Week 5 Quarterbacks
Think Jalen Hurts wishes he still had AJ Brown right about now? No Devonta Smith. No Saquon Barkley. No Dallas Goedert. No Tank Bigsby. His rushing production has been underwhelming, with just one touchdown and under 30 yards in three of four games. But he’ll likely have to run more with… checks notes… Will Shipley starting, giving Hurts enough of a floor to remain in borderline QB1 discussion. Jacksonville has shut down opposing quarterbacks, though, so I have no issue starting a guy with a good matchup like Jacoby Brissett over him.
Those of us expecting a high-flying shootout with the Bengals were immensely disappointed with the Fantasy output of Trevor Lawrence in Week 4. But Tlaw and the entire Jaguars offense should bounce back bigly against an Eagles defense that ranks among the top 10 fantasy matchups for QBs. He’s yet to throw for 250 yards and has multiple touchdowns in just 50% of his games, but don’t hesitate to fire up Lawrence as a QB1 in Week 5. –Jay Felicio
Week 5 Wide Receivers
One of my favorite upside value plays in Week 5 is Titans receiver Carnell Tate. Tate has seen 9 and 12 targets over the last two weeks, as the offense seems to be trying to establish him as its WR1. He faces a Texans defense that has allowed opposing WR1s to record at least 60 receiving yards and a touchdown in every game this season. Tate should have another strong day in this divisional matchup.
If last week wasn’t enough for you to trust Roman Wilson, he should be in lineups as a FLEX option this week. Wilson has seen 6 targets in every game and seems to have Aaron Rodgers’ trust. He faces a Colts defense that has allowed receivers in the slot to produce this season. While this is a Michael Pittman Jr. revenge game, I’m still taking the shot on Wilson, especially with all the injuries at wide receiver.
Keon Coleman is a fade for me this week, especially if DJ Moore sits, which could make managers want to play him. Coleman is coming off a massive 116-yard and 1-touchdown performance, but he faces the Rams in Week 5. Los Angeles has been elite in the secondary and has yet to allow a receiver to go over 50 receiving yards. Coleman’s best chance is finding the end zone, as the Rams have allowed 6 WR touchdowns, but the yardage will be tough to come by.
Deebo Samuel is another potential FLEX option I’d look to avoid in Week 5. Seattle is a tough environment to play in, and its defense has been elite this season, allowing just 2 WR touchdowns and only 2 receivers to go over 50 yards. Samuel has been very touchdown-dependent with minimal yardage this year, making him difficult to trust in this divisional matchup. –Steve Pintado
Week 5 Tight Ends
Moving on to the present, and we have one fade and three plays. We’re off Dalton Kincaid in Week 5. He put up a stinker last week, catching one of only two targets for seven yards. We’re not hopeful for a rebound against a Los Angeles Rams defense that ranks in the bottom three in fantasy points allowed to the TE position. If you have a better option, we’d recommend going that route.
Meanwhile, we’re bullish on three streaming options: T.J. Hockenson, Mike Gesicki, and Michael Mayer. Hockenson has been an increasingly reliable option at the position in recent weeks and is certainly establishing a nice rapport with QB Kyler Murray.
Gesicki should benefit from a banged-up Cincinnati Bengals wide receiving corps with the status of Ja’Marr Chase (concussion) and Tee Higgins (adductor) very much in doubt. Even if both play, we can see Joe Burrow looking Gesicki’s way more often than usual as these Bengals are eased back into action.
Last but not least, we are high on Michael Mayer despite a tough matchup on paper. The New England Patriots have allowed the fewest points per game to opposing tight ends of any team in the NFL. However, few teams employ the TE position as rampantly as the Las Vegas Raiders, as 12 personnel has emerged as their base offense.
Mayer in particular boasts a steady snap share of 81 percent or higher in each of his four games this season, with or without Brock Bowers in the lineup. He has seen seven or more targets in two of them and scored in another. Included in this resume: last week’s performance against the Kansas City Chiefs as the TE7: 8 catches on 10 targets for 82 yards. Meanwhile, a perfectly healthy Bowers also did his thing as the TE3 on the week.
The Patriots faced a gauntlet of A.J. Barner, Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, and Brenton Strange before clamping Kincaid last week. However, that impressive shutdown performance was also due in part to Buffalo’s offensive personnel packages, which were lighter on tight ends than usual. Expect the Raiders to keep living and dying by the tight end, meaning the kind of work for both Bowers and Mayer that Kincaid managers were hoping for last week. –Drew DeLuca