The Fantasy Fallout Going Into Week 5

Many fallen warriors to lament this week but not for long. We’ve got to forge a path ahead to stay relevant in this changing fantasy landscape. This is the fallout going into Week 5…

 

Dolphins – 15 @ Bengals – 27

• Raheem Mostert(17/81) is the de facto starter in Miami – He’s out-touched Chase Edmonds(7/20/1) the last 3 games. Only owned in 50% of leagues, Mostert has a tasty matchup with the Jets ahead in Wk 5. 

 

• Tua Tagovailoa won’t return in Wk 5, after the concussion debacle that followed his Wk 4 exit. Teddy Bridgewater was literally passable in relief of Tua in Wk 4, throwing downfield willingly to Tyreek Hill, and he’ll be a decent superflex and 2 QB option in Wk 5. 

 

• Tyler Boyd(2/47) seems to have big weeks every other week so far, Wk 4 being an off week. Owned in only 55% of leagues, Boyd makes for an upside play this week against the Ravens. He’s had 5 or more targets in 3 of 4 games thus far. 

 

Vikings – 28 @ Saints – 25

• Alexander Mattison(4/18/1) has scored in his last 2 games, but he’s not touching the ball enough to warrant starting outside of deep PPR leagues. Even with Dalvin Cook dealing with a shoulder injury, he touched the ball just 4 times in Wk 4. 

 

• Irv Smith(3/23) has been splitting time with Johnny Mundt, and neither player is doing enough to warrant fantasy consideration. Despite a lot of preseason hoopla gassing up Smith, he looks like little more than a desperation streamer in plus matchups. 

 

• Well it’s nice to know that Chris Olave(4/67/1) is still a focal point of the Saints offense, even though Andy Dalton was the starter in Wk 4. Marquez Callaway(3/53) saw 6 targets with Michael Thomas sitting and could garner similar targets in Wk 5, should Thomas sit again. It also helps his cause that Jarvis Landry(2/7) is struggling with an ankle injury. 

 

• Alvin Kamara was a surprise DNP on Sunday, despite practicing during the week. Latavius Murray(12/65/1) led the Saints backfield in his stead scoring while Mark Ingram was in the locker room with an undisclosed injury. Ingram(13/43) actually out-touched Kamara but was the less effective back. If Ingram is good to go this week, and Kamara isn’t, he stands to be the better bet to provide fantasy points. 

 

Browns – 20 @ Falcons – 23

• David Njoku(5/73) has his 2nd straight fantasy viable game in Wk 4, which can’t be said for any other Browns pass-catcher.  If he can maintain consistency in Wk 5 against a Chargers team that is top 5 in defending TEs, he deserves to be added in most formats. I’m not holding my breath though. 

 

• Tyler Allgeier(11/84) led the Falcons backfield against the Browns, but both Caleb Huntley(10/56/1) and Cordarrelle Patterson(9/38/1) were heavily involved – Patterson was playing through a knee injury. Regardless if Patterson is good to go or not this week, it’s not advisable to start Allgeier or Huntley against the Bucs in Wk 5. 

 

Bills – 23 @ Ravens – 20

• Isaiah McKenzie(4/21/1) left the game in the 3rd quarter after taking a shot to the helmet, leaving Jamison Crowder to man the slot. Crowder(1/7) then proceeded to break his ankle and is out for the foreseeable future. If McKenzie can’t get back on the field this week, rookie Khalil Shakir(2/23) could start in the slot against Pittsburgh. 

 

• JK Dobbins(17/63/2) handled his lion’s share of touches with aplomb on Sunday and seemed to come out no worse for the wear. Start him this week with confidence. Justice Hill left the game with a non-contact injury, and we could see Tyler Badie activated for Wk 5 – It’s also time to stash Gus Edwards. 

 

• Rashod Bateman(3/17) is dealing with a mid-foot injury, so Devin Duvernay(4/51) could be in line for increased targets in Wk 5 against the Bengals. 

 

Titans – 24 @ Colts – 17

• Rookie TE Chig Okonkwo(3/38/1) led the Titans in receiving on Sunday. It was slim pickings all around, but Okonkwo bears monitoring. Austin Hooper has been an afterthought this season, so maybe this has somes legs. 

 

• Mo Alie-Cox(6/85/2) had his best game of the season, pacing the Colts in receiving. MAC has been largely inconsistent this season, so this doesn’t amount to much for me. That being said, the TE field is shallow in fantasy right now and the Broncos, the Colts Wk 5 opponent, play a lot of zone coverage. 

 

• Alec Pierce (6/80) led Colts WRs in yards on Sunday, buoyed by a late 44 yard grab. As a deep threat tied to Matt Ryan’s aging arm, I’m not expecting consistency out of Pierce. 

 

 

• Jonathan Taylor avoided a high ankle sprain, but the Colts have a short week so nothing is guaranteed yet. Make sure Nyheim Hines, and to a lesser extent, Phillip Lindsay are owned in your leagues. 

 

 

Chargers – 34 @ Texans – 24

• Sony Michel(9/27) was one short of 10 touches on Sunday, playing behind Austin Ekeler. Until Michel starts getting goal line looks, he’s still unusable in fantasy. 

 

• Joshua Palmer(1/25) tanked even with Keenan Allen sitting on Sunday, which may have been in part due to an ankle injury. Let’s hope Allen comes back this week, so we don’t have to deal with what could be a headache deciding whether to start Palmer again. 

 

• Nico Collins(3/82) had his best game of the season on Sunday, picking up most of his yardage on a 58 yard pass. Collins is getting decent targets, but without the Texans getting into scoring position very often, the juice isn’t worth the squeeze. 

