We have reached Week 5 of the fantasy soccer season. With 4 groups on bye, beginning lineups will likely be more difficult to set.
With that in thoughts, this is what to do about some flex choices, streaming candidates and different gamers you may be on the fence about locking into your lineup for Week 5.
Quarterbacks
Begin: Justin Fields, Pittsburgh Steelers
Cowboys at Steelers / 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday
The previous Chicago Bear has hit his stride along with his new staff in current weeks. Fields has averaged the second-most factors amongst quarterbacks over his final two video games (25.7). The Steelers have put Fields able to thrive each as a passer and rusher, and his success ought to solely proceed in opposition to a Cowboys protection that will likely be with out edge-rushers Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence.
Whereas we should not count on one other 300-yard passing efficiency from Fields like he posted last week, his speeding upside is sort of promising, particularly contemplating Pittsburgh may very well be with out RBs Jaylen Warren (knee) and Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle).
Different begins: Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals; Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Sit: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
Saints at Chiefs / 8:15 p.m. ET Monday
Though he is the very best participant within the NFL, Mahomes hasn’t been an above-average fantasy quarterback relationship again to final season. By means of 4 video games, the three-time Tremendous Bowl MVP ranks because the QB16 general, averaging simply 15.4 fantasy factors per contest.
Mahomes already had a tricky matchup forward in opposition to a formidable Saints protection that has allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy factors (41.26) and simply two complete touchdowns to quarterbacks. However now that Kansas Metropolis’s high wideout Rashee Rice is out with a knee harm, Mahomes is a fair riskier begin in Week 5.
Different sits: Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings; Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Operating backs
Begin: Josh Jacobs, Inexperienced Bay Packers
Packers at Rams / 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday
The return of QB Jordan Love did not assist Jacobs, the RB28, get on observe throughout final week’s loss to Minnesota, having posted simply 11.8 PPR factors. Nonetheless, Jacobs’ lackluster outing may be attributed to the truth that he carried the ball simply nine times as a result of Inexperienced Bay was enjoying from behind for the complete sport.
Fortuitously for Jacobs and his fantasy managers, the Packers are set to sq. off in opposition to the injury-riddled Rams, who’re a three-point house underdog and have had hassle containing operating backs. Up to now this season, Los Angeles has given up essentially the most speeding yards (524), fifth-most touchdowns (5) and sixth-most fantasy factors to operating backs (95.80).
Different begins: Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers; Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders
Sit: De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins at Patriots / 1 p.m. ET Sunday
Achane, very like Dolphins wideouts Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, has seen his fantasy manufacturing plummet since QB Tua Tagovailoa suffered a concussion in Week 2. After rating because the RB2 overall in PPR scoring codecs by means of the primary two weeks of the season, the 2023 third-round choose has averaged simply
7.4 fantasy factors over his final two video games.
The Patriots have been a middle-of-the-pack staff when it comes to limiting opposing operating backs, however given the disastrous state of the Dolphins offense, it would be greatest to depart Achane on the bench when you have satisfactory depth.
Different sits: Bucky Irving and Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Zack Moss, Cincinnati Bengals
Extensive Receivers
Begin: Garrett Wilson, New York Jets
Jets at Vikings (in London) / 9:30 a.m. ET Sunday
Fantasy managers who drafted 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey or Rams WR Puka Nacua are undoubtedly annoyed with their determination. Nevertheless, contemplating nobody might have predicted their accidents, it is truthful to say that Wilson has been essentially the most disappointing first-round choose this season.
In spite of everything, the Ohio State product is the one participant with a top-20 ADP who hasn’t posted a minimum of 15 fantasy factors in a single sport, as identified by NFL Fantasy Football.
Even so, though Wilson has underperformed and the Vikings protection has been stellar, the unit has struggled in opposition to opposing extensive receivers, permitting the third-most fantasy factors per sport to the place (26.9). Wilson is well-positioned not solely to make an impression, but additionally to lift his commerce worth for fantasy managers who may very well be seeking to transfer on from the previous first-rounder.
Different begins: Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers; Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants
Sit: Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders
Raiders at Broncos / 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday
With star wideout Davante Adams anticipated to be out with a hamstring pressure, fantasy managers may be tempted to begin Meyers in Week 5. That would show to be a expensive mistake. Although Meyers can be essentially the most proficient Raiders pass-catcher on the sector, he’ll line up throughout from the NFL’s high cornerback in Patrick Surtain II, who has allowed simply eight receptions for 87 yards in protection this season.
Different sits: Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings; Christian Kirk, Jacksonville Jaguars
Tight Ends
Begin: Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars
Colts at Jaguars / 1 p.m. ET Sunday
Engram, who has been sidelined on account of a hamstring harm he suffered throughout pregame warmups in Week 2, seems to be on observe to return in opposition to Indianapolis after returning to practice on Wednesday.
Whereas Engram solely had one catch for 5 yards in his lone sport this season, he proved in 2023 that he is an essential piece of the Jaguars passing assault. Anticipate the 30-year-old to be closely relied on as Jacksonville makes an attempt to safe its first win of 2024 going through a Colts protection that has allowed the second-most fantasy factors per sport to the tight finish place (8.7).
Different begins: Tucker Kraft, Inexperienced Bay Packers; Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sit: Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints
Saints at Chiefs / 8:15 p.m. ET Monday
Kansas Metropolis has been essentially the most favorable matchup for opposing tight ends by means of the primary month of the season, permitting essentially the most catches (30) and receiving yards (365) to the place. Consequently, fantasy managers streaming the tight finish place may very well be intrigued by Johnson this week, although they need to keep away from him on the waiver wire.
Regardless of being extra concerned within the passing sport throughout final week’s street loss to Atlanta, Johnson solely caught two passes for 13 yards. Given his utilization, if he does not rating a landing in opposition to the Chiefs, he’ll virtually certainly end with fewer than 5 fantasy factors.
Different sits: Mark Andrews and Isaiah Probably, Baltimore Ravens; Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders