Fantasy Focus Football: Week 5 Recap — Backup RBs Shine & Massive Duds

Date: October 6, 2025
Hosts: Field Yates, Stefania Bell, Daniel Dopp
Featured Analyst: Mike Clay
Purpose: Recap the most notable fantasy storylines from NFL Week 5, highlight surprising performances—especially from backup RBs—biggest duds, and prepare listeners for Monday Night Football.

Episode Theme

This episode dives deep into Week 5 of the fantasy football season, zeroing in on how backup running backs stole the show, high-profile players who disappointed, injury ripple effects, and actionable takeaways for roster moves. The hosts sprinkle in witty banter, friendly show-league rivalry updates, and fan Q&A, blending sharp analysis with plenty of relatable humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Backup Running Back Bonanza

[03:46-06:03]

• Daniel Dopp: Backup RBs “won the weekend.” He specifically credits:
  • Rico Dowdle (Carolina Panthers) – 206 yards, 1 TD, 32.4 pts (RB1)
  • Rashad White (Tampa Bay Bucs) – 41 yds, 2 TDs, 23.1 pts (RB7)
  • Michael Carter (Arizona Cardinals) – 51 yds, 1 TD, 5 recs, 18.3 pts (Top 8 RB)
• Field Yates: Dowdle’s breakout could prompt a permanent timeshare in Carolina.
  • Michael Carter may have opportunity for several more weeks, especially in the passing game.
  • Rashad White benefiting from teammate injuries (Bucky Irving is likely out next week).

Notable Quote

"Anyone that started backup running backs this week won the weekend."
—Daniel Dopp [03:51]

2. Winners of the Week

[06:00-08:55]

• Field Yates:
  • Javonte Williams (Dallas Cowboys) — career-high 135 rushing yds, 26.9 pts (RB6)
    • Overcame past injury/mental hurdles (per Stefania).
    • May be top-8 RB going forward, even while Dallas is missing O-linemen.
• Stefania Bell:
  • Emeka Igbuka (Tampa Bay Bucs) — 7/7 catches, 163 yds, 1 TD, 31.3 pts (WR1 of the week, WR3 on season)
    • A Bucs rookie WR shining despite the team’s WR depth.
    • Chris Godwin returning may not dampen Igbuka’s value.

Notable Moments

• Stefania highlights the human side: "Javonte said he finally felt past all the mental hurdles of his injury... players really know their body." [07:04]

3. Losers of the Week

[09:05-13:19]

• Daniel Dopp:
  • Derrick Henry (Houston Texans) — Under 50 yds in 4 straight, TD-dependent RB2.
    • Usage isn’t saving him; no passing-game work; losing appeal in fantasy.
    • "If he's seeing just over two yards per carry in a lessened stack box... it's a problem." — Daniel Dopp [10:13]
• Field Yates:
  • A.J. Brown (Eagles) — Shut down by Pat Surtain II, 5 catches for 43 yds.
    • Emphasizes: even with volume, coverage matters ("Targets are not all created equally." [12:24])
• Stefania Bell:
  • Geno Smith (Las Vegas Raiders) — Yet another "lousy day" (5.92 pts), now not even a desirable bye-week fill-in.
    • "He's not a rising tide. He's a sinking one." [13:58]

4. What the Heck? Performances

[15:03-22:23]

• Woody Marks (Houston Texans) — Totally uninvolved despite a perfect matchup. (2.4 pts, 7 carries, 24 yds.)
  • Field: "Maybe it's just veteran deference; Nick Chubb just always gets first crack."
• Ryan Flournoy (Dallas Cowboys) — Obscure, deep roster WR with 6 catches, 119 yds, 2 carries, out of nowhere.
• Amari DiMarcado (Arizona Cardinals) — 72-yd TD "lost" by dropping the ball at the goal line: "It's a sin as old as time." — Stefania Bell [18:34]
  • Field laments repeated early-TD celebrations: "I guarantee you 32 out of 32 coaches said... just run all the way through the end zone." [20:11]

Memorable Moment

Daniel Dopp recounts his own flag football TD and vows he didn’t drop it early... [21:08]

5. Main Takeaways and Roster Moves

[24:17-35:28]

A. Commanders Take Center Stage

• Deebo Samuel as a Commander: Now a locked-in top 20 WR. Target hog (14 in last two weeks, 8 for 96 yds & TD in Week 5).
  • "He looks unbelievable right now for this team." — Daniel Dopp [24:23]
• Rookie RB Bill Croskey Merritt — Breakout: 111 yds, 2 TDs (RB5 for the week).
  • Field: "He's definitely trending upwards, but game script will matter a lot for him." [27:14]

B. Critical Injury Update

• Omarion Hampton (Chargers RB):
  • Left in a walking boot, testing coming Monday. Monitor backups Hassan Haskins and Quani Vidal, especially with favorable matchups coming.
  • Stefania: "You don't like seeing a player in a boot. Sometimes it's proactive, but you need to be ready." [27:47]

C. WR and TE Trends

• Jalen Waddle (Miami Dolphins):
  • Clearly the “must-start” when Tyreek Hill is out (season-high targets/yards).
  • Darren Waller returns—top 12 TE consideration after two straight double-digit outings.
• Jake Ferguson (Cowboys TE):
  • Most consistent TE—"Top 5 finish every week since Week One" [32:31], 48 targets on the year, major red-zone trust.

