Fantasy Plays: Week 5

Fortune favors the brave, in fantasy and otherwise, so take courage in making these surefire plays in Week 5…

 

Quarterbacks

Start:

Justin Fields, Steelers vs Cowboys

The Steelers aren’t particularly dynamic under Fields, who often starts out slowly then ramps up his production over the course of a game, but he has an uncanny potential for massive fantasy output. In Week 4, Fields accumulated over 300 yards passing and a TD against a middling Colts defense, but where he really hurt them was on the ground where Fields ran for 55 yards and 2 TDs. This week, he’ll face a Dallas defense that is reeling from injury and was already having issues stopping the run. Cue him up.

 

Other locks:

• Jordan Love at Rams
• Lamar Jackson at Bengals
• Jayden Daniels vs Browns
• Josh Allen at Texans

 

Avoid:

Aaron Rodgers, Jets at Vikings

Rodgers took 5 sacks from Denver in Week 4, and he seemed somewhat worse for the wear, complaining about both knees afterwards. This week he’ll face a Minnesota squad that is a bottom 5 matchup for opposing QBs, so the pressure will be as intense, if not more so. Sit this one out if you can.

 

Running Backs

Start:

Kyren Williams, Rams vs Packers

Matthew Stafford is rudderless without receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, so he’s been leaning heavily on his star running back. Williams is averaging 25 touches over the last two games, and his outlook should be eerily similar this week against a Packers front that is only middle of the pack in defending the run. The looming threat of rookie Blake Corum seems like just a bad dream at this point, with Corum seeing little to no action. The Rams backfield is Williams’ to lose, and he’s going to get a plethora of opportunities in Week 5.

 

Other locks:

• Alvin Kamara at Chiefs
• Jordan Mason vs Cardinals
• Derrick Henry at Bengals
• James Conner at 49ers

 

Avoid:

Rachaad White, Buccaneers at Falcons

Nobody told Bucky Irving that he wasn’t the lead back in Tampa, or at least that’s what it seems like. The talented rookie has outperformed White at virtually every turn, displaying better between the tackles savvy. With Irving’s touches going up every game since Week 2, this is developing into a committee at best, so White isn’t guaranteed the lion’s share of touches anymore. What’s worse is that the Buccaneers are facing a Falcons team this week that is the 2nd worst matchup for opposing backs. This is a situation to avoid.

 

Wide Receivers

Start:

Marvin Harrison Jr., Cardinals at 49ers

Harrison Jr. started his NFL career with a whimper, but he’s now scored in 3 straight games and is the Cardinal’s leading receiver going into Week 5. Arizona faces San Francisco this week, but the 49ers aren’t the stalwart group we’ve known them to be anymore, at least when it comes to their secondary. They’re actually a top 10 matchup for opposing receivers this week, so have no fear in firing up Harrison Jr.

 

Other locks:

• Ja’maar Chase vs Ravens
• Jayden Reed at Rams
• Courtland Sutton vs Raiders
• Xavier Worthy vs Saints

 

Avoid:

Zay Flowers, Ravens at Bengals

Flowers, along with the rest of the Ravens pass-catchers, just isn’t a necessary ingredient in the Ravens’ recipe for winning right now. Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson have been carrying the team on their backs, and that seems to be working just fine. Flowers has only garnered 4 and 2 targets the last two weeks, making him an unreliable play in fantasy for the time being.

 

Tight Ends

Jake Ferguson, Cowboys at Steelers

Ferguson is the no.2 option in Dallas’ passing game going into Week 5, having gotten 11 and 7 targets over the past two weeks. Pittsburgh is stout, a bottom 10 matchup for WRs and 2nd worst for RBs, but if there’s an achilles heel on their defense, it’s their ability to cover TEs. Ferguson is one of the safest plays you can make in a barren tight end landscape.

 

Other locks:

• Travis Kelce vs Saints
• Tucker Kraft at Rams
• Pat Freiermuth vs Cowboys
• Tyler Conklin at Vikings

 

Avoid:

Mark Andrews, Ravens at Bengals

Things are getting bleak for Andrews, who has gotten a singular target in each of his last 2 games, catching neither. What’s been bad for Zay Flowers is even worse for Andrews, and I don’t know if there’s an end in sight, especially with Isaiah Likely competing for targets. Don’t use Andrews if you have other reasonable options.