With Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Jauan Jennings (ankle/rib) sidelined,
along with Brandon Aiyuk and TE George Kittle, Kendrick Bourne
suddenly finds himself as San Francisco’s top healthy receiving
option outside of Christian McCaffrey.
Bourne has never topped 800 yards in a season during his nine-year
career, and he’s averaging just 4.3 targets per game in
2025. Still, necessity could drive increased involvement against
the Rams. The ceiling is low -- he’s best viewed as a WR4
-- but bye-week managers in deeper formats might find him serviceable.
With Brock Purdy (toe) out, Mac Jones inherits a depleted supporting
cast missing four of its top five weapons. That’s a brutal setup
against a Rams defense that’s held three of four opposing quarterbacks
under 15 fantasy points. Even with volume, Jones’ efficiency outlook
is poor, leaving him in the QB2/3 range and best left on benches.
SF FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.29
SF FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.26
SF FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.29
SF FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.9
The 49ers have stifled wide receivers, holding all but one opponent
wideout under 60 yards and allowing just two WR touchdowns across
four games. Davante Adams hasn’t exactly been lighting it
up either -- he’s topped 60 yards once, with most of his
fantasy appeal tied to three trips to the end zone.
That said, the Rams should control field position against a banged-up
49ers squad, which increases Adams’ red-zone outlook. He
remains a volume-driven WR2 with scoring upside, even in a difficult
matchup.
Rookie Blake Corum logged a career-high 11 touches in Week 4
and has averaged 9.5 touches across the past two games. Efficiency
hasn’t been the problem (5.2 YPC) -- it’s opportunity.
Against a 49ers team the Rams could overwhelm, Corum has a path
to expanded work late, making him an intriguing deep-league flex
with upside if game script tilts heavily in L.A.’s favor.
Matthew Stafford erupted for 375 yards and three touchdowns against
the Colts, but that outing stands in stark contrast to his quieter
lines versus Houston (13.6 fantasy points) and Philadelphia (15.8).
San Francisco has been similarly stingy, allowing no more than
207 passing yards in a game and giving up the 4th-fewest FPts/G
to quarterbacks.
With the Rams positioned to lean on their ground game and defense,
Stafford projects as a back-end QB2 and a fade in most fantasy
lineups.
Despite the Vikings passing for 350 yards in Week 4, Hockenson
collected four catches for 39 yards. After a month, he’s managed
just 115 yards. Granted, most of that has come the past two weeks
with Carson Wentz under center, but he’s hardly been lighting
things up. Facing the Browns in Week 5, this screams conservative
approach from the Vikings offensively after Wentz and company
struggled for much of their loss to the Steelers. The announcement
that Dillon Gabriel will start is likely to take that low-risk
game plan to another level as Cleveland’s only real chance here
would seem to be to have their defense take the ball away to set
up the offense for easy points. Look for opportunities to be at
a premium, but three things help Hockenson potentially carry top
10 appeal: 1) Cleveland’s run defense is exceptional, 2) short
and intermediate routes are safer, and 3) tight end is a shallow
position.
We’re going with a rare two-for-one in this week’s
fade with Wentz and Addison serving as stand-ins for Minnesota’s
passing game outside of Jefferson. While Wentz’s final numbers
last week (350 yards, 2 TDs) look good, much of that came during
a furious fourth quarter rally, and his shaky play for most of
the three quarters had a lot to do with their deficit. The same
applies to Addison, who had an 81-yard catch in the final few
minutes; he had 33 yards the rest of the game. Stay clear of both
players this Sunday in London.
MIN FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.30
MIN FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.15
MIN FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.32
MIN FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.23
As noted above, the Browns announced they’ve benched Joe Flacco
and will be starting Gabriel this week. That’s tough duty regardless
of matchup, but we’re just two weeks removed from watching the
Vikings obliterate Jake Browning, who had a lot more reps under
his belt than Gabriel, and also had Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins
to throw to. Look for Cleveland to play conservatively as long
as they can, which means getting the ball to Judkins and then
also their tight end duo of Njoku and Harold Fannin Jr., in order
to keep Minnesota’s pass rush from teeing off. Njoku hasn’t done
a whole lot this year, and he’s not a safe selection, but you
can see a path to TE1 value.
