Week 5 Fantasy Football Start/Sit
Can you believe we are at Week 5 of the NFL season already? And with that, bye weeks are beginning, so start/sit decisions are even more difficult and important. So this week, @FFShaneB gives you his weekly starts and who you should be looking to plug into your lineups, and @MattFFDynasty gives you his sits and the players you should be tempering expectations on.
Teams on their bye week:
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Quarterback
Starts
Start Of The Week
Kirk Cousins (MIN) @ SEA
Seattle’s secondary has been terrible! They give up yards to everyone. This should lead to a good day and a bounceback for Kirk Cousins. He now has two receivers that he trusts with the emergence of Justin Jefferson. Start Kirk Cousins this week.
Daniel Jones (NYG) @ DAL
Dallas' defense can’t stop anyone. My 91-year-old grandmother could score on Dallas. She wouldn’t because my late grandfather was a Cowboys fan, but she could. This means you should start Daniel Jones as I think he also has a get right game against this terrible defense and secondary.
Teddy Bridgewater (CAR) @ ATL
Atlanta’s defense has also been bad this year. Teddy also had a very good game last week, so I think he will capitalize on his matchup this year too. Look for a potentially high scoring game this week.
Sits
Sit Of The Week
Tom Brady (TB) @ CHI
Tom Brady is coming off 2 solid games where he has thrown for over 650 yards and 8 TDs. However he is now facing the Chicago Bears who are giving up one of the lowest amounts of fantasy points to opposing QBs (12.9). Also, all of his top WRs are struggling with injury, Godwin is likely out while Evans suffered an ankle sprain in Week 4. This looks to be a tough week for Brady
Baker Mayfield (CLE) Vs IND
After a tough start to the season, Mayfield has looked much improved in recent weeks, however, it has been more in real-life terms rather than fantasy as Mayfield is the QB26 right now. He now plays one of the best defenses in NFL at the moment in the Colts. I'm expecting a low scoring game with this one.
Joe Burrow (CIN) @ BAL
Rookie QB Joe Burrow has looked great since entering the NFL but he now has his toughest test against the Ravens. If opposing QB Lamar Jackson runs wild on the Bengals, then Burrow has a tough task trying to keep them in the game against the #2 defense in fantasy football right now.
Running Back
Starts
Start Of The Week
Todd Gurley (ATL) Vs CAR
Carolina’s secondary has been better than I thought they would be. It is due to the fact that they aren’t letting people beat them deep and are giving people the short game and intermediate game. This is why I think Todd Gurley will have a good game. They have not been good at stopping the run due to not wanting to get beat.
James Robinson (JAX) @ HOU
BYE BYE BILL O'BRIEN. Okay, I’m done now, but James Robinson will have a good game against Houston who is 26th stopping the run. He has shown his talent and his usage are both there and Jacksonville should feel vindicated as he continues to produce this week.
Clyde Edward-Helaire (KC) Vs LV
My favorite rookie is finally in my starts for this week. He is a little, elusive bowling ball and has faced some tough matchups recently. He is still producing decently, but I think he goes off this game. Las Vegas is last against RBs in fantasy this year, so he should do great things!
Sits
Sit Of The Week
Miles Sanders (PHI) @ PIT
Considering that Sanders was being hyped up all offseason, he has been a bit of a disappointment after missing Week 1 and is currently the RB31 (PPR) after 4 weeks. Sadly, I can't see things getting any easier for Sanders against a top run defense in the Steelers, who only give up 13.9 FPPG against the RB position (2nd best). While it will be tough to bench Sanders as likely your RB1 or 2... I'd at least temper expectations.
Josh Jacobs (LV) @ KC
Jacobs started his season with a bang with 139 yards from scrimmage and 3 TDs, but since then he has been relatively disappointing. He now faces the Chiefs, who admittedly, are only a middle of the road run defense. However, with how weak the Raiders defense has been and playing the high-powered Chiefs, I fear they will be chasing the game all afternoon which could limit Jacobs' usage.
Myles Gaskin (MIA) @ SF
It's been a real surprise to see Myles Gaskin emerge as the lead back in Miami and dominating snap% amongst RBs there (70% avg). And while he's playing a bag up 49ers defense, they are still the top defense in the NFL against the run, holding Eagles RB Miles Sanders to just 46 rushing yards on 13 attempts in Week 4. It's going to be a tough matchup for Gaskin in Week 5.
Wide Receiver
Starts
Start Of The Week
Darius Slayton (NYG) @ DAL
Slayton has been one of Daniel Jones' favorite targets. He has had some lower production weeks the last two weeks BUT has had some tough matchups. However, Dallas sucks at defense and I expect the Giants to score on them just like everyone else and Slayton will have a very good day.
