Fantasy Football: Sit/Start tips for Week 5 of the NFL season – Yahoo Sports

Fantasy football sit-and-start advice should always be relative and league-dependent. Note that some players are targeted for DFS. Good luck with your Week 5 lineups!

The Giants are dealing with a ton of injuries, including Daniel Jones limited by an ankle sprain. Most of the QBs fantasy value has come from his rushing ability, so Barkley is the only viable NYG player this week. Green Bays defense will be focused on him, but they enter with the 28th-ranked run defense in DVOA.

Doubs couldnt pull down a long touchdown last week, but the rookie has acted as Green Bays No. 1 receiver over the last two games. Theres upside for more moving forward.

Pickens has seen his target share increase each week during his rookie season and was Kenny Picketts clear preferred target once the QB took over last week. Buffalo isnt exactly an easy opponent, but Pickens could see double-digit targets this week with Pittsburgh likely playing from behind the moment they step off the bus.

Jamison Crowder is out with a fractured ankle and Isaiah McKenzie remains in concussion protocol as of Friday, so Shakir could suddenly be Buffalos starting slot receiver. With Jake Kumerow dealing with a high-ankle sprain as well, Shakir could be looking at a healthy number of targets in a pass-happy Bills offense. The rookie WR is a good athlete and faces a Steelers defense allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to slot receivers this season.

As for Gabe Davis, theres renewed confidence to put him back in fantasy lineups after returning to a full practice this week.

Ekeler is coming off an eruption game, but youre not overpaying for last weeks stats with his reasonable salary here. He gets yet another favorable matchup against a Browns defense allowing the second-most EPA/rush this season. He should remain plenty busy as a receiver with Keenan Allen still out and Josh Palmer questionable. These teams combined for 89 points during last seasons matchup, and this weeks over/under is one of the highest on the slate.

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Cooper has remained as inconsistent as ever in Cleveland, sandwiching two top-10 finishes with two bust performances over the first month of the season. However, his tendency to perform far better at home (101.0 ypg, 2 TDs) than on the road (13.0 ypg, 0 TD) hasnt changed with his new team. Hell get a matchup Sunday in Cleveland against a Chargers defense thats allowed the 10th most fantasy points to wide receivers. Nick Chubb should have another big day, but the Browns are going to pass more than usual facing the Chargers offense.

Goff is the No. 5 fantasy QB after the first month of the season and its certainly good news that Amon-Ra St. Brown was able to return to practice Friday but he belongs on benches this week. Goff will be playing his first game of the season outdoors Sunday against a Patriots defense thats yet to allow 275 passing yards from a QB this season (theyve faced Tua Tagovailoa, Lamar Jackson and Aaron Rodgers) despite playing just one home game.

Expect Bill Belichick to slow it down while leaning heavily on NEs running backs this week with fourth-round rookie Bailey Zappe making his first career start.

Jared Goff has been a fantasy beast this season, but that could come to a halt against New England. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

Facing a Lions defense allowing a league-worst 5.6 YPC and an NFL-high 10 rushing touchdowns as well as the second-most fantasy points to running backs, theres no need to debate New Englands RB usage this week.Both Stevenson and Harris can finish as top-12 fantasy backs. Detroit is somehow on pace to allow the most points in NFL history while scoring the second-most points. They have become the perfect fantasy matchup. New England figures to be even run-heavier than usual this week as home favorites.

It doesnt have to make sense, but Smith is cooking while taking over as Seattles quarterback. Despite facing two of the NFLs toughest defenses to open the season, Smith has gotten 7.9 YPA and has been a top-10 fantasy QB. With an increased pass rate and suddenly a much faster pace over recent weeks, Smith is in a nice situation in Seattle while throwing to a healthy DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. This week the Seahawks play indoors against a Saints defense thats stingy against the run, so Smith can once again be started in fantasy lineups.

Olave didnt see as many air yards last week with Andy Dalton at QB, but he once again led New Orleans in receiving and brought down the first TD of his career. This week the Saints should have to pass more, and while Alvin Kamara should return Sunday, Michael Thomas looks likely to miss another game. Olave has been 26 percent more likely to be targeted without Thomas on the field. The Seahawks have also been gashed for a league-worst 0.31 EPA/pass this season.

Edmonds saw a 28% snap share, a 22.7% carry share and an 8.3% target share last week and has taken a complete backseat to Raheem Mostert. New Yorks defense has also performed far better against the run (-0.12 EPA/rush) than pass (0.20 EPA/pass). Edmonds shouldnt be anywhere near fantasy starting lineups.

Wilson balled out in the fourth quarter last week during his season debut, and he now gets a pass-funnel Dolphins defense allowing the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Miamis defense ranks bottom-three in EPA/pass (0.26) yet top-five in EPA/rush (-0.23), so it doesnt get much more funnel than that. Moreover, the Dolphins have yielded the second-most YPA (7.8) with an 8:1 TD:INT ratio and possess the second-lowest pressure rate in football.

Wilson remains a major work in progress, but he has sneaky rushing upside and is loaded with weapons in Garrett Wilson, Elijah Moore, Corey Davis and Breece Hall (Dolphins corner Xavien Howard is questionable too).

