NFL Week 5 Start/Sit
NFL Start/Sit Week 5
By: Andrew Ferguson
Last week wasn’t as friendly to us as the week before. Part of that was due to the Browns/Steelers game exceeding a lot of people’s expectations in not only total points scored, but fantasy players performing as well. Thursday night games are the hardest to predict. However! We still shot over 50% for the week so we’re winning over here and I hope you’re standing at the top of the leader boards in your fantasy leagues. I am for the most part, but it’s been a struggle with injuries in some of my leagues. And I’m sure you’re all dealing with it too and need help to plug and play where the next man up is supposed to shine. However, that’s not always the case. Let’s get into week 5 with some bangers.
QBs to Start
Jared Goff- Goff has been consistent all year and has sprinkled in a 30 point game during this 4 game stretch. He was probably a QB drafted late or not even drafted at all. He gets one of the friendliest matchups at home against the Cardinals who give up top 5 points in fantasy to opposing QBs. The Lions defense has proven they can’t stop anybody so Goff is a great play a lot of weeks moving forward due to the volume aspect of them having to continue to put up a lot of points if they want to win.
Jacoby Brissett- The other side of the field for this game. Again, the Lions defense is embarrassingly bad. This is another QB that could potentially even be on waivers depending on how your league is going. This is a great streaming option this week as the Lions give up the… drumroll please… MOST points to opposing QBs. The Cardinals have a decent offense with the weapons so everyone (except Marvin Harrison Jr.) should get their targets.
CJ Stroud- A little bit of an up and down season for Stroud, and a lot of down for the Texans overall. They have a get right game against the Titans that are also 0-4 and I’m pretty sure this game got flexed to the Weather Channel. Stroud has 2, 350 yard games this season already so he’s putting up some volume. Now that Nico is back, this offense clicks much better. The run game is atrocious right now with awful O-line play so look for a lot of passing for Stroud.
Drake Maye- He’s back…right? We finally saw last week why he was the MVP runner up. Drake is finally trending up and he’s getting comfortable with the weapons he has without AJ Brown. Maye also gets upside with his legs which he’ll need this week against the Raiders surprisingly good defense.
QBs to Sit
Tyler Shough- This one is tough because it’s been such a fun ride with Shough. He ranks QB4 because the Saints are bad. However, the Falcons just held him in check and this week he plays against the toughest defense in the league against QBs in the Vikings. I still love the talent, but I hate the matchup this week. If you have another option, I’m benching Shough this week.
Justin Herbert- Herbert has 4 TDs on the entire year. He’s thrown for exactly 1 each game to pair with 6 interceptions. This offense is not clicking at all and Ladd McConkey might miss another week. Without Ladd, I can’t trust Herbert to spread the ball around and be comfortable. He doesn’t seem to have a lot of rushing upside these days either so it’s an easy sit with me against the Bronco’s defense, even if they are missing some DBs.
Jalen Hurts- We are seeing a massive collapse with this team. Jalen Hurts doesn’t have his pass catching weapons, the run game is weak so getting into short yard/goal line TDs for tush pushes is all I can count on for him. The way this offense is performing and his decision making as of late, absolutely no shot he’s starting in my lineup against the Jaguars who don't let opposing QBs put up big fantasy numbers.
Kirk Cousins- This too has been a fun ride. The good ole’ church boy in the bright lights of Las Vegas, putting up points. New England has, to my opinion, the best secondary in football. This is a tough road matchup for the Raiders as the Patriots are gaining momentum and look to get back on track within their division. Another good game from Cousins here would be impressive alone and put him in the MVP category which I’m not even close to being ready to have that conversation.
RBs to Start
Aaron Jones Jr.- Jones has completely dominated this backfield since Jordan Mason was on the IR. He’s been putting up healthy, respectable RB2 numbers and a lot of people drafted him pretty late as a bench player. Start him against the Saints who give up the most points to RBs so far this season.
