Sit/Start Week 5: Reviewing All Fantasy Relevant Players In Every Single Game

Game Info

Kickoff: Sunday, October 8th @ 1:00 PM ET

Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

Betting Odds: NE -1.5, 40 total via PFF.com

Network: CBS

Writer: Matthew Cava (@cavaM_ on Twitter/X)

New Orleans Saints

Quarterbacks

Derek Carr (Sit)

Derek Carr surprisingly was active in Week 4 as he deals with an AC joint sprain suffered the week prior, and fantasy owners who stuck with him against Tampa Bay were not rewarded. Carr completed 23 of 37 attempts for 127 scoreless yards, good for just 4.45 fantasy points. It’s clear he was playing with discomfort, and despite the upcoming matchup being a favorable one – against a New England defense that just had their worst loss in the Belichick era, and will be without Matthew Judon and rookie Christian Gonzalez – it would be best to leave Carr on your bench.

Running Backs

Alvin Kamara (Start, RB2)

Welcome back, Alvin Kamara. In his season debut coming off a suspension, Kamara was involved majorly. He was on the receiving end of 13 receptions (on 14 targets) for 33 yards, and he turned 11 carries into 51 yards. Albeit a one-game sample size, the heavy workload was encouraging to say the least. With no Mark Ingram or Latavius Murray behind him, is the Kamara of old back?

Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends

Chris Olave (Start, WR3), Michael Thomas (Start, FLEX), Rashid Shaheed (Sit), Juwan Johnson (Sit), Taysom Hill (Sit)

Carr playing through his injury did not bode well for Chris Olave in the slightest. He was trending towards laying a goose egg on the day – and basically did – finishing with just one catch on five targets for four yards. There were some deep balls that were missed on those targets, but it was just an unfortunate output for a receiver who hadn’t recorded less than six receptions in each of the first three games entering Week 4. You’ll want to temper expectations if Carr is under center against NE given the injury he’s actively nursing, but surely Olave is due a better game than last week. With that, consider him a WR3 on the week.

Michael Thomas has remained healthy through four games, and the Saints will take that as a win. On the fantasy side, he’s put up respectable numbers, averaging eight targets per game, 5.5 receptions per, and 54.7 receiving yards. If you find yourself starting Thomas, you can continue to do so as a FLEX.

Rashid Shaheed has taken a backseat with the Carr injury due to his strength being a deep threat that Carr is not able to click on right now.

Juwan Johnson exited the game against Tampa Bay on the Saints’ first drive, having suffered a calf injury. He never returned, and time will tell if he can suit up against the Patriots this week. If he can’t, here come the Taysom Hill truthers looking to deploy him. For what it’s worth, they will have a valid case, but Hill still isn’t an exciting option because of how hit-or-miss he can be on the weekly.

New England Patriots

Quarterback

Mac Jones (Sit), Bailey Zappe (Sit)

Mac Jones rode the pine in the 3rd quarter in the historic Patriots loss to the Cowboys last week, but Bill Belichick was adamant that it was a “why bother keeping him out there?” decision, and that Jones will remain the starter moving forward. The Cowboys had their way with Jones, forcing him into two interceptions – one of which was a pick-six – and a lost fumble. Bailey Zappe is the next man up in New England, but both QBs are not worthy fantasy options in an overall poor offense. The Saints’ defense is allowing the 16th most fantasy points to QBs so far through four games.

Running Backs

Rhamondre Stevenson (Start, FLEX), Ezekiel Elliot (Sit)

It’s been a very disappointing start to the season for Rhamondre Stevenson, as he has turned 60 carries into just 164 yards through four games, with one rushing score to his name. The Patriots’ offense has been a bottom-tier unit, due to offensive line issues – ranked 25th in the league per PFF – and thus, bad QB play. You’ll continue to deploy Stevenson, but brace for a FLEX finish; 6-12 PPR points as per our sites’ scaling.

In his return to Dallas, Ezekiel Elliot was a non-factor. He had just six carries and ran for 16 yards, with two receptions on three targets for six yards. If you’re rostering Elliott still, it’s off his name alone, as he has not been fantasy-relevant at any point this year.

Wide Receivers/Tight End

JuJu Smith-Schuster (Sit), Kendrick Bourne (Sit), DeVante Parker (Sit), Hunter Henry (Start, TE2), Mike Gesicki (Sit)

It’s hard to start any Patriot pass-catcher right now. Firstly, free agent signing JuJu Smith-Schuster has just 11 receptions on the season on 21 targets for 80 yards. DeVante Parker missed Week 1 and has better numbers than JuJu; 10 receptions on 15 targets for 109 yards. It’s actually Kendrick Bourne who is leading the WR room with 16 receptions for 175 yards on 28 targets and two touchdowns; no touchdowns to speak of for JuJu and Parker.

If there is anyone to start, suppose it to be Hunter Henry who hasn’t had less than five targets in any of the first four games to start the year. He has at least 50 yards in three of the four. However, it’s worth noting that the Saints are strong against TE’s, allowing just an average of 3.5 points per game to the position as per CBS Fantasy.