If there was one player that figured to benefit the most from
having a veteran like Flacco under center, it was Jeudy. Just
go back and look at what he did last year when Jameis Winston
started. This time, it didn’t pan out, and Jeudy averaged just
46 yards without a touchdown through the first four weeks. The
switch to Gabriel is unlikely to benefit Jeudy, at least in the
short term, though as Cleveland’s No. 1 receiver it’s at least
plausible that the young quarterback will focus on him more than
Flacco did. That’s not a risk you’d want to take this Sunday,
though, so keep Jeudy on your bench if you can.
CeeDee Lamb’s injury has caused the Cowboys’ passing game to
funnel heavily toward Jake Ferguson. While George Pickens has
stepped into the “splash play” role, Ferguson has been the underneath
chain-mover -- and he’s thrived.
Through four games, Ferguson has a league-leading 39 targets
and 30 catches among TEs, sitting as the overall TE1 in PPR. That
level of volume isn’t sustainable long-term, but even a
modest step back keeps him in elite company. Dallas continues
to lean pass-heavy, and Ferguson should maintain high single-digit
targets weekly.
The Jets gave up two touchdowns to Darren Waller in Week 1, and
while they’ve been steadier since, Ferguson’s role gives him both
a strong floor and a higher-than-usual ceiling. He belongs locked
into fantasy lineups.
Pickens broke out in Week 4 with a 134-yard, 2-TD performance
on 8 catches, vaulting him into WR1 territory while Lamb remains
sidelined. The talent and volume are both there, but this week
poses unique challenges.
The Jets’ secondary, led by Sauce Gardner, is built to
eliminate top weapons. With KaVontae Turpin (foot)) banged up
and little WR depth behind him, Pickens will likely face heavy
defensive attention, including bracket coverage. Volume should
keep him viable, but efficiency could dip. He’s more of
a volatile WR2 with upside this week than a locked-in WR1.
Prescott has been productive on a league-high 166 pass attempts
through four weeks, but even that has only made him a fringe QB1.
This week, he faces a Jets defense that’s held its own against
names like Josh Allen and Aaron Rodgers.
More concerning is game script: New York’s offense hasn’t
consistently forced shootouts, which could cap Dak’s passing
ceiling. Add in Dallas’ banged-up offensive line, and Prescott
carries much higher volatility than usual. He’s not an automatic
sit, but fantasy managers should temper expectations -- Dak’s
closer to low-end QB1/high-end QB2 than a locked-in starter.
DAL FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.1
DAL FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.6
DAL FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.1
DAL FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.20
Justin Fields returned from injury in Week 4 and immediately
got back on track with another QB1-level outing. In his two full
games this year, he’s combined for over 200 passing yards
in each contest, 129 rushing yards, and 3 rushing TDs -- all without
a turnover. The Cowboys’ defense, which has allowed the
most fantasy points to QBs in 2025, has been shredded by scrambles.
Fields is a top-6 option this week.
With Braelon Allen now on IR, the backfield shifts firmly toward
Breece Hall. He’ll still mix in some with Isaiah Davis, but this
is Hall’s show. Dallas has surrendered the 6th-most points to
RBs, including 23 receptions allowed to the position, making Hall
an RB1 with both rushing and receiving upside.
The rookie TE finally flashed in Week 4, catching 5-of-7 targets
for 65 yards. While Dallas has been middling versus tight ends,
that’s largely because opposing WRs and RBs have feasted
instead. With limited secondary weapons behind Wilson and Hall,
Taylor could see steady work again. He’s not yet trustworthy
as a weekly starter, but in deep leagues or TE-premium formats,
he’s a viable upside dart.
Sutton is set up well against an Eagles secondary that’s
been leaky versus wideouts. Through four games, Sutton has 18
catches on 27 targets for 266 yards and 2 TDs, including a Week
4 line of 5/81/1.
Philly has allowed 597 yards and 3 scores to WRs, and Bo Nix
continues to funnel targets Sutton’s way in an offense ranking
top-10 in total yards. With strong red-zone usage and an efficient
2.1 yards/route run, Sutton profiles as a must-start WR2 with
WR1 upside in this matchup.
