What We Saw: Week 5

Alvin Kamara looked like the Alvin Kamara we all know and love

Ben Brown
What We Saw 3 Years Ago
Series Navigation
Introduction
Rams @ Seahawks
Jets @ Falcons
Lions @ Vikings
Broncos @ Steelers
Packers @ Bengals
Dolphins @ Buccaneers
Saints @ Football Team
Eagles @ Panthers
Titans @ Jaguars
Patriots @ Texans
Bears @ Raiders
Browns @ Chargers
Giants @ Cowboys
49ers @ Cardinals
Bills @ Chiefs

Jets @ Falcons

Final Score: Falcons 27, Jets 20

Writer: James Schiano (@JeterHadNoRange on Twitter)

 

I hope no one in the United Kingdom knows about the other, better teams in the NFL because this game was a real slog. The Falcons were missing their top two wideouts, Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage, but you would never have known it. Matt Ryan was slinging it all over the ‘pitch’ while Kyle Pitts and Cordarrelle Paterson gashed the Jets’ secondary over and over again.

It was more of the same for the Jets: a slow start and inconsistent play from Zach Wilson put them in a hole they could not climb out of. There were moments where it seemed like they were back in the game, only to be undone by stupid mistakes or poor play.

 

New York Jets

 

Quarterback

 

Zach Wilson: 19/32, 192 yards, INT | 1 carry, 3 yards

 

It has been infuriating to watch Wilson at times this year. I am still bullish on his long-term potential on the back of his arm strength alone, but his accuracy has taken a major hit while transitioning to the NFL. This is especially true on short, rhythm-type plays. The types of plays that you need to make consistently as a young player.

 

 

There’s simply no excuse for missing this screen. Jamison Crowder had a clean 10 yards between himself and the nearest Falcon defender with multiple lead blockers. A fantastic call on a 1st down in the red zone that could have gone for six wound up as a lost play. He missed a similar throw to Ryan Griffin later in the game that would have been a certain touchdown. His interception was also a function of his trouble executing on schedule.

 

 

Keelan Cole seemed open, he really did. Cole was also Wilson’s first-read. Add those up and we should be looking at a big play. Well, safety Jaylinn Hawkins watched Wilson’s eyes and jumped in front of Cole for the interception while Corey Davis streaked down the field. Wilson must learn his arm, while incredible, will not alone beat NFL players.

 

Running Backs

 

Michael Carter: 10 carries, 38 yards, TD | 3 targets, 3 receptions, 20 yards

Ty Johnson: 4 carries, 12 yards, TD | 3 targets, 2 receptions, 22 yards

Tevin Coleman: 3 carries, 11 yards | 1 target

 

If forced to find a bright spot for the Jets in London, it would be Carter. He has shown tremendous wiggle in his limited exposure this season and found the endzone today for the first touchdown of his young career.

 

 

His role has been growing in this offense and he found himself in space on multiple occasions Sunday morning. Carter was electric with the ball in his hands at UNC and was one of the most productive running backs in the country over the last two seasons. The Jets should be scheming up more opportunities for him out the outside, like this play.

 

 

Otherwise, Ty Johnson vultured a touchdown and Tevin Coleman nabbed a few carries of his own. They both look fine and will remain a part of this offense, especially Johnson who is better in pass-protection than the rookie Carter. Nevertheless, he is a great stash right now who should only improve.

 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

 

Corey Davis: 7 targets, 4 receptions, 45 yards

Jamison Crowder: 6 targets, 4 receptions, 24 yards

Keelan Cole: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 38 yards

Elijah Moore: 2 targets

Denzel Mims: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 33 yards

Braxton Berrios: 1 target, 1 reception, 6 yards

Ryan Griffin: 2 targets, 1 reception, 4 yards

 

Wilson’s uneven play makes this group impossible to trust. Corey Davis and Jamison Crowder are consummate pros and target hogs so they will maintain relevance no matter what. The opportunities were there for each to make some big plays and there will be weeks when they do with Wilson’s gunslinger tendencies. There were still some flashy plays, too.

 

 

It is just disappointing to roster these guys and not see start-able weeks against one of the worst defenses in football. A real shame. One bright spot today was Denzel Mims‘ return to action. Training camp food poisoning cost Mims some valuable development and apparently 20 pounds. It was nice to see him make a few plays out there while on tenuous footing with the coaching staff.

