:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67613211/rundown_copy.0.jpg)
Welcome to the Fantasy Football Rundown. In here you will find at least one sentence on every player with fantasy value in Week 5 of the NFL. I would highly recommend using your web browsers search function to find specific players you’re curious about.
Let’s begin!
Los Angeles Rams at Washington Football Team
Jared Goff should have a solid outing against an injury-depleted Washington front, which is still an above average unity but no longer the deep, ferocious force that it was to start the year. His QB15 status through four games perfectly encapsulates what Sean McVay can do with a high-level backup quarterback as his starter. He’s this week’s QB14.
Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods continue their locked-in WR2 status that they’ve had all year, facing off against an unimposing Washington secondary. Woods’ 16.3 rushing yards per game is better than most quarterbacks. Josh Reynolds and Van Jefferson nuke each other’s fantasy viability.
Tight end Tyler Higbee has 41.9 .5PPR points but 25.9 of them in Week 2 and Gerald Everrett’s snap share continues to increase. Higbee’s talent and placement on the Rams offense keeps him as a back-end TE1 option but he’s not the game-wrecking fantasy starter tha many though he was.
The backfield devolved into chaos last week as the Rams’ run game sputtered and Malcolm Brown ended up out-touching and out-snapping Week 4 incumbent Darrell Henderson. As is often the case in football, situations change as frequently as the tides. Making matters worse, Cam Akers is expected to return from injury (rib) this week, blowing the situation up into a 3-way committee. Henderson is the talent-based best bet to return flex value but it’s a toss up as to what the other two could do.
With Dwayne Haskins riding the pine this week, Kyle Allen has been given the starting nod. Last season, Allen — under current Washington offensive coordinator Scott Turner — relied heavily on his play-makers as the 12-game starter for the Carolina Panthers. Expect more of the same this week, possibly giving running back Antonio Gibson a shot to surpass his gaudy Week 4 breakout totals. Terry McLaurin should retain rights absurd 10+ targets per game though, locking him into WR2 status. Tight end Logan Thomas could finally see some catch-able balls come his way, after suffering through four weeks of Dwayne Haskins and his -6.1% Completion Percentage Above Expectation (the 2nd-worst measurement of true passing accuracy in the league right now). Kyle Allen, although not a world-beater, produced significantly higher accuracy marks with his -1.5% CPAE in 2019. Such an increase in accuracy should turn Thomas’ 18.18% target market share (2nd-highest on the team), and 25.00% red zone target market share into TE1 numbers.
Ancillary players like wide receivers Dontrelle Inman, Isaiah Wright, and Antonio Gandy-Golden, and running back J.D. McKissic are ignorable for fantasy purposes.
Philadelphia Eagles at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Eagles organization as a whole needs to do some internal evaluations. There seem to be issues from top to bottom, on a team that many though would be a Super Bowl contender this year. Facing the vaunted Pittsburgh Steelers this week is unfortunately not the time for Philly fans to expects a turnaround either. Quarterback Carson Wentz cannot be trusted in starting lineups against a Steelers front that has generated a league-leading pressure rate at 46.5% — 15% higher than the next. The Eagles, meanwhile, are 3.5 sacks per game — tied for 3rd-highest in the league.
Wide receivers Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson, are questionable to play at this point, leaving Greg Ward, Travis Fulgham (last week’s hero), and John Hightower as the only healthy receivers. Tight end Dallas Goedert has been out for almost two weeks (knocked out of Week 3’s contest early) and Zach Ertz has only returned fringe TE1/2 value during that time.
Of the wide receivers, Ward is the only realistic starting option but even he is just a low-end flex-play. Zach Ertz’s is just a high-end TE2.
Miles Sanders touches and snaps continues to be elite but the Steelers have allowed a near impossible 162 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown through 3 games (Week 4’s contest was cancelled due to the Titans’ COVID-19 woes). Sanders in just a usage-based mid-tier RB2, with a good shot at being kept below 100 yards from scrimmage and out of the endzone.
Boston Scott and Corey Clement are no-go’s.
