the Bengals.
Injury Ward
Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions
Johnson left the game after appearing to aggravate his injured ankle. He probably needs to take a few weeks off to get healthy.
Jimmy Graham, TE, Saints
Graham hurt his arm/shoulder and tried to play through it, but was unable.
Rashad Jennings, RB, Giants
Jennings is headed for an MRI on his knee. It was initially reported as a sprain, but that doesn't mean he's in the clear. This could be a multi-week injury.
Zac Stacy, RB, Rams
Stacy left the game after injuring his calf. The severity of his injury is unknown.
Reggie Bush, RB, Lions
Bush left the game with an ankle injury. The severity is unknown.
Donald Brown, RB, Chargers
Brown left the game with a reported concussion after taking a forearm blow to the head.
Montee Ball, RB, Broncos
Ball had to be helped off the field after appearing to injure his groin on a non-contact play. This could be a bad one.
Waiver Wire Targets
Branden Oliver, RB, Chargers
He looks like a slightly more jacked Darren Sproles - and even wears the same number. Even if Donald Brown's injury isn't a long-term one, Oliver is a high-end FLEX or low-end RB2. Make him your priority on the waiver wire this week.
Michael Vick, QB, Jets
Geno Smith just doesn't have it and maybe never will. Vick has proven he isn't durable enough to make it through a season unscathed, but his legs can make him a valuable fantasy commodity. Vick looked bad Sunday, but he may look better after a week of preparation - if the Jets name him the starter, of course.
Ronnie Hillman/C.J. Anderson, RB, Broncos
If Montee Ball misses time, one of these running backs, and perhaps both, will likely have significant fantasy value. The problem is we don't know who it will be. Hillman has a slight edge, but both have proven to be unreliable in limited action.