We are over a third of the way through the fantasy regular season, and by this point, each league has the beginnings of the playoff picture taking shape! Whether your team is leading the charge into the postseason or in need of some tweaks to get back on the right track, getting your lineup set just right is the only way to ensure you’re getting that W in Week 5!
It’s that time of week again to walk through each position and take a look at a few matchups that could be the difference in your decision-making process before locking in that roster.
Always make sure to use the Ballers’ weekly rankings before finalizing your lineup each week!
Also, utilize the Ultimate Dashboard to see what Andy, Mike, and Jason would suggest you do with your roster to make it its absolute best!
Quarterbacks
Jaxson Dart
QB - NYG
- - Consensus
- - Andy
- - Mike
- - Jason
It was quite the debut for Giants rookie QB Jaxon Dart. While he didn’t quite crack the top-12 QBs on the week, Dart was impressive against a tough Chargers defense, leading New York to its first win of the season. While the passing numbers weren’t great for Dart, what should be intriguing for fantasy managers was Dart’s 54 rushing yards and a TD. Dart’s ability to run the ball was one of the more intriguing things about him as a collegiate prospect, so as long as he’s still given the chance to add that to his game in the pros, it could prop up his fantasy prospects.
Dart has a good matchup for his second start to maybe crack the top-12 QBs against the Saints this week. New Orleans’ defense has allowed the third-most passing TDs on the season and are allowing eight yards per attempt. When it comes to fantasy, the Saints have allowed at least 17.5 fantasy points to opposing QBs in each game this season. For fantasy managers in a pinch with injury or bye weeks hitting their roster, Dart could be a streamable option this week.
Sam Darnold
QB - SEA
- - Consensus
- - Andy
- - Mike
- - Jason
It feels like for the second season in a row, we are waiting for Sam Darnold to turn back into a pumpkin after a strong start to the season, but it never really happened in 2024, and it’s feeling like it won’t happen again this season. While Darnold has the Seahawks off to a great start, he hasn’t been super for fantasy, only finishing as a top-12 QB once in his first four games of the season. It’s no coincidence that the one game Darnold has been helpful for fantasy is the one game he hasn’t recorded a turnover.
If Darnold is going to be useful for fantasy, a matchup with the Buccaneers might not be the bet to make. Tampa Bay’s defense has allowed the 10th-fewest passing yards on the season and just one passing play over 40 yards. For fantasy, though, the Bucs have allowed a top-10 QB in half their games, and opposing QBs are averaging 19 fantasy points per game. For one of the first real streaming weeks of the season, Darnold should still be one of the lower-end options for Week 5.
Running Backs
Chase Brown
RB - CIN
- - Consensus
- - Andy
- - Mike
- - Jason
After a full offseason of hype around what Chase Brown could do in this Bengals offense, there has been a lot of disappointment for fantasy managers who invested in the Cincinnati RB during draft season. Through four games, Brown has only finished inside the top-24 RBs once, and he hasn’t finished higher than RB37 since Joe Burrow left the lineup. If there’s any positive to take out of the rough start to the season for Brown, he’s still seeing 85% of the RB carries in this Bengals offense, which was what really helped him finish the 2024 season strong.
If Brown is going to get rolling for fantasy, a tough matchup against the Lions this week might not be the one to make it happen. Detroit’s defense has been tough against the run, allowing the 7th-fewest rushing yards through the first four weeks of the season. For fantasy, though, the Lions haven’t kept opposing RBs from being productive. Through four weeks, Detroit has allowed a top-24 RB in each game. What fantasy managers will have to decide is if they believe the Bengals offense can do their part in a game with the highest combined point total of the week and provide Brown the opportunity to continue that top-24 RB streak this week.
Rachaad White
RB - TB
- - Consensus
- - Andy
- - Mike
- - Jason
A very quiet RB24 season in 2024 has really been met with a lot of uncertainty for fantasy when it comes to Rachaad White. White lost the main RB role in Tampa Bay to Bucky Irving, but really maintained a role that could be useful for fantasy managers, even though it wasn’t the massive volume he was seeing previously. To start 2025, White has clearly been behind Irving, but has still managed to finish in the top-24 once already. Now with Irving injured, White could be in for an increased workload in an offense that fantasy managers have seen him be very productive in before.
The return to the starting role for White is met with a really tough matchup against the Seahawks on the road for Week 5. Seattle’s defense has been one of the best against the run to start the year, allowing the 6th-fewest rushing yards and not a single rushing TD through their first four games. For fantasy, the Seahawks haven’t allowed an RB to finish inside the top-30 over their last two games, though they did give up a receiving TD in their Thursday night game in Week 4. White’s superpower in the past has been his involvement in the passing game, so that might be the avenue to him being a FLEX-worthy start once again.
RJ Harvey
RB - DEN
- - Consensus
- - Andy
- - Mike
- - Jason
Fantasy managers finally got to see the type of usage they were hoping for when they drafted RJ Harvey this season. The Broncos’ rookie logged his first top-24 RB finish of his career on Monday night against the Bengals, mainly thanks to a massive increase in carries with the team securely in the lead. Where Harvey was the most productive for fantasy, though, was his career-high four receptions for 40 yards and a TD that saw him much more involved in the Denver passing game. While it’s likely that Harvey’s uptick in usage was based mainly on game script, it should be very encouraging for fantasy managers knowing that the rookie can produce when given more chances to do so.
The chance for a repeat performance gets much more difficult for Harvey this week with a tough matchup against the Eagles’ defense ahead. While Philadelphia’s defense has still been good, they are not quite the unit against the run that they were in 2024, when they allowed just nine rushing TDs on the season. For fantasy, though, the Eagles haven’t been a “do not play” team for fantasy RBs. Through their first four games, Philadelphia has allowed a top-10 RB finish three times, including a 102-yard receiving performance just last week to Bucky Irving. Harvey’s usage really has dictated whether or not fantasy managers are happy he’s been in their lineup, so it could be worth chasing and sticking Harvey in a FLEX spot again for Week 5.
Wide Receivers
Xavier Worthy
WR - KC
- - Consensus
- - Andy
- - Mike
- - Jason
After missing several weeks due to injury, Xavier Worthy made a welcome return to a Chiefs offense that has been a big disappointment for fantasy to start the season. Worthy stepped back into the Kansas City offense and saw a total of 10 opportunities that he turned into a WR20 finish in Week 4 against Baltimore. With Rashee Rice still suspended, Worthy is the best option for the Chiefs’ offense as a dynamic weapon for Patrick Mahomes. What should be even more encouraging for fantasy managers who had to wait on Worthy to be in their lineups is how much he produced on limited snaps – only playing 59% of plays for the Chiefs in his return.
If Worthy is going to keep the good offensive vibes going with Kansas City, they’ll have a tough task with a huge matchup against the Bills this week. Buffalo’s defense has allowed the fewest passing yards in the league, though they have given up 6 TDs through the air already. Through their first four games, the Bills have allowed 30+ fantasy points to opposing teams’ WRs twice, but in those two games, that has resulted in three top-24 WR finishes. There will be plenty of eyes on this big Monday night matchup with two of the top teams in the AFC playing, so fantasy managers should be playing Worthy with confidence as a WR2 this week.
DeVonta Smith
WR - PHI
- - Consensus
- - Andy
- - Mike
- - Jason
It’s been a pretty rough start for the passing options in Philadelphia, and fantasy managers who invested in DeVonta Smith during draft season are sure to be frustrated with the return they’ve gotten thus far. The Eagles’ offense has thrown for the fewest yards in the league through the first four weeks, even less than the Titans and Bengals. Gross. Mainly, that’s a product of Philly not needing to throw, with Jalen Hurts only averaging 25 passing attempts per game. Where that really affects Smith, is that he is going to have to make the absolute most of the limited opportunities he’s getting to remain a productive fantasy target, since he’s seen three or fewer targets twice already this season.
