Fantasy Football Week 5: Big Board and Advice for 'MNF'
Through the first four weeks of the fantasy football season, owners have been waiting for Week 5. Why? Well, this is the week when San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant return from their suspensions.
However, according to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Steelers will not add Bryant to the roster for Monday Night Football. Although he is not active, it's not because of extended discipline by the team or anything like that. Per Ross Jones of Fox Sports, Bryant is out due to a knee injury he suffered in practice on Monday, calling it a "tweak."
As it is, the Steelers already have a deterrent with quarterback Michael Vick playing in his second straight game due to a Ben Roethlisberger injury, so losing out on Bryant for another week just adds to the problems facing the Steelers.
On the flip side, Gates will be active. This comes at a great time, because wide receiver Stevie Johnson has been ruled out.
Big Board
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| Rank | Player | Pos. | Team |
| 1 | Le'Veon Bell | RB | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 2 | Philip Rivers | QB | San Diego Chargers |
| 3 | Keenan Allen | WR | San Diego Chargers |
| 4 | Danny Woodhead | RB | San Diego Chargers |
| 5 | Antonio Brown | WR | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 6 | Antonio Gates | TE | San Diego Chargers |
| 7 | Michael Vick | QB | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 8 | Melvin Gordon | RB | San Diego Chargers |
| 9 | Heath Miller | TE | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 10 | Dontrelle Inman | WR | San Diego Chargers |
Injury Report
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Pittsburgh Steelers
Player | Status | |
Martavis Bryant | WR | Out |
Cortez Allen | CB | Questionable |
Ryan Shazier | LB | Out |
| Matt Spaeth | TE | Probable |
Markus Wheaton | WR | Probable |
While the Steelers won't have Bryant returning, they also face another week without stud linebacker Shazier.
San Diego Chargers
Player | Status | |
Brandon Flowers | CB | Questionable |
Jacoby Jones | WR | Questionable |
Malcom Floyd | WR | Probable |
| Orlando Franklin | OT | Out |
Stevie Johnson | WR | Out |
Being without Johnson and Franklin are huge blows. Flowers would only add to that.
Injury reports courtesy of ESPN.com.
Quarterbacks
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Pittsburgh Steelers: Michael Vick
Although it was on a short week, Vick played decently against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4.
Going into Monday night, the San Diego Chargers rank 21st against opposing quarterbacks in terms of fantasy points allowed at 14.5.
Vick threw for just over 120 yards against the Ravens, who have been terrible so far this season against opposing quarterbacks.
Expect Vick to have another average game on Monday Night Football.
Projections: 175 passing yards, 1 TD; 4 carries, 30 yards.
San Diego Chargers: Philip Rivers
Going into Week 5, Rivers has two games of 350 or more passing yards—they both came at home.
The Steelers are the 15th-most generous team when it comes to giving up fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks at 16.5 per game.
On the season, Rivers ranks inside the top seven, and he was top-five just one week ago.
According to Pro Football Focus, the Steelers are the fifth-worst in terms of pass coverage.
Look for Rivers to have a day against the Steelers.
Projections: 300 passing yards, 3 TDs, 0 INT.
Running Backs
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Pittsburgh Steelers Starter: Le'Veon Bell
This man right here is just unstoppable.
Not only is Bell a must-start every week, but this week in particular should be a huge game.
Heading into Week 5, the San Diego Chargers are the second-most generous team to opposing running backs, giving up over five yards-per-carry and 25 fantasy points per game.
Brace yourselves, Bell opponents.
Projections: 26 carries, 150 rushing yards, 2 TDs; 5 receptions, 35 receiving yards.
San Diego Chargers Starter: Melvin Gordon
Going into Week 5, Gordon has had a tough go of it on the ground.
Through the first four games, Gordon has managed 228 rushing yards and a 4.1 yards-per-carry average. To put that in perspective, fellow rookie running back Todd Gurley already has more rushing yards than that.
The Steelers have yet to allow a rushing touchdown this season to opposing running backs and are the third-stingiest against opposing running backs.
We were hoping for a breakout for Gordon against the Browns, and that didn't happen. It's also not going to happen against the Steelers.
Projections: 15 carries, 70 rushing yards; 2 receptions, 15 receiving yards.
San Diego Chargers: Danny Woodhead
Woodhead is the No. 6 running back in points-per-reception formats.
Let that sink in.
Of course, the absence of tight end Antonio Gates helped, but Woodhead is just being fed every single reception out of the backfield.
Although the Steelers are tough against the run, Woodhead really shouldn't be considered one.
