Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, October 9th, at 1:00 PM EST
Location: FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland
Betting Odds: TEN-2.5, 42.5 total via Oddsshark
Network: CBS
Writer: Matthew Cava (@cavaM_ Twitter & Reddit)
Tennessee Titans
Quarterback
Ryan Tannehill (Sit)
Ryan Tannehill is coming off an efficient Week 4 in which he completed 17 of 21 attempts for 137 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions in the win against the Colts. Overall through the first four games, it has been a fairly middling start to the season for Tannehill, as he is working with an offense that lacks reliable pass-catchers. Per FantasyData, Tannehill only has eight deep ball attempts, good for a completion percentage of 37.5%. The Commanders have given up the seventh most fantasy points to QBs this season, but there should be better options at the position over Tannehill if you’re taking the streaming approach.
Running Back
Derrick Henry (Start, RB1)
Make that three games in a row for Derrick Henry with a rushing touchdown. Henry turned 22 carries into 114 yards; his best game on the ground this season. He also had three receptions for 33 yards. His day appeared to be on a higher trajectory, but the Colts held him in check in the second half. What’s been a welcoming additive to King Henry’s potential this season has been his involvement in the passing game. Between the last two games, he’s turned 11 targets with eight receptions for 91 yards. Through four games, Washington has actually only given up the sixth-fewest fantasy points to running backs, but Henry has the capability to take over a game at a moment’s notice, so you can continue to start him as an RB1.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Robert Woods (Start if you must, FLEX), Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (Sit), Kyle Philips (Sit), Chig Okonkwo (Sit)
As I mentioned earlier, the wide receiver room in Tennessee may be one of the league’s worst. Through four games, Robert Woods, the defacto WR1, has 167 yards total on 13 receptions and a touchdown. I would be inclined to consider him a sit, but someone has to catch the ball here, right? The likes of Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Kyle Philips should see an uptick in targets, but not enough to be fantasy relevant. This is all in part to rookie Treylon Burks suffering a turf toe injury against the Colts, and he is now expected to miss some time. Rookie tight end Chig Okonkwo caught all three of his targets for 38 yards and a touchdown against Indianapolis, but it’s hard to think this is a day to build on considering Geoff Swaim and Austin Hooper are competing for targets as well. All three tight ends are off the fantasy radar.
Washington Commanders
Quarterback
Carson Wentz (Sit)
Carson Wentz appeared to be poised to become a steady streaming option after the first two weeks of the season, throwing for a combined 650 yards and seven touchdowns. However, between Week 3 and 4, he’s passed for 381 total yards and just one touchdown. Wentz is such an up-and-down quarterback that it’s hard to trust him in single-QB leagues, even if the matchup presents itself to be favorable. And this game against the Titans is just that, as they have allowed the sixth most fantasy points to QBs this season.
Running Backs
Antonio Gibson (Start if you must, FLEX), J.D. McKissic (Sit), Brian Robinson Jr. (Sit)
Antonio Gibson had a nice start to the season, but Week 4 saw a major dip in his snap share. From a 65% share in Week 1 against the Jaguars to 41% against the Cowboys last week. He turned 13 carries into 49 yards and is only averaging 13.2 carries per game. His role appears to be diminishing before our eyes, and it’ll be hard to trust him other than FLEX consideration. Especially when you consider this may be the week we have Brian Robinson Jr. make his NFL debut, coming off gunshot wounds from an attempted robbery back at the end of August. The rookie has rehabbed on pace and will be a popular addition off the wire this week. All that said, he shouldn’t be started yet, but could very well take over RB1 duties in Washington rather quickly. J.D. McKissic remains to be worthy of a bench add in PPR formats, but can’t touch your lineup anytime soon, as he has not been involved much to start the season. Per FantasyData, McKissic owns a 17.4 rush share compared to Gibson’s 54.1.
Wide Receivers/Tight End
Terry McLaurin (Start, WR2), Curtis Samuel (Start, WR3), Logan Thomas (Sit), John Bates (Sit)
Terry McLaurin is coming off his worst game of the season, catching just two of six targets for 15 yards. Even so, he has seen at least six in the last three games and has the potential to bounce back against a Titans defense that has given up the fourth most fantasy points to WRs on the season. It also helps that rookie Jahan Dotson will be out this week (and possibly another) with a hamstring injury. His absence will also benefit Curtis Samuel, who is on the WR3 radar this week. He too is coming off a down game, four receptions for 38 yards on seven targets, but the target total remains encouraging; he’s averaging over nine per game.
Both tight ends Logan Thomas and John Bates don’t hold much fantasy weight this season and can be left on the wire.