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Quarterback
Start of the Week: Bo Nix (@ PHI)
Monday night was a get-right game for Nix and the Denver offense—and he threw for 326 yards, two touchdowns, one interception (which came with nowhere to go on fourth-and-goal), and rushed for another score. A road matchup in Philadelphia might be a daunting spot that causes fantasy owners to look elsewhere, but I’d be feeling confident about Nix as a no-doubt QB1 option, and the Eagles have some weaknesses to attack on defense. Also, Sean Payton surely wants to get payback versus Vic Fangio from the last matchup versus the defensive coordinator (a 70-20 loss against Miami in 2023).
Start: Justin Fields (v DAL)
Speaking of payback, Fields will face Matt Eberflus for the first time this week, and he’ll be determined to have a big game versus a head coach that got rid of him in Chicago. On Monday night, Fields showed his monster ceiling with a 43-yard touchdown run, and he’s finished with 27.14+ fantasy points in both healthy starts this season. With the Jets losing Braelon Allen (knee) for a bit, Fields should only be leaned on more as a runner, so he’s at least a top-seven option at quarterback.
Start: Jared Goff (@ CIN)
Goff and the Lions typically destroy overmatched opponents, and the Bengals certainly fall in that category as the third-worst defense in the league with 397.8 total yards per game allowed. Detroit might not need to air it out much if Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery dominate on the ground, but they will throw no matter what the score or situation—and this is yet another revenge-type game with the Lions losing 34-11 to Cincinnati back in 2021. Goff should be a clear QB1 for Week 5.
Start: Trevor Lawrence (v KC)
Chiefs-Jaguars feels like it’ll have the atmosphere of a playoff game with Kansas City back on track and Jacksonville sitting at 3-1—and Lawrence has too much firepower to not eventually explode with a huge outing. Having just one game with multiple touchdowns and limited overall rushing production for Lawrence has hurt, but he’s on pace for 612 pass attempts on the season, and the draw is much better at home than it would be at Arrowhead. I’d view Lawrence as a high-end QB2 option and the top replacement for Lamar Jackson (hamstring) this week.
Sit of the Week: Drake Maye (@ BUF)
New England’s offense looked great last week, but we need to remember they were facing the Panthers—and Sunday night will be a much tougher test versus a Buffalo squad that will want to show they are the only contender in the AFC East. In general, Maye has benefitted from perhaps the easiest schedule in the league for a quarterback in September (especially with Pittsburgh dealing with injuries), while the Bills have allowed the fewest passing yards per attempt (5.5) and passing yards per game (125.8) in the league. He can put up solid numbers, but Maye being ranked ahead of guys like Bo Nix and Jared Goff is difficult to get on board with.
Sit: Brock Purdy (@ LAR)
I think there’s still a chance Purdy (toe) plays tomorrow night after meeting with the media and saying he feels better than he did after Week 1—but even if he does, the danger would be an early exit. San Francisco is also dealing with injuries at wide receiver with Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Jauan Jennings (ankle/rib) looking doubtful, so I’d say it might be a good idea to wait until Week 6 for everyone (including George Kittle) to hopefully be back; until then, Purdy will be a riskier QB2 option and should rank outside the top 15.
Sit: C.J. Stroud (@ BAL)
Houston finally got in the win column last week, and Stroud had his best game of the season by completing 22-of-28 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns. However, it was another slow start with the Texans having just six points until the fourth quarter, and Tennessee’s defense softened up late in the game due to the pressure put on them by a lack of offensive success. Baltimore has been bombarded with injuries to increase the chances of Stroud building on the performance, but he’s struggled in all three career matchups against the Ravens—going 0-3 with 7.0 points per game (including playoffs) in his career.
Sit: Geno Smith (@ IND)
Smith simply has not played well in four games with the Raiders, as he leads the NFL in interceptions (seven), and a large chunk of his production this season came with Las Vegas trailing big to Washington in Week 3. The Colts being without Kenny Moore II (calf) boosts the matchup, but Smith didn’t fare well versus Lou Anarumo’s defense a couple of years ago with two interceptions in a 17-13 loss, and Brock Bowers not being quite himself puts a cap on the passing attack. We have Geno as our overall QB22 for this week.
Running Back
Start of the Week: David Montgomery (@ CIN)
Cincinnati just allowed the Broncos to have their first 100-yard rusher in 38 games with J.K. Dobbins reaching the century mark on Monday night, and the Bengals might not have any answer for Sonic and Knuckles this weekend. Furthermore, Montgomery—who is worthy of RB1/RB2 consideration any time he gets a good matchup— will have extra motivation on Sunday as he plays in his hometown for the first time. He’s somehow ranked as a low-end RB2 on sites like ESPN, but make sure Montgomery is in lineups.
Start: Breece Hall (v DAL)
Braelon Allen appeared on his way to taking control of the New York backfield before a fumble at the goal line and the knee injury—but Hall took advantage of the increased opportunities with 19 touches for 111 total yards in the loss to Miami. This week, Hall should be a top-15 option versus a Dallas defense that just allowed Josh Jacobs to have his best game of the campaign (26 touches for 157 yards and two touchdowns), and I think New York will want to run the ball as Aaron Glenn tries to get his team to play a tougher brand of football.
