Welcome to the Monday edition of the Daily Dose newsletter, our “Fantasy Fallout” day. In this article, you will get a quick rundown of the relevant things we learned from the week’s games from Thursday through Sunday. This won’t talk about every single player and we usually won’t spend time on studs who go nuts (no one needs to be told to start CeeDee Lamb right now!), but rather, the idea is to update you on usage trends, injuries, and other relevant things to help your decisions with your teams.

Cowboys at Giants

• While the offense runs through CeeDee Lamb, Jalen Tolbert appears to have supplanted Brandon Cooks as the WR2 in Dallas. The past three weeks Tolbert has 148 yards on 12 receptions to just 51 yards on five catches for Cooks. 
• For the second week in a row, Rico Dowdle doubled up Zeke Elliott with 12 touches to Zeke’s six. I would expect Dowdle’s role to continue to grow as the season progresses.
• In a season that has seen WR production down across the board, Malik Nabers has been a rare exception, with 52 (!!) targets through four games and an average of 97 yards per game. 

Bengals at Panthers

• Erick All led the Bengals TEs in targets as the team rotated all three for the second game in a row. At this point, I’m not sure any of them, including Mike Gesicki, are startable in season-long formats.
• In two games with Andy Dalton at quarterback, Diontae Johnson is averaging 13.5 targets per game.
• With Adam Thielen out, Xavier Legette saw a 24.4% target share. He’s an intriguing pickup or trade target in season-long leagues. 

Saints at Falcons

• The Atlanta Falcons didn’t score an offensive touchdown in Week 4. However, Drake London’s underlying metrics continue to be solid, as he’s seeing a 35% target share. Stay patient if you own London.
• Alvin Kamara’s usage continues to be elite, with his second straight game of 25+ touches, including seven receptions in week 4. Taysom Hill vultured two touchdowns from Kamara but left the game with an abdomen injury.
• Rashid Shaheed saw a career high 11 targets and continues to see his role expand in his third season. He’s a trade target for redraft leagues.

Jaguars at Texans

• Nico Collins continues to impress, eclipsing the century mark (100 receiving yards) for the third time already this season. 
• With Evan Engram missing his second straight game, rookie Brian Thomas continued to shine, seeing his highest target share of the season on his way to a 6-86-1 receiving line.
• Cam Akers, JJ Taylor, and Dare Ogunbowale split the Texans’ backfield work this week. The team expects Joe Mixon back next week and he should quickly regain his role as the team’s bell cow.

Broncos at Jets

• The Broncos’ defense has looked stout the past three weeks, holding the Jets, Bucs, and Steelers to 13 points or less. Probably a matchup to avoid until further notice.
• Bo Nix managed just 60 yards passing in Week 4. On the season he’s only thrown one passing TD while averaging only 165 yards passing. Hard to have any trust in any Broncos pass catcher.
• Braelon Allen saw nine touches to Breece Hall’s 12. If Allen is somehow still on waivers, he is a priority add.

Vikings at Packers

• Christian Watson was carted off with what is believed to be a high-ankle sprain. If he were to miss time, Dontayvion Wicks would likely be the biggest beneficiary. Wicks played nearly every snap after Watson’s injury and saw a whopping 25% target share. He is a high-priority waiver add if he is available. 
• Jordan Live returned from his ankle injury and looked good after shaking off some early rust. He should return to your starting lineup if you have him on your roster.
• After three passing touchdowns in Week 4, Sam Darnold now leads the league in the category. If still available, he should be added by any team in need of QB help due to byes, injuries, or ineptitude.

Steelers at Colts

• Anthony Richardson left the game with a hip injury after just four pass attempts but initial reports are that it was just precautionary. A situation to monitor as Joe Flacco has proved to be a capable backup and led Indy to a 27-24 victory over the previously unbeaten Steelers.
• Justin Fields had 10 rush attempts today, his most since Week 1. He punched two in for touchdowns as Najee Harris was completely ineffective.
• Jonathan Taylor left late in this one with an ankle injury. There is a good chance he misses at least one game, but we will have to wait on practice reports to know for sure. Trey Sermon would be the pickup if Taylor misses time.
• George Pickens had a massive game as the Steelers fell behind for the first time this season. He will continue to be very game-script-dependent, but he has week-winning upside.

