Welcome back Fantasy friends and foes to your weekly Fantasy Six Pack start-sit advice.
Can you believe its Week 5 already? Week 5 brings us two teams (Miami Dolphins & Detroit Lions) on a bye.
Fantasy owners are disappointed that the Miami Dolphins are on a bye. No, not because they want to start Kenyon Drake or DeVante Parker (blah!). They are upset that their Fantasy players can't start against the Dolphins defense.
Find out which other players Fantasy owners can start as they discover the 2019 Fantasy Football Week 5 Start-Sit.
2019 Fantasy Football Week 5 Start-Sit
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Start
Andy Dalton, QB, Cincinnati Bengals vs. Arizona Cardinals
Andy Dalton was sacked a career-high 8 times. It's tied for the Steelers' most in a game over the last 15 seasons. pic.twitter.com/EdpNZG7y5h
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 1, 2019
After the Monday night performance, Fantasy owners have to question any suggestion of having Andy Dalton in their Fantasy lineups. The Bengals' offensive line allowed an outrageous eight sacks by the Pittsburgh Steelers with Dalton being harassed the entire game, leading to only 171 passing yards despite being down double-digits throughout the contest.
Before the beatdown on Monday Night, Dalton was averaging 326 passing yards per game and has thrown five touchdowns despite not having wide receiver A.J. Green.
The Red Rifle projects to be in a potential high-volume matchup with the Arizona Cardinals in Week 5. The Cardinals are one of seven winless teams still left in the NFL, along with the Bengals. Arizona ranks 29th in the NFL in points allowed per game (28.8) and 23rd in pass defense.
Dalton averages 41.0 pass attempts per game. With that volume against a porous defense, the Bengals quarterback will be a streaming option and viable starter this week for Fantasy owners.
Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Denver Broncos
Austin Ekeler finished his month as a starter with 490 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns.
Melvin Gordon didn’t top those figures over a four-week span once during his first three seasons as a pro.
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) September 29, 2019
Austin Ekeler has been outstanding this season with a league-high six total touchdowns. He has rushed 56 times for 220 yards and caught 24 passes for 270 yards. Unfortunately for Ekeler owners, Melvin Gordon ended his holdout and will return to the field in Week 5.
Ekeler will still get his touches and will continue to hold standalone Fantasy value, even with Gordon back. He is a strong start this week while Gordon gets himself back into game shape.
Ekeler and the Los Angeles Chargers take on the Denver Broncos, who were just destroyed for 225 yards by Leonard Fournette in Week 4.
Fantasy owners should not hesitate to continue with Ekeler in their lineups against a Broncos defense that gives up an average of the 30th-worst 149.2Â rushing yards per game. Start Austin Ekeler in Week 5.
David Montgomery, RB, Chicago Bears vs. Oakland Raiders
David Montgomery snap rates by week:
38%
45%
65%
69% https://t.co/zbOK8qRCWD— Jared Smola (@SmolaDS) September 30, 2019
David Montgomery's workload continues to grow, and so does his Fantasy value. The Chicago Bears will have to start veteran Chase Daniel in place of the injured Mitchell Trubisky, which should lead to a more conservative game plan.
The Bears will rely heavily on the run when they take on the Oakland Raiders in London in a juicy matchup in Week 5. The Raiders give up more than 100 rushing yards per game (104.5).Â
The promising back should enjoy his breakout performance in Week 5. The opportunity to buy low on Montgomery is closing rapidly.
Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Bengals
LARRY LEGEND!
Larry Fitzgerald (1,326) passed Tony Gonzalez (1,325) for second all-time on the NFL receptions list. He trails only Jerry Rice (1,549). pic.twitter.com/OTo2xP7fkt
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 29, 2019
The future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald will get all of the work he can handle this weekend with Christian Kirk likely out on Sunday.
Fitzgerald is averaging over five catches on nine targets per game and is rookie quarterback Kyler Murray's security blanket. Murray will look to Fitz early and often against the Bengals, who have surrendered two wideouts finishing in the top 13 against them over the last two weeks.
Consider Fitzgerald a flex starter for Week 5 lineups.
Will Fuller, WR, Houston Texans vs. Atlanta Falcons
Will Fuller Week Incoming
12th among WR in Air Yds (399) ?
Tg Share & MS Air yds behind ONLY DeAndre Hopkins on HOU
Kenny Stills dealing w/ hamstring inj
ATL:
2nd Most Tds to WR (7) ?