Steelers
This is a smash spot for all Steelers as the square off with an ailing Eagles’ defense. Ben Roethlisberger is a mid-tier QB1 who can be penned into lineups for at least the next three weeks as Pittsburgh faces Cleveland and Tennessee (assuming that game happens) after Philly.
Whether it was Cooper Kupp and Tyler Boyd ripping them up from the slot, players of all positions gashing them for 19 and 20+ yard gains — in the case of Week 3’s tilt with the Rams 5 of them — the Eagles’ secondary has operated as a Horn of Plenty for opposing receivers. Fire up Diontae Johnson and JuJu Smith-Schuster as borderline WR1/2s this week. Chase Claypool and James Washington, the team’s downfield duo, both carry solid flex-value into this one as well.
On a tricky note, Philly has allowed rushing touchdowns on trick plays to wide receivers LA’s Robert Woods and SF’s Brandon Aiyuk. Both Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool have seen rushing action this season, slightly increasing their odds at a red zone end-around score.
Tight end Eric Ebron has seen a steady increase in passing game work each week. He’s a high-end TE2 with TE1 upside. Jesse James is not fantasy-relevant.
For those concerned over James Conner and his injury history, after having a full two weeks to heal anything that was ailing him, Conner is as healthy as ever. He’s a mid-to-high RB1 in a great match-up.
Arizona Cardinals at New York Jets
Quarterback Kyler Murray’s 2020 rushing is out of control. Per Ian Hartitz, Murray is on pace for 1,060 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. New York Jets are Top 10 or worse in rushing yards and touchdowns allowed. Murray is a high-end QB1.
DeAndre Hopkins made it through Week 4 without any setbacks (ankle). He was slowed last week but has a great match-up against the under-coached Jets’ secondary. He’s a high-end WR1.
The remnants of the wideout corps is in disarray. Christian Kirk has been asked to move from the slot role to the downfield role, to minimal success. He’s just a boom/bust flex option. Larry Fitzgerald continues to run cardio every week at Andy Isabella’s expense.
Tight end Dan Arnold is a boom/bust flex option. Although he’s done little in the box score this year, there’s reason for optimism this week as he faces a Jets’ defense that surrendered touchdowns to both Mo Alie-Cox in Week 2 and Jordan Reed in Week 3.
Kenyan Drake could see his best outing of the year against the Jets’ aforementioned woeful run defense. Being treated as a rush-only back thus far, this is the kind of match-up that could finally help Drake return value on his 2nd Round ADP. Stay the course with him this week as a floor-based flex option with easy high-end RB2 potential.
No. 2 back Chase Edmonds, meanwhile, has carved himself out a dynamic receiving back role, tied as the team’s 3rd-most targeted player overall (12.41%) and own tied for the 2nd-most targets in the red zone (16.67%). Per PlayerProfiler.com, Edmonds’ 11.9% slot snap rate is 6th-highest in the league. Rock Edmonds as a stout flex option this week as a piece of the Cards’ 1-2 punch at running back.
Jets
With quarterback Sam Darnold out this week, Joe Flacco gets the starting nod. Even in a good match-up, Flacco cannot be inserted into fantasy lineups.
Jamison Crowder does not have the mindmeld connection with Flacco that he does with Darnold. He’s a very risky flex option.
Should Le’Veon Bell return this week, he would be a low-end flex option with zero floor.
Do not start any other Jets.
Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs
Derek Carr perennially exists on QB2 plane as the overall QB19 in scoring but gets this week’s QB15 ranking against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs will assuredly hop out to an early lead, enforcing a high-volume passing day for Carr.
The Raiders got good news when Henry Ruggs (hamstring) was able to return to practice on a limited basis this week. X-receiver Bryan Edwards (ankle) is still unable to go though. Ruggs would be a high-end flex options on Sunday if he’s active.
Ruggs good to go w/ FULL participation on Thursday
Slot receiver Hunter Renfrow maintains his high-floor, capped ceiling flex ways. Neither Zay Jones, nor Nelson Agholor should be given serious fantasy consideration. Were Ruggs to sit, a flex start for Agholor would be appropriate but limit expectations for the dropsy receiver.
Darren Waller is .5PPR’s TE5 in scoring despite being shutdown by the New England Patriots’ tight end-erasing coverage. He’s a high-end TE1 in this one.