The Chargers will be without wide receiver Stevie Johnson.
Expect Woodhead to take over the second wide receiver spot in terms of targets and receptions for the Chargers.
Projections: 6 carries, 35 rushing yards; 6 receptions, 55 yards, 1 TD.
Wide Receivers
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Pittsburgh Steelers: Antonio Brown
As we saw in Week 4, Brown's value is going to take a hit with Vick at quarterback.
However, Vick did target Brown deep for a potential touchdown, but Brown dropped it in the end zone.
This week, Vick will find Brown for a touchdown.
The Chargers could be without Brandon Flowers, who is listed as questionable. While the Chargers are the No. 1 unit in the NFL against opposing wide receivers, Brown isn't your ordinary wide receiver.
Don't get cute because of last week's results—start Brown proudly.
Projections: 6 receptions, 80 receiving yards, 1 TD.
San Diego Chargers: Keenan Allen
Like running back Danny Woodhead being a top running back option in points-per-reception formats, Allen is a top-five wide receiver in the same format.
On the season, the Steelers are giving up an average of 159 receiving yards per game to opposing wide receivers.
With fellow wide receiver Stevie Johnson out, Allen will be that much more included.
With how porous the Steelers pass defense is, they'll have a tough time containing this target monster.
Projections: 7 receptions, 100 receiving yards, 1 TD.
San Diego Chargers: Dontrelle Inman
After hauling in three receptions on five targets after taking over for fellow wide receivers Johnson and Malcom Floyd, Inman managed to haul in a long catch to eventually lead to a goal-line touchdown pass to tight end John Phillips.
With Johnson out, Inman should see a similar role regardless of whether Floyd returns.
As we saw last season, Inman has points-per-reception format upside.
Projections: 3 receptions, 40 receiving yards.
Tight Ends
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Pittsburgh Steelers: Heath Miller
While he was merely an afterthought in the Vick-led passing game in Week 4, Miller will go against a much more generous Chargers squad that gives up an average of just under nine fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends.
Look for Miller to be a bit more involved than his one-catch, one-yard effort in Week 4.
Projections: 3 receptions, 40 receiving yards.
San Diego Chargers: Antonio Gates
Coming off his return from a four-game suspension, Gates, like Miller, will face a Steelers squad that is even more generous to opposing tight ends than the Chargers.
The Steelers are giving up a touchdown per game to opposing tight ends, and 11 fantasy points per game.
With Johnson out, Gates couldn't have made his triumphant return at a better time.
Look for Gates to contribute to your team right off the bat.
Projections: 5 receptions, 70 receiving yards, 1 TD.
Defense/Special Teams
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Pittsburgh Steelers Defense/Special Teams
Facing Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers at home is a tall task to ask any defense.
Just ask the Detroit Lions and the Cleveland Browns.
The Steelers have, overall, been pretty lucky over the past few games facing the likes of quarterbacks Joe Flacco, Nick Foles and Colin Kaepernick.
The Steelers will have their hands full with Rivers' aerial assault.
Projections: 27 points allowed, 3 sacks.
San Diego Chargers Defense/Special Teams
As we saw last week, Vick isn't going to throw a ton of interceptions, as he seems to be fairly safe with the ball (except for the fumbles).
The game will be kept relatively close due to just how incredible running back Le'Veon Bell is with the ball in his hands.
Expect the Chargers to win this game.
Neither defensive unit is a top option this week.
Projections: 21 points allowed, 3 sacks.
Best Sleeper Add
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Dontrelle Inman, WR, San Diego Chargers (Owned in 0.4 percent of ESPN Leagues)
With fellow wide receiver Stevie Johnson out, Inman will be in line for much more playing time.
If you're a Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant owner who's not happy with him not playing and need a last-minute wide receiver option, Inman could be a solid play.
He's also a nice, cheap daily fantasy option.
Start or Sit?
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Melvin Gordon, RB, San Diego Chargers
Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers giving up 150 yards on the ground to Baltimore Ravens running back Justin Forsett, Gordon wil not see similar success.
In last week's game against the Cleveland Browns, a team that is horrid against opposing running backs, Gordon couldn't manage anything on the ground.
The only way Gordon really makes his mark on this game is if the Chargers get up big and just run the ball.
However, Vegas doesn't see that happening, as the Chargers are just a 3.5-point favorite at home, per Odds Shark.
Verdict: Sit
All advanced stats courtesy of Pro Football Focus. Fantasy scoring numbers courtesy of ESPN.com.
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