The bye weeks are starting to make their rounds. Heading into Week 5, four teams are going to be available for fantasy managers. The Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and Pittsburgh Steelers are off, so their players will be on fantasy rosters’ benches. That will certainly make setting lineups difficult. Having monsters like Bijan Robinson and Josh Jacobs is a tough out. Not to mention all the other big names from these teams. While the crunch of having your top players unavailable is tough, there are still plenty of good options to start this week.
So, what do fantasy managers have to work with in Week 5? We’ll find out in the latest issue of “Starts and Sits” to get fantasy lineups ready for a new week of fantasy football.
Week 5 Starts and Sits
Quarterbacks
Start: Justin Fields vs. DAL
One of the bright spots of the Jets’ offense, Justin Fields finds himself in a prime spot for a big fantasy game against the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys struggled with running quarterbacks this season, allowing Jalen Hurts to run for 62 yards (4.4 y/a) in Week 1. Hurts also added two touchdowns on the ground vs. DAL. Then, in Week 2 against the New York Giants, they surrendered another 44 yards to Russell Wilson (5.5 y/a).
The Cowboys are allowing the fifth-most rushing yards to quarterbacks on the ground heading into Week 5. That plays right into what Justin Fields can do to opposing defenses. Fields is averaging 7.4 yards per carry on the ground, and with Braelon Allen landing on IR, expect Fields to get busy on the ground this week.
Start: Sam Darnold vs. TB
Another QB that isn’t a sexy name, but his matchup is hard to ignore. Sam Darnold heads into Week 5’s matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the QB20. However, the Bucs’ defense is giving up 19.3 fantasy points per game to enemy quarterbacks. That ranks ninth-most among fantasy defenses. Darnold has five touchdowns on the season, but has been taking care of the ball with just two interceptions. Darnold is also averaging 9.1 yards per attempt and has 905 passing yards after four weeks of football.
With guys like Michael Penix and Aaron Rodgers on bye weeks, Darnold may be the pivot you need this week.
Sit: Carson Wentz vs. CLE
Carson Wentz is coming off his best game this season since taking over for the Minnesota Vikings. Wentz finished as the QB9 for Week 4. He did have two passing touchdowns against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but also lobbed up two interceptions in the game. Wentz showed promise in just his second start with the Vikings as he threw for over 300 yards in the contest.
But the Cleveland Browns are scrappy. The Browns have nine sacks on the season and are allowing just 15.1 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. This may be a game where Wentz comes back to earth against a tougher defense in Week 5.
Running Backs
Start: David Montgomery vs. CIN
David Montgomery followed up his supreme performance in Week 3 with an absolute stinker in Week 4. Montgomery scored 29.4 fantasy points against the Baltimore Ravens and then stunk up the place with just 1.2 fantasy points against the Cleveland Browns. But the Lions get a Cincinnati Bengals defense fighting for their lives on defense.
The Bengals just allowed 4.9 yards per attempt to the Denver Broncos and 186 total rushing yards. The Bengals now have to face off against the Lions’ tandem of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Montgomery is averaging 5.7 yards per attempt. Expect the Lions to get Montgomery back on track this week.
Start: Cam Skattebo vs. NO
The backfield belongs to Cam Skattebo, with Tyrone Tracy out with a shoulder injury. Even with Devin Singletary now the backup, Skattebo saw 25 carries against the Los Angeles Chargers defense. Skattebo finished as a top 25 running back and gave fantasy managers 13 fantasy points. One thing to note is that his involvement in the passing game could increase with the loss of wide receiver Malik Nabers, who is out for the season.
The New Orleans Saints are giving up the eighth-most fantasy points at 25.2 fantasy points per game. Skattebo is a nice option to start against a vulnerable defense with the volume he’s getting in the Giants’ offense.
Sit: Chase Brown vs. DET
Chase Brown sitting for this week is low-hanging fruit at this point in the season. Brown has underwhelmed with no return on his fantasy value as the Bengals continue to spiral into fantasy oblivion. Brown is averaging just 9.4 fantasy points heading into Week 5 and is currently sitting at the RB37 in Week 4. The Detroit Lions have allowed nearly 79 yards per game to opposing run games. With how bad the Bengals’ defense has been so far this season (ranked 30th, per Fantasydata), and against one of the better offenses in the league, this game could get out of hand early and force Brown out of the game. The Lions are allowing the ninth fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs at 19.2 per game.
Wide Receivers
Start: Ladd McConkey vs. WAS
With the emergence of Quentin Johnston and Keenan Allen winding back the clock, Ladd McConkey went from hot wide receiver to third wheel in his second season in the NFL. McConkey is averaging nearly seven targets per game but ranks third on the team in targets with 27. McConkey hasn’t had a breakout game this season, but that could change with Week 5’s game against the Washington Commanders. The Commanders are giving up nearly 37 fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers, ranking eighth-most among fantasy defenses. McConkey continues to be involved in the offense so that’s a plus. McConkey has a solid matchup to get back on track.
Start: Garrett Wilson vs. DAL
The Jets don’t really have another option in the passing game aside from Garrett Wilson. Nearly all the passing volume is going to him. Heading into Week 5, Wilson has 38 targets on the season. Tyler Johnson, the wide receiver who ranks second in targets among the Jets’ wide receivers…has six. Wilson gets a layup matchup where the Cowboys are still allowing the most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. They gave up three touchdowns against the Green Bay Packers to Romeo Doubs, making him look like Antonio Brown. Wilson will get volume and opportunity on his side against a weak Cowboys defense. Pencil Wilson in a start for Week 5.
Sit: AJ Brown vs. DEN
The Eagles’ offense used to be good for fantasy, but it hasn’t been since the start of the season. AJ Brown and the Eagles receivers have been posted on wanted posters outside of a blip in Week 3 against the Los Angeles Rams, where Brown woke up and finished the game with nearly 23 fantasy points. Fantasy managers know that the talent is still there with Brown. With the Eagles’ passing game on a milk carton, Brown is hard to trust. The Eagles face the wide receivers’ boogey man in Patrick Surtain in Week 5 to boot. The Broncos are allowing the seventh-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers at just 27 fantasy points per game. Hurts isn’t slinging it, and the matchup is not the greatest. Brown will have better weeks, but this isn’t one of them.
Tight Ends
Start: Darren Waller vs. CAR
Another advantage of Tyreek Hill being out for the season. Waller caught two touchdowns in his first game back from retirement and should see even more work moving forward as one of the focal points in the Dolphins’ passing attack. Waller gets a solid matchup against the Carolina Panthers in Week 5. The Panthers are giving up 15.4 fantasy points per game, the eighth-most among fantasy defenses. If Waller can hold up the rest of the season, his upside should be one of the best the rest of the way. Waller is a good option with Kyle Pitts and Tucker Kraft on their bye weeks.
Sit: Evan Engram vs. PHI
Evan Engram returned to the field after missing the last few weeks because of injury. While he saw seven targets against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 4, he didn’t do much with the volume. Engram may still be getting his football legs back under him after sitting out for a few weeks, but his matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles is no cakewalk. The Eagles are smothering opposing tight ends, holding them to just 5.9 fantasy points per game. The Eagles’ defense ranks third-fewest in fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends. If Engram can keep the targets flowing his way and stay healthy, fantasy managers have a solid option for the rest of the season. For now, Engram needs to be on the bench this week.
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