 

Commanders – 10 @ Cowboys – 25

• Antonio Gibson played on just 41% of offensive snaps on Sunday. JD McKissic and Jonathan WIlliams had 16 touches between the two of them behind Gibson. With Brian Robinson’s debut on the horizon, things aren’t looking good for Gibson’s fantasy prospects. Robinson needs to be added if he’s been dropped in your league.

 

• Michael Gallup(2/23/1) scored a TD, but Noah Brown(3/61) stayed heavily involved, garnering 6 targets on the day. Gallup is still working his way back, but Brown looks like he’ll still provide value, even with Gallup on the field. 

 

Jaguars – 21 @ Eagles – 29

• Jamal Agnew(4/50/2) led the Jags in receiving on a day that Zay Jones sat. We remember the run Agnew had last season, so if Jones sits again this week Agnew deserves a long look against the Texans. 

 

• Kenneth Gainwell(6/17/1) scored a TD with Boston Scott sitting, but he’s not getting enough touches to warrant fantasy consideration, especially with Jalen Hurts basically 

            serving as the Eagles goal line back. 

 

Seahawks – 48 @ Lions – 45

• Kenneth Walker(9/24) had his most touches this season, but Sunday afternoon was all about Rashad Penny(18/157/2). Penny is the bellcow in this backfield and will continue to be with performances like this. 

 

• Will Dissly(4/39/1) caught his 3rd TD in 4 games. He’s highly TD dependent, but in a weak TE field, Dissly makes for a decent streamer. 

 

• Josh Reynolds(7/81/1) led the Lions WRs in receiving, as we thought he would. Should Amon-Ra St. Brown and/or DJ CHark not make it back this week, Reynolds has some PPR juice. 

 

Bears – 12 @ Giants – 20

• Darnell Mooney(4/94) owners can breathe a collective sigh of relief, but chances are he was on their benches in Wk4. He should be able to get free plenty this week against the Vikings. 

 

• Khalil Herbert(20/101) didn’t have a week that matched his Wk3 output, but he was still effective. He needs to be owned regardless of whether David Montgomery is back or not this week. There are few offensive weapons in Chicago. 

 

• Daniel Jones injured his ankle one Sunday, leaving Tyrod Taylor to man the QB position, only Taylor got concussed. Jones is day-to-day, which bodes well for him, but monitor the situation. Should Jones sit, Saquon Barkley is the only Giant you can touch in fantasy this week. 

 

Jets – 24 @ Steelers – 20

• Breece Hall(19/80/1) out-touched Michael Carter(11/29) 19 to 11 in this one and may be the lead back moving forward. The Jets leaned heavily on the run with Zach Wilson back under center and will probably continue to do so, as Wilson threw 2 picks. 

 

• Corey Davis(5/74/1) is the unsung fantasy hero in the Jets offense. He’s scored double-digit points in 3 of 4 games but is owned in only 25% of leagues. He’s liked by both QBs the Jets have run out this season and deserves to be owned. 

 

• George Pickens(6/102) had an about-face this week, leading the Steelers in receiving. New Steelers QB Kenny Pickett loves Pickens and both players should boost each other’s fantasy output. Both need to be added in most formats. 

 

Cardinals – 26 @ Panthers – 16

• The return of Rondale Moore(3/11) was the death knell of Greg Dortch(⅙) it seems. With DeAndre Hopkins also returning to action soon, Dortch can be dropped in all but the deepest of leagues. 

 

• You know the QB situation is bad when fans are clamoring for Sam Darnold to return. Baker Mayfield has arguably been the worst QB in the league to this point and does his offensive players no favors. DJ Moore can stay afloat in PPR formats, but aside from him and Chrisitan McCaffrey, no Panthers player is viable in fantasy as long as Mayfield is under center. 

 

Broncos – 23 @ Raiders – 32

• In the worst news of the day, Javonte Williams is out for the season with a torn ACL. We can only shed a tear and then run to waivers to pick up Melvin Gordon, if he’s available and Mike Boone, who almost certainly is. Boone might be target no.1 this week, in fact. He hasn’t looked terribly impressive, but the opportunity is there. 

 

• Mack Hollins(3/33) was the only other receiver to catch a pass behind Davante Adams on Sunday. It paled in comparison to his Wk 3 stat line, but Hollins remains fantasy viable as long as Hunter Renfrow sits and perhaps even after he returns., as Hollins is playing over 85% of snaps since day one. 

 

Patriots – 24 @ Packers – 27

• Rookie QB Bailey Zappe(10/99/1) played a hell of a game in relief of Brian Hoyer, who left the game with a likely concussion. Zappe almost won the game for the Pats, but the offense will be largely predicated on the run if Zappe has to start in Wk 5 versus Detroit. Expect huge numbers from Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson this week. 

 

• Allen Lazard(6/116) led the Packers in receiving, but once again, Romeo Doubs(5/47/1) showed out too. They had the same number of targets(8), and both should be owned moving forward, and both can be played as WR3s against the Giants this week. 

 

Chiefs – 41 @ Buccaneers – 31

• Isiah Pacheco(11/63) showed up in the box score this week, out-touching Jerrick McKinnon(3/0) by 8 touches. KC’s lead may have set up Pacheco for success, but this just might have been a changing of the guard behind the unreliable Clyde Edwards-Helaire. I’m grabbing Pacheco where I can, as he has upside to spare in this explosive offense. 

 

• • Rachaad White led the TB backfield on Sunday night in yards(56), though Leonard Fournette led in touches(10 to 8). It may have been an artifact of the Bucs playing from behind most of the night, but OC Byron Leftwich had previously stated that he wants to get White more involved. A lot of the Bucs receivers were playing partially injured on Sunday, so that may have played a role as well, but White deserves a look moving forward.