Start 'Em Sit 'Em Week 5
Week 5 is here, and our first wave of bye weeks is starting. If you have players from the Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers, and Tennessee Titans, they'll be on your bench this week. Looking for alternative players can be tough, so hopefully, you have some players on your bench ready for such an occasion. That's why I constantly preach working the waiver wire for options.
Kareem Hunt looks to take over for the Chiefs backfield with Isiah Pacheco on IR and Trey Benson should be a hot item on the wire this week with Jonathan Taylor reportedly dealing with a high-ankle sprain. So if you're shuffling your lineup looking for options, I'll help provide you with some players to start and sit ahead of Week 5.
Starts
Quarterback
Geno Smith vs. NYG
Geno Smith is coming off of one of his better performances this season. Smith threw for a season-high 56 pass attempts against the Detroit Lions, completing 38 passes for a 67.9% completion rate. Smith also added 395 yards, a touchdown, and an interception (albeit it was late in the game), but it was a solid performance to net him a QB8 finish. Smith gets the New York Giants who have given up 851 yards to opposing quarterbacks and 16.1 fantasy points per game. This is a tougher matchup on paper but I like his chances this week.
Jayden Daniels vs. CLE
Jayden Daniels is the hottest rookie out right now and it could be a mistake to take him out of your lineups. Daniels is a dual-threat quarterback averaging 23.4 FPPG. That's leading all Fantasy's quarterbacks right now! On top of that, Daniels is averaging 54.5 rushing yards per game and has a nose for the end zone as he's rushed for four touchdowns. The Browns' defense, despite their record, is still a force to reckon with. They've only allowed 751 passing yards to opposing QBs and just 12.3 FPPG. But Daniels is just too hot to take out right now. Ride the wave to another W this week.
Running Back
Bijan Robinson vs. TB
Bijan Robinson would've had a much better game against the New Orleans Saints if he hadn't had his long touchdown called back over a ticky-tack holding call during the game. Tyler Allegier also had a command over the snaps as he was effective against the Saints' defense. But fret not fantasy managers. Brighter days are ahead. The Bucs head into Week 5 allowing the 10th-most fantasy points to opposing running backs and five yards a carry to the position. Let's not forget what Saquon Barkley was able to do to the Bucs' defense despite getting just a handful of carries that game. The superb game planning by Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni by the way.
Rhamondre Stevenson vs. MIA
This is a bit of a desperation heave because Rhamondre Stevenson started great this season but has been putting the ball on the ground for defenders to scoop up. Stevenson heads into Week 5 with four fumbles. That's not great considering how much Stevenson gets the ball with the Patriots. He's the machine in the backfield but this machine might need a tune-up on how to keep the ball off the ground. If Stevenson can get his fumbling under control for one second, he should take advantage of a great matchup this week against the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins were abused by the Titans tandem with Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears, surrendering two touchdowns on the ground and 127 yards combined. With the Dolphins giving up the sixth-most fantasy points to running backs, I'm willing to give him one more try.
Wide Receiver
Tee Higgins vs. BAL
Tee Higgins had a slow start in his first game back against the Commanders but saw an uptick in targets against the Carolina Panthers. Higgins led the Bengals in targets with 10 while coming in second in receiving yards with 60. With that kind of target share, I'd like to keep Higgins in my lineups for the rest of the season. Higgins and the Bengals get the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5, allowing the fourth-most passing yards going into the matchup. The Ravens were tough on Buffalo as they put Bills quarterback Josh Allen on lockdown. But Burrow and the gang have all of their passing weapons available for this outing and while Ja'Marr Chase will be the one to watch, don't take your eyes off of Higgins.
Michael Pittman vs. JAX
I hate to say it but can we get old man Joe Flacco in for the rest of the season? (I joke, maybe). Anthony Richardson has gotten off to a rough start passing the ball and head coach Shane Steichen didn't do him any favors with his playcalling and got the second-year signal caller knocked out of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Flacco came into the game and got the W but also revitalized the Colts' passing attack. Pittman was one of the main beneficiaries of the change at quarterback finishing the game with 113 receiving yards and 17.3 fantasy points. If Flacoo gets the start again against the Jacksonville Jaguars 31st ranked pass defense, Pittman is a lock to have a good game with all the targets that Flacco will send his way.
Tight End
Pat Freiermuth vs. DAL
In the tight-end wasteland, Pat Frieremuth has been a bright spot for fantasy managers who stayed with him. The Big Muth erupted for 16.7 fantasy points against the Indianapolis Colts, catching five passes on seven targets for 57 yards and a touchdown. The Cowboys have been solid against tight ends to this point of the season but if we take a closer look, the last three teams that the Cowboys have faced don't use tight ends. David Njoku was injured when the Cowboys faced Cleveland, Juwan Johnson is an afterthought in the Saints offense, and Mark Andrews has been on a milk carton for weeks. This could be the Cowboys' first real test at defending the tight end position with Pat Freiermuth coming to town.
Sits
Daniel Jones vs. SEA
Daniel Jones has been trying this season. Alright, you got me. I'm lying. Daniel Jones has been super mid this season averaging 13.1 fantasy points per game over the first quarter. I will give him this. Jones has completed 70% of his passes in back-to-back games over the last two weeks. But that might not be enough with the Giants averaging just 15 ppg. The Seattle Seahawks defense got cooked against the Detroit Lions on the ground, giving up three touchdowns to Kenneth Walker and two passing touchdowns to Jared Goff. Despite that great game from Goff, Jones has done nothing comparable this season, throwing for just four touchdowns and three interceptions. Jones can safely remain on the bench this week.
Rico Dowdle vs. PIT
Rico Dowdle showed a bit of a spark against the Giants as he rushed for 46 yards on 11 carries and added a 15-yard receiving touchdown on a screen-play. Overall Dowdle hasn't been impressive this season, averaging just 3.9 y/a on the ground going into Week 5. The Steelers have been a stone wall when it comes to taking care of their run defense. The Steelers are allowing the second-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing running backs and allowing just 3.7 yards per attempt.
Ja'Lynn Polk vs. MIA
As much as I liked rookie wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk coming out of the draft, he just hasn't gotten enough reps and targets to be effective on the field. Polk is tied for second on the team with 13 targets over the first quarter. Polk is seeing a 62% snap share but until last week, the ball hasn't been going his way. The Dolphins still have Jalen Ramsey lurking in the secondary and Jacoby Brissett has been off as of late. When Drake Maye hits the field, maybe we can see some change to the Patriots' offense. Until then, Polk isn't worth throwing into your lineups even with the bye week taking players off the board.
Mark Andrews vs. CIN
Do I need to elaborate on this one? Mark Andrews has been MIA for fantasy managers since the start of the season and Isaiah Likely has been edging out Andrews in snaps (58.5% to 55%). Until the Ravens show that they can throw the ball consistently and involve Andrews in the passing attack, Andrews should be nestled right on your bench until further notice. For now, Andrews is the best-looking fantasy football paper-weight for your bench.
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