Rams at Bears

• A week after almost every OWS contributor highlighted him, the explosion of opportunity for Jordan Whittington happened in Week 4 – as he led the team in routes run and targets. He is an intriguing add in deeper leagues
• In the absence of Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, the Rams have continued to lean heavily on (punt returner) Kyren Williams, who saw yet another game with 20+ touches. 
• Khalil Herbert was taken out of the backfield mix entirely and the Bears running game finally got going, with D’Andre Swift posting seven receptions, 165 yards from scrimmage, and a touchdown.
• DJ Moore is clearly the lead WR for the Bears and should be started weekly. Rome Odunze and Keenan Allen are the secondary options who will need the right game environments to thrive.

Eagles at Buccaneers

• Bucky Irving and Rachaad White saw a nearly even split in both carries and targets, however Irving saw all five rush attempts in the red zone. As we’ve been saying for weeks, if Irving is on your waiver wire, he’s a priority add.
• Even in a game where he played second fiddle to Mike Evans for the first time, Chris Godwin still saw nine targets. He appears to be locked into the “Cooper Kupp role” and should continue to be started without hesitation.
• Without both A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, the Eagles weren’t able to generate much on offense with Saquon Barkley and Dallas Goedert accounting for only 19 touches combined. 

Patriots at 49ers

• New England once again struggled to move the ball with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback, averaging less than four yards per play for the second consecutive week. A change to prized rookie Drake Maye could be just around the corner.
• Second-round rookie wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk led the Patriots WRs in snaps and targets. Despite a pedestrian stat line, Polk is primed for a breakout in coming weeks – especially if/when Maye gets the nod at QB.
• Antonio Gibson cleaned up in garbage time and had a long reception. He is hard to start right now, but he showcased his versatility and explosiveness. If anything ever happens to Rhamondre Stevenson, there will be a line around the block to pick up Gibson.
• The 49ers’ offense got back on track and appears set to resume their high-octane attack. All of their main weapons (Mason, Deebo, Aiyuk, Kittle) should be started weekly, while Week 3 star Jauan Jennings led the team in receiving again – showing that he isn’t going anywhere.

Commanders at Cardinals

• Jayden Daniels continued playing at an incredibly high level and is setting records, while he leads the league in completion percentage. He has been incredibly impressive so far, but he has a tough couple games ahead against the Browns and Ravens that will give us a better idea if he truly belongs among the elite at the position.
• Brian Robinson, Jr. had a big day, breaking 100 rushing yards and scoring a touchdown in the absence of Austin Ekeler.
• Noah Brown was second only to Terry McLaurin in WR snaps and should be useful in deeper leagues going forward.
• The Cardinals’ offense struggled significantly without tight end Trey McBride. This is the second consecutive week that they scored an opening-drive touchdown and then only scored on one more drive the rest of the game.

Chiefs at Chargers

• The big story here was Rashee Rice very likely tearing his ACL, which would end his 2024 campaign after a hot start. The Chiefs will lean heavily on Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy to carry their passing game going forward if the worst fears regarding Rice’s knee are confirmed.
• Trendy rookie Carson Steele fumbled in the first quarter and was promptly benched for Kareem Hunt. From that point on, Hunt and Samaje Perine split the backfield touches.
• JK Dobbins retained full control of the Chargers’ backfield. Gus Edwards is nothing more than a handcuff at this point, although it will be interesting to see if the Chargers activate explosive rookie Kimani Vidal after their Week 5 bye.
• Rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey had his best game as a pro and led the Chargers in every receiving category.

Browns at Raiders

• Amari Cooper dropped a pass that turned into an interception and later had an 82-yard touchdown called back by a questionable holding penalty. Very close to a huge day. Instead, a very underwhelming one. Such is life as an NFL wide receiver.
• Jerome Ford had his best game of the season and D’Onta Foreman was involved once again. Nick Chubb is reportedly close to returning and this backfield could be messy down the stretch.
• Jerry Jeudy had his best game of the season, as he led the Browns in every receiving category.
• Alexander Mattison looked better than Zamir White once again and may be on the verge of taking over this backfield. If he’s available, go pick him up!!
• Tre Tucker had another solid game and his speed pops off the screen. The Raiders are likely to continue finding ways to get him involved.

Bills at Ravens

• The Ravens’ backfield was unstoppable in this one as Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, and Lamar Jackson all had big games. Jackson and Henry are obviously every-week starters. Hill deserves starting consideration as well as we enter a stretch of bye weeks.
• Mark Andrews dropped what would have been a 20+ yard reception in the first half and was not targeted again. His second consecutive game with zero fantasy points. I’m out of explanations.
• The Bills lack of an “alpha” in their receiving corps was very apparent once they fell behind against a strong defense. Wide receiver Khalil Shakir and tight end Dalton Kincaid are solid weekly options, but beyond that, it is a crapshoot.