10th in Fantasy Pts Allowed to WR?
pic.twitter.com/gtGR8IIduT— Derek Brown (@DBro_FFB) October 1, 2019
Will Fuller has been a Fantasy disappointment in 2019. He has yet to score a touchdown and is averaging 13.1 yards per catch.
Houston Texans receiver Kenny Stills is questionable this week due to an injured hamstring. This will open the door for Fuller to take advantage of an Atlanta Falcons secondary who just gave up three touchdowns to Marcus Mariota.
The Falcons secondary is banged up, and Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has not been playing well this season. Look for this matchup to be the get-well game for Watson and Fuller as they hit on a few deep balls against a woeful Falcons secondary.
Tyler Eifert, TE, Cincinnati Bengals vs. Arizona Cardinals
First and foremost, Tyler Eifert is healthy. That's news in and of itself.
This is a dream matchup for Eifert owners as the Cincinnati Bengals take on the Arizona Cardinals, who have given up six tight end touchdowns in four weeks!
Eifert has at least five targets in three of his four games this season. He should be able to take advantage of this matchup, and so should Fantasy owners.
Sit
Marcus Mariota, QB, Tennessee Titans vs. Buffalo Bills
I am hoping that Fantasy owners are not considering starting Mariota. He had a great Week 4 with three touchdown passes, but that was against the Atlanta Falcons.
Week 5 brings a Buffalo Bills defense that just held Tom Brady to only 3.7 Fantasy points in Week 4. Do you think Mariota is better or can match Brady? Yeah, me either.
Sit Marcus Mariota.
Josh Jacobs, RB, Oakland Raiders vs. Chicago Bears
.@Raiders Way: Run to success. @iAM_JoshJacobs, FBs, TEs, and O-Line were clicking on all cylinders. Jon Gruden's most impressive win as Head Coach of the #Raiders. Knock on wood if you're with me #RaiderNation! #BaldysBreakdowns @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/r9H0HcGkgb
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) October 2, 2019
Fantasy owners have to love the rushing ability of Oakland Raiders rookie running back Josh Jacobs. However, he has only two touchdowns, and they came in the first week. He has produced at least 99 total yards in three of four games this season.
In Week 5, the Raiders take on the Chicago Bears across the pond. The Bears have a Top 3 defense against the run and will look to dominate the weak Raiders offensive line.
Temper your expectations for Jacobs this week and place him on your bench in Week 5.
DJ Chark, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Carolina Panthers
NFL stat: DJ Chark has a perfect WR rating when targeted this season (158.3).
15 receptions
18 targets
277 yards
3 TDsOnly receiver in the NFL with perfect rating on at least 10 targets.#NFLSU #WRTS @LSUfootball pic.twitter.com/tfcuxtCLmS
— Cody Worsham (@CodyWorsham) September 20, 2019
DJ Chark leads the Jacksonville Jaguars with 19 receptions but will be facing the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, who possess the best pass defense in the NFL. The Panthers are allowing just 156 passing yards per game.
He is averaging 6.5 targets, 4.8 receptions, 80.2 receiving yards, and 0.8 touchdowns and is Gardner Minshew's favorite target.
This will be a big test for Chark, and it will be difficult to sit him this week based on his production so far this season. However, Fantasy owners should limit their expectations on Chark and look elsewhere for receiver help in their lineups.
Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington Redskins vs. New England Patriots
#Redskins' Terry McLaurin limited in Thursday practice due to hamstring injuryhttps://t.co/E6GDXReLNY
— Commanders Nation (@SkinsNationCP) October 4, 2019
Rookie wide receiver Terry McLaurin has been a hot Fantasy pickup for Fantasy owners this season after scoring in each of the first three games this season.
A hamstring injury kept McLaurin out of the lineup last week, but he looks to be ready to go and take on the New England Patriots in Week 5. The Patriots have allowed an NFL-best 6.8 points per game and only 181.8 passing yards per contest.
Combine those factors with the uncertainty at quarterback and the fact that McLaurin will be matched up against elite corner Stephon Gilmore. I see an easy sit in the former Buckeye wideout.
Delanie Walker, TE, Tennessee Titans vs. Buffalo Bills
Delanie Walker was on the injury report again this week and did not practice on Wednesday. Walker is expected to play in Week 5 against the Buffalo Bills.
Walker is coming off a poor Week 4 performance with only one reception for four yards. Don't be surprised if Walker has a similar stat line in Week 5 against a Bills defense that is tied for the fewest points allowed per game to tight ends.
This would be the perfect week to stream a tight end and sit Delanie Walker.
Still can't decide who to start and sit in Week 5? Find out who the Fantasy Six Pack team thinks you should start in their latest Week 5 rankings.