Running back Josh Jacobs has still never scored a touchdown in a Raiders loss. This is largely due to his stunted passing game usage. Keeping Week 1’s Carolina-enforced passing usage in mind, through the following three games he’s hovered in the 3-4 targets per game range. As evidenced by last week’s deployment of Jalen Richard, Theo Riddick, and Devontae Booker, it’s clear that Jacobs is still more of a rusher with some targets sprinkled on top than he is a full-on dual threat. The Chiefs have played bend-but-don’t-break run defense thus far, allowing the 3rd-most rushing yards (644) but just three rushing touchdowns (tied for 3rd-fewest in the league). Given the potential for gaudy yardage totals, Jacobs is this week’s final RB1 contender. He’s a good bet to continue his loss-touchdown drought though.
Chiefs
The Raiders’ leaky secondary poses no threat to Patrick Mahomes’ QB1 status. He’s this week’s overall QB2.
No member of the Raiders pass defense can touch wide receiver Tyreek Hill. He’s a no-brainer Top 12 option at the position.
The receivers, outside of Tyreek Hill, offer little week-to-week reliability. Mecole Hardman, Sammy Watkins, and Demarcus Robinson all suffer from some form of lack of snaps or targets, thus the trio sits no better than WR4s in .5PPR scoring. They are all low-end flex options with Hardman easily the most talented but also most snap-deficient.
Travis Kelce, fantasy’s overall TE2 in .5PPR scoring, maintains King Kong status this week against the Raiders. Kelce’s worst and best games against the Raiders over the last two years both cam in 2018. The former was a five-catch, 62-yard outing in Week 17 that netted him overall TE8 results in .5PPR. The latter was a Week 13 showing of 12 catches, 168 yards, and two touchdowns, good for the overall TE1 finish that week. He’s the overall TE1 this week.
Facing the Raiders’ run defense that’s allowed the most rushing touchdowns in the NFL (8), Clyde Edwards-Helaire is an elite RB1 option.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans
Gardner Minshew enters Week 5 as the QB10 in scoring and the QB11 in our FakeTeams.com rankings. Minshew and his loaded receiving corps continue to get favorable match-ups and this week is no different. With Bill O’Brian finally fired from Houston’s head coaching position, Deshaun Watson will be the leased tied-down (by his own team) that he ever has been. As Watson takes advantage of Jacksonville’s hapless defense, Minshew and Co. will do the same to Watson’s Texans.
D.J. Chark showed us that he’s unequivocally over his chest injury, posting overall WR3 .5PPR numbers last week. Chark is right back on the WR1/2 borderline after that. With that in mind, a changing of the pecking order seemed to take place, dropping Chris Conley and Keelan Cole back to boom/bust flex territory. Both could find their way to a long touchdown this weekend though, given the match-up. Rookie Laviska Shenault may have also established himself as the team’s real No. 2 pass catcher last week. He’s also on the flex radar now.
Tight end Tyler Eifert is not likely to be a factor.
Pass catching back Chris Thompson didn’t even see a target last week. James Robinson needs to be considered a weekly back-end RB1/high-end RB2 regardless of the match-up as he’s established himself as the team’s true bellcow back. His passing game usage appears to be locked into the 4-6 per game range. This week, Robinson checks the box as a mid-to-low RB1 with an explosive situation on his hands. The Texans have allowed the most rushing yardage in the NFL (727) and the 3rd-most rushing touchdowns (6). Robinson’s ceiling is a Top 5 finish.
Texans
Through four games of Bill O’Brien 2020 coaching, Deshaun Watson is fantasy’ overall QB13 in scoring. Now free of the donkey-minded Grima Wormtongue, Watson has a chance to be unleashed like he never has been before. Deploy Watson as a mid-tier QB1 against a Jacksonville defense that’s surrendered the 9th-most passing yardage and 8th-most passing touchdowns to opposing signal callers.
Will Fuller has three (of a possible four) healthy games under his belt this year, and sits as .5PPR’s WR20 — again, that’s with a zero in Week 2. Lock the speedster X-receiver in as a back-end WR1 until further notice.
Behind Fuller, the wideout corps is solid — to the point that it’s a problem in fantasy. Last week Brandin Cooks failed to catch a single pass while Kenny Stills made noise in the box score for the first time all year. Then there’s slot receiver Randall Cobb who appears to have the best floor of the bunch. All three are flex options, with Cooks and Stills of the boom/bust variety and Cobb of the high-floor type.
David Johnson should rumble for high-end RB2 results in this favorable match-up with a Jaguars’ run defense that’s allowed the 7th-most rushing yards (554) and the 4th-most rushing touchdowns (5) on the year. No. 2 back Duke Johnson Jr. could be utilized as more of a pass catching option under the new leadership but at this point he’s just a wait-and-see option.
Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens
Rookie quarterback Joe Burrow has had an outstanding start to his career thus far. Facing the Baltimore Ravens’ vaunted defense will be his toughest test yet though. Were it not for his rushing ability, Burrow would be unstartable but the fact that he can pickup chunk gains at will raises his floor high enough that he can be started as a mid-tier QB2.
Cincinnati’s wide receiver group is both talented and deep, which is great for them but challenging for fantasy managers in match-ups like this. Slot receiver Tyler Boyd has taken the reins from A.J. Green as the team’s alpha dog. Count on Boyd as a match-up proof WR2. Tee Higgins leapt to 2nd in the pecking order in Weeks 3 and 4 and suddenly finds himself as a high-floor, if shaky-ceiling flex option this week despite the tough match-up.
Auden Tate, Mike Thomas, and a sadly washed up A.J. Green are not fantasy-relevant at this time.
Tight end Drew Sample has been fairly up and down this year but the Ravens’ failure to replace free safety Early Thomas with a good fill-in has led to the Ravens being a bountiful foe for opposing tight ends. In Week 1, Mark Andrews caught five of six balls thrown his was for 54-yards and two touchdowns. Texans tight end Darren Fells and Jordan Akins combined for nine catches, 88-yards, and a score in Week 2. Travis Kelce had a typical six catch, 87-yard performance in Week 3. Consider Sample a high-end streaming option this week.
Joe Mixon finally had a Sunday outing that returned value on his early-round ADP last week, hanging 181-yards from scrimmage and all three of the team’s touchdowns. Importantly, Mixon also was the 3rd-most targeted player on the team which suggests that the coaching staff may finally have turned the corner on his frustrating lack of passing game usage. Of course, a date with the Ravens brings its downsides. While their defense is solid, game-script may be the larger issue and Baltimore will likely control the clock, limiting Cincinnati’s overall offensive snap total. Consider Mixon a high-floor/capped-ceiling RB2.
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons
Panthers
Teddy Bridgewater continues his 2020 season as the most predictably volatile streaming option. His showings against the hapless defenses (and positive game-scripts due to solid offenses) of Las Vegas and Arizona yielded high-quality production. Against Tampa Bay and the Chargers, he was necessary to bench. This is another blow-up spot for Bridgewater, who comes in as this weeks’ overall QB10. Atlanta’s offense will have no issue running up the score via Matt Ryan’s arm which in turn will uncork Bridgewater’s passing volume. Atlanta’s defense has surrendered thunderous totals through four games: the 2nd-most passing yards (1,366), the most passing touchdowns (13), and the 3rd-fewest interception total (2). Their middling pressure rate (22.8%) helps ensure Bridgewater’s pocket protection as well.
Robby Anderson has taken over as the team’s X-receiver which and D.J. Moore has been moved to the role of the downfield receiver (42.72% of the team’s air yards). Anderson owns a team-leading 25.00% of the team’s target market share and, importantly, the team’s 2nd-highest red zone target market share (27.27%). Anderson is .5PPR’s overall WR12 at the moment but fantasy managers can expect him to rise in the scoring ranks after a date with Atlanta.
Although D.J. Moore hasn’t been the player we’d hoped, the downfield results against Atlanta had by players like Seattle’s D.K. Metcalf (four receptions, 95-yards, and a touchdown) and Chicago’s entire pass catching corps (five players with receptions of 20+ yards) locks Moore in as a slate-breaking WR2.
Curtis Samuel even offers moderate flex appeal in this one.
Pharoh Cooper and Seth Roberts are not reliable fantasy options.
As evidenced by Green Bay’s Robert Tonyan in Week 4 (six catches, 98-yards, and three touchdowns), tight ends have pulverized Atlanta which bodes very well for Ian Thomas who finally saw red zone work last week. He’s a decent streaming option at the position.
Despite only being the starter for three of Carolina’s four games, running back Mike Davis has vaulted to 3rd on the team’s passing game pecking order with a 17.14% target market share and a team-leading 31.82% of the team’s red zone target market share. Against Atlanta’s hapless defense, he’s an elite RB1 option.
Despite the fact that Matt Ryan is likely to be without wide receiver Julio Jones, Ryan is still a locked-in QB1. The Falcons’ high-flying offense should torch the hapless Panthers’ defense. Game-script will also keep the Falcons throwing all day as the Panthers’ offense should have an equally easy time putting up points against Atlanta’s dreadful defense.
Calvin Ridley has dealt with a number of lower-body injuries over the last week and a half that culminated his an unspeakable zero-catch line last week against Green Bay. He’s managed limited participation through Week 5’s two practices though so he’s on track to be ready to rock on Sunday in one of the softest match-up he’ll see all year. With Julio out, it’s possible Ridley sees over 12 targets. He’s an elite WR1.
After Julio left Week 4’s contest, backup wide receiver Olamide Zaccheus stormed into the box score by seeing a team-high nine targets, catching eight of them for 86 yards. His 10.7 average targeted air yards is indicative of Atlanta using him as a multi-faceted perimeter receiver. Believe it or not, Zaccheus is a high-end flex option with WR2 upside as an integral part of Atlanta’s Week 5 passing attack.
Slotster Russell Gage was knocked out of Week 3’s tilt with a concussion and was barely targeted in Week 4. Assuming Julio is absent, Gage is a good bet to see his target rise to the high single-digits, making him a bounce-back candidate for your flex slot.
Tight end Hayden Hurst maintains his high-end TE2 status for this one.
The Panthers’ run defense is tied for the most rushing touchdowns allowed (7), setting the table for a big day from Todd Gurley. Although Gurley’s overall touch-counts are underwhelming, his 75.00% (!) ownership of the team’s red zone rushes locks him in for multi-TD upside. He’s a high-end RB2.
Miami Dolphins at San Francisco 49ers
DeVante Parker has been shown to be Ryan Fitpatrick’s top dog and he’s really the only viable fantasy option in a tough match-up with San Francisco. consider Parker a volume-based high-end flex option/low-end WR2. Ryan Fitzpatrick offers his unique brand of crazy-play upside but can’t be trusted to be anything more than a back-end QB2.
As evidenced by SF’s complete shutdown of Philly tight end Zach Ertz, Mike Gesicki has a very rough match-up on his plate. He is not a recommended option at the position this week.
Myles Gaskin offers high-end flex appeal/back-end RB2 capabilities as a safety valve passing game back who has little touchdown-upside.
Jordan Howard and Matt Breida are not fantasy-relevant.
Jimmy Garoppolo is on track to play this weekend and his rising tide raises all of San Fran’s passing game ships. He’s a mid-tier QB2 against Miami’s non-existent pass defense.
The training camp injury slowed his ascent but Brandon Aiyuk officially broke out over the last two weeks, posting touch-count of eight and three respectively. Notably though, head coach Kyle Shanahan has quickly committed to exercising Aiyuk’s dynamic open-field ball-carrying ability, getting by manufacturing touchdes for him via the run game. The rookie receiver has scored rushing touchdowns in back-to-back contests and got a great shot to hit paydirt against again Miami’s hapless defense. He’s a high-end flex option as an integral part of San Francisco’s offense.
Deebo Samuel was eased into action last week upon returning from Injured Reserve. An illness has kept him from practicing this week and although it’s unlikely a non-COVID-19 illness would keep him from playing on Sunday, it certainly doesn’t increase his chances of seeing a drastically higher workload. Samuel is a risky flex option for Week 5.
Should Samuel miss the game, Kendrick Bourne would be a decent PPR flex option. As of now he’s a boom/bust one with a good match-up.