Nix sits just outside QB1 territory through four weeks, showing
flashes of efficiency but struggling for ceiling games. Vegas
projects Denver for just 19.5 points, suggesting a run-heavy script
and limited passing volume.
The Eagles’ pass defense has frustrated QBs all season, holding
Dak Prescott, Matthew Stafford, and Baker Mayfield in check. Only
Patrick Mahomes had success -- thanks to his rushing ability.
Nix’s mobility offers a similar floor, but this is still a volatile
spot. He’s a boom-or-bust QB2 with QB1 potential if his legs get
going.
Harvey flashed in Week 4 (14 carries, 58 yards, 1 rec TD), but
he remains firmly behind Dobbins. Philly has allowed just 97.3
rush yards/game, 2 rushing TDs to RBs and only Kyren Williams
has topped 63 rushing yards against this defense individually.
If Denver trails, Harvey’s role shrinks quickly, leaving
him as a risky, touchdown-dependent flex. Sit him in favor of
backs with steadier workloads.
DEN FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.32
DEN FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.22
DEN FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.26
DEN FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.27
Goedert has been rock-solid despite missing Week 2, posting double-digit
PPR points in every game played with 3 TDs on the year. He’s
Philly’s steady chain-mover and red-zone target.
Denver has allowed 15 catches for 176 yards to TEs, struggling
with names like Chig Okonkwo and Tyler Warren. With Philly likely
leaning on time of possession, Goedert is a locked-in TE1 with
top-8 upside.
Brown is coming off a frustrating Week 4 (2/7 on 9 targets) and
has vented about his role. His post-game comments hinted at deeper
frustrations, despite addressing it as "boiling over"
emotions. The volume is there: 27 targets over his last 3 games
so perhaps we get some positive regression soon.
The issue? Denver’s secondary, led by Patrick Surtain II,
has been stingy -- just 508 yards and 1 TD allowed to WRs all
year, with no one topping 90 yards. Brown’s ceiling remains
high, but he’s at risk for another dud if Hurts can’t
connect early. He’s a volatile WR2 with WR1 talent in a
very tough matchup.
Smith has yet to finish inside the weekly top-30 WRs in 2025,
with just 158 yards and 1 TD on 20 targets. Philly’s run-first
scheme has limited Jalen Hurts to under 160 passing yards in 3
of 4 games, making secondary receivers tough to trust.
Denver has blanketed opposing WRs (Chase, Higgins, McConkey all
contained), with Keenan Allen the only wideout to find the end
zone. Smith is a risky WR3 better left on benches in favor of
higher-ceiling plays.
Houston recorded their first win last Sunday, overwhelming the
Titans, 26-0. It also doubled as Stroud’s best game of the
season, though the final numbers (233 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs) were
still pretty modest. It was a step in the right direction, however,
and he has a good chance to take another step in Week 5 against
a Ravens defense that has been decimated by injury, particularly
to their secondary. On the year, only Dallas has allowed more
passing yards than Baltimore (265.8 per game), and they just made
the struggling Chiefs offense look like it was 2022 all over again.
If you’ve been looking for a matchup to roll the dice on
Stroud, this is it.
Probably the most encouraging development for Houston’s
offense last Sunday was the emergence of Marks, who had 17 carries
for 69 yards and a touchdown, and then added 50 yards and another
score on four receptions. That running game needed an infusion
of athleticism, and it got it from Marks. Of course, those numbers
came in a blowout win over the Titans, and the team may not fully
trust the rookie in what’s expected to be a much closer
affair with the Ravens. While the pass defense has gotten a lot
of the criticism, don’t forget how Detroit was able to run
all over Baltimore just two weeks ago. There’s genuine RB2
upside for Marks, though with such a limited sample size he’s
better suited as an RB3 or flex.
Chubb hasn’t been bad as the de facto lead back to start
the season, but his season highs in both rushing (60 yards in
Week 1) and receiving (29 in Week 2) were topped by Marks last
week alone. The 29-year-old is a steady veteran, but he hasn’t
looked the same since suffering a grotesque leg injury in 2023.
