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Hi, y'all! Four weeks of NFL action are in the books and we're moving on to another. Welcome to our Week 5 matchup analysis and start/sit column for fantasy football. Each week we'll be analyzing every game from the Sunday slate, helping you optimize your fantasy lineups and take down your opponent. Be sure to check back regularly for any updates on player injuries or other pertinent information.
Frank Ammirante will start off by covering the first set of games that begin at 1:00 PM ET on Sunday, and Justin Carter will take you home with his analysis of the late afternoon and evening games. You can also read about the Monday Night Football matchup. Let's help guide you to that Week 5 victory!
If you have any additional lineup questions, follow us on Twitter @FAmmiranteTFJ and @juscarts and feel free to ask away. Let's get on to the matchups!
Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers received five total writing awards and 13 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association, tops in the industry! Congrats to all the award winners and nominees including Best NFL Series, MLB Series, NBA Writer, PGA Writer and Player Notes writer of the year. Be sure to follow their analysis, rankings and advice all year long, and win big with RotoBaller! Read More!
Matchups Analysis - 1:00 PM ET Games
Los Angeles Rams at Washington Football Team
Matchups We Love:
Tyler Higbee (TE, LAR)
Higbee has been a bit of a disappointment this season, as he's not receiving the same volume (12.82% target share, 20th among tight ends) that he saw down the stretch last year. The good news is he takes on a Washington defense that ranks 29th in PPR PPG to tight ends. Mark Andrews just put up 57 yards and two touchdowns against them last week.
Antonio Gibson (RB, WAS)
Gibson is taking over this backfield, coming off a breakout game that saw him finally get some more receiving volume (5 targets, 4 receptions, 82 yards). The dynamic rookie takes on a Rams Defense that has allowed 29 targets (T-21st) to running backs. New quarterback Kyle Allen loves to check it down to his backs, which bodes well for Gibson.
Matchups We Hate:
Darrell Henderson Jr. (RB, LAR), Cam Akers (RB, LAR), & Malcolm Brown (RB, LAR)
This backfield has become a mess, with Henderson surprisingly taking a back-seat to Brown last week. Cam Akers' return this week further muddles this backfield, making it a clear avoid against a Washington defense that has been decent against the run, allowing 4.03 yards per carry (14th) and 17.6 PPR PPG (T-11th).
Other Matchups:
Jared Goff (QB, LAR), Robert Woods (WR, LAR), & Cooper Kupp (WR, LAR)
The Rams' passing game has an exploitable matchup against a Washington defense that is tied for 26th in PPG to quarterbacks. Washington has allowed a few big plays downfield, so we could see one or both of these receivers have decent games. Temper your expectations though, as Washington has allowed the second-fewest PPR PPG to wide receivers.
Terry McLaurin (WR, WAS)
McLaurin should see a boost in value with Kyle Allen at quarterback, but he has a tough matchup here against an elite cornerback in Jalen Ramsey. McLaurin's high volume (27.27% target share, 7th) keeps him in play as a WR2, but this is more of a floor week for him against Ramsey.
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons
Matchups We Love:
Teddy Bridgewater (QB, CAR)
Bridgewater is coming off a QB4 finish and has a great opportunity to keep it going against a depleted Falcons secondary allowing the most PPG to quarterbacks. It appears as if Bridgewater is getting more comfortable in Joe Brady's offense, so he's one of the best streamers in an exploitable matchup this week.
Mike Davis (RB, CAR)
Davis has become the bell-cow RB1 in CMC's absence, finishing as the RB9 and RB7 in his two starts. The Falcons have allowed 40 targets (31st) and 34 receptions (31st) to opposing running backs, so expect Davis to continue racking up the catches (21 receptions in his last three games) in this one.
D.J. Moore (WR, CAR)
Moore has been disappointing, but he still has a 42.83% air-yard share and 23.36% target share, so the volume is there, he just needs to build more of a rapport with Bridgewater. Moore has a great opportunity to get his season back on track against this struggling Falcons secondary.