Join us tomorrow for Buy Low, Sell High!

These are the top players to consider adding from waivers this week. Unless otherwise noted, all players below are available in greater than 50% of Yahoo leagues (as of Sunday evening).

Week 5 teams on bye:  Lions, Chargers, Eagles, Titans

QB Pickups

Justin Fields, PIT, Week 5 vs DAL

• Fields was one of our recommended “Early Waiver Adds” on Sunday morning. Mike had a great write up on Fields’ fantasy situation before his monster game last week, a reminder to file that article away each week and to be trying to save yourself some FAAB by getting ahead of your league mates.
• Low-to-Medium priority add. Fields is a fine fill-in this week to cover for a bye or an injury and might even be a longer-term fantasy starter. He showed his rushing upside last week (10-55-2) but has also completed more than 70% of his passes for 557 yards the past two weeks combined.
• 10% or less of FAAB.

Geno Smith, SEA, Week 5 vs NYG

• Geno has been written up extensively in the Daily Dose space the past few weeks. He remains available in more than half of Yahoo leagues.
• Low-priority add. Geno is a fine streaming option in single-QB leagues in a good matchup at home against the Giants defense.
• 5% or less of FAAB.

RB Pickups

Kareem Hunt, KC, Week 5 vs NO

• Hunt appears to have taken the lead in the Chiefs’ backfield after Carson Steele’s second lost fumble in as many weeks. Hunt racked up 85 scrimmage yards on 14 carries and three targets in KC’s win over the Chargers. 
• High-priority add. Hunt appears to have the opportunity to be the lead RB for an offense designed by Andy Reid and led by Patrick Mahomes for up to a month, maybe longer. Yes please!
• 50 – 75% of FAAB.

Tank Bigsby, JAX, Week 5 vs IND

• Bigsby led the Jags in rushing with seven carries for 90 yards in Week 4. It was his second time leading the team in rushing this season.
• Medium-priority add. It seems like Tank’s uptick in carries was due to starting RB Travis Etienne getting attention for a minor shoulder issue this last week. Bigsby remains a great handcuff at worst, and he could be afforded more opportunities if he continues to produce.
• 5 – 15% of FAAB.

Some additional lower-priority RB adds to consider:

• Tyler Allgeier (ATL) – Surprisingly had more carries and rushing yards than Bijan Robinson last week. One of the best handcuff RBs in the league.
• Rico Dowdle (DAL) –  Continues to lead the Dallas backfield in opportunities, caught a receiving TD last week.
• Samaje Perine (KC) – Continues to play a secondary RB role for KC, vultured a goal-line TD last week.
• Kimani Vidal (LAC) – J.K. Dobbins has taken control of the backfield from Gus Edwards, but it seems possible that the rookie Vidal could get some opportunities once he is cleared.

WR Pickups

Xavier Legette, CAR, Week 5 at CHI

• XL made the most of his larger opportunity within the Panthers’ offense in Week 4. He caught six of 10 targets for 66 yards and his first career TD and also rushed twice for 10 yards.
• High-priority add. Legette is a high-draft-pedigree prospect with size, speed, and increased opportunity in what now appears to be a functional NFL offense with Andy Dalton at the helm. The Panthers seem likely to be trailing, and passing, a lot, and their next three games (at CHI, vs ATL, at WAS) all look like spots to consider XL in fantasy lineups with teams starting bye weeks.
• 20-40% of FAAB.

Dontayvion Wicks and Romeo Doubs, GB, Week 5 at LAR

• The Packers are passing again! GB fell behind 28-0 to the Vikings and forced QB Jordan Love into 54 attempts in his first action since injuring his knee Week 1. Doubs (eight targets, 4-39-0) and Wicks (13 targets, 5-78-2) were both heavily involved, and even more so after Christian Watson left the game with an ankle injury.
• Medium-to-high priority adds. Watson is rumored to have a dreaded high-ankle sprain and could miss some games or even end up on IR. I like Wicks’ upside more than Doubs’, but I think both can be short-term WR options with considerable upside in Watson’s absence.
• Wicks: 20 – 30% of FAAB; Doubs: 10 – 20% of FAAB.