You never know how coaches view their options internally, so perhaps
in Week 5 we see a split that still favors Chubb. Then again,
maybe we don’t, and when the first four weeks have resulted
in little fantasy value, you can’t view Chubb as more than
a shaky flex play here.
HOU FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.31
HOU FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.18
HOU FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.24
HOU FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.26
While the Ravens have yet to make anything official surrounding
the status of Lamar Jackson (hamstring), reports have come out
indicating the former MVP will miss between two and three weeks
with his hamstring injury. That means we should see Cooper Rush
make his first start in a Ravens uniform this Sunday, and that
could lead to a lot of chances for Andrews, who was targeted a
team-high eight times in Week 4 and finished with seven receptions.
They only covered 30 yards, but that kind of volume involvement
should be enough to put Andrews in play as a low-end TE1.
Rush is no stranger to leading a team, having started 14 games
during his time with the Cowboys, including eight a season ago.
He even had a couple of games that fantasy owners would’ve
been happy with. Don’t expect that this Sunday. The Texans
rank seventh in pass defense, and they’re coming off a shutout
win over Tennessee. Look for Baltimore to try to lean on Henry
and the ground game while sprinkling in Rush for short and intermediate
throws to guys like Andrews and Flowers, who has the versatility
and elusiveness to contribute in quick-hitting passes. If done
right, it’s a formula that should keep Baltimore in the
game, but it’s unlikely to result in meaningful fantasy
appeal.
With Tyrone Tracy Jr. out of the lineup, Skattebo has worked
as the lead back for the Giants with a 75% snap share in Week
4, handling 27 touches to Devin Singletary’s 7. That’s the kind
of usage we like to see out of our starting running backs. There
is some concern with his receiving production as running quarterbacks
like Dart tend to avoid dump-offs to the backs -- Skattebo had
two catches last week. The matchup against the Saints is favorable
but the Giants’ RB feels more like a solid RB2 in a road game
with a low implied team total of 19.5.
Dart made his season debut last week and providing the rushing
floor (10-54-1) we thought he had. His passing left a lot to be
desired as he made quite a few rookie mistakes. He held the ball
too long at times which resulted in unnecessary sacks and ended
the day with just 5.5 yards per attempt. The loss of Malik Nabers
is big blow to his fantasy outlook but there is some QB2 viability
here given his ability as a runner. The Saints are near the bottom
of the league in pressuring quarterbacks which is a welcome sign
for the rookie and the passing game. I’m cautiously optimistic
we could see some useful performances from Dart along with wideouts
Slayton and Robinson (PPR leagues) as viable Flex options.
Fade: N/A
NYG FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.14
NYG FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.5
NYG FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.2
NYG FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.19
Kamara has scored 1 TD on the season and currently sits as the
RB25 in fantasy points per game. More concerning, he has just
13 catches for 49 yards (3.8 yards per catch) … the Saints simply
aren’t calling enough pass plays for him. Kendre Miller is becoming
a thorn in the side of Kamara as well. This past week, Miller
played 31% of the snaps and handled 11 touches. The matchup for
Kamara here is positive as the Giants have allowed solid games
to Jacory Croskey-Merritt (10-82-1), Javonte Williams (18-97-1)
and Omarion Hampton (12-128-1) so there’s room here for Kamara
to have best game of the season. However, long-term there are
significant issues for his fantasy outlook.
The Saints have topped out at 21 points this season and QB Spencer
Rattler hasn’t thrown for more than 220 yards in any game,
making it difficult to get excited about the fantasy prospects
of anyone in this offense.
Everything looks good from a usage standpoint on Olave, he’s
simple not connecting with Rattler. Olave (43) is 2nd only to
Puka Nacua (50) in targets through four games and is 5th among
all wide receivers with a 30.5% target share. When he does catch
the ball, he’s averaging a minuscule 7.1 yards per catch. It’s
exciting to see Olave has double-digit targets in 3 out of 4 games,
but sooner or later these targets need to turn into production
in the box score.
TE Juwan Johnson picked up an ankle injury last week and missed
practice on Wednesday. In addition, tight ends Foster Moreau and
Taysom Hill were back at practice and eligible to come off of
IR. Johnson saw his targets dwindle to 3 last week after averaging
9.3 the previous three weeks. Assuming he plays, he’s a one of
the better bets at a position that is scarce for viable options,
but keep your eye out late in the week for news on his health
and how much the guys returning from IR will be involved.
