Start/Sit: Week 5
With Week 4 in the books, it’s time to make those weekly decisions on who to start and sit for Week 5. Anyone can start their studs but where match-ups are won and lost is with those mid-level decisions. Here at Fighting Chance Fantasy Matt Miles (@DirtyAirFC) https://x.com/DirtyAirFC and Leo Grandio (@smooth1074) https://x.com/smooth1074 will be giving you some weekly Start and Sit options to help guide you to a win, and hopefully a championship at season’s end. So crack open your favorite adult beverage, sit back, and relax because here we go!
Start
Quarterbacks
Anthony Richardson/Joe Flacco - Indianapolis Colts
Anthony Richardson or Joe Flacco that is the question? Whoever has the honor of suiting up and being under center for the Colts will be a must-start for Week 5. There has been no clear assessment of whether or not Richardson will be playing this week due to his recovery from a hip pointer and abdomen injuries he suffered last week. If Richardson plays he will get back on track and a QB1 this week since the Jaguars are allowing the most fantasy points to quarterbacks this year. Should Richardson not start don’t be afraid to fire up Joe Flacco, since he showed last week he can make this offense look great. - Leo
Geno Smith – Seattle Seahawks
In the national spotlight of a far more exciting game on Monday night earlier this week, Geno Smith looked really good. Smith is leading the NFL in passing yards and put up almost 400 yards on Monday night. The Seahawks face PFF’s 19th-ranked pass rush with the New York Giants, and we can expect another stellar outing from Smith in Week 5. - Matt
Running Backs
D’Andre Swift - Chicago Bears
Well after being threatened with losing touches to Roschon Johnson, D’Andre Swift felt the fire under his ass last week and finally had a productive game. Swift had 165 total yards including seven receptions and a touchdown. That success should continue this week versus the Panthers who allow the second-most fantasy points to running backs this season. - Leo
Devin Singletary/Tyrone Tracy, Jr. – New York Giants
I like Devin Singletary this week, but as of this writing, Singletary is nursing a groin injury and did not practice on Thursday. Could this be the Tyrone Tracy breakout game? The rookie back had spelled Singletary on 25% of snaps already. Last week, both Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery had their way with the previously eighth-ranked run defense. Either option should be a solid RB2 play this week. - Matt
Wide Receivers
Garrett Wilson - New York Jets
Many fantasy managers and experts had high hopes for Garrett Wilson with Aaron Rodgers returning this year. Unfortunately, everyone has been very disappointed with Wilson’s output so far, as he has only totaled a measly 20 receptions for 191 yards and a touchdown through four games. I believe this could be when the tide turns for Wilson since he will be going up against the Vikings' secondary that just got lit up for over 400 yards by Jordan Love last week. Roll with Wilson and enjoy the ride. If they can’t get it done I see Davante Adams coming to town via trade sooner rather than later. - Leo
Terry McLaurin – Washington Commanders
Brooks and Dunn’s 1991 Hit’ Brand New Man” aptly describes the 2024 resurgence of Terry McLaurin. Quickly becoming Jayden Daniels favorite deep threat, McLaurin has helped lead the commanders to top-5 scoring offense in 2024. Fire up Scary Terry this spooky season against the Browns. - Matt
Tight Ends
Tucker Kraft - Green Bay Packers
Life is just so much easier when Jordan Love is healthy. With Love back in the line-up Tucker Kraft was targeted nine times and he secured six receptions for 53 yards and a touchdown. The tight end position has been a nightmare for most fantasy managers this year, and hopefully, now Kraft can be a solid contributor moving forward. This week he faces a Rams team allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to tight ends this season. - Leo
Jake Ferguson – Dallas Cowboys
Who is second in targets for the Dallas Cowboys? It’s Jake. From Ferguson. Well, from the University of Wisconsin, but don’t badger me with random facts. Ferguson is about to face a Steelers defense that ranks 17th in fantasy points allowed to tight ends. You’re starting Jake this week. - Matt
Defenses