Wan’Dale Robinson, NYG, Week 5 at SEA

• Wan’Dale had a whopping 14 targets in Week 4 and caught 11 of them for 71 yards. He has six or more catches in three of his four games this season. He’s ranked among the top 24 WRs in PPR through Sunday of Week 4.
• Low-priority add for PPR formats. The Giants seem likely to continue to focus their offense around superstar rookie WR Malik Nabers and their running game, but we have to pay attention to any WR getting the target volume Robinson has seen so far this season.
• 5% or less of FAAB.

Some additional lower-priority WR adds to consider:

• Jordan Whittington (LAR) – The rookie WR led the depleted Rams offense in targets and catches last week.
• Darnell Mooney (ATL) – Now up to three straight weeks with six or more targets and 56 or more receiving yards.
• Josh Downs (IND) – Turned his nine targets into an efficient 8-82-1 stat line in Week 4 catching most of his passes from backup QB Joe Flacco.

TE Pickups

Tucker Kraft, GB, Week 5 vs LAR

• Kraft has separated from fellow second-year TE teammate Luke Musgrave and become the Packers’ top fantasy TE option. He had his best game of the season last week, catching six of nine targets for 53 yards and a TD. He also caught a two-point conversion and lost a fumble.
• Low-to-medium priority add. Kraft is a reasonable fantasy TE option as a regular player on a good offense with what seems likely to be plus-QB play. The team seems to trust him in most situations, including targeting him at the goal line.
• 10% or less of FAAB.

Some additional lower-priority TE adds to consider:

• Tyler Conklin (NYJ) –  Full-time player catching passes from an all-time great QB.
• Colby Parkinson (LAR) – Another full-time player catching passes from another all-time great QB.
• Cade Otton (TB) –  Full-time player catching passes from one of the top fantasy QBs so far this season.

Join us Wednesday for Week 5 Buy Low, Sell High

These are the guys who public perception may be low on but have brighter days ahead…..as well as the guys who may be coming off a big game but have a tough schedule or potential role change in their future.

BUY LOW

Josh Jacobs, RB, GB

• We recommended Jacobs as a “Buy Low” candidate last week and this week is an even better time to buy. The Packers’ offense was rusty early in Week 4 against a good Vikings team before Jordan Love found his groove in the second half. Now that Love is back on track, Jacobs is set to explode as the lead RB for a team that faces the Rams, Cardinals, and Jaguars in three of its next four games. Those three teams all rank in the bottom four in the NFL in defensive DVOA, and it won’t be shocking if Jacobs is a top-5 RB during this upcoming stretch.

De’Von Achane, RB, MIA and Tyreek Hill, WR, MIA

• These two players fall in the same category and logic, and are targets for specific situations. If your team is sitting at 3-1 or 4-0 while the Achane or Hill owner is sitting at 1-3 or 0-4, start up a conversation and see if you can make something happen. The Dolphins’ offense has looked awful the last two weeks without Tua Tagovailoa, and this week has a matchup with a Patriots team that will likely keep things low-scoring followed by a Week 6 bye. This may not be a move you make this week, but keep tabs on the situation because the Hill/Achane owner may not be able to wait until the Dolphins get Tua back and be forced to make a move. 

Amari Cooper, WR, CLE

• Cooper had a rough Week 4 with a pass that hit him in the chest bouncing in the air for an interception and an 82-yard TD called back by penalty. Amari has now had three very poor weeks and one big week. However, his weekly upside is terrific and the Browns have a great run of opposing secondaries coming up with the Commanders, Eagles, and Bengals next up on the schedule. Those teams rank 30th, 27th, and 26th in pass defense DVOA and have given up big games through the air to many opponents this season. 

SELL HIGH

Jayden Daniels, QB, WAS

• This is going to be a hard one to sell, as Daniels has looked incredible to start his career and anyone who owns Daniels is not going to want to give him up right now. Stepping back, however, the Commanders last three games have been against the Giants, Bengals, and Cardinals – all of which rank in the bottom 10 in the league against the pass, while the Bengals and Cardinals rank 30th and 32nd, respectively, in PFF pass-rush grade. Things get significantly tougher for Daniels over the next six weeks, with four games against the very good defenses of Cleveland, Baltimore, Chicago, and Pittsburgh. We also have seen this before with rookies who get off to a hot start and then teams get more film on them and adjust and make their lives tougher. You will likely never see the value of Daniels any higher than it is right now, and we haven’t even mentioned how his playing style opens him up to injury risk and that will only be exacerbated as he starts playing more physical teams who generate more pressure. Three of the next four opponents of the Commanders rank in the top 10 in PFF pass-rush grade, and he is going to take some big hits in the coming weeks.

