Week 5 Fantasy Football Starts And Sits | The Phinest Insights

Fantasy managers who are 1-3 or 0-4 are having a tough time getting production out of their fantasy teams. Week 5 presents a chance to get a win under their belts. Hunkering down and making improvements on your fantasy rosters is key. Have you been getting active on the waiver wire? Are you making trades? Staying stagnant is the worst way to

If you are having trouble getting your lineups set, don’t fret. That’s why you came here. Here, you can go through some options you need to consider for your lineups. And no, you won’t find players like Justin Jefferson or Jahmyr Gibbs in this article. Those are the kinds of players you keep in your lineups. For Week 5, here are some players to consider for your lineups in another edition of Starts and Sits.

Week 5 Starts And Sits

Quarterbacks

Start: CJ Stroud vs. BAL

The Texans quarterback put up decent numbers in Week 4 against the Tennessee Titans. But it is the Titans. Stroud had one of his better games so far this season, finishing with 18.2 fantasy points and a QB14 finish. Now Stroud heads up against an injury-riddled Baltimore Ravens defense for Week 5. The Ravens are allowing 24.2 fantasy points per game and were completely cooked by Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs last week (270, 3 TDs, 27.2 FP, QB3 finish). Stroud has an opportunity to take advantage of this game, especially with Lamar Jackson already ruled OUT with a hamstring.

Start: Jared Goff vs. CIN

It looks like the Cincinnati Bengals are going to be the fantasy “punching bag” defensively this season. The Bengals are one of the worst defenses in the league after five weeks. The Bengals are already giving up the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season at 20.4 per game. The Bengals have also given up eight passing touchdowns heading into Week 5. When Jared Goff is on, he’s one of the better fantasy quarterbacks there is. Goff is averaging 17.6 fantasy points per game, good enough for a QB13 ranking. This match-up should be right up Goff’s alley.

Sit: Trevor Lawrence vs. KC

New coach, same Trevor. High expectations were placed on the Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback but so far Lawrence has not delivered. Lawrence is averaging just 12.2 fantasy points per game, placing well outside the top 15 among fantasy quarterbacks. Now the Jaguars take on an offensively recharging Kansas City Chiefs team that dismantled the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4. The Chiefs aren’t giving up a ton of fantasy points to quarterbacks either. Just 16.2 FPPG allowed so far this year. It could be long day for Lawrence this week.

Honorable Mention: Start: Justin Fields vs. DAL

Running Backs

Start: Javonte Williams vs. NYJ

Javonte Williams has been one of the best surprises for fantasy football this season. Not only is he the lead back for the Cowboys but his role is all but unopposed. Williams is a top 6 fantasy running back in points per game. Williams is averaging 19.1 fantasy points per game. The Jets though, haven’t been the best at defending the run. The Jets are giving up 21.5 fantasy points per game to running backs. Williams is getting a lot of work this season. He is fast approaching a “set it and forget it” level for fantasy managers.

Start: Rico Dowdle vs. MIA

Chuba Hubbard is dealing with a calf injury and has been ruled out for Week 5. Rico Dowdle is up next for the Panthers. Dowdle will likely command the lionshare of work with rookie running back Trevor Etienne adding assistance as the backup. Dowdle hasn’t had much to do this season but gets a good matchup on paper against the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins are allowing the sixth-most rushing yards per game to running backs. They have allowed 110 yards per game heading into Week 5. The Panthers also allowing the 13th-most fantasy points to running backs. Dowdle was one of the better options to come off the waiver wire late this week. If you have him on your bench, now is the chance to use him.

Sit: J.K. Dobbins vs. PHI

Dobbins has been on a great run so far this season. Dobbins is averaging 14.3 fantasy points per game and is the RB17 heading into Week 5. But that run could face a stiff challenge against the Philadelphia Eagles this week. The Eagles are holding running backs just under 100 yards per game on the ground. They have only allowed two rushing touchdowns this season. To his credit, Dobbins does have three of his own. This game is going to be a tough one to call. If you have better options, go with them. Or else play Dobbins at your own risk this week.

Honorable Mention: Sit: Jordan Mason vs. CLE

Wide Receivers

Start: Garrett Wilson vs. DAL

Heading into Week 5, the Dallas Cowboys are still one of the worst defenses against wide receivers. The Cowboys allowed Packers WR Romeo Doubs to look like prime Antonio Brown as he scored three touchdowns last week. Now they get the Jets best (and only) receiving threat who’s seeing a boatload of targets. Wilson is averaging 9.5 target per game, placing him fourth among wide receivers in the category. The Cowboys defense is allowing a whooping 51.2 fantasy points per game to the position. This feels like a “no-brainer” play this week.

Start: Chris Olave vs. NYG

Speaking of targets, Chris Olave has quietly been one of the more targeted wide receivers to date. While the Saints aren’t putting up a ton of points, Olave ranks third among wideouts with 43 targets on the season. At his pace, he could end up with nearly 141 targets on the year. The Giants are another defense having trouble defending fantasy wide receivers this year. The Giants are allowing the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers at 42.5 a clip. Olave should be a solid play for fantasy managers this week.

Sit: Zay Flowers vs. HOU

Where to even begin? No Lamar Jackson. Cooper Rush is the starter for the next three games at least. With Lamar Jackson out, the expectation is that the Ravens will lean on the run game led by Derrick Henry. Should that be the case, Zay Flowers already small window of opportunity goes up in smoke. Flowers was already a boom or bust receiver for fantasy. Heading into this week, the Texans defense allows 143 yards to receivers. They have given up just two receiving touchdowns. Therefore, Flowers is a sit for Week 5.

Honorable Mention: Start: Nico Collins vs. BAL

Tight Ends

Start: Sam LaPorta vs. CIN

The Lions tight end is in desperate need of a big game. After scoring 13.9 fantasy points in Week 1, LaPorta has been an afterthought for fantasy. LaPorta hasn’t cracked 10 fantasy points in his last three games. He gets a solid chance to rebound against a reeling Bengals defense. The Bengals defense is leaking fantasy points to opposing tight ends, allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to the position.

Sit: Evan Engram vs. PHI

Evan Engram finally made it back to the field but gets a tough match-up against the Philadelphia Eagles this week. Engram has either under-performed or missed time due to injury this season. The Eagles have been one of the better teams at defending the tight end position. Giving up just 5.9 fantasy points per game (third-fewest), and Engrams low output so far, he’s a sit this week.