Start: J.K. Dobbins (@ PHI)
The Eagles flashed improvements defending the run last week by holding Bucky Irving to 15 carries for 63 yards (4.2 YPC), but they’re still surrendering 4.8 yards per carry on the season—as key losses on defense from a season ago have been a factor. Dobbins isn’t seeing major volume, but his rushing yards have increased every week (63 > 76 > 83 > 101), and he’s averaged 5.7 yards per carry to begin his Denver tenure. I’d start him as a top-20 option with the Broncos wanting to control the ball in Philadelphia.
Start: Woody Marks (@ BAL)
Both Nick Chubb and Marks are worth playing as strong FLEX options this week, as the Ravens being ravaged by injuries includes key members in the middle with Roquan Smith (hamstring) out and Justin Madubuike (neck) done for the season. If you throw in Marlon Humphrey (calf) in the slot based on his effectiveness as a tackler, Baltimore could have a very difficult time stopping the run—and also defending backs in the passing game (most notably Marks). After 119 total yards and two touchdowns last week, the rookie is a top-30 play at running back with a boost in full PPR leagues.
Sit of the Week: Isiah Pacheco (@ JAX)
Pacheco is coming off his best game of the season with seven carries for 35 yards and an eight-yard receiving touchdown—but he’s now been held below 12 touches in all four games this season. And if the split with Kareem Hunt (who often handles goal-line and short-yardage carries) wasn’t frustrating enough, Pacheco is now splitting more work with Brashard Smith after the rookie turned seven touches in to 36 yards last week. Facing a Jacksonville defense that enters Week 5 as a top-five unit versus the run (82.8 yards per game allowed), Pacheco falls more in the FLEX despite bye weeks beginning.
Sit: Rachaad White (@ SEA)
Bucky Irving (foot) seems set to miss at least one game for Tampa Bay, so White is primed to be the lead back—which is a role we know he can handle with legitimate RB1 value in the past. Unfortunately, the first shot as the starter comes against a stout Seahawks defense that hasn’t allowed a rushing touchdown this season, and it’s a very similar situation to last week with Trey Benson taking on Seattle. The good news is that White will have the receiving role locked down, but he’s best viewed as an RB2.
Sit: Bill Croskey-Merritt (@ LAC)
Now up to 29 carries for 172 yards (5.9 YPC) and two touchdowns on the season, Croskey-Merritt continued to flash last week in the loss to Atlanta—and the expectation is that he will be given larger weekly workloads soon enough. Washington has been getting good contributions from Chris Rodriguez Jr. (seven carries for 59 yards last week) and Jeremy McNichols (60-yard touchdown in Week 3), though, and a limited workload might not be enough to pay off as more than a low-end RB2/FLEX option against the Chargers.
Sit: Jordan Mason (@ CLE)
Cleveland has been able to hang their hat on a suffocating run defense this year, as they lead the NFL in fewest yards per carry (2.7) and yards per game allowed (70.3) on the ground. The touches should be there for Mason with Aaron Jones Sr. (hamstring) on injured reserve, but injuries on the Minnesota offensive line could lead to even less room to run—and more of a quick-strike passing attack with Dillon Gabriel under center for the Browns could shorten the game, which would lead to decreased opportunities for Mason. He’s our RB18 for this week, but if you’re stacked at running back, there might be reason to consider alternatives.
Wide Receiver
Start of the Week: Tetairoa McMillan (v MIA)
The Panthers struggling as an offense and team has impacted McMillan’s numbers, but he’s still been productive with 69.5 receiving yards per game—and he’s recorded a reception over 20 yards in all four weeks to begin his career. Miami is among the most attackable defenses in the league, so I like McMillan to pay off as a borderline WR1 and to find the end zone for the first time in his career; and Carolina would be wise to give him more snaps in the slot to spark the offense.
Start: DeVonta Smith (v DEN)
Broncos cornerback Riley Moss started slow last week in the win over Cincinnati, but he settled in and ended up containing Tee Higgins and others in a confidence-building night. That said, Smith is the type of receiver who can shatter an opponent’s confidence in a hurry, and I’m guessing Denver will leave Moss on an island with the former Heisman winner as Pat Surtain II often does battle with A.J. Brown. There is danger due to the struggles for Philadelphia’s passing attack, but Smith had an 8/60/1 line two weeks ago and could be the focal point on Sunday.
Start: Chris Olave (v NYG)
Olave finding the end zone for the first time this season was offset by an interception thrown and being limited to a season-low 20 receiving yards—and his yards-per-target average dropped to a measly 4.3 yards per target. Still, the Giants present a matchup where Olave might be able to put together the high target totals (double-digit targets in each of the first three games) with increased downfield appeal. We are typically lower on Olave, but we have him as a top-25 option at wide receiver this week.