Aaron Jones, RB, MIN

• Jones has been great to start 2024 and the Vikings are riding high. However, if you have him and your team is struggling a bit, now is the perfect time to get off the Aaron Jones express. The Vikings play the Jets this week, followed by their Week 6 bye, and then face the Lions in Week 7. Both the Jets and Lions have tough run defenses, so it is likely that you aren’t seeing high-end production for the next three weeks. Jones has been too good to justify benching, but his likely outcomes during Weeks 5 and 7 are pedestrian stat lines that don’t help you turn your season around. He is healthy right now, which is somewhat rare for Jones, and his value is high as people jump on the Vikings’ bandwagon. It feels uncomfortable selling someone who has performed as well as Jones, but that’s kind of the idea.

Join us Thursday for Week 5 Starts/Fades!

This article is intended to highlight some players who may have a positive or negative weekly outlook relative to their baseline value. 

“Starts” are players who might generally be on fantasy benches but might have a terrific perceived matchup or game script/environment this week.

“Fades” are players who were likely drafted as fantasy starters or have performed as automatic starters lately but face a particularly tough week due to a poor matchup or a lack of short-term role clarity.

Bye weeks begin this week, further stressing the back end of our starting lineups. Week 5 teams on bye: Chargers, Eagles, Lions, Titans.

Here are a few of my suggested starts and fades for Week 5 of the 2024 NFL season with notes on my thought process included:

QB

Start: Trevor Lawrence, JAX (vs IND)

• Lawrence has been struggling this season for the winless Jags. He’s completing just 53.3% of his passes for only 6.0 yards per attempt. Both figures rank among the worst in the league.
• The Jags have one of the highest implied team totals this week (24.75) in a home game against the Colts. The Indy defense has been fantasy-friendly for opposing QBs this season, allowing the sixth-most passing yards and nearly 8.0 per pass attempt to opponents; they have faced Justin Fields, Caleb Williams, Malik Willis, and C.J. Stroud.
• The Jags’ top draft pick, WR Brian Thomas Jr., leads the team in receiving and already looks like a great pick in this year’s loaded rookie WR class. Well-paid slot WR Christian Kirk has 15 catches over the past two weeks after having a single catch in each of the team’s first two games. Pass-catching TE Evan Engram has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury but does seem close to a return and is considered day-to-day.
• I’m going back to Lawrence this week as a back-end starter in single-QB leagues based on his ascending pass-catching talent and a great matchup with a Colts defense that has been generous to opposing QBs.

Fade:  Baker Mayfield, TB (at ATL on TNF)

• Baker is a top-five fantasy QB in most formats through four weeks throwing to his excellent complement of pass catchers and adding a pair of rushing TDs.
• Tampa travels to play at Atlanta on a short week tonight on Thursday Night Football as 1.5-point underdogs in a game with a middling implied total (44.0). 
• The Falcons have held opponents under 200 passing yards per game and have really kept big plays in check, allowing only three passing TDs (T-5th in the league) and four passes of 20+ yards (best in the league) this season. For full disclosure, Atlanta’s defense is also dead last in the league with four sacks.
• Baker has been awesome, and a road game, indoors, against Atlanta’s limited pass rush is honestly not a terrible spot. I simply have Baker outside of my top 12 at the position this week in a middling matchup against a Falcons team that seems capable of limiting explosive passes.

RB

Start: Kareem Hunt, KC (vs NO)

• Hunt led the Chiefs backfield last week after Carson Steele’s fumble, pacing KC RBs with 14-69-0 rushing. He added two catches for 16 yards.
• The Chiefs host the Saints this week on Monday Night Football. The game has a middling implied point total (43.5) but the Chiefs are 5.5-point favorites – the third-largest favorite this week – leading to a strong implied team total (24.5).
• Fun fact, two of the three players that have scored TD’s against the Saints’ defense this season are the elite of the NFL elite: Saquon Barkley (x2) and CeeDee Lamb, with Bryce Young being the third. I found that interesting when researching, but it also reiterates that New Orleans has been in some weird game scripts, having blown out Carolina and Dallas as well as losing to Atlanta last week without allowing an offensive TD.
• Hunt looks likely to lead the Chiefs in RB opportunities in a home game on MNF, where they are the third-largest favorite of the week. I’m playing him as a RB2 in all formats in a week where we are missing both Detroit RBs, Saquon, J.K. Dobbins, Tony Pollard, and Tyjae Spears from our lineups. 

Fade: Rhamondre Stevenson, NEP (vs MIA)

• Stevenson came out of gates strong this season, handing 20+ carries for 80+ yards each of the first two weeks and scoring a TD each game. Since, he has only 19 carries for 66 scoreless yards.
• The Patriots host Tyler Huntley and the Dolphins this week as one-point favorites in a game with a pathetic 36.5-point implied total, the second lowest of the week.
• Stevenson has fumbled four times in as many games, and his HC, Jerod Mayo, might be getting fed up. Mayo has mentioned getting backup RB Antonio Gibson (never the poster child for ball security himself) more involved or affording him a start  due to Rhamondre’s fumbling.
• I’m stashing Stevenson on benches this week if at all possible. While talented, his main calling card for fantasy was going to be strong volume, even if on a bad offense. If his touches are now in question, I can’t start him in what projects as one of the two saddest game environments of Week 5.

WR

Start: Amari Cooper, CLE (at WAS)

• Through four weeks, Cooper is outside of the top 36 WRs in PPR scoring despite being among the league leaders in targets (37). He’s had eight or more targets each week and has just missed on some big plays, including an 80+ yard TD called back due to a questionable holding penalty last week.
• The Browns head to Washington this week as 3.5-point underdogs in a game with a middling implied point total (44.5).
• The Commanders’ defense has struggled against opposing passing games and especially WRs. They’ve allowed a league-high 10 TD passes this year, all caught by opposing WRs.
• Despite his struggles, I’m sticking with Amari as a WR2 this week in a great matchup against Washington’s secondary.

Fade:  Jordan Addison, MIN (vs NYJ)

• Addison was drafted as a fantasy starter in 12-team leagues and had a solid return to the Vikings’ lineup last week after missing two games, going 3-72-1 in a win against the Packers.
• The Vikings host the Jets and their stifling pass defense in a game with one of the lowest implied point totals (40.5) this week. 
• The Jets have allowed the third-fewest passing yards (603) and the third-fewest passing TDs (two) this season, most notably holding QB Brock Purdy to 231 scoreless yards in Week 1 (to be fair, their other opponents, TEN/NE/DEN, have had pretty poor passing game outlooks against any opponent).
• I’m keeping Addison on benches if I can this week due to his tough matchup against the Jets’ secondary and an underwhelming game environment in general.

TE

With the current state of injuries and lack of production at TE I don’t have recommended starts or fades at the position. This week, we are also missing two of the few capable TE starters with Sam LaPorta and Dallas Goedert on their bye weeks.

If you are in need of a fill-in at TE, these were my top waiver suggestions from Monday’s column. All remain available in more than half of Yahoo leagues as of Wednesday afternoon:

• Tucker Kraft (GB) – Kraft was the fantasy TE1 last week and looks like he could be a long-term answer for fantasy managers at TE this season.
• Tyler Conklin (NYJ) –  Full-time player catching passes from an all-time great QB.
• Colby Parkinson (LAR) – Another full-time player catching passes from another all-time great QB.
• Cade Otton (TB) –  Full-time player catching passes from one of the top fantasy QBs so far this season.

Join us Friday for Week 5 Start/Sit Questions!

Some things in fantasy football are easy. We know we should start Tyreek Hill and Breece Hall. We know we should bench the backup running back who is only on our roster in case of injury. A lot of the decisions are made for us. However, there are a lot of things that are not so simple. All of the “in between” situations are what can make the difference between a few wins and losses, and therefore it can be the difference between a successful season or a failed season. Every Friday, we are here to help!!

I’ll take questions each week in our #fantasy-football channel in our Discord from people looking for Start/Sit advice and give my thoughts. This article on Fridays will feature a few of those questions and responses, so join our Discord to be a part of the conversation or ask questions of your own!!

Question 1:: PPR FLEX: Dontayvion Wicks or James Conner? (PSUBALTFAN)

Answer:: It is easy to get caught up in the hype when an exciting young player gets thrust into a new role and has immediate success. While Wicks is a player I am very high on and has a great role in a good matchup, starting him over a player like Conner is a big jump for me. Conner is a centerpiece of the Cardinals’ offense and is playing in a potentially high-scoring game. It’s easy to let the 49ers’ defensive reputation scare you away here, but Conner is likely to see in the range of 20 touches and just two weeks ago we saw Kyren Williams score three touchdowns against San Francisco. Wicks could certainly have a good game, but that is far from a sure thing, and in a regular fantasy league where you only have to beat one opponent, I would not be benching Conner in this spot.

