Empty the Bench

Drew Brees is the best quarterback in the NFL right now.

There are certainly others with more proven playoff acumen (the Manning Brothers, Roethlisberger, McNabb, etc.), others whose star is on a steeper ascension (Cutler, Rivers), and still more putting up–or have put up–rather gaudy numbers (Romo, Favre). And Tom Brady would have something to say about this assertion were he healthy. But he’s not.

For my money Brees has assumed Brady’s mantle.

Heading into Week 5, the eight-year vet leads all QBs in completions (107), completion percentage (72.3) and yards passing (1,343). He’s currently behind just Favre and Rivers in QB Rating (106.9) and is tied for fourth in TD passes with 8. He’s done all this despite the absence of his #1 guy, Marques Colston, for all but a quarter or so. And the drop-off from Colston to the likes of Lance Moore, Devery Henderson, and David Patten is a big one, to be sure. The lack of a consistent running game doesn’t help Brees’ cause either.

No matter who his targets are for any given week, more often than not Brees gets the job done and makes guys like Moore look like budding stars. And he’s going to do it again at home on Sunday against a Minnesota Vikings defense that has been quite disappointing in the early going. You’re our top-ranked QB this week, Drew, so don’t let us down.

Fantasy Week 5 - Top 20 Quarterbacks

1. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints vs. MIN
2. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys vs. CIN
3. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts @ HOU
4. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers @ MIA
5. Jay Cutler, Denver Broncos vs. TB
6. Eli Manning, New York Giants vs. SEA
7. Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles vs. WSH
8. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers @ JAX
9. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers vs. ATL
10. Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals vs. BUF
11. Jake Delhomme, Carolina Panthers vs. KC
12. Matt Schaub, Houston Texans vs. IND
13. Kyle Orton, Chicago Bears @ DET
14. Jason Campbell, Washington Redskins @ PHI
15. Trent Edwards, Buffalo Bills @ ARZ
16. David Garrard, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. PIT
17. Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks @ NYG
18. Brian Griese, Tampa Bay Bucs @ DEN
19. Matt Cassel, New England Patriots @ SF
20. Jon Kitna, Detroit Lions vs. CHI

Rest of the Week 5 fantasy football ranks after the break…

Fantasy Week 5 - Top 30 Running Backs

1. Marion Barber III, Dallas Cowboys vs. CIN
2. LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers @ MIA
3. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings @ NO
4. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers vs. NE
5. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears @ DET
6. Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons @ GB
7. Reggie Bush, New Orleans Saints vs. MIN
8. Joseph Addai, Indianapolis Colts @ HOU
9. Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo Bills @ ARZ
10. Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Eagles vs. WSH (Check Status)
11. Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers vs. KC
12. Steve Slaton, Houston Texans vs. IND
13. Earnest Graham, Tampa Bay Bucs @ DEN
14. Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins @ PHI
15. Ronnie Brown, Miami Dolphins vs. SD
16. Larry Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs @ CAR
17. Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants vs. SEA
18. Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers vs. ATL
19. Edgerrin James, Arizona Cardinals vs. BUF
20. Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans @ BAL
21. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. PIT
22. LenDale White, Tennessee Titans @ BAL
23. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers vs. KC
24. Julius Jones, Seattle Seahawks @ NYG
25. Selvin Young, Denver Broncos vs. TB
26. Rudi Johnson, Detroit Lions vs. CHI
27. Laurence Maroney, New England Patriots @ SF
28. Le’Ron McClain, Baltimore Ravens vs. TEN
29. Chris Perry, Cincinnati Bengals @ DAL
30. Warrick Dunn, Tampa Bay Bucs @ DEN

Fantasy Week 5: Top 36 Wide Receivers

1. Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos vs. TB
2. Terrell Owens, Dallas Cowboys vs. CIN
3. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts @ HOU
4. Santana Moss, Washington Redskins @ PHI
5. Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers vs. ATL
6. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals vs. BUF
7. Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers vs. KC
8. Hines Ward, Pittsburgh Steelers @ JAX
9. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions vs. CHI
10. Chris Chambers, San Diego Chargers @ MIA
11. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cincinnati Bengals @ DAL
12. Randy Moss, New England Patriots @ SF
13. Andre Johnson, Houston Texans vs. IND
14. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs @ CAR
15. Santonio Holmes, Pittsburgh Steelers @ JAX
16. Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis Colts @ HOU
17. Lee Evans, Buffalo Bills @ ARZ
18. Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons @ GB
19. DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles vs. WSH
20. Eddie Royal, Denver Broncos vs. TB
21. Donald Driver, Green Bay Packers vs. ATL
22. Roy Williams, Detroit Lions vs. CHI
23. Matt Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. PIT
24. Lance Moore, New Orleans Saints vs. MIN
25. Wes Welker, New England Patriots @ SF
26. Muhsin Muhammad, Carolina Panthers vs. KC
27. Anthony Gonzalez, Indianapolis Colts @ HOU
28. Chad Ocho Cinco, Cincinnati Bengals @ DAL
29. Brandon Lloyd, Chicago Bears @ DET
30. Kevin Walter, Houston Texans vs. IND
31. Vincent Jackson, San Diego Chargers @ MIA
32. Antonio Bryant, Tampa Bay Bucs @ DEN
33. Robert Meachem, New Orleans Saints vs. MIN
34. Patrick Crayton, Dallas Cowboys vs. CIN
35. Isaac Bruce, San Francisco 49ers vs. NE
36. Reggie Brown, Philadelphia Eagles vs. WSH

Fantasy Week 5: Top 15 Tight Ends

1. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys vs. CIN
2. Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers @ MIA
3. Tony Scheffler, Denver Broncos vs. TB
4. Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City Chiefs @ CAR
5. Chris Cooley, Washington Redskins @ PHI
6. Greg Olsen, Chicago Bears @ DET
7. Owen Daniels, Houston Texans vs. IND
8. Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers @ JAX
9. John Carlson, Seattle Seahawks @ NYG
10. Donald Lee, Green Bay Packers vs. ATL
11. Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers vs. NE
12. Bo Scaife, Tennessee Titans @ BAL
13. Anthony Fasano, Miami Dolphins vs. SD
14. Visanthe Shiancoe, Minnesota Vikings @ NO
15. Robert Royal, Buffalo Bills @ ARZ

Fantasy Week 5: Top 15 Team Defenses

1. Chicago Bears @ DET
2. Tennessee Titans @ BAL
3. Pittsburgh Steelers @ JAX
4. Baltimore Ravens vs. TEN
5. San Diego Chargers @ MIA
6. Philadelphia Eagles vs. WSH
7. Tampa Bay Bucs @ DEN
8. New York Giants vs. SEA
9. Dallas Cowboys vs. CIN
10. Carolina Panthers vs. KC
11. Green Bay Packers vs. ATL
12. Buffalo Bills @ ARZ
13. San Francisco 49ers vs. NE
14. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. PIT
15. Minnesota Vikings @ NO