Calvin Ridley (WR, ATL)
Ridley was shut out against the Packers, so we could see the Falcons make more of an effort to get their stud wideout more involved in the offense. There's a chance that Julio Jones misses this game, in which case Ridley would see a bump in targets. While the Panthers have allowed the seventh-fewest PPR PPG to wide receivers, I still love Ridley here because of his volume.
UPDATE: Julio Jones is officially out for Week 5.
Todd Gurley (RB, ATL)
Gurley is coming off a two-touchdown effort against the Packers and has a good chance to keep it rolling against a Panthers Defense that has allowed the fourth-most PPR PPG to running backs. We could see the Falcons look to establish the run again, especially if Julio is out, which makes Gurley a strong RB2 in this one.
Matchups We Hate:
Matt Ryan (QB, ATL)
Ryan has a tough matchup against a run-funnel Panthers defense that has limited opposing passers to 6.34 yards per attempt (3rd) this season. It's hard to start Ryan whenever Julio is out of the lineup, which appears to be the case at this point. This profiles more as a Gurley & Ridley game for the Falcons.
Other Matchups:
Robby Anderson (WR, CAR)
Anderson has shown more chemistry with Bridgewater than Moore has, but I expect the Panthers to make an effort to get their young wideout going in this one. However, the Falcons secondary will have a tough time with these wideouts, so we could see a big game from Anderson as well. I'm not ready to concede that Anderson has supplanted Moore as the top target in this offense, so consider him more of a strong WR3 play.
Hayden Hurst (TE, ATL)
Hurst has a tough matchup against a Panthers defense that has limited tight ends to 9.8 PPR PPG (T-10th), but he could see a bump in volume if Julio were to miss this game. Consider Hurst a lukewarm play on the TE 1/2 fringe against the Panthers here.
Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens
Matchups We Love:
Lamar Jackson (QB, BAL)
Lamar Jackson is in another smash spot against a Bengals Defense that has allowed 93 rushing yards to quarterbacks (24th). Last season, Jackson ran for a combined 217 yards and two touchdowns on 26 attempts in two games against the Bengals. Expect another Top-5 finish for Lamar here.
Marquise Brown (WR, BAL)
Hollywood Brown hasn't had a big game yet, but his volume is encouraging - 27% target share and 43% air-yards share - so the breakout is coming soon. He has a good matchup against a Bengals defense that just allowed D.J. Chark and Laviska Shenault to combine for 13 receptions, 181 yards, and two touchdowns.
Matchups We Hate:
Joe Burrow (QB, CIN)
Burrow has had a terrific start to his rookie season, but he'll be in tough against a Ravens Defense that is limiting opposing passers to 7.18 yards per attempt (10th). The Ravens have posted a 46% pass-rush win-rate (T-6th) and the Bengals have a 52% pass-block win-rate (25th), so this is a clear mismatch - Burrow could be under duress often on Sunday.
Tee Higgins (WR, CIN) & A.J. Green (WR, CIN)
Since the Ravens pass-rush will likely cause issues for the Bengals, it's going to be difficult for Burrow to connect with Tee Higgins and A.J. Green downfield. Higgins is starting to supplant Green on the depth chart, so the rookie is the preferred play here, but I'm not excited about this matchup at all.
Other Matchups:
Joe Mixon (RB, CIN)
Joe Mixon broke out last week against a weak Jaguars Defense, but he has a much tougher matchup here - the Ravens have limited opposing backfields to 23 PPR PPG (10th). The good news is that Baltimore has allowed 36 targets to running backs (26th), so we could see Mixon do some damage in the passing game.
Tyler Boyd (WR, CIN)
Tyler Boyd has established himself as the number one option in this offense. We could see the Bengals focus their gameplan on short passes to Boyd and Mixon against this pass-rush, so both players remain lukewarm options, but I don't love the matchup against the Ravens.
Mark Ingram II (RB, BAL) & J.K. Dobbins (RB, BAL)
The Ravens' backfield has a great matchup against a Bengals defense that has allowed 26.1 PPR PPPG to running backs (20th), but it's hard to rely on Ingram or Dobbins as anything more than average FLEX options. Gus Edwards also eats into their value, so this has become a situation to avoid until one back starts to take over.