Question 2:: Christian Kirk or Xavier Worthy in my Flex spot? (Full PPR) (JM0ney)

Answer:: This answer will depend in part on the status of Jaguars tight end Evan Engram, who has missed the last three games. The Colts’ defense faces the most plays per game of any team in the league, leading to increased volume for opponents, and they have allowed big games to opposing wide receivers all season. If Engram is out, I would definitely go with Kirk. If Engram plays, I might side with Worthy, as the Chiefs will be looking for him to step up in the absence of Rashee Rice.

Question 3:: Need to start two of these three:: Tyreek Hill / Christian Kirk / Dontayvion Wicks (shakey34)

Answer:: I’m not benching Tyreek yet. I know it has looked really bad recently, but he is still such an elite player and I feel like benching true studs like this hurts you more often than it helps over time. As for the other spot, I would start Kirk if Engram misses another week. I do think Engram plays, however, and my lean is slightly towards Wicks if Engram plays.

Question 4:: I need to start two: Jerome Ford / Josh Downs / Tre Tucker / Jordan Whittington? (0.5 PPR) (kujo33)

Answer:: Since this is 0.5 PPR, my first lean is to Ford, as he appears to have control of the Cleveland backfield now and the Browns sound like they should have a healthier offensive line in a decent matchup against Washington. For the other spot, it is between Downs and Whittington. I love Tucker as a player, but that Raiders/Broncos game is likely to be a punt-fest. The decision for me comes down to who starts at QB for the Colts. If it is Joe Flacco, I’d start Downs. If it’s Anthony Richardson, I’d go with Whittington.

Question 5:: Dontayvion Wicks, Khalil Shakir, or Jaylen Waddle? (PPR) (Zachary_Tyler14)

Answer:: I prefer Wicks from this group. In an earlier question I said I would stick with Tyreek Hill despite the Dolphins struggles. This is a similar question, but Waddle is lower in the pecking order and less likely than the uniquely talented Hill to break a huge play that makes his day. Shakir’s status for the Bills game in Houston is in doubt, while Wicks has a great matchup and the Packers now may also be without Romeo Doubs, which would increase the target share for Wicks even more.

Join us Saturday for Week 5 Rankings!

The weekend is here and it’s time to get our lineups set before Sunday’s full slate of games. Each week, the Saturday edition of the Daily Dose will feature my rankings for all players who have yet to play a game this week. Obviously this will not include the Thursday games, but feel free to hit me up in Discord if you have some tough decisions around guys who play on Thursday. 

Most of the leagues I play in are full-PPR, 12-team leagues and these rankings are designed for those settings – you may need to make some slight adjustments based on your own league settings.

QB:: 

1. Lamar Jackson
2. Josh Allen
3. Jayden Daniels
4. Brock Purdy
5. Jordan Love
6. Justin Fields
7. Joe Burrow
8. C.J. Stroud
9. Geno Smith
10. Kyler Murray
11. Patrick Mahomes
12. Trevor Lawrence
13. Dak Prescott
14. Deshaun Watson
15. Joe Flacco
16. Caleb Williams
17. Matthew Stafford
18. Derek Carr
19. Aaron Rodgers
20. Sam Darnold
21. Andy Dalton
22. Daniel Jones
23. Tyler Huntley
24. Gardner Minshew
25. Bo Nix
26. Jacoby Brissett

RB:: 

1. Jordan Mason
2. Derrick Henry
3. Kyren Williams
4. Alvin Kamara
5. Kenneth Walker III
6. Breece Hall
7. Aaron Jones
8. James Cook
9. Josh Jacobs
10. Najee Harris
11. Chuba Hubbard
12. Travis Etienne
13. James Conner
14. De’Von Achane
15. Jerome Ford
16. D’Andre Swift
17. Austin Ekeler
18. Brian Robinson
19. Zack Moss
20. Kareem Hunt
21. Trey Sermon
22. Alexander Mattison
23. Antonio Gibson
24. Justice Hill
25. Rico Dowdle
26. Tyrone Tracy, Jr.
27. Braelon Allen
28. Zach Charbonnet
29. Javonte Williams
30. Cam Akers
31. Emanuel Wilson
32. Roschon Johnson
33. Samaje Perine
34. Tank Bigsby
35. Raheem Mostert

WR:: 