Jacksonville should be fired up coming off a tough loss to the Eagles and enter with a defense allowing the third-fewest EPA/play (-0.18) in the NFL. Over eight games on the road during his career, Davis Mills has gotten 5.5 YPA with five TD passes and 17 interceptions/fumbles. Its not a great setup for Houstons fantasy players this week, while Jacksonvilles D/ST and both Travis Etienne and James Robinson should be started with confidence.

The Falcons have been extremely run-heavy with Marcus Mariota being incredibly loose with the ball. But as near double-digit road underdogs Sunday facing a Tampa Bay team coming off two losses, game script is likely to demand more passing. With no Cordarrelle Patterson or Kyle Pitts this week, London should see all the targets. The rookie ranks second behind only Cooper Kupp in target share, so start London in fantasy lineups Sunday despite a tough Bucs secondary looking to stop him.

Brady matched his previous season total with three TD passes last week with his receivers finally close to full strength, and he figures to be plenty motivated Sunday coming off back-to-back home losses. With a depleted offensive line, Tampa Bay has struggled badly when trying to run (fourth-worst EPA/rush), and Bradys at home facing a Falcons defense that ranks third worst in pressure rate and has allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks.

With no Lamar Jackson or Patrick Mahomes on the slate and with Josh Allen possibly not having to do as much as usual (with Buffalo favored by two touchdowns), Brady is an intriguing DFS option this week.

Woods slow start gets a pass considering he was coming off a torn ACL and learning a new system. Hes become more involved over the last two weeks, however, and will see increased targets with rookie Treylon Burks out. The Titans have arguably the worst WR group behind him, and while Derrick Henry has put up bigger receiving numbers recently, we must realize thats a bit misleading with him running just 16 routes over two games.

Robert Woods makes for a solid start in Week 5. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

Woods moves around, but for what its worth, Washington has allowed the most fantasy points in the NFL this season to his primary side thanks to William Jackson. Woods can be treated as a top-30 fantasy WR this week.

Its been an incredibly disappointing year for McLaurin, but his arrow is pointing up with rookie Jahan Dotson out, Logan Thomas battling a calf injury and Curtis Samuel dealing with an illness that cost him practice most of the week. Tennessee has been tough against the run but has ceded the fourth-most fantasy points to wide receivers, so McLaurin can be treated as a top-20 fantasy WR this week.

Dont be surprised when theres a Tevin Coleman sighting this week, but Wilson has become San Franciscos undisputed No. 1 back. No other SF RB saw a carry last week, and Wilson is the teams preferred passing-down back as well. Carolinas defense is solid, but game script should once again call for 20+ touches from Wilson.

Moore managed just 50 scoreless yards on 11 targets against an Arizona defense allowing the most EPA/pass last week, so he belongs firmly on fantasy benches during this weeks biggest offense/defense mismatch.

No one is benching Christian McCaffrey, but his expectations need to be tempered this week as well.

The biggest challenge with the Eagles in fantasy this season has been their lack of needing to pass in the second half of games. That doesnt exactly appear likely to change this week facing a Cardinals team thats been outscored 31-0 in the first quarter this year. Still, this matchup is indoors with the second-highest total of the week against a pass-funnel Arizona defense; the Cardinals have yielded an NFL-low -0.28 EPA/rush yet are close to bottom-five in EPA/pass (0.17). Its a favorable setup for Philadelphias passing attack Sunday.

Marquise Brown, A.J. Green and Rondale Moore are all banged up and have missed practice throughout the week, while James Conner is getting 3.2 YPC. Expect a bunch of targets Ertzs way in what should be a high-scoring game Sunday.

Lamb is top-five in targets this year and has actually put up his biggest games with Cooper Rush dating back to last season. The Cowboys are unlikely to have any success rushing against LAs funnel defense that ranks top-seven in EPA/rush (-0.20) but bottom-five in EPA/pass (0.21). Lamb is listed on the injury report with a groin issue but is fully expected to be fine Sunday. Hes my WR4 this week.

Higbee leads all tight ends in targets, and while most have occurred around the line of scrimmage, its still a money role in PPR leagues. Its also a role that may not change any time soon with the Rams inability to run the ball and Allen Robinson looking done like dinner. The defending Super Bowl champ Rams legit could have a bottom-three offense in the NFL if Cooper Kupp went down.

Boyd could see extra work this week with Tee Higgins and Hayden Hurst battling injuries while facing a Baltimore defense far easier to pass against. Moreover, Boyd has run 86% of his routes from the slot this season, where the Ravens have been gashed for the most fantasy points this year.

With Rashod Bateman out, Baltimore enters Sunday night with one of the thinnest WR groups in the league. Justice Hill is also out, so Dobbins should see an increased workload. During just his second game of the year last week, Dobbins tied for the league lead in carries/targets inside the five-yard line.

Editor's Note: You'll notice there are no picks for Chiefs/Raiders and Bears/Vikings. The stars to start and the non-productive names to avoid/leave on the waiver wire in these two matchups are obvious, so, in an effort to avoid redundancy, we've left these games off Dalton's list.

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Fantasy Football: Sit/Start tips for Week 5 of the NFL season - Yahoo Sports