Start: Marvin Mims Jr. (@ PHI)
I was planning on having Mims here this week even if he had a quiet game on Monday night—but that wasn’t the case as he caught all six of his targets for 69 yards and added a 16-yard rushing touchdown. If not for a couple of deep connections that just missed over the first three weeks, the narrative for Mims would be a lot different right now, and he gets the most favorable matchup of the Denver pass-catchers on Sunday with most snaps set to be versus Kelee Ringo. Consider him a low-end WR2/FLEX option with upside.
Others: Jameson Williams (@ CIN), Isaiah Bond (v MIN)
Sit of the Week: A.J. Brown (v DEN)
Brown is our overall WR20 because of his talent level, but he could certainly be even lower than that with the 6/109/1 line against the Rams two weeks ago all coming in the second half. If the Eagles try to grease the squeaky wheel this week, Brown needing to deal with Pat Surtain II adds the highest possible layer of difficulty to the situation—and Philly might not be overly eager to push things since they’re 4-0. If you have options, it’d probably be wise to wait until next Thursday night against the Giants to get Brown back in lineups.
Sit: Zay Flowers (v HOU)
We are operating under the impression that Lamar Jackson (hamstring) will be out this week, so Flowers needs to be downgraded despite a strong start with seven receptions and 74+ receiving yards in three-of-four outings to begin 2025. If Jackson does play, Flowers had been quiet in back-to-back games versus Houston (including playoffs) with yardage totals of 41 and 31, so he’d still land more in the FLEX ranks with the Texans having one of the stingiest secondaries in the league. Next week versus the Rams—in a game with higher shootout potential—is a better spot for Flowers.
Sit: Jerry Jeudy (v MIN)
Dillon Gabriel discussed feeding Jeudy after being named the starter, but Minnesota is allowing the third-fewest passing yards per game (151.5)—and the big plays aren’t suddenly expected to increase with the more aggressive Joe Flacco now on the bench. Jeudy doing catch-and-run damage is probably the hope for him paying off as a start, but Cleveland’s offensive line is a concern, and Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores will undoubtedly be testing the rookie passer in his first career start. Jeudy is outside the top 36 at the position this week.
Sit: Courtland Sutton (@ PHI)
Sutton’s connection with Bo Nix can overcome any matchup, especially with Denver’s star quarterback always willing to give his guy a chance in contested coverage. On the other hand, Quinyon Mitchell is coming off perhaps his best game as a pro (Vic Fangio said it was), and being used more in shadow coverage this season will likely lead to Sutton being followed on Sunday. If that’s the case, I’d consider Marvin Mims Jr. the top fantasy option for the Broncos in Week 5.
Others: Stefon Diggs (@ BUF), Tre Tucker (@ IND)
Tight End
Start: of the Week: Darren Waller (@ CAR)
It was fair to wonder if Waller was collecting a paycheck after missing the first three games of the season, but that clearly isn’t the case—and he had a throwback performance with two touchdowns in his team debut on Monday night. Tyreek Hill (knee) being done for the season will only make Waller more of a priority on offense, so his snap rate (27.6%) is sure to climb, and he’s boosted by aligning more like a wide receiver at times. With the Panthers allowing 13.8+ fantasy points to tight ends in three-of-four games this year, Waller is a low-end TE1.
Start: Juwan Johnson (v NYG)
Johnson had a quiet day last week in Buffalo, but it was a difficult matchup, and now he takes on a Giants team that he has found the end zone against in all three career meetings. Focusing on last year (with the same defensive system under Shane Bowen), Johnson went for a 4/50/1 line on five targets, and he should get back to heavier target totals (28 over his first three games) after limited opportunities against the Bills. Start him as a top-10 option.
Start: Brenton Strange (v KC)
Kansas City is allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends this year, but it’s historically been an area of weakness—and Baltimore tight ends did combine to catch seven passes against them last week. Before that, the Chiefs faced the wideout-centric Chargers, the Eagles without Dallas Goedert, and the Giants (who don’t feature their tight ends); with 45+ yards three times already this season, Strange is a top-15 option on Monday night.
Sit of the Week: Evan Engram (@ PHI)
Engram getting increased snaps in his return to the lineup didn’t really come to fruition (43.2% snaps played), and Denver almost seemed to be forcing him targets when on the field in the win over Cincinnati—resulting in an inefficient four receptions (on seven targets) for 29 yards. I do expect the production to be there soon, but Philadelphia is a rough draw for tight ends with Zack Baun and others covering at a high level, so he’s someone to avoid.
Sit: Hunter Henry (@ BUF)
Some might decide to ride the hot hand with Henry (especially at a shaky position), but since signing with the Patriots, he’s averaged 21.7 receiving yards per game with one touchdown in six matchups versus Buffalo. Standout linebacker Matt Milano (pectoral) returning to practice this week would only increase the difficulty of the matchup, and we have Henry barely inside the top 20 at tight end.
Sit: Mike Gesicki (v DET)
I had hopes for Gesicki last week in an ideal matchup versus Denver, but he was limited to one reception (on one target) for eight yards—with the Bengals being completely out of sorts in two starts by Jake Browning. By no real fault of his own, Gesicki has totaled six receptions for 46 scoreless yards in four games despite signing a three-year extension in the offseason, and Detroit having some struggles versus the position this year isn’t enough to bank on him as a TE2 option.