Shaheed has made numerous big plays in his career, just not this
season. He’s averaging 9.7 yards per catch and has topped
out at 52 yards, 1 TD (Wk2). He’s likely to get 5-to-7 targets
in this game, but given what we’ve seen from this punchless
offense, I can’t get on board recommending him as a Flex
option.
Fresh off his breakout performance (21-138-1 rushing, 2-17-2 receiving)
against the hapless Bears defense, Ashton Jeanty draws a much
tougher matchup in Week 5 versus the Colts. Indianapolis has surrendered
the 9th-fewest FPts/G to running backs, and Jeanty’s limited passing-game
role remains a concern. Through four games, he’s seen just 8 targets
for a total of 20 receiving yards -- not the kind of dual-threat
usage that typically sustains RB1 production against strong run
defenses.
Complicating matters, the Raiders will be without LT Kolton Miller
(ankle), a key piece in keeping Jeanty’s running lanes open. Still,
his locked-in volume gives him a safe floor and keeps him in the
“Favorite” category, though fantasy managers should temper expectations.
Meyers has played 94.4% of the snaps this season -- 4th among
all wideouts -- and he posted a 35% target share last week against
the Bears but that resulted in 4-30-0 line and a WR55 finish.
Geno is a volatile quarterback so you have to accept the good
with the bad when it comes the Raiders passing game. The matchup
here is positive for the Raiders pass catchers which includes
the loss of DB Kenny Moore. Plus, game script should be favorable
well into the 4th quarter. I’d lean towards the positive side
of the fence for Meyers this week.
Bowers continues to wear a brace on his injured knee and doesn’t
quite look right out there on the field, and has now missed practice
time this week. He played 77 percent of the snaps last week and
was out there for almost every passing attempt. Michael Mayer
(concussion) could return and muddy the waters but the Colts-D
isn’t something we need to avoid at the position. Assuming Bowers
is able to suit up, I’d be cautiously optimistic we get a low-end
TE1 performance from him this week.
Fade: N/A
LV FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.12
LV FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.27
LV FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.4
LV FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.28
An early surprise, Daniel Jones has positioned himself as the
QB7 heading into Week 5, helped along by three rushing TDs. It
wasn’t a big surprise that he stumbled last week (262-1-2, QB24)
against the stingy Rams-D, although Adonai Mitchell didn’t do
him any favors. This week, the Raiders should allow plenty of
the easy throws in the middle of the field when playing their
base defense, allowing both Jones and Pittman to rack up stats.
Pittman leads the team with a 24% target share through four games
and has already matched his TD total (3) from last season. He’s
also being used more from the slot this season and shouldn’t
have too much trouble posting a WR2 day against the Raiders who’ve
allowed the 4th most fantasy points to wide receivers. Pittman
was added to the injury report Thursday with a hamstring injury,
getting in a limited practice so monitor his status throughout
the weekend.
We’ll probably see Alec Pierce back on the field as he missed
Week 4 with a concussion. That doesn’t affect Downs much, as Pierce
is more of a downfield threat, while Downs does his work in the
short-to-intermediate parts of the field. Downs has a 16% target
share heading into Week 5 but is only playing in three-wide receiver
sets. He’s a volume-dependent receiver that needs the Colts to
be pushed into more passing plays. That’s not likely to happen
with Indianapolis favored by 6.5 points.
The loss of Tyreek Hill to an ugly knee injury is going to cause
a ripple effect throughout the Miami offense. Waddle is going
to move into the No.1 wideout role for the rest of the season
and should command 7-10 targets every game making him easy WR2
option the rest of the way. This new role will be on display this
week against the Panthers who have been stingy against the position
but did just give up a 100-yard receiving day to Stefon Diggs.
There’s no sticky cover-corner to be concerned about here so as
long as Tua has the time (Carolina-D is last in sacks), Waddle
should be in for a decent day.
