Week 5 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Rounding Up Latest Fantasy Expert Advice on the Web
Week 5 kicked off with an epic Thursday night showdown between the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The game delivered a thrilling Falcons win in overtime and a few standout fantasy performances.
Kirk Cousins racked up 509 passing yards and four touchdowns with one interception.
As has often been the case this season, though, Thursday's game featured some surprises—good and bad. Atlanta finally got Kyle Pitts (7 catches, 88 yards) going, but Bijan Robinson (15 touches, 7 scrimmage yards) continues to be underutilized.
There are proving to be few "sure things" in fantasy this season, and managers will have some difficult choices to make for Sunday and Monday—and don't forget about Sunday's early Minnesota Vikings vs. New York Jets game in London.
Here, we'll dive into some of the toughest calls remaining in Week 5 and see what some of the web's fantasy experts have to say.
Start: Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints
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New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara has been on a tear to start the 2024 season. Through four games, he's already recorded 17 receptions, 536 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns.
However, the 29-year-old will have a couple of things working against him on Monday night. For one, he'll be on the road against a tough Kansas City Chiefs defense and may have a low yardage floor.
The Chiefs have allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs this season.
Secondly, Kamara was limited (hip/ribs) in practice during the week.. The possibility of a lighter workload does exist.
However, Kamara was also limited last week and still had a strong performance. His point-per-reception (PPR) floor also makes him a fairly safe play against Kansas City.
"As long as he doesn't have a setback with his injuries later this week, Kamara should remain locked into lineups as a must-start," Keith Hernandez of RotoBaller wrote.
Kamara is coming off a seven-catch performance and should see similar work in the passing game this week.
Sit: Zack Moss, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
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Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss has been a serviceable fantasy starter over the first month. He has caught 12 passes and found the end zone three times, but he has also seen second-year back Chase Brown cut into his workload.
Brown had as many carries (15) as Moss against the Carolina Panthers in Week 4. He also saw three of Cincinnati's four red-zone carries in the game. As Michelle Magdziuk of Pro Football Focus noted, Brown may be creeping toward fantasy-starter status:
"For now, Moss is still the best fantasy option in this backfield, but if Brown's snap count and goal-line usage continue to trend upward, both could be viable starts in the future."
If Brown's value increases, Moss' will inevitably take a hit. Brown's presence certainly lowers Moss' floor in Week 5, which isn't bringing the most attractive of matchups.
Cincinnati will host the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. Only the Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers have allowed fewer fantasy points to opposing running backs than Baltimore this season.
Start: Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts
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Can Indianapolis Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. be trusted in Week 5? That's a valid question with Indianapolis facing some serious injury concerns this week.
Standout running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) has already been ruled out, which should allow the Jacksonville Jaguars to focus on defending the pass. Starting quarterback Anthony Richardson (oblique) isn't guaranteed to start either after finishing Week 4 on the sideline.
Yet, the matchup is favorable enough to justify starting Pittman this week, as ESPN's Tristan H. Cockcroft recently noted.
"The Jaguars are quickly becoming one of the game's best cure-all matchups for passing games in the midst of funks," Cockcroft wrote.
The Jaguars have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season, and the Colts have a capable back in Joe Flacco—who helped Pittman tally six catches and 113 yards against Pittsburgh last week.
Pittman is worth starting, regardless of who is under center, and he may be Indy's offensive centerpiece with Taylor out.
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Sit: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins
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The New England Patriots haven't been particularly great against opposing receivers this season. New England has actually allowed the 13th-most fantasy points to the position through four weeks.
However, the Miami Dolphins offense has been practically unwatchable with Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) out of the lineup. Wideout Jaylen Waddle has had his ceiling lowered tremendously.
Waddle caught five passes for 109 yards in Week 1 but has been far less prolific since. While he has caught four passes in each of the last three games, he hasn't reached 50 scrimmage yards in a contest since the opener.
As Michael Florio of NFL.com noted, Waddle doesn't even carry the boom-or-bust upside of Tyreek Hill or De'Von Achane.
"At least with Hill and Achane, you can bank on a breakout run or something, Florio wrote. "The floor is low, and you cannot just assume things will get better for Waddle with Tagovailoa sidelined."
Waddle has low-end flex value because of his PPR floor, but managers who have other options should utilize them.
*Fantasy scoring information from FantasyPros.
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