Justin Jefferson (MIN) Vs SEA
The rookie is here to stay! Jefferson’s emergence has been wonderful to see. I thought he would fill the Diggs role well and now he is. Seattle has given up the most points in fantasy to WRs this year, so I think Theilen AND more importantly, Jefferson will have a very good day!
DJ Moore (CAR) @ ATL
I need a DJ Moore get right game. He has been hurting me. Luckily Atlanta has a terrible secondary. Hopefully he and Teddy can connect this week and go off!
Sits
Sit Of The Week
Terry McLaurin (WAS) Vs LAR
McLaurin has looked great so far this season and he is currently the WR9 (PPR), however, there are a few factors this week that are making me lower my expectations on McLaurin this week. His usual QB Dwayne Haskins, who targeted him heavily, will be a healthy scratch as Kyle Allen gets a shot at the starting gig and also the L.A Rams are no pushovers in the against WRs with star CB Jalen Ramsey. With the changes and matchup, I'm lower on McLaurin this week.
Jerry Jeudy (DEN) @ NE
Jeudy has stepped into the Broncos WR1 role well after Courtland Sutton's season-ending injury but with QB Drew Lock likely to miss another week, I fear Jeudy will see little action against a tough Patriots secondary who will cause plenty of problems for likely QB UDFA Brett Rypien as well.
DeVante Parker (MIA) @ SF
While the 49ers are a really strong run defense as mentioned earlier, they are also a strong pass defense, allowing an average of 24.5 FPPG to the WR position (7th best). That coupled with the fact that QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is under great pressure to perform after some up and down performances makes Parker a potential letdown for owners this week.
Tight End
Starts
Start Of The Week
Jonnu Smith (TEN) Vs BUF
Buffalo’s defense has been good….except against the Tight End. Jonnu Smith is an athletic nightmare at Tight End making him a matchup problem for most. IF the Titans can play this week then you should start Jonnu.
Hunter Henry (LAC) @ NO
New Orleans are not very good at defense this year and are allowing an average of 20.2 FPPG to the TE position. Herbert has been very good and Henry is going to be an option for him all day.
Tyler Higbee (LAR) @ WAS
While Washington have been productive in putting pressure on opposing QBs, they have struggled in the secondary and against opposing TEs in particular. While Higbee hasn't hit the heights we all hope for yet this season, Washington offers a great opportunity for Higbee to bounceback.
Sits
Sit Of The Week
Austin Hooper (CLE) Vs DAL
Hooper finally managed to have a solid performance in Week 4 finishing as the TE6. However, it was mainly due to the fact he grabbed a TD as he only had 34 yards on 5 receptions. Also, we know the Browns will look to run the ball plenty, even with the Nick Chubb injury and I expect most of the pass work to go to usual targets OBJ and Landry. Hooper is a TD dependant TE right now.
Mike Gesicki (MIA) @ SF
If you haven't noticed the theme yet, I'm concerned with most of the Dolphins offensive weapons this week against the 49ers, and that doesn't change with Gesicki. Many expected a breakout year from Gesicki but it's been a slow start for Gesicki apart from the blowup game in Week 2. He's only had 2 receptions in the last 2 weeks! I'm struggling to have the confidence to start Gesicki most weeks, nevermind against one of the top defenses against TEs
Rob Gronkowski (TB) @ CHI
Many people will be looking for Gronk to step up with the news that fellow TE OJ Howard likely out for the season but I'd be hesitant. Gronk is only the TE35 (PPR) with just 9 receptions for 88 yards and now faces a tough Bear defense. Don't expect the Gronk of 2017 just because he has a clearer path to targets.
Defense
Starts
Start Of The Week
Arizona Cardinals @ NYJ
The Cardinals shockingly lost last week. I expect everyone on their team to come out with a vengeance. AND the Jets are not playing Sam Darnold on top of their weak pass-catching options. This could be a very bad day for them.
Baltimore Ravens Vs CIN
Pittsburgh Steelers Vs PHI
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ CHI
San Francisco 49ers Vs MIA
Sits
Sit Of The Week
LA Chargers @ NO
The Chargers defense has been pretty reliable so far this season, however, they now travel to New Orleans whos offense has racked up 123 points in the first 4 weeks and now likely have star WR Michael Thomas back this week. There are other streamable defenses available that I'd prefer over the Chargers this week.
Minnesota Vikings @ SEA
Jacksonville Jaguars @ HOU
Atlanta Falcons @ CAR
New York Giants @ DAL
Thanks for reading. Be sure to keep an eye out every Wednesday for our weekly start/sit article with the @FF_Astronauts. Follow @FFShaneB and @MattFFDynasty on twitter for more Fantasy Football content throughout the season.