Things don’t get any easier for Smith this week, with a tough matchup against the Denver defense in Week 5. The Broncos defense has only allowed four total TDs this season (two rushing, two passing), but have not been a matchup fantasy managers want to see with WRs. In four games this season, Denver has only allowed two top-24 WR finishes, and those both came in Week 3 against the Chargers. There could be hope that star CB Patrick Surtain’s attention is on AJ Brown, which could provide some opportunity for Smith. With a pretty low point total expected for this game, fantasy managers will have to lean on Smith getting back into the end zone for him to really be meaningful for fantasy.
Chris Olave
WR - NO
- - Consensus
- - Andy
- - Mike
- - Jason
Another season that feels like Chris Olave is being wasted as a talented player on a team with a QB who just can’t help him produce like he should for fantasy. Through four games, Olave has seen the 3rd-most targets (43) behind only Puka Nacua (currently the WR1) and Christian McCaffrey (fantasy freak and RB4). The problem is Olave hasn’t been able to turn those targets into a single top-24 WR fantasy week, though he did break 10 fantasy points in Week 3. While the results haven’t come through yet, this type of volume for Olave does give him a solid baseline of fantasy production, as frustrating as it may be for fantasy managers who are left wanting more.
The chance for a big fantasy day may be on tap for Olave this week with a matchup against the Giants. New York’s defense is one of just eight teams in the league to have already allowed 1,000 passing yards, though they’ve allowed the fewest passing TDs in that group, with just five TDs coming through the air. For fantasy that’s translated into five top-24 WR finishes through the first month of the season, including two top-10 finishes. Fantasy managers will have to make a call on whether Olave’s massive target volume – as bad of an offense it may be coming from – is worth keeping him in their lineups as a FLEX option again this week.
Tight Ends
Darren Waller
TE - MIA
- - Consensus
- - Andy
- - Mike
- - Jason
The return of the Wallerus was a great debut in Miami for Darren Waller. Waller’s first game since the end of the 2023 season produced the TE2 finish in Week 4 against the Jets. Most of that production came courtesy of a pair of TD catches, but while Waller wasn’t on the field a ton (just 28% of snaps) when he was on the field it felt purposeful. With the injury to Tyreek Hill, there’s a huge void left in the Dolphins’ passing game, and while Waller isn’t likely to be the main target, fantasy managers should remember the massive production that Jonnu Smith provided for this team just a year ago when he finished as the TE4.
If Waller is going to continue his return to fantasy relevance, a matchup against the Panthers should provide the opportunity to do so. Carolina’s defense hasn’t been bad against the pass to start the year, allowing the 9th-fewest passing yards through the first month of the season. However, the Panthers have given up pretty consistent production to opposing TEs, allowing at least 13 fantasy points to the position in three of four games so far. In two of their last three games, Carolina has allowed a top-8 TE. Assuming Waller is on the field more during his elongated ramp-up, he should be a solid play this week given the shallow TE pool.
Brenton Strange
TE - JAX
- - Consensus
- - Andy
- - Mike
- - Jason
The expectation that Brenton Strange would step right into the fruitful PPR role left by Evan Engram’s departure this offseason hasn’t materialized yet for fantasy managers this season. Strange has been on the field plenty for the Jaguars, playing 81% of snaps so far and averaging nearly six targets and 45 receiving yards per game. Even as Jacksonville’s current leader in receiving yards, Strange has only finished with a helpful fantasy week once (Week 3 as TE10), so it really feels like there’s meat being left on the bone for fantasy purposes.
Breaking through for fantasy managers may be tough this week for Strange with a matchup at home against the Chiefs on Monday night. Kansas City has been one of the best teams against TEs in the league this season. The Chiefs haven’t allowed opposing teams’ TEs to score more than 10 points all season, something Strange hasn’t done himself either. While Strange was likely a popular waiver wire pickup, fantasy managers might have to wait a week for that FAAB spent to pay off for their lineups.
from Fantasy Footballers Podcast https://ift.tt/FXMRBib
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