George Kittle should compete with Travis Kelce for overall TE1 rights this week.
With Raheem Mostert back at practice, Jerick McKinnon’s bellcow days are likely over. The latter has played to well to be relegated to his early-season role though. A 1A/1B punch can be expected with Mostert as a mid-tier RB2 and McKinnon as a high-end flex/low-end RB2.
New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys
Daniel Jones is handicapped by offensive coordinator Jason Garret but this match-up is good enough to get Jones back into fantasy relevance. He’s a low-end QB2 with moderate upside.
As evidenced by their games against teams like Atlanta (Week 2) and Seattle (Week 3), it’s plain to see that both deep threats and slot weapons feast on Dallas’ undermanned secondary. Darius Slayton finally has a chance to blow the top off as a high-end flex option this week. And Golden Tate could rock the house as a high-end PPR flex option.
No matter the target-total, Evan Engram just has not been able to get it done in the box score. On paper, this is a great match-up so theoretically he’s a buy-low candidate. It’s tough to start him given the failings though.
Dallas has allowed the 2nd-most rushing yards (690) and T-4th-most rushing touchdowns (5) on the year, making Devonta Freeman a viable, if uninspiring, flex play.
Dak Prescott is this week’s overall QB1. The NFL’s league-leader in passing yards (1,690) should have no problem dismantling the Giants’ ho-hum defense.
Amari Cooper is .5PPR’s overall WR3 on the season. His prospects for this week are in line with his production thus far.
Week 1’s NYG/PIT showdown perfectly encapsulates the weaknesses of the Giants’ secondary. Slot receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster waxed them for six-catches, 69-yards, and two scores, while deep threats James Washington and Chase Claypool combined for four-catches, 73-yards, and one touchdown. CeeDee Lamb can be fired up as a high-end WR2 and Michael Gallup offers flex-viability as the two Cowboys’ respectively play the roles of slot man and deep threat.
Dalton Schultz is .5PPR’s overall TE3 during his three-week stint as the team’s top pass catching tight end. He’s a weekly TE1 in fantasy.
Ezekiel Elliott is a no-brainer elite RB1 unless otherwise stated.
Indianapolis Colts at Cleveland Browns
Philip Rivers is the exact definition of game manager at this point. Regardless of opponent, he’s a low-end QB2.
Although Zach Pascal and T.Y. Hilton are the two top receivers in Indy right now, neither one is more than a low-ceiling flex play — Pascal due to volume and Hilton due to what he’s got left in the tank.
Despite the fact that Mo Alie-Cox has been wrecking opposing defenses, head coach Frank Reich is still deploying the now-healthy duo of Trey Burton and Jack Doyle at the expense of the team’s box score production, dropping MAC’s snap share below the two of them last week. Jack Doyle has been a colossal misuse of team resources, barely ever producing at a worthwhile rate and Trey Burton is on his third team for a reason. With fantasy scarcisty at the position, fantasy manager should still stick Alie-Cox in their lineups as a TE1 candidate. His three game stretch is just too strong to ignore.
Jonathan Taylor is still getting his head wrapped around the pro game and the team is divvying up snaps accordingly. Taylor still has the league’s best offensive line in front of him though and his overall rushing ability is undeniable. He’s a back-end RB1 this week. Of the two backups, Jordan Wilkins and Nyheim Hines, Hines offers low-end flex viability in PPR formats this week.
Baker Mayfield tees off against a stout Colts defense that has exploitable areas that favor the Browns’ theoretical strengths. He’s a back-end QB2 with high-end QB2 upside.
Laviska Shenault’s success against Indy in Week 1 and Braxton Berrios’ success in Week 3, both running routes out of the slot, tells us there’s a chance for Browns’ slot receiver Jarvis Landry to kickoff his 2020 scoring campaign after a slot four-game star. Boldly fire him up as a flex option with PPR-upside.
In the afrorementioned Week 1 tilt with the Jags, Keelan Cole — then operating as a downfield option — was able to reel in a 22-yard deep score. Likewise, Bears’ breakout downfield receiver Darnell Mooney was able to rip off a 33-yarder while hauling in the 2nd-highest reception-total in Week 4. After what Odell Beckham Jr. did to Dallas last week in the Browns’ upset win over the Cowboys, it will be tough for head coach Kevin Stefanski to not force the ball to Beckham — especially when the Colts have allowed solid outings to downfield receivers already this season.
