2020 NFL Week 5 Start 'em & Sit 'em

As the fantasy football season enters Week 5, are you still alive in your league, or are you looking down the barrel of a barren year? While 0-4 is bad, it is not impossible to come back from. The same applies to 4-0, it is good, but let’s not get carried away just yet. That is why we are here with our Week 5 start ’em and sit ’em selections to help you make those all important calls.

Quarterback

Automatic Starts: Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Dak Prescott, Kyler Murray, Russell Wilson, Josh Allen

Week 5 Start 'em Sit 'em
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Start of the Week: Deshaun Watson vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Bill O’Brien has been finally removed as head coach after an after awful 0-4 start for the Texans. This feels like a get right game against a poor Jags team conceding just under 30 points a game. In the last two weeks they have been torched by Joe Burrow & Ryan Fitzpatrick, you can bank on Watson and his playmakers having a big game.

Other notable starts:

Kirk Cousins @ Seattle Seahawks

Cousins hasn’t been setting the world alight but the Vikings travel to the North West and face a Seattle team giving up 401 yards a game through the air. Cousins will need to put up points to keep up with #LetRussCook and the high-powered Seahawks offense.

Daniel Jones @ Dallas Cowboys

Much the same as the above, Daniel Jones has been god awful for fantasy, but he has faced a tremendously tough schedule it has to be noted. This should be the game that kick starts his season vs a Dallas team that fails to stop anybody.

Teddy Bridgewater @ Atlanta Falcons

Bridgewater is getting hot and the Panthers seem to be rolling even without their star RB Christian McCaffrey. Bridgewater had a big day against the Cardinals last week and now visits the 0-4 Falcons team that have given up 30+ points in every game so far.

Sits – Tom Brady, Carson Wentz, Joe Burrow

Running Back

Automatic Starts: Ezekiel Elliott, Derrick Henry, Alvin Kamara, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Dalvin Cook

Start of the Week: Ronald Jones @ Chicago Bears

Ronald Jones has only found the end zone once through four weeks but he’s a good bet to do so against the Bears on Thursday night. The Buccaneers are down some key offensive personnel including new free agent signing Leonard Fournette who is struggling to be fit in time for Thursday’s game. LeSean McCoy is also out, giving Ronald Jones plenty of opportunities. The Fact that the Buccaneers are also down several WRs means Jones’ workload is about to get ramped right up!

Other notable starts:

Mike Davis @ Atlanta Falcons

A lot of people thought the Panthers were in the running for the No.1 draft pick, Teddy Bridgewater and new coach Matt Rhule thought otherwise. Two wins on the spin and the ground game has kept rolling even without Christian McCaffrey. Mike Davis will continue to run well against the Falcons in what should be another high scoring affair.

Kenyan Drake @ New York Jets

Yep I’m going there. I could look really foolish but I’m calling a comeback game for Drake against the Jets. Ok, maybe it’s not the hottest take, but Drake has been awful and the Cardinals as a whole haven’t got things right lately. This changes this week against the Jets and I can see Drake running in a touchdown or two.

James Robinson @ Houston Texans

James Robinson continues to be the dream waiver pickup of the 2020 season. It get’s even better when Robinson faces the worst rush defense in the NFL in the Houston Texans (181 yards a game given up). Roll with Robinson with confidence.

Sits – David Montgomery, Melvin Gordon, Latavius Murray

Wide Receiver

Automatic Starts: DeAndre Hopkins, Michael Thomas (if healthy), Tyreek Hill, Calvin Ridley, Mike Evans, Stefon Diggs

Week 5 Start 'em Sit 'em
Image Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Start of the Week: Will Fuller vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

In the three games Fuller has played he’s gone over the 100 yard mark twice and scored two TDs. That’s elite WR play and him and Watson will look to link up again against this Jaguars D giving up an average of two receiving TDs a game.

Other notable starts:

Justin Jefferson @ Seattle Seahawks

Jefferson is getting really hot, and is proving to be a stand out rookie WR showing a real connection with QB Kirk Cousins. This stands him in great stead in a game against the Seahawks who are giving up on average over 400 yards a game through the air.

Darius Slayton @ Dallas Cowboys

Slayton was awesome in Week 1 eclipsing the 100 yard mark on his way to a two score game. Since then it’s been a struggle for fantasy production. The targets have been solid though (6,7,7 last three weeks) and now he faces THAT Dallas Cowboys defense that’s getting all the media attention for the wrong reasons (giving up 49 points at home to the Browns).

Jamison Crowder vs. Arizona Cardinals

Jamison Crowder has played in two games thus far and his statline is currently – 23 targets, 14 receptions, 219 yards, one TD. Hitting the 100-yard mark in both games is exceptional, Crowder has been the standout receiver on the Jets since he arrived in 2019 and is the only decent thing going on a team that looks bereft of talent or ideas. The Cardinals allowed 31 points to the Panthers including two receiving TDs. Look for Flacco to go the way of Crowder often as they look to keep up with the high-powered Arizona offense.

Sits – Any Bengal not named Tyler Boyd, Emmanuel Sanders, Broncos WRs

Tight End

Automatic Starts: Travis Kelce, George Kittle, Mark Andrews, Darren Waller

Start of the Week: Hunter Henry @ New Orleans Saints

The fortunes may well have aligned for Hunter Henry this week when the Chargers visit the Saints. The Chargers injury bug has hit them hard once again and the beneficiaries will probably end up being WR Keenan Allen & Hunter Henry. The New Orleans Saints also give up the second most points to the Tight End position. Impressive rookie Justin Herbert will have to throw to keep up with the Saints high powered offensive unit giving Henry plenty of opportunities.

Other notable starts:

Jonnu Smith vs, Buffalo Bills (If the game goes ahead)

Jonnu Smith’s breakout season is in full swing, only being stopped by the affects of COVID-19 on the Titans organisation. Three TDs in htree games has propelled Smith to the TE8 on the season so far and he’s played a game less than most. If the game goes ahead as scheduled this week (Fingers Crossed) then lock in Smith for another efficient day through the air.

Evan Engram @ Dallas Cowboys

This could be my last roll of the dice for Engram as he continues to disappoint fantasy owners who invested in him. I’ve chosen this week as the last chance as it’s against the Dallas Cowboys who allowed a nice fantasy outing for Austin Hooper last week (on their way to 49 points!). Daniel Jones will have to drop back to throw many times to keep up with Dak Prescott and their trio of star WRs. Engram should have his biggest game of the season.

Rob Gronkowski @ Chicago Bears

But isn’t he washed? Well we shall see going forward as Gronkowski takes on more passing work with the loss of O.J. Howard for the year. Gronkowski was able to be efficient on the road at Denver in Week 3, catching six passes (seven targets) and I expect similar if not a higher amount of targets on Thursday Night in Chicago. Gronkowski is yet to find the end zone as a Buccaneer but he’s sure to get looks from Brady who is down star WR Chris Godwin and could be missing more as news emerges from the injury reports. Time for a “Gronk spike” or two!

Sits – Zach Ertz, Dalton Schultz, Mike Gesicki

Alastair Cook

Fantasy Football Analyst

ALASTAIR, A DIE-HARD BUCCANEERS FAN FROM NORWICH AND UP AND COMING FANTASY CONTRIBUTOR CAN BE FOUND ON HIS TWITTER PAGE The Dynasty Grill (@FFDynastyGrill)

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