Washington should also see an elevated role in this Tyreek-less
offense but he’s been more a gadget player to date, getting
short area targets and a few rushing attempts per game. We’re
expecting his role to be elevated but there is still a bit of
an unknown here - perhaps tight end Darren Waller will see increased
snaps and targets? Washington hasn’t topped 20 receiving
yards this season and has been a non-fantasy factor thus far.
The long-term outlook for Washington is bullish but I’d
hesitate in putting him in my lineup this week until we getter
a better idea of Mike McDaniel’s gameplan for the receiver
room and the offense as a whole.
Tua has finished as the QB28, QB15, QB18 and QB19… with
Tyreek in the lineup. Remove his top playmaker and it’s
difficult to seem with QB1 upside even against a defense that’s
struggled to rush the passer.
Waller’s two-TD performance in Week 4 was somewhat fluky
as he played just 27.6% of the snaps and caught just three passes
on 4 targets. We could reasonably assume a snap-rate increase
as he ramps up into playing shape, but chasing the TDs seems like
a rookie move.
MIA FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.2
MIA FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.12
MIA FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.23
MIA FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.2
McMillan has seen at least 8 targets in every game this season
and is sporting a healthy 15.4 yards per catch. Bryce Young simply
needs to be better if McMillan is going to elevate his fantasy
value. The two have missed on several deep throws and his low
51.4% catch rate is concerning. On the plus side, the Dolphins
have allowed five wide receiver touchdowns through four games
and McMillian has led the team in target share every game. WR2
value should be expected here with a some low-end WR1 appeal if
he can find the endzone.
Chuba missed practice Wednesday and Thursday with a calf issue
that he dealt with in last week’s game and it showed. He
played just 50.7% of the snaps, well below his normal usage. He’s
yet to top 75 rushing yards in any game this season but he’s
holding onto mid-range RB2 value thanks to two receiving TDs.
If’s he’s removed from the injury report, then we
can reasonably assume he will take advantage of a solid matchup
against a Dolphins defense that’s allowed the 12-most fantasy
points to running backs. If he's out, Rico Dowdle becomes a viable
option in the same lead back role.
Young posted a 328-3-1 line in Week 2 against Arizona, otherwise
it’s been a bit ugly for the Panthers quarterback. His other
three games have seen him throw for just 425 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
and 13 rushing yards combined. This kind of play is why he got
benched last season. If you’re desperate due to the QB injuries,
the matchup against the Dolphins doesn’t get much better,
but I won’t be rolling on the dice on Young this week.
In his first game as a true defensive focal point, Emeka Egbuka
delivered his best performance yet: 10 targets, 101 yards, and
a score. The 101 yards were a career high, and his 5 touches tied
his second-most in a game. This week he faces a Seattle secondary
allowing the 2nd-fewest fantasy points to WRs, but no one has
been able to slow him down so far. Egbuka remains a must-start
WR2.
Baker Mayfield has quietly been a QB1 through four weeks (9th
in FPts/G, 20.3), but cracks are showing: a sub-60% completion
rate, just 6.5 YPA, and leading the league in fumbles (again).
His 8:1 TD-to-INT ratio and improved rushing (9.2 yards per attempt)
have kept him afloat, but Seattle’s defense is a poor matchup.
They allow just 6 YPA and already have 7 interceptions. Without
Bucky Irving and Mike Evans, Mayfield drops to a high-end QB2.
Chris Godwin saw 10 targets in his return from injury, but only
turned them into 3 catches for 26 yards. The volume is encouraging,
but he may need time to shake off rust. Against a stingy Seahawks
secondary, he’s best left as a back-end flex until the efficiency
catches up.
Bucky Irving is normally a lineup lock, but he’s dealing with
a foot injury and remains in a walking boot. If he can’t go, Rachaad
White likely reclaims a heavy workload, particularly as the primary
passing-down back. In that scenario, White would be a strong RB2
play, even if Sean Tucker mixes in.
Cade Otton has been quiet (6 catches on 11 targets all season),
but sans Evans, he tied his season-highs in targets (4) and catches
(3) last week. Seattle has allowed an 83% catch rate to opposing
TEs and at least 8.1 fantasy points to five of them, making Otton
a streaming option with TE1 upside for desperate managers.