Mark Andrews (TE, BAL)
Andrews has received three targets in two of his four games this season, lowering his weekly floor and making him more of a touchdown-dependent choice in some weeks. While he remains a Top-5 tight end, this profiles more of a Lamar-to-Hollywood game mixed with chunks of rushing yards, making Andrews more of a lukewarm play.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans
Matchups We Love:
James Robinson (RB, JAX)
Robinson has a great chance to keep up his RB1 production against a Texans Defense that just allowed Dalvin Cook to rush for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Houston is allowing the fourth-most PPR PPG to running backs, so this is a smash spot for the biggest surprise in fantasy football this season.
Deshaun Watson (QB, HOU) & Will Fuller (WR, HOU)
The Jaguars defense just got shredded by Joe Burrow (300 yards, 8.1 yards per attempt), so Watson will have a good chance at a big week in his first game without Bill O'Brien. Fuller is the clear-cut number one option in this offense when he's healthy, so we could see this duo connect early and often against an exploitable Jaguars defense.
Other Matchups:
Gardner Minshew II (QB, JAX), D.J. Chark (WR, JAX), & Laviska Shenault (WR, JAX)
The Texans have a run-funnel defense, as they have limited opposing passers to 19.8 PPG (T-4th) because teams are opting to run more and pass less against them (114 pass attempts allowed, 3rd-fewest in NFL). I expect the Jaguars to lean on Robinson in this game, which caps the upside of Chark and Shenault. Consider Chark a mid-range WR2 with Shenault as an average FLEX in this one.
David Johnson (RB, HOU)
DJ has a great matchup against a Jaguars defense that just got shredded by Joe Mixon for 181 total yards and three touchdowns. The issue here is that we're not sure if Bill O'Brien's departure will lead to decreased usage for Johnson. Last week, DJ's snap count fell from 90.30% to 55.38% with Duke Johnson's return, so there's some concern here. Consider DJ an average RB2 this week and temper your expectations despite the strong matchup.
Brandin Cooks (WR, HOU)
Brandin Cooks was a non-factor last week, putting up a goose egg on three targets against the Vikings. While we could see the team make more of an effort to get Cooks back on track, he's merely a low-end WR3 until we see some improvement from this offense. This is a lukewarm play even though the Jaguars have a weak defense.
Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs
Matchups We Love:
Josh Jacobs (RB, LV)
Josh Jacobs has a good matchup against a Chiefs run defense allowing 4.99 yards per carry (27th). Jacobs should be a major part of the gameplan as the Raiders try to play keep-away from Mahomes and Co. He could also get a few check-down targets when the Raiders are playing catch-up, especially since the status of wide receivers Henry Ruggs and Bryan Edwards is still in question.
Patrick Mahomes (QB, KC), Tyreek Hill (WR, KC), & Travis Kelce (TE, KC)
Mahomes is in a smash spot against a banged-up Raiders secondary that just got shredded by Josh Allen for 288 yards on 8.5 yards per attempt. Tyreek Hill has a great opportunity to get loose deep against a defense that ranks 30th in defensive DVOA. Travis Kelce has dominated the Raiders throughout his career and has the highest floor at his position. Fire up the top two Chiefs' pass-catchers in this one.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB, KC)
CEH takes on a Raiders defense that is allowing 38.1 PPR PPG (32nd), 39 targets (T-28th) and 31 receptions (T-31st). The Chiefs should be able to move the ball with ease in this matchup, so the touchdown upside is high for CEH. They'll also likely be playing with a lead, which will lead to more rushing volume. CEH is an elite RB1 for this week.
Matchups We Hate:
Derek Carr (QB, LV) & Henry Ruggs III (WR, LV)
The Chiefs have allowed 21.1 PPR PPG to opposing quarterbacks (8th), so this is a tough spot for Derek Carr, despite the fact that he'll likely be trying to play from behind and airing it out in the second half. The Chiefs have allowed the fewest PPR PPG to wide receivers, so this is a bad matchup for Ruggs, who has a chance to return from a hamstring injury.
