5 UP/5 DOWN: Week 13

5 Up

Sam Darnold, QB, New York Jets

Darnold’s early season numbers were very inconsistent, but since returning after a four-week absence for illness related reasons, the former USC Trojan has been getting steadily better week by week. On Sunday against what had been a very feisty Oakland defense, Darnold threw for 315 yards and two touchdowns, and he also ran one in, his second such score in the past three weeks. He has put himself at the very top of the quarterback streaming list with upcoming games at Cincinnati and at home against Miami.

Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee

Throughout the first half of the 2019 season, Henry was considered to be “steady, yet unspectacular.” However, in his last two games, the former Alabama product has simply exploded, rushing for nearly 350 yards and four touchdowns. Admittedly, he has a bit of a tough road ahead with games against some rather stout defenses (Indianapolis, Oakland, Houston and New Orleans) to round out the traditional fantasy season and playoffs, but if he can somehow manage to keep it up, he’ll make a lot of fantasy owners glad that they didn’t deal him away mid-season.

Baker Mayfield, QB, Cleveland

Much like Henry, Mayfield has enjoyed his own version of improved play as of late. In the last two weeks, the former Heisman winner has thrown for 520 yards and five touchdowns while managing to run one in, as well. This week as Mayfield leads Cleveland into Pittsburgh, tensions will no doubt be running high, as this is a rematch of the much talked about “footbrawl“ game from two weeks ago.

New York Jets D/ST

Throughout most of the first half of the 2019 season, the Jets defense/special teams didn’t have much to brag about, posting mostly single-digit fantasy efforts week to week. But in the two of the last three weeks, they’ve managed to come alive, including dismantling what had been a much improved Oakland team, racking up a sack, a fumble recovery and a “pick six,“ all while shutting down the Oakland offense, including Rookie of the Year candidate Josh Jacobs. Oakland could only manage three points against the up-and-coming Jets. New York can boast a rather easy schedule for the next two weeks, as it travels to Cincinnati this week before returning home to face Miami. If you’re in need of a streaming defense, you can’t do much better than the 2019 version of “Gang Green.”

Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans

Since getting pummeled, beaten and embarrassed by Atlanta a couple of weeks ago, Brees and New Orleans have returned to being the team we’ve all gotten used to seeing. In his past two games, Brees has thrown for 539 yards and six touchdowns. New Orleans gets a rematch with Atlanta on Thanksgiving night, and this time around Brees and New Orleans will be ready for them.