After 52 straight games with a touchdown pass, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was held without one Sunday, throwing for only 197 yards on 18 completions, and adding an interception, as the Patriots fell to the Cincinnati Bengals 13-6.
Tom Brady disappoints fantasy owners in Week 5
Brady was held without a touchdown pass after 52 straight games with one Sunday. We break down the fantasy implications.
Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Brady’s 18 completions came on 38 pass attempts, for a 47.4 completion percentage that was Brady’s lowest since 2007. It was only his second time (along with Week 2 this year) completing less than 50 percent since 2009.
Fantasy impact: This game (like Week 2's matchup against the New York Jets) was playing in a driving rain, which might have negatively affected Brady's ability to complete passes. That said, he had a stronger complement of pass-catchers than he has had in weeks, as Danny Amendola saw his first game action since Week 1.
Cincinnati's stout defense didn't help matters, but Brady still completed passes to six different players. Amendola caught four passes for 55 yards, and Brandon Bolden -- with starting running back Stevan Ridley out with injury -- caught six for 40 yards.
Brady’s stock is lower than it was in preseason. At this point, he has to be out of the top tier of quarterbacks. That said, he’s still a top-six or -seven option at worst. He’s still Tom Brady.