The Browns’ tight end group is a tough to predict. Both Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant have been getting huge snap shares in the Browns’ base two-tight end offense. David Njoku is returning from Injured Reserve this week (knee) and he looked damn good in Week 1. Njoku’s athletic profile certainly gives him the highest fantasy ceiling but Hooper and Bryant are clearly proficient pass catchers as well.
The only thing keeping Kareem Hunt from a Top 5 ranking is the fact that he’s still nursing a groin injury, so he’s dropped to the overall RB8 spot. Given Hunt’s receiving ability, he frankly has a higher fantasy ceiling that starting running back Nick Chubb even does. Expect Hunt to see 20 or more touches this week with the team limiting him whenever possible by letting new No. 2 back D’Ernest Johnson get the tough, between-the-tackles rushing yardage. DJ3 is a solid bet for 10 or more carries but in such a tough match-up, only offers mid-tier flex viability. Pass catching back Dontrell Hilliard isn’t likely to see much work as Hunt will handling his would-be workload.
Sunday Night Football: Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks defense is the most generous defense to opposing signal callers, having allowed a league-leading 1,604 passing yards through four games. Although typically a Stone Age offense, Minnesota will be foisted out of their inefficient run-first was as Russell Wilson — who is averaging 4 touchdowns per game — carves up Minnesota’s lacking secondary. Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins makes for an exciting streaming option as a mid-to-high QB2 this week.
Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson are the clear-cut target hogs in the Minnesota offense and both could see a season-high workload this week against Seattle’s Jamal Adams-less secondary. Fire Thielen up as an elite WR1 and Jefferson as a high-end WR2.
Wide receivers Olabisi Johnson and Chad Beebe have outside shots at flex-worthy production but they’re not recommended options.
Tight end Kyle Rudolph is a low-end streaming option whose value is entirely match-up based. Irv Smith Jr. is not an option.
Running back Dalvin Cook is this week’s overall RB2. The talented dual threat back has been underutilized as a pass catcher this season but the Vikings will have no choice but to get him involved as they try to keep pace with Seattle.
Seahawks
Russell Wilson is this week’s overall QB3, facing a Vikings defense that owns the 10th-worst quarterback pressure rate while giving up the 5th-most passing yards through four contests. Their grand total of two interceptions effectively emphasizes just how inept this unit really is. It’s worth noting that although Seattle’s play-calling has gone from detrimental to exceptional, Wilson’s carrying his fair share of the weight. The gunslinger’s 8.6% Completion Percentage Above Expectation — 2nd-highest in the league — is a testament to the diffulty of throws he’s completing on a weekly basis
Minnesota’s secondary has made a habit of allowing repeated chunk gains, through the air, in every game this year. Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling both racked up recpetions of 40+ yards in Week 1, Mo Alie-Cox posted a 33-yarder in Week 2, Week 3 featured Corey Davis with a long ball of 38 yards and Kalif Raymond taking one for 61, and most recently hauled hit them with a 43er in Week 4. D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Locket both possess slate-breaking WR1 potential in Week 5’s Sunday Night Football showdown.
Perhaps most intriguingly, No. 3 WR David Moore has splash plays of 38 and 57-yards under his belt this year. It’s admittedly a gamble but if in need of a receiver, Moore carries serious boom potential as a boom/bust flex optoin this week.
Tight end Greg Olsen has seen a sharp uptick in targets over the last two weeks and surprisingly owns the team’s highest red zone target market share (26.09%), making him an ideal streaming option at the position.
Chris Carson’s knee injury is of little concern at this point, missing no time and playing like a man on fire. He’s this week’s overall RB7, facing a Minnesota Vikings defensive-front that’s allowed the 9th-most rushing yardage (539) on the season.
Travis Homer took advantage of his limited work last week, converting his lone target into a three-yard score. With Carlos Hyde nursing a shoulder injury, it’s possible Homer gets more work this week. Depending on Hyde’s game-time status, one of the two will be a viable, if shaky, flex option.