1. CeeDee Lamb
2. Nico Collins
3. Ja’Marr Chase
4. Justin Jefferson
5. Deebo Samuel
6. DK Metcalf
7. Jayden Reed
8. Diontae Johnson
9. Marvin Harrison, Jr.
10. Stefon Diggs
11. Amari Cooper
12. Chris Olave
13. DJ Moore
14. Garrett Wilson
15. Tee Higgins
16. George Pickens
17. Tyreek Hill
18. Brian Thomas, Jr.
19. Terry McLaurin
20. Zay Flowers
21. Christian Kirk
22. Michael Pittman
23. Brandon Aiyuk
24. Dontayvion Wicks
25. Josh Downs
26. Rashid Shaheed
27. Xavier Worthy
28. Jaxon Smith-Njigba
29. Jerry Jeudy
30. Jordan Whittington
31. Tutu Atwell
32. Tank Dell
33. Curtis Samuel
34. Keon Coleman
35. Keenan Allen
36. Tyler Lockett
37. Jalen Tolbert
38. Courtland Sutton
39. Wan’Dale Robinson
40. Jakobi Meyers
41. Jaylen Waddle
42. Tre Tucker
43. Xavier Legette
44. Darius Slayton
45. Gabe Davis

TE:: 

1. Travis Kelce
2. George Kittle
3. Trey McBride
4. Jake Ferguson
5. Brock Bowers
6. Dalton Kincaid
7. David Njoku
8. Evan Engram
9. Tucker Kraft
10. Colby Parkinson
11. Pat Freiermuth
12. Dalton Schultz
13. Cole Kmet
14. Mark Andrews
15. Hunter Henry
16. Tyler Conklin
17. Isaiah Likely
18. Zach Ertz
19. Brenton Strange
20. Mike Gesicki

DEFENSE:: 

1. Seahawks
2. Broncos
3. 49ers
4. Bears
5. Patriots
6. Dolphins
7. Steelers
8. Raiders
9. Chiefs
10. Vikings
11. Jets
12. Commanders
13. Ravens
14. Packers
15. Jaguars

Joins us Sunday for Early Waiver Adds!

The theme of this article is, “Work smarter, not harder.” Every week we will give you the top Waiver Adds in our Tuesday article. However, you can make things a lot easier and less stressful by getting ahead of things with some players and situations. Doing so in a smart way can help you save FAAB or preserve high waiver priority in your league. 

Every Sunday I will give you a few players who stand out to me as great potential additions that can give you a leg up on your league mates. Look to add these players if you have players you are willing to drop, who get late-week injuries, or who are ruled out of their games and allow you to move them to an IR spot once they are officially inactive on Sunday morning.

Deshaun Watson, QB, CLE

• Watson has had a rough start to the season but he is getting tight end David Njoku back this week, along with at least one, possibly three, offensive linemen for a game against a struggling Commanders secondary. If Watson has a big game, he will be the most sought-after QB on waivers for those with QBs on Week 6 bye or who are streaming the position – he faces the Eagles and Bengals secondaries the next two weeks.

Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB, NYG

• The Giants’ offense has a tall task on the road in Seattle without Malik Nabers this week, but they face the Bengals in Week 6 and Tracy gets an audition with Devin Singletary out against the Seahawks. Tracy is a talented and explosive player, and if he defies the odds and posts a good game in Seattle, it will be impossible not to keep him involved in some way going forward. The Giants may even hold Singletary out an extra week, giving Tracy a featured role in an elite matchup against Cincinnati.

Emanuel Wilson, RB, GB

• The Packers have sent rookie MarShawn Lloyd to the IR, leaving Wilson and Josh Jacobs as the clear top RBs on the team. Green Bay’s next four games after this week are soft matchups against ARI and JAX, as well as potential shootouts against HOU and DET. If something were to happen to Jacobs, Wilson would probably be the top waiver add for Week 6.

Jordan Whittington, WR, LAR

• Matthew Stafford has been making stars out of wide receivers his entire career, and Whittington played 59 of 61 snaps last week while leading the team in routes run and targets. This is a talented rookie who was hyped by the organization all offseason and is now being manufactured touches. He is somehow rostered in only 12% of Yahoo leagues and 10% of ESPN leagues.

Texans Defense

• If you are feeling unsettled about your Week 5 defense, try picking up the Texans and using them against Josh Allen and the Bills. The bonus here is that Houston gets to face the Patriots in Week 6 in a game where its aggressive defense should be able to absolutely tee off. Houston is available in most leagues right now as people avoid the perceived bad matchup against the Bills, but Allen can take sacks and turn the ball over a lot if/when he falls behind. After the top few defenses this week, there are probably 10 or 12 in very similar situations. Take a chance on Houston this week and lock yourself into an elite unit for next week!

Join us Monday for the Week 5 Fantasy Fallout!