Other Matchups:
Darren Waller (TE, LV) & Hunter Renfrow (WR, LV)
Waller is an every-week TE1, but the Chiefs Defense has been tough against tight ends (13th in PPR PPG). This is more of a floor week for Waller. Like Ruggs, Renfrow has a difficult matchup, but he can at least rack up underneath targets, so he's a lukewarm play in PPR formats.
Mecole Hardman (WR, KC) & Sammy Watkins (WR, KC)
Hardman and Watkins are dart throws who can be appealing DFS tournament punt plays in a game where Mahomes should be able to have his way with the Raiders defense. I wouldn't consider starting them in season-long formats, but they're definitely worth a look as GPP plays.
Arizona Cardinals at New York Jets
Matchups We Love:
DeAndre Hopkins (WR, ARZ)
DeAndre Hopkins' 34.07% target share ranks 2nd in the NFL. After a slow week against the Panthers (7 receptions for 41 yards), Nuk is in a bounce-back spot against the Jets. With his volume, Hopkins has the highest floor among any receiver in the NFL. It's always good to play an alpha WR1 in the week immediately following a down game, as they tend to bounce back often. Fire up Nuk here.
Other Matchups:
Kyler Murray (QB, ARZ) & Christian Kirk (WR, ARZ)
Kyler Murray's rushing output gives him a terrific combination of floor and upside, but there's a chance that the Cardinals get out to an early double-digit lead here which will lead to more volume for Kenyan Drake, capping Murray's upside. I think this is more of a floor play this week, which still makes Murray a Top-7 option, but one that I'm avoiding in DFS. Christian Kirk is merely a DFS tournament punt play who needs more usage. I expect him to play more of a role as the season progresses.
Kenyan Drake (RB, ARZ)
Kenyan Drake has been the biggest disappointment at running back this season, failing to produce in a smash spot last week against the Panthers. Luckily, he gets another great matchup against a Jets Defense that just allowed Melvin Gordon to rush for 107 yards and two touchdowns. The Cardinals should control this game from start to finish with Joe Flacco quarterbacking the Jets, so Drake remains a high-end RB2 for this matchup.
Chase Edmonds (RB, ARI)
Drake is trending down, with Edmonds potentially putting his name into the "who will be Arizona's lead back by the end of the season" conversation. He's already a bigger passing game threat than Drake. It's not yet time for a change, but Edmonds increasingly workload does give him flex appeal.
Le'Veon Bell (RB, NYJ)
Le'Veon Bell finally returns to action at a moment of dire need with Flacco at QB. We could see the Jets scale back his touches while they get him up to speed, so Bell is more of a lukewarm FLEX play in this one. However, it wouldn't surprise me to see him rack up a few checkdown receptions as the Jets try to play catch-up.
Jamison Crowder (WR, NYJ)
Jamison Crowder has caught 14-of-23 targets in two games this season, so it's clear that he's become a focal point of this offense. The Cardinals rank 4th in PPR PPG to wide receivers this season, so this isn't a smash spot, but Crowder's volume should keep him in your lineup as a WR3.
Hi, Justin taking over now. Thanks, Frank!
Philadelphia Eagles at Pittsburgh Steelers
Matchups We Love:
Eric Ebron (TE, PIT)
The Eagles have allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. Ebron was targeted 12 times over the past two games. Great chance for him to have his first huge game as a Steeler.
Matchups We Hate:
Carson Wentz (QB, PHI)
Meh. Wentz is currently the QB16 in overall scoring, which was actually surprisingly higher than I expected. The Steelers are allowing 18.7 fantasy points to game to quarterbacks, which is more than I expected. And yet, even with those positive signs, I can't get behind playing Wentz unless I'm desperate.
All The Eagles Receivers
Alshon Jeffery might be returning! DeSean Jackson might be too! And that'll suddenly cut into Greg Ward's snaps and targets! This is all a mess! None of these guys can be trusted to be more than a WR4! Ahh! Exclamation points!