Fade: N/A
TB FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.9
TB FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.19
TB FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.27
TB FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.17
Sam Darnold gets a dream matchup against a Tampa defense that
has given up 19.4+ fantasy points to 3 of 4 opposing QBs. Mobile
quarterbacks in particular have hurt them (21+ rush yards allowed
per game), even Michael Penix Jr. scrambled for 21 yards and a
score.
Darnold has run just three times (38 yards), but has shown in
the past he can add on the ground (200+ rushing yards in three
seasons). With Tampa’s run defense likely stifling Kenneth
Walker, Seattle may lean more on Darnold’s arm -- which
has been sharp, as he leads the league in YPA (9.1). Consider
him a high-end QB2 with sneaky QB1 upside.
Walker out-touched Zach Charbonnet 20-14 in Charbonnet’s return,
signaling a slight edge in this timeshare. Tampa’s defensive front,
anchored by Vita Vea, is a tough assignment (2.9 YPC allowed).
However, the Bucs have struggled against RBs in the passing game,
giving up 19 receptions for a whopping 12.9 yards per catch.
While Darnold rarely targets RBs (just 9 passes to the backfield
this season), 7 of those have gone Walker’s way. That gives
him a path to flex value, even in a difficult matchup.
Charbonnet has been productive in spurts (double-digit fantasy
points in 2 of his last 3), but his profile is run-heavy (39 carries,
2 catches) and he’s unlikely to succeed against Tampa’s
elite run defense. With Walker getting the bigger slice of the
pie, Charbonnet is a low-end RB3 at best.
After averaging nearly 3 receptions per game over the past two
seasons, Tony Pollard has seen his passing-game role cut in half
with rookie QB Cam Ward under center. Ward has been hesitant to
check down, leaving Pollard with limited receiving production.
He remains one of the few fantasy-relevant pieces in this offense,
but the looming return of Tyjae Spears threatens to reduce his
already shaky floor. Ranked RB26 in FPts/G, Pollard is best viewed
as a mid-flex if Spears is held out another week.
Rookie Elic Ayomanor continues to flash upside in spurts. He
drew 7 targets in Week 4, but converted only 2 of them into 44
yards. His 48% catch rate and 6.0 YPT are concerning, yet his
size (6’2”, 206) and athleticism (38.5-inch vertical)
give him red-zone appeal. He has caught both of Cam Ward’s
TD passes this year, making him a boom/bust flex option for fantasy
managers searching for upside.
Cam Ward’s rookie season has been a mixed bag. His sack
rate has steadily improved, and he’s showing small signs
of mobility (22 rushing yards in Week 4). But he’s also
thrown interceptions in back-to-back games and bottomed out with
just 108 passing yards last week against Houston. While Arizona’s
defense has allowed the most pass attempts per game (42), they’ve
held QBs to the 13th-fewest FPts/G. Ward remains stuck in the
QB3 tier.
Calvin Ridley, meanwhile, has been one of 2025’s biggest
disappointments. Expected to be Ward’s go-to receiver, he’s
averaging just 5.4 yards per touch and already has 4 drops. His
playing time plummeted to just 27 snaps in Week 4, with his coach
vaguely citing that he was “dealing with something.”
Reports now confirm multiple injuries, and Ridley hasn’t
practiced all week. Even if he’s active, he cannot be trusted
in lineups.
TEN FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.24
TEN FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.4
TEN FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.6
TEN FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.25
Marvin Harrison Jr.’s Week 4 line (6-66-1) was emblematic
of his young career—ups and downs, but ultimately impactful.
Encouragingly, he saw a season-high 10 targets against Seattle,
his third double-digit target game in his last 10 appearances.
He’s averaging 7.7 targets per game since late last year
and is becoming a reliable focal point in the Arizona passing
game. Against a Titans defense allowing the 6th-most FPts/G to
WRs, Harrison is a low-end WR2 with real upside.
Kyler Murray continues to tread water in fantasy. Despite throwing
35 and 41 passes in his last two games, he hasn’t topped
220 yards passing this season. His legs remain a positive (41
rushing yards last week), but he’s still waiting for a true
breakout performance. Tennessee’s anemic offense often forces
opponents into run-heavy scripts, which could cap Murray’s
ceiling again. He remains a middling QB2.