Bears Running Backs- Both RBs are questionable. However, if they both play, I’m okay with playing either one or both. Green Bay can’t stop the run to save their lives and without Caleb Williams, the Bears will heavily rely on the backs. Bagent is getting his second start and draws enough attention in the pass game that the Packers defensive box won’t be totally loaded up in stopping the run. If either of these 2 were to not play, fire up the other as a RB1.
Byashul Tuten- Tuten has been consistent all 4 games for an RB2. There is a breakout game coming eventually and what better time than against Philly who doesn’t stop the run well. Liam Cohen is doing a great job with the offensive playcalling and is taking a lot of pressure off Lawrence this year with a solid run game. Expect Tuten to continue to get his share, lead the backfield and even have that breakout game.
Jaylen Warren- Even if Rico Dowdle comes back this week, I expect one more heavy week of Jaylen Warren. He’s turning his carries into very productive yards and gets plenty of targets in the passing game. We just need him to get into the endzone this week. He plays against the Colts who rank in the bottom 10 against opposing RBs for fantasy points. Keep an eye on Rico’s involvement moving forward though but I’m squeezing out one more week of Jaylen.
RBs to Sit
Will Shipley- I know a lot of you probably just used a high waiver claim or most of your FAAB money to obtain Shipley. He’s the only healthy RB in Philly and you think it’s next man up. However, if Saquon was struggling, there’s nothing that makes me think Shipley will come in and have any success. They also brought up Dameon Pearce so who knows what this backfield will look like. I need to see a game first before I’m rolling out any of these guys, especially against a tough Jaguars defense on the road.
Bucky Irving- I have bad news for Bucky Irving owners…a lot of bad news. Zach Robinson is Irving’s offensive coordinator. That alone should’ve scared you from drafting him. It gets even worse though. 2 other RBs in Tampa scored TDs last week. Then Robinson said he wants to get Sean Tucker and Kenny Gainwell involved more. Without Baker, this offense is already in shambles and with a committee seeming to be forming, Bucky is on my bench.
Alvin Kamara- If you’re banking on Kamara getting 2 TDs a week, you won’t be happy with the results. His stat sheet from last week looks a lot better with the receptions he’s able to get dumped off to him. But he’s banged up, inefficient as a runner and plays against the Vikings tough defense that kills hopes and dreams for fantasy RBs. Easy bench for me.
David Montgomery- I’m not happy with seeing the amount of work Woody Marks is getting these days. Montgomery is trapped behind one of the worst offensive lines in the league and right now averages less than 3 yards per carry. Montgomery had a huge week 1 but has done nothing since. I need to see a better run game before I’m putting him back in my lineup.
WRs to Start
Jameson Williams- Probably one of the biggest boom or bust players in fantasy history. Let’s get the boom this week. He has a huge matchup against the Cardinals where the offense should put up a lot of points. He’s seeing over 6 targets a game, but hasn’t scored a TD this season. He’s due and I know his big play ability is going to shine eventually. What better time than this friendly matchup?
Josh Downs- This is another player that I’m waiting for the big breakout moment this year. Downs is seeing 7 targets a game and has a great matchup against the Steelers secondary that’s very beatable. Downs is the only healthy wide receiver on the Colts and they’re going to need him this week in a game where I think Taylor gets bottled up a bit more than he normally does, having Jones to rely on the passing game more.
Malik Nabers- This guy is a roller coaster, and only some of it is his fault. Health is always a concern with Nabers, but on top of that, it’s his QB play. Last week we saw a good version of Jameis Winston where Nabers put up big numbers. They get another easy matchup against the Commanders defense that allows WRs to eat. If we get the same version of Jameis and Nabers can stay on the field for a full game, he’s a safe play.
Matthew Golden- Golden has cemented himself as the number 2 option in Green Bay. Without a run game the Packers can rely on, Love will get the green light to sling it around. He’s averaging over 9 targets a game and I’m taking that any day in my starting lineup.