 

 

On the other hand, Elijah Moore did not get the ball in his hands one time during this game. No designed runs, no swing passes, just two targets. He made a circus catch on a 3rd and long, but had stepped out of bounds and did not reestablish before making the play. He is the most explosive player on the Jets roster and needs to be a more active part of their game plan.

 

Atlanta Falcons

 

Quarterback

 

Matt Ryan: 33/45, 342 yards, 2 TD | 1 carry, -1 yard

 

Matty Ice turned back the clock in this one with a tactical performance against the Jets’ young secondary. He spread the ball around effectively, with eight different Falcons hauling in passes including two players named ‘Lee Smith‘ and ‘Christian Blake‘. Those are two guys you see in your Madden franchise around 2035 when the AI is deep into create-a-player mode.

Ryan’s prettiest throw of the day was a red zone touchdown to Hayden Hurst. Hurst split two Jets up the seam and Ryan placed the ball perfectly on his right hip. Listen to Matt Waldman break it down because he does a fantastic job.

 

 

This was a very encouraging performance, albeit against one of the softer secondaries in the league. I could see Ryan returning good value for the rest of the season with Calvin Ridley back and Arthur Smith not being afraid to deploy Kyle Pitts as a receiver moving forward.

 

Running Backs

 

Cordarrelle Patterson: 14 carries, 54 yards | 9 targets, 7 receptions, 60 yards | 0/1

Mike Davis: 13 carries, 51 yards, TD, Fumble | 5 targets, 2 receptions, 8 yards

Wayne Gallman: 1 carry, 2 yards

 

Congratulations if you scooped Cordarrelle Patterson off waivers earlier this season because wow, is he a freak. It is a marvel that no team has given him such a prominent role before. I feel weird even listing him as a RB because he fills so many different roles for this Falcons team. He deserves his own heading: ‘Ball Player’.

He had the ball in his hands on 22 of the 46 snaps he was on the field. He was making plays at every level of the defense. He had the WHEREWITHAL to throw the ball away on an end-around gone wrong. Oh, and he has become one of the most effective short-yardage runners in the NFL.

 

 

That’s why it was such a surprise to see Mike Davis get the goal-line touchdown today, especially after a fumble. Still, this TD saved Davis’ day from a fantasy perspective.

 

 

Most are down on Davis and rightfully so given Patterson’s unexpected role eating into his touches. This could be a good time to buy him low though because the volume remains stable despite being less than what many projected and he is running reasonably well.

 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

 

Kyle Pitts: 10 targets, 9 receptions, 119 yards, TD

Tajae Sharp: 5 targets, 4 receptions, 53 yards

Hayden Hurst: 5 targets, 4 receptions, 40 yards, TD, 2 Fumbles

Olamide Zaccheaus: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 20 yards

Lee Smith: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 30 yards

Christian Blake: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 12 yards

 

Welcome to the ‘Kyle Pitts‘ segment of the show! The dude SHOWED UP in London and finally had his first signature game as a pro. He was making plays at every level of the field, showing off his unbelievable athleticism and versatility. This bomb he caught from Ryan was wildly impressive.

 

 

The Jets pinched their safeties on this play trying to restrict the middle of the field because Pitts was dominating there all day. Well, Pitts blew past both safeties (I assume one was supposed to sit and another should have been in a deep third) and made this snag between two Jets.

He also showed off his freakish hands with one of the best catches from Sunday’s action.

 

 

Here is a much better angle.

 

 

Like…how. Somehow, through all these yards, completions, and explosiveness, the Jets thought it would be a good idea to cover Pitts with a defensive end on the goal line. You will not believe what happened next.

 

 

Easy pitch and catch. The ‘buy’ window has officially closed on Pitts and I am expecting top-five TE production for the rest of the season.

Otherwise, Olamide Zaccheaus was disappointing today. It serves as a valuable lesson to fantasy footballers that target-share should not be counted on as a replacement for actual talent. It would be a real shame if some of you out there spent valuable FAAB on Zaccheaus with Kadarius Toney sitting on your waiver wire.

 

James Schiano (@JeterHadNoRange on Twitter)

Series Navigation
Introduction
Rams @ Seahawks
Jets @ Falcons
Lions @ Vikings
Broncos @ Steelers
Packers @ Bengals
Dolphins @ Buccaneers
Saints @ Football Team
Eagles @ Panthers
Titans @ Jaguars
Patriots @ Texans
Bears @ Raiders
Browns @ Chargers
Giants @ Cowboys
49ers @ Cardinals
Bills @ Chiefs

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