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Week 5 Observations

The Giants can't run block or play defense right now, so Eli Manning is going to put up big numbers every week, especially with the emergence of Victor Cruz.

The Giants are still a viable fantasy defense, thanks to Jason Pierre-Paul (7.0 sacks) and Osi Umenyiora (3.5 sacks in two games) picking up the slack for an injured Justin Tuck.

If you lost in Survivor with the Giants, please take a look to see how well set up those who avoided the Giants this week now are. And remember that next time you're deciding between the bigger favorite and the better equity expectation.

Raiders head coach Hue Jackson is a rare risk taker in a profession rife with cowards. Jackson went for a two-point try in the first half, threw downfield from his own end of the field with 33 seconds left in the half and also targeted Denarius Moore deep with 2:40 left in the game and a five-point lead, all three of which you almost never see. Bill Belichick, Sean Payton and Mike Tomlin are similarly aggressive, and not coincidentally, they've all won Super Bowls.

Sebastian Janikowski is a ridiculous weapon and makes the Raiders especially dangerous in close games.

Fred Jackson is on pace to set the record for most yards receiving via the shovel pass.

Is Pierre Garcon blowing up with Curtis Painter an instance of a second-team receiver playing better with a backup QB because they've practiced together more? Steve Johnson and Ryan Fitzpatrick did a similar thing in Buffalo last year.

Alex Smith is playing at a Pro Bowl level more than a quarter of the way through the season. Having Jim Harbaugh as a coach is a big plus, and once Braylon Edwards gets back, he'll have a stronger receiving corps, though Josh Morgan is out indefinitely.

The Titans were fine without Kenny Britt in Week 4, but it caught up to them in Week 5.

After allowing TDs to the Falcons on their first two drives, the Packers' defense completely shut down Matt Ryan and looked more like last year's elite unit than this year's shaky one.

Matt Ryan is an average NFL quarterback - Joe Flacco with a little less arm strength and mobility.

Kyle Orton owes me an apology for his fantasy stats this past week.

Matt Schaub had 416 passing yards, but only 99 were to wide receivers.

Say what you want about Tim Tebow, but the guy didn't make a peep about being demoted to 5th string, and is always ready when they ask him to sub in. He could be a poor man's Cam Newton going forward.