WRs to Sit
Mike Evans- Mike Evans is one of the most respectable, consistent players in NFL history. However, I hate this week because the 49ers are on the road in Seattle, and Evans is banged up. He’s hard to sit, but if you can afford it, do it.
Carnell Tate- We got a glimpse of what Tate is capable of last week finally. However in week 4, he’s going to have Derek Stingley matched up on him in a game where the Texans are not effin’ around. Houston’s secondary hasn’t been great by any means this year so far, but this is a must win game for Houston where the defense needs to show out against this lackluster offense of Tennessee.
Makai Lemon- I think everyone is waiting for the rookie’s breakout game. I don’t think it’s coming any time soon the way this Eagles offense and Jalen Hurts is playing. Even with Smith out, Darius Cooper vultured the TDs and Wicks seems to be the favorite overall target for now. This offense is just a mess and I’m staying away from everyone if you can’t tell based on this article.
Tre Tucker- I know Kirk Cousins is exciting and what Tucker did week 2 had a lot of people that drafted him as a sleeper late foaming at the mouth. This offense is entirely revolved around Bowers and Jeanty and the pass catchers will have a tough time this week against New England on the road. Just a bad matchup that I’m benching this week with better weeks ahead.
TEs to Start
Isaiah Likely- With Jameis Winston settling in, Likely had a bounceback game where he had a whopping 12 targets that he turned into a startable day at your TE spot. Washington doesn’t defend the pass well so I like both Likely and Nabers this week, as long as we get the good Jameis.
TJ Hockenson- Going 13/13 on looks to catches for 119 yards is hard to ignore. It came at the cost of Justin Jefferson being out but I think Kyler has found something in this connection. Kyler absolutely loved Trey McBride during his time in Arizona and Hockeson is still a very talented, 1st round TE that can get this type of volume. He has a good matchup against New Orleans and with JJ still banged up, Hockeson earned another start in my book this week.
Mike Gesicki- Okay, maybe I was wrong about Gesicki last week. But like I said, anything and everything can change in a week. Higgins and Chase are both questionable for this week and even if one of them were to miss week 5, Gesicki is in my lineup. He’s pretty TD dependent right now but Miami is terrible so it’s a good matchup. Burrow is starting to heat up so the weapons will benefit from it.
Dalton Kincaid- Kincaid had a hot start to the season, then completely fell off over the last 2 weeks. This game should be a shootout against the Rams and Allen is going to need Kincaid. DJ Moore keeps getting hurt so Kincaid should benefit with more looks because of it, even if Moore is playing. As much as I love Buffalo’s run game, Josh Allen is going to need to get it done with his arm this week against the Rams.
TEs to Sit
Tucker Kraft- Kraft still seems to be ramping up week by week from his torn ACL last year. He finally found the endzone last week but Jordan Love is not scared to get his outside weapons fed. The Bears actually defend TEs well and until I see Kraft getting down field and making plays like last year more, I’m benching him for this week.
Juwan Johnson- The Saints are fun fantasy wise but if you read above about what I wrote for Tyler Shough, I just hate this matchup. Juwan Johnson has played well enough to not only start as your TE, but to put in a flex spot. The Vikings defense is no joke and it’s not a safe play this week.
Dalton Schultz- That one game where he stepped up since Nico was out was a lot of fun going for 12 catches for 140 yards. I don’t see that happening again any time soon. Stroud looks for his WRs a lot in the Red Zone more than his TEs. Schultz has 5 total targets over his last 2 games so his role seems to be coming back down to Earth. And believe it not, Tennessee’s defense isn’t that bad against the tight ends so watch up.
Mark Andrews- Without Lamar Jackson, all pass catchers are downgraded in the Ravens offense. Huntley isn’t someone that strikes me to come in and completely flip the gamescript of the Ravens run first attack. This will be a Derrick Henry game and I’m looking at other streaming options at TE if possible.