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos Defense has surprisingly been one of the better defenses in the league. They have averaged over 10 fantasy points per week and get to face off against their rival the Raiders at home. Las Vegas has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing defense through four games. - Leo
Chicago Bears
A great streaming option this week is the Chicago Bears Defense as they face the Carolina Panthers. This unit has 10 sacks on the year and going back to last season has allowed 24 points or less in 10 straight games. - Matt
Sit
Quarterbacks
Patrick Mahomes - Kansas City Chiefs
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would list Patrick Mahomes as a sit, but here we are. After losing Marquise Brown, Isiah Pacheco, and now Rashee Rice to injuries, this offense has taken a huge hit so far this season. Add the fact that he will be facing a stingy Saints defense that’s only allowed one passing touchdown this season, and that makes him a sit for me in Week 5. - Leo
Daniel Jones - New York Giants
The biggest part of this sit call is Malik Nabers. As of this writing, Nabers has not cleared the concussion protocol and was ruled out. Daniel Jones will be a check-down machine and could end up with a 21/26 135-yard stat line. He’s borderline bench fodder in 2QB leagues. - Matt
Running Backs
Zach Moss - Cincinnati Bengals
With the recent emergence of Chase Brown, fantasy managers have to wonder if Zach Moss be a viable option going forward. Well, for Week 5 you may want to consider letting Moss ride the pine this week since he will be facing Baltimore this week who are allowing the third-fewest points to running backs this year. Look elsewhere if you can for another running back to start. - Leo
Rhamondre Stevenson – New England Patriots
After four games and four fumbles this season, Rhamondre Stevenson won’t start this week for the New England Patriots. The Dolphins are a very good third-down defense, allowing just a 23% conversion rate, the best in the NFL, so even a third-down passing role would likely be muted by the ‘Fins. - Matt
Wide Receivers
Jordan Addison - Minnesota Vikings
Jordan Addison made a splash in his return from the injury bug last week by going for three receptions for 72 yards and two total touchdowns. This week may be tougher for the young receiver in London. In Week 5, Addison faces a stingy Jets defense that is allowing the seventh-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season and has allowed only two receiving touchdowns to wide receivers this season. - Leo
Jakobi Meyers – Las Vegas Raiders
With Davante Adams having a hamstring-induced lock-in, the next man up was Jakobi Meyers with a whopping 45% first read Week 4. However, Patrick Surtan Jr. and the top rated Broncos pass rush come to town. Garrett Wilson was held to 22 yards. - Matt
Tight Ends
Trey McBride - Arizona Cardinals
Although Trey McBride just got cleared from concussion protocol, he might be wishing he wasn’t after he tangles with the 49ers this weekend. The 49ers have allowed the fourth-fewest points to tight ends this year. McBride will be the 49ers toughest test to date without a doubt. The main thing for this match-up is to keep an eye on San Francisco’s linebacker Fred Warner to see if he is going to play. - Leo
Mark Andrews/Isiah Likely – Baltimore Ravens
This pass offense is not going. The legs of Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson are all the Ravens need right now until another team like the Kansas City Chiefs makes them use the rest of the offense. Are the Cincinnati Bengals that team? PFF has the Bengals' defense ranked 14th in yards per carry but 28th in yards, so likely not. - Matt
Defenses
Houston Texans
With the Buffalo Bills coming to town, the Houston Texans Defense will surely have their hands full. The Texans Defense has only scored double-digit fantasy points just once this season. In all other contests, they have averaged just three fantasy points. Look for another defense to stream because the Texans defense will let you down as this game should be a shootout. - Leo
San Francisco 49ers
The Niners run defense has had its share of struggles this year, and James Conner is off to a torrid start, with a first down or a touchdown on a whopping 31.8% of his carries, best so far in the NFL in 2024. They’re a sit for me this week. - Matt
If you have any start or sit questions you can reach us on Twitter at @FCFantasySports.