Other Matchups:
Ben Roethlisberger (QB, PIT)
The Eagles allow the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks, but they've played the following quarterbacks: Dwayne Haskins, Jared Goff, Joe Burrow, and the combination of Nick Mullens and C.J. Beathard. Translation: I don't think the Eagles are as good defensively as expected. Roethlisberger isn't a QB1 this week, but don't let the matchup fool you: he's still a very good QB2 play this week.
Miles Sanders (RB, PHI)
Ahh, the classic "matchup vs. volume" conundrum. The Steelers are a rough matchup for running backs, but Sanders is getting plenty of usage in both the run and passing game. He's not an RB1 this week, but he's a solid RB2 option with upside who has been targeted 19 times this season.
James Conner (RB, PIT)
Another player who borders on dislike here, but should see the right volume to be an RB2 option even against an Eagles Defense allowing the 13th-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs so far.
JuJu Smith-Schuster and Diontae Johnson (WR, PIT)
A pair of decent plays here. Smith-Schuster isn't getting his expected volume and is dealing with a knee injury, but he has three touchdowns already. Diontae Johnson should be back from his concussion and is the top target for Roethlisberger so far this year. The matchups against Philly isn't the easiest, but both guys should be considered solid starting options.
Zach Ertz (TE, PHI)
This has not been a good year for Zach Ertz. The targets are there, but the yardage isn't. Last week, he had four catches but finished with just nine yards. Yikes. But some returning receivers might allow Ertz to see lighter coverage, and you have to start him as a TE1, even if there's a lot of risk here.
Matchups Analysis - 4:05/4:25 PM ET Games
Three games on the afternoon slate for y'all. Let's break them down.
Miami Dolphins at San Francisco 49ers
Matchups We Love:
49ers Running Backs
So, some caveats here, even though the 49ers face a Dolphins team that's allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to running backs:
- Raheem Mostert (knee) practiced and could play. If he does, he's probably the lead back and a solid RB2 play.
- If Mostert is held out, Jerick McKinnon will be the lead back and also an RB2 play. If Mostert plays, McKinnon is more risky, but still an RB3/RB4 option.
- Jeff Wilson is an RB4 option if Mostert is out, but not playable if Mostert plays.
George Kittle (TE, SF)
Okay, look: the Dolphins are allowing the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends, but George Kittle is back and you have to consider him a top-two tight end anytime he plays. Don't overthink this.
Matchups We Hate:
Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB, MIA)
At some point soon, Ryan Fitzpatrick is getting benched for Tua Tagovailoa. That Fitzpatrick faces a scary (but injured) 49ers Defense this week makes this feel like a bit of a swan song for Fitz. Will he even make it through the game before the Dolphins bring in Tua? Not only is Fitzpatrick not a fantasy start, you can probably go ahead and drop him in most formats.
The 49ers Quarterback (QB, SF)
Jimmy Garoppolo? Nick Mullens? C.J. Beathard??? Too much uncertainty here, so I'm avoiding this situation when planning my lineups.
UPDATE: Jimmy G. will make his return in Week 5.
Myles Gaskin (RB, MIA)
Volume for Gaskin makes him playable every week, but the Niners allow the fewest fantasy points to running backs of any team in the league, so while Gaskin is playable, he's also an extremely risky play in most formats. Kind of a catch-22 here, isn't it?
Preston Williams (WR, MIA)
Yikes. Not only is this a horrendous matchup, but Williams has only six catches all year for 89 yards. I'm not playing him anywhere. No way.
Mike Gesicki (TE, MIA)
Big Gesicki fan, but the 49ers allow the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends and Gesicki is coming off consecutive games with just a single catch. Maybe when a QB swap happens, we'll see Gesicki involved as a safe option, but don't love the usage patterns right now.
Other Matchups:
DeVante Parker (WR, MIA)
If you're going to play a Dolphins receiver, it should be Parker. The 49ers allow the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers, but Parker's role as the No. 1 guy on an offense that throws a ton makes him a WR3 option.
Brandon Aiyuk (WR, SF)
Fine matchup, but concerned about just how many times he'll touch the football. The floor is too low for me to play him in shallow leagues, but think he's an intriguing DFS play.
