Another big fantasy
weekend awaits!

By Martin Richardson

As if we are now already a quarter of the way through the fantasy football season? Anyone started making any trades to push on after a good start? I must admit I am getting twitchy and want to make a playoff push.

But you may also be the one who is sat with a solid starting fantasy team who is churning out solid results and points. Or you could be someone who has been ravaged by niggly injuries or reduced snap counts. But one ting is for sure either way, you’ll need to have some solid bench players to come and make an impact. Shout out to anyone who managed to snag Emmanual Wilson on waivers for a few weeks or are hoping that Ollie Wright will be a guy down the stretch.

Bye week reminder: this week we have two teams on their bye week, the high-flying Kansas City Chiefs (shout out if you would have been up against Kenneth Walker) and the Carolina Panthers (got to happy you’ll not be against Tet McMillan).

There are some really tasty matchup based on the first few weeks of football which could make for a great weekend of fantasy football.

ONES TO WATCH: THE GOOD

This is your yearly update that there is always a difference between the NFL season and your fantasy season. Which explains why I’m focusing on two Cardinals to start what is good about fantasy football.

First of all, I’m starting with who is without doubt the WR1 in Arizona and that’s Michael Wilson. With 30 total targets in his last two games and over 180 yards, Wilson is getting the ball moving for fantasy players in the Cardinals offense. There were glimpses of Marvin Harrison Jr becoming part of the offense with a touchdown, but with only 12 yards last week, Harrison isn’t the main man in Arizona.

This week Wilson comes up against the Lions defense, a defense that has allowed over 1500 yards in 4 games, an average of just over 300 passing yards a game. With that in mind, it makes total sense to look to start Wilson as more than viable FLEX option heading into week 5.

Next we’re going to the guy who thought he’d be RB1 at the Cardinals, Tyler Allgeier. Drafting Jeremiyah Love put a stop to that, but an injury to the rookie has meant that Allgeier has a chance to come and be a fantasy difference maker as a solid flex for some players if that injury continues to be an issue.

With a touchdown and 42 yards last week, Allgeier stepped in and was solid for the Cardinals and now he comes up against a Lions team that allows an average of 100 yards per game against the run, so if Love is held back a little to get ready, Allgeier becomes a more than viable option in some deeper leagues.

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Moving on to a team that had their game against the Titans sewn up by half time, and that’s the Baltimore Ravens and their star wideout, Zay Flowers.

All three games this season has Flowers finishing with over 100 total yards of offense, which is great for fantasy managers to have as solid WR2. Added to that he’s got two touchdowns to his name which has helped his case to be a top 10 fantasy WR.

Coming into week 5, Flowers has a chance to continue his good form with a matchup against the Falcons, followed by the Browns and Bengals. However, he comes with a word of caution, as Lamar Jackson is out for at least this week. This means they Snoop Huntley comes in at QB to lead the team. Now whilst in previous years a Pro Bowler epithet was worth something, the fact that Huntley has one doesn’t stand for much in 2026. His eight of nine completions for 63 yards is one to watch to see if Flowers and the Ravens offense is QB proof.

The Ones to Watch: The Bad

Ok. It’s the Chargers. We’ve waited long enough to go there, hoping that they’ll turn it round. But I’m off the Chargers’ summer hype train.

Starting with their apparent star QB, Justin Herbert, needs to be benched if he’s your QB as he has literally no positive fantasy value. With such small numbers throwing the ball, even with touchdowns he’s not worth the risk as a starter.

Whilst RB Omarion Hampton does have three touchdown and sits just inside the top 20 for RBs, even with those he’s just not consistent enough. He has double figures in tow of the four games this season, so unless he’s punching it into the end zone, he’s not a reliable fantasy option.

When it comes to the Chargers’ WR, are we in any way surprised that Quentin Johnston has forgot how to catch the ball again?

But perhaps the bigger shock is that Ladd McConkey is lost in this offense. With just one decent fantasy game in week one against the Cardinals (and everyone has one of those), Ladd is just simply not worth a berth as a FLEX, let alone as a starting fantasy WR. With targets under five in 3 games this season, he isn’t being given the chance to be a major part of the offense in whatever form it looks like. This is such a shame for someone who had, like Hampton, high fantasy projections going into 2026.

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And it doesn’t stop there. With talk of how Mike McDaniel used two tight ends in Miami, this was going to be the year that Oronde Gadston became a top 10 fantasy player. But like Ladd McConkey, he isn’t getting a look in at all in this offense. With a touchdown against the Raiders but a meagre 18 yards receiving, Gadston still get a solid return if he was a starting fantasy tight end. And with a goose egg on the board against the Bills and just 36 yards against the Seahawks, Gadston is likely riding the pine in fantasy matchups or kicking the tires on waivers. Even on the clip below, with the label, ‘what a throw and catch’, shows an O-Line that crumbles, a weak throw to avoid a sack and a near fumble. This is not a good team. 

To compound all this, it doesn’t get any easier before their bye week, as they have the Broncos and the Chiefs. Somehow, even after the start they have had, bye their bye week this could get really ugly for anyone who took a ride on the Chargers hype train in 2026.

Ones to Watch: The Wildcards

I need to apologise to anyone who had Tyquon Thornton and was excited for the rest of the season based on that performance. Why apologise? Well because I earmarked him for this wildcard section this week. So if you’re looking for a waiver pickup because Thornton went down, I’m sorry.

So let’s find a real nice pick up for fantasy players and I’ve come to the Minnesota Vikings and a fantasy player close to my heart. Shout out to 2023 All Out Ballers League winner TJ Hockenson.

The veteran TE comes into a more than favourable matchup against the Saints who can’t defend against TEs at all. Hockenson also comes into the matchup with the confidence of returning QB pocket rocket Kyler Murray who targeted him 13 for 13 receptions and just shy of 120 yards in the air.

After their week 6 bye, the Vikings have favourable matchups against the Colts and Lions who have allowed plenty of yards in all their games so far.

The note of caution of course comes with the fact that Justin Jefferson was missing last week. With both him and fellow WR listed as questionable going into the weekend matchup, Murray may look to his veteran TE once more to help carry the load.

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Finally, I come to a player who is rostered on less than 9% of ESPN rosters, so a true wildcard, Philadelphia Eagles WR Darius Cooper.

With DeVonta Smith, Saquon Barkley and Dallas Goedert all potentially missing from this week’s matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Whilst this isn’t exactly an ideal matchup, his two touchdowns against the Rams, a defense people used as a benchmark early in the season, certainly show that he could have an equally important role in London this weekend.

This is the true definition of what the wildcard section is about. But don’t worry, he’ll credibly score more points than any Chargers receivers.

MARTIN RICHARDSON

NFL/FANTASY FOOTBALL ANALYST

A Yorkshireman living in Lancashire, Martin is a massive NFL fan but his heart belongs to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Also a huge Fantasy Football enthusiast and spends far too long crunching the numbers! Follow him at @MRBucsFan31

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