The Fantasy Footballers’ “Starts of the Week” for Week 5
Week 5 is upon us, and the Footballers are here to talk up their starts of the week. Before they headed into starter discussion, they leaped into their “Taking It Up to 100” players for the upcoming games. Andy took Laviska Shenault Jr, Mike chose Eric Ebron, while Jason picked Darius Slayton.
After making a case for those players, they hit on Starts of the Week. If you missed the episode, you can listen to the podcast here or watch it on Youtube. Subscribe and hit the bell to stay in the know. Additionally, give JoinTheFoot.com a peek as it offers heaps of added resources solely for #FootClan members.
Andy’s Starts
QB: Jared Goff @ Washington Football Team
Everyone, let’s do a Goff clap this week as Andy brings us his quarterback start. He is plugging Jared Goff as his quarterback selection when the Rams’ leader faces a matchup that provides the seventh-best matchup for opposing fantasy quarterbacks. Goff has had hit-or-miss play this season, but he has also managed to tally two top-ten QB performances. Tight End Tyler Higbee should see a couple of touchdowns this week, facing a Washington defense giving up the fourth-most fantasy points per target to tight ends. Wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods look to have exceptional fantasy games this week as well. Goff has plenty of weaponry surrounding him and will have a brilliant match versus Washington.
RB: James Robinson @ Houston Texans
One of the most steady running backs this season has been Jacksonville’s James Robinson. No one could have imagined that he would be having the kind of season he is, and Robinson will resume that fabulous season this week when he takes on the Houston Texans. Robinson sees most of the Jacksonville team’s carries, and this week against the Texans, he will have even more chances to shine. The worst run defense in the NFL is the Texans defense, so watch for lots of Robinson rushes in this matchup. The rookie out of Illinois State has marked 60 attempts this season, leading to 285 yards and three touchdowns. Look for him to put up good numbers in the contest against Houston.
WR: Justin Jefferson @ Seattle Seahawks
The Vikings’ 2020 first-round draft pick has looked exceptional to start his NFL career. Justin Jefferson has had 100+ yards in back-to-back weeks, and this should be his third 100-yarder. The Seattle defense is currently dead last against opposing wide receivers, which bodes well for the rookie. Jefferson is making a name for himself as the number two wideout in Minnesota behind Adam Thielen. Those who were wondering if Stefon Diggs could be replaced have found solace in the fact that Jefferson is doing work weekly. He will continue to awe on Sunday night.
Getty Images / Hannah Foslien
TE: Eric Ebron vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Eric Ebron has a favorable matchup this week with a Philadelphia Eagles’ defense that has let opposing tight ends be top 12 at the position in three of the four games this season. Ben Roethlisberger should come out firing this week, and he will take advantage of the Eagles’ vulnerability versus tight ends. The Eagles surrender the third-most points to tight ends this season, so the Steelers’ tight end should see an uptick in stats in Week 5. Ebron hauled in five balls for 52 yards and a touchdown in last week’s game. Look for him to get out there and score again in this contest. Streaming him this week with a promising matchup is a perfect situation, particularly with bye weeks, injuries, and COVID-19 causing hazy scheduling.
Jason’s Starts
QB: Drew Brees vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Michael Thomas should be back in action this week, but Jason considers Saints quarterback Drew Brees a start of the week, even without Thomas playing. This contest sees the Saints take on the Los Angeles Chargers and a defense that started strong but has lost many critical defensive pieces. Last week, Tom Brady tossed five touchdowns against the Chargers. He did not have his main guy Chris Godwin in that contest. Brady could do it without his most prominent target, and Jason believes Brees can do the same thing (with or without his number one wideout). This season has witnessed the Chargers give up the fifth-most quarterback fantasy points, so starting Brees this week fits.
RB: Mike Davis @ Atlanta Falcons
Mike Davis has appeared exceptional filling in for an injured Christian McCaffrey. Over the last two weeks, Davis has been a top-10 fantasy running back. He can catch the football solidly while also running the ball with efficiency. This contest finds Davis up against an Atlanta defense that has seemed putrid this season. Much yardage against the Falcons has come in the form of air yards, but run yards can be produced against them. Reggie Bonnafon, Davis’ backup, is out this game, making Davis’ fantasy potential go up even further. Jason assumes Davis’ floor is very high, and his ceiling is a two-score day.