Deebo Samuel (WR, SF)
Again, fine matchup, but what's the workload look like? A 34 percent snap rate last week in his return is worrisome, because if that number doesn't rise a good bit, Samuel will have an extremely low floor.
New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys
Matchups We Love:
Dak Prescott (QB, DAL)
This defense is horrible, which means Prescott just keeps throwing the football. And while the Giants have been really good defensively when it comes to limiting fantasy production for quarterbacks, this game has the makings of a shootout. Dak's the best quarterback New York has faced. He's easily a top QB1 option again.
Daniel Jones (QB, NYG)
Daniel Jones has not had a good 2020 season, but maybe the antidote to that is facing a Cowboys Defense that has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Something has to give here, and *looks at this Dallas secondary* I don't think it's the Cowboys who change course. Jones is a good streaming option.
Ezekiel Elliott (RB, DAL)
Touches each week for Elliott: 25, 28, 20, 20. While he hasn't had a 100-yard game yet on the ground, his increased usage as a receiver has helped make up for that, and Elliott is currently the overall RB4 in half PPR. Yes, he's a must-start RB1.
Darius Slayton & Golden Tate (WR, NYG)
I like Slayton more, but both should see ample targets against a Cowboys secondary that's been really rough so far. Consider Slayton a solid WR3 and Tate to be someone with WR3 upside, but a little more risk since Slayton's been higher in the pecking order for Jones.
Amari Cooper (WR, DAL)
I don't love this week quite as much for Cooper as I should, because Cooper will have a tough matchup against James Bradberry. But look, Cooper's been a stud so far, and you start him as a WR1 every week because of his upside in this high-powered offense.
CeeDee Lamb (WR, DAL)
Lamb is a strong WR3 play with upside every week. This game is no exception, as he'll see lighter matchups from the defense than Cooper and should get a good number of easy looks.
Matchups We Hate:
Nothing here. Expecting a lot of offense.
Other Matchups:
Devonta Freeman (RB, NYG)
Solid matchup, but not totally sure I'm ready to trust Freeman yet. He averaged just three yards per carry last week after averaging two yards per carry the week before. There's a lower floor than you think here, even if he has RB3 upside.
Michael Gallup (WR, DAL)
I am officially concerned about volume. Three or fewer catches in three of the four games this year. One huge performance against Seattle and three mediocre ones. But you'll play him in a lot of leagues as a WR3 because of the upside, as we know he can deliver in the right situation.
Evan Engram (TE, NYG)
Dallas allows the sixth-most points to tight ends, so why is Engram only here? Because Engram has been a disappointment relative to expectation. He was targeted 10 times last week; he finished with 35 yards, which was also his second-highest yardage total of the year. In season-long, you have to start him, but in DFS, I have big, flashing "NO AVOID HIM THIS TIME" letters beside his name.
Dalton Schultz (TE, DAL)
The Giants are allowing the seventh-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends, so there's that major minus. Still, Schultz has been very good in the lead tight end role here, with 17 catches for 208 yards and two scores in the last three games. So, he's still a high-end TE2, but might have to work for it more than usual.
Indianapolis Colts at Cleveland Browns
Matchups We Love:
Kareem Hunt (CLE, RB)
With no Nick Chubb, Hunt slides in as the No. 1 running back for Cleveland. He has a tough matchup against a Colts Defense allowing the third-fewest points to opposing running backs, but relative to what you spent in the draft on Hunt, he's a great value and a high-end RB2.
Zach Pascal (WR, IND)
The Browns struggle against wide receivers, and with injuries to Parris Campbell and Michael Pittman Jr., Pascal has an expanded role now. This matchup screams "DFS VALUE" to me, and he's fine as a flex play in deeper season-long leagues as well.
Mo Alie-Cox (TE, IND)
Okay, so we thought that with other options back, Alie-Cox would take a step back last week. And he did, getting targeted just twice, but he found the end zone for the second week in a row. I like him a lot as a streaming play this week.
Matchups We Hate:
Baker Mayfield (QB, CLE)
No team has allowed fewer points per game to opposing quarterbacks this year. Just 11.2 per game for passers facing this Colts defense. Not a week where I want to rely on Mayfield at all.