6. Wide Receiver Explosion & Return to Form

[35:28-40:59]

• Stefon Diggs (Patriots): Looked fully back, "It’s in the way that he’s moving... there is zero thinking about the knee." — Stefania [36:29]
• Jamar Chase (Bengals): Slow start, then explodes for 2 garbage-time TDs and 110 yards.
  • Field: "It’s not how, it’s just how many." [39:01]
• Jonathan Taylor (Colts): Pure rushing volume (94 carries, 480 yards) — "Looking very Nick Chubb-like." — Stefania [40:59]

7. Other Notable Takeaways

[41:08-44:56]

• Ashton Genti (Raiders RB): Best receiving usage all season; uptrend despite final box stat.
• Seattle RB Nightmare: Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker neutralizing each other; "Charbonnet is the steak, Ken Walker’s the sizzle." — Daniel Dopp [44:19]
• Chiefs, Jaguars Monday Night Football Preview
  • Xavier Worthy injury-watch
  • "Chiefs are a stay-away backfield right now..." — Field Yates [60:58]
  • All pick Chiefs, but “close call.”

Studs & Duds: Quick Hits

Studs

• Justin Jefferson (Vikings): 7 rec, 123 yds, routine brilliance
• Quinshon Judkins (Browns): 23-110, near monster day derailed by penalty
• Dak Prescott (Cowboys): 4 pass TDs, top-tier QB performance
• Jackson Smith-Njigba (Seahawks): 8 rec, 132 yds, 1 TD — “Ohio State WR day”
• Calvin Ridley (Jaguars): 131 yds, 18 pts — "Welcome back!" — Stefania

Duds

• Jameson Williams (Lions): 1 catch, 9 yards. “Just a boom/bust guy.”
• Jerry Jeudy (Broncos): 2 recs, 15 yds. “Not involved... tight ends took the targets.”
• Mark Andrews (Ravens): 2-22. Brutal drop-off without Lamar.
• Jacoby Myers (Raiders): "Expected big game, got 32 yds in garbage time."
• Zach Ertz (Cardinals): 1 tgt, 0 catches. “Zero is as much as you can be unless you’re a defense giving negative points.” — Stefania [57:36]

Notable Self-Own

Field Yates calls himself a week’s “dud” for his accidental mispronunciation of Ryan Flournoy’s name as "Ryan Flowernoy." [55:10]

Monday Night Football & Listener Q&A

[57:55-65:38]

• Chiefs vs. Jaguars: Watch for Xavier Worthy’s ankle, Travis Etienne usage, and Chiefs’ unsettled backfield.
• Q&A Snapshots:
  • Rico Dowdle stock: “At least a timeshare; Chuba’s calf injury is notable” (Stefania)
  • Jamar Chase trade value: “Top-10 WR in return minimum” (Field)
  • Zay Flowers for Stefon Diggs? Consensus: “Lean Diggs” for safer weekly value

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “He’s not a rising tide. He’s a sinking one.” — Stefania on Geno Smith [13:58]
• “Charbonnet is the steak. Ken Walker’s the sizzle.” — Daniel Dopp [44:19]
• “I guarantee you, 32 out of 32 coaches said... just run all the way through the end zone.” — Field Yates [20:11]
• “If you started backup running backs, you just got bailed out here in Week 5.” — Daniel Dopp [04:41]
• “It’s not how, it’s just how many.” — Field Yates [39:01], on Jamar Chase’s garbage time bonanza

Conclusion

This episode encapsulates the volatility and unexpected heroes common in fantasy football. The hosts emphasize process over panic (especially with studs), encourage being early on waiver claims for emergent RBs, and remind us that even “sure things” (like Henry or A.J. Brown) can deliver duds. Week 5’s key lesson: be flexible, keep tabs on injuries, and never underestimate the backup RB.

Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------|------------| | Show League Rivalry/Setup| 01:06-03:11| | Winners: Backup RBs | 03:46-06:03| | Individual Winners | 06:00-08:55| | Losers of Week | 09:05-13:19| | “What the heck” Moments | 15:03-22:23| | Takeaways & Injury News | 24:17-35:28| | Studs (Quick Hits) | 47:59-51:13| | Duds (Quick Hits) | 51:26-57:08| | MNF Preview, Q&A | 57:55-65:38|

This summary captures the heart and humor of Fantasy Focus, delivering all key takeaways, storylines, and tactical insights for listeners preparing their fantasy teams for the week ahead.