WR: DeVante Parker @ San Francisco 49ers
Parker is one of the only weapons Ryan Fitzpatrick can count on in the Dolphins offense. With Fitzpatrick still behind center, Parker is fantasy relevant. Jason believes the combo of Fitzmagic and Parker makes Parker matchup proof. In the Dolphins’ contest this week, Richard Sherman will not be available for the 49ers. Sherman’s absence benefits Parker’s case as a fantasy starter even more. Looking at The Fantasy Footballers Consistency Grade on Parker, you’ll notice he has an A in that department over the last 16 games he has played. He began the season injured but still happened to pull off an A here, so feel reassured starting him in Week 5.
TE: Hunter Henry @ New Orleans Saints
Another team playing badly against the tight end is the New Orleans Saints. In Week 4, T.J. Hockenson did not look great versus New Orleans but still accomplished TE7 for the week. For this contest, keep an eye on Hunter Henry when setting your lineups. Henry has rookie Justin Herbert throwing him the pigskin, and so far, Herbert has impressed. Jason is not going all-in on Herbert now, but he does recommend grabbing a great piece of the Chargers’ offense. That great piece this week is Henry, who should take advantage of this matchup. Tight ends have scored at least one touchdown facing the Saints each week of this season and are putting up double-digit fantasy points in each contest, so watch for Henry to continue that pattern.
Mike’s Starts
QB: Teddy Bridgewater @ Atlanta Falcons
The Panthers take on the 0-4 Atlanta Falcons this week, a team that has allowed opposing quarterbacks to come in at QB1, QB1, QB4, and QB3 over the first four games of the season. The Week 5 contest is an appealing meeting for Teddy Bridgewater, as his team will be forced to score points. The Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan will continue to score points this week, with or without a banged-up Julio Jones, so Bridgewater will have to throw to keep up. This game seems to have various startable players, but Mike is a big fan of the quarterback matchup. Mike is starting him this week, so take note that he has faith. Bridgewater is widely available on waivers, so if you are in a bind, grab him before your league-mates do.
Grant Halverson/Getty Images
RB: Jerick McKinnon vs. Miami Dolphins
Get your hands on a piece of the San Francisco 49ers’ runners. This week is a tasty contest versus a Miami Dolphins’ defense that has only stopped the Buffalo Bills running backs. Raheem Mostert may be back this week, but Jerick McKinnon should still see loads of volume against the Dolphins even if he is. Miami gives up the seventh-most fantasy points to the running back position, so McKinnon looks to be an attractive play this week. He is the bell-cow with Mostert out, and Mostert and McKinnon are different types of backs. If Mostert is back in the mix, McKinnon will still have a role. He offers upside in the passing department, although Mostert has started catching more balls when healthy. Still, the matchup is a nice one, so this should be a game you start McKinnon.
WR: Robby Anderson @ Atlanta Falcons
Robby Anderson has looked rather good this season. This week, Mike is calling for him as the wide receiver start of the week. Anderson takes on the Atlanta Falcons, a team conceding the most points to wide receivers. Sure, the Packers wide receivers didn’t fare well versus the Falcons, but another pass catcher in their system did (Robert Tonyan with three touchdowns). In the other games the Falcons have played, they allowed the seventh, eighth, and sixth most points to wide receivers. Anderson is seeing an abundance of targets, having been thrown to 35 times this season. He also has 28 receptions and 377 receiving yards this year. The meeting with Atlanta is ideal, so expect Anderson to continue being productive.
TE: Evan Engram @ Dallas Cowboys
Giants’ quarterback Daniel Jones has not been hot this season, but he does get to take on an atrocious Dallas defense this week. That is expected to be a good matchup for tight end Evan Engram. The Cowboys have allowed top-6 performances in the points category to tight ends over the previous two games. Engram has not been living up to expectations this season, but the targets are there. He currently sits third in targets to tight ends on the season with an average of 7.5 targets per game, but the receptions and yards are not there. He also has yet to score a touchdown. This week could be a turn-around week for Engram as the Cowboys have a high-paced offense meaning New York will be forced to throw the ball. Engram has been better for PPR purposes over standard formats this year as he has caught six balls in two of his four games. This could be the week Engram finally gets a score.
Jason’s Iron-Clad Locked and Loaded 100% Guaranteed Boom Boom Kicker of the Week
“If you’re wanting to fly in a fantasy football rocketship, then put on your goggles with the Colts’ Rodrigo Blankenship.”