Austin Hooper and David Njoku (TE, CLE)
The Colts allow the fewest fantasy points to tight ends of any team, and Hooper won't see the needed volume to make him a decent play. Sit him in 12-team leagues if you have a good streaming option available. (Also, Njoku should be back which hurts Hooper even more. Njoku isn't someone to add either at the moment, but keep an eye on him.)
Other Matchups:
Philip Rivers (QB, IND)
It's a good matchup! But Rivers isn't throwing a lot, has four touchdowns in four games, and has three picks. He's just not a quarterback I want to use as anything but a matchup-dependent play in a two-QB league. And hey, this is probably an okay time to use him as that, if you want to.
Jonathan Taylor & Nyheim Hines (RB, IND)
The Browns allow the 10th-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs. Taylor has been getting a ton of carries lately, including 17 last week, so volume alone gives him RB2 upside, though a better matchup would give him RB1 upside. Hines might get 10ish touches, but the tough matchup makes him risky as anything but a deep-league flex play.
T.Y. Hilton (WR, IND)
The Browns allow the third-most points to wide receivers, though that number is inflated because of last week's game against the Cowboys. Hilton should be able to take advantage still, but something is off with the veteran wideout, who is averaging just 40.5 yards per game. What do we make of Hilton? An upside play, but with a WR5 floor? Sure, let's go with that.
Odell Beckham Jr. & Jarvis Landry (WR, CLE)
Nothing wrong with either of these guys, but the Colts defense is just a little too good for comfort. Beckham had a big Week 4, but should take a step back in Week 5, though you still start him as a WR2. Landry isn't getting a lot of volume or yardage, but his role does make him a low-end WR3 play in full PPR leagues.
Matchups Analysis - Sunday Night Football
Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks
Matchups We Love:
Kirk Cousins (QB, MIN)
Seattle's defense is allowing 28.3 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks, the second-highest amount in the league. Cousins has had a growing rapport with Justin Jefferson lately and while this doesn't have the makings of a full-on shootout, Cousins still has to be considered a very good streaming play.
Russell Wilson (QB, SEA)
You play Russell Wilson against anyone and you expect him to deliver. Full stop. The end.
Chris Carson (RB, SEA)
The Vikings allow the 13th-most fantasy points to the running back position. Last week, Carson went from being very, very questionable with a knee injury to scoring two touchdowns. Play Carson this week and expect low-end RB1/high-end RB2 production.
UPDATE: Carlos Hyde is officially inactive for Week 5
Adam Thielen & Justin Jefferson (WR, MIN)
If we expect the Seahawks trend against the pass to continue, we should expect Thielen and Jefferson to be the primary players who benefit from that. Both players can easily finish as WR2s or better this week and both should be in season-long lineups in any league where you have them. They're good DFS plays too, though could be a bit chalky.
D.K. Metcalf & Tyler Lockett (WR, SEA)
These two should be started as high-end WR2s every week, especially with multiple rookies playing heavy minutes in this Vikings secondary.
Matchups We Hate:
Kyle Rudolph (TE, MIN)
The Seahawks allow the fourth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends. Rudolph has six catches this year. Not a streaming option this week.
Other Matchups:
Dalvin Cook (RB, MIN)
Look, you obviously deploy Cook as a looked-in RB1 in season-long, but the Seahawks are only allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs, so you might want to use Cook in fewer DFS lineups than you'd usually have him in.
Matchups Analysis - Monday / Tuesday Night Football
We have a whacky schedule this week for games on Monday and Tuesday night, due to COVID-19.
Los Angeles Chargers at New Orleans Saints
Click here to read about the Monday Night Football matchup between the Chargers and Saints.
Denver Broncos at New England Patriots
UPDATE: TheBroncos-Patriots game has been cancelled for Week 5. It is postponed from Monday October 12th, and moved to next Sunday October 18th.
Click here to read about the Monday Night Football matchup between the Broncos and Patriots.
Buffalo Bills at Tennessee Titans
This game has been moved to Tuesday night, though we'll see how that ends up working out. Check back soon for updates...
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