The Cardinals’ backfield is a mess. With Trey Benson landing
on IR, the expectation was that Emari DeMercado would take over
after playing 39% of snaps in Week 4. Instead, Michael Carter
announced he would be the starter, raising questions about the
rotation. Carter did handle 46 touches in three games last season
in a similar spot last year, but DeMercado appears to have the
current edge. Both backs are risky flex plays with low floors,
though positive game script could allow one to emerge as the “hot
hand.”
With Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown already ruled out, and Deebo
Samuel (heel) yet to practice as of Friday morning, Zach Ertz
is in position to be the Commanders’ top pass catcher. He’s already
second on the team with 20 targets and should see heavy volume
from Jayden Daniels. That opportunity alone makes him a strong
TE1 play this week.
Daniels appears likely to return, though he’s wearing a
knee brace and will need monitoring through the weekend. He’s
a weekly “no brainer” when fully healthy, but given
the WR injuries, he may be asked to create more with his legs.
That keeps him in the QB1 discussion, though risk of re-injury
lingers.
Deebo Samuel’s status is murky. If he practices in any
capacity Friday and suits up, he’ll carry WR2 upside thanks
to volume but will also be a risky play due to re-aggravation
concerns. He’s best deployed as a volatile flex.
If Samuel sits, Luke McCaffrey steps into the WR1 role by default.
The sophomore wideout has found the end zone in back-to-back weeks
and offers some touchdown appeal. Still, with unproven volume,
he projects as a touchdown-dependent WR4.
Fade: Commanders RBs
Neither Jacory
Croskey-Merritt nor Chris
Rodriguez Jr. are playable. With Washington’s passing game
banged up, defenses can key in on the run, and negative game script
is likely against the Chargers. In a committee setup, there’s
no clear path to startable fantasy production here.
WAS FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.10
WAS FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.21
WAS FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.8
WAS FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.7
Justin Herbert has averaged 44 pass attempts over his last two
games with Najee Harris out, though his efficiency has dipped
(under 60% completion rate, 3 INTs, 7 sacks). The Chargers would
love to establish balance, but this offense looks destined to
lean pass-first. Washington has allowed the 9th-most FPts/G to
QBs, keeping Herbert safely in the QB1 mix.
Both Quentin Johnston and Keenan Allen should benefit from the
high passing volume. Johnston has emerged as a reliable option,
while Allen continues to soak up targets as a chain mover. Both
are strong WR2 plays this week against a vulnerable Commanders
secondary.
McConkey has been overshadowed by Allen and Johnston through
the first four games, ranking third in targets despite seeing
a steady 7 looks per game. Efficiency has been his issue (6.4
YPT, 3 drops, no TDs), but volume remains enough to keep him in
the WR2/3 conversation. Against a beatable Washington defense,
he carries mid-WR2 upside if he cleans up the drops.
For as talented as Williams is, his place in Detroit’s
offense is that of a tertiary weapon that the team will give a
few chances to each week. That’s why he has just 10 receptions
on the year, and in three of the four games he’s finished
with less than 50 yards and no touchdowns -- all despite playing
on the NFL’s No. 1 scoring offense. This week feels like
one where Detroit could look to appease their talented wideout
against a Bengals secondary that ranks 30th in NFL in passing
yards allowed (262 per game). Denver had little trouble getting
their own secondary targets, like Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims,
in on the action Monday night, so give Williams a chance as your
WR3.
So, if Williams is a favorite and St. Brown and LaPorta are no-brainers,
how can we be on the fence about Goff? The Lions can be unpredictable
with how they look to attack. In Week 2, when they throttled Chicago,
it was all about Goff and the passing game. When they bounced
Baltimore, they leaned on the running attack. Last weekend, the
passing game again did the heavy lifting versus Cleveland. This
week, it feels like they can do whatever they want, and one of
those options is leaning on Montgomery and Gibbs to control the
clock against a defense that was on the field a ton Monday night
in high altitude. With each of their next five games against 2024
playoff teams, maybe they try to maintain possession and limit
the number of snaps they have to play. Yes, there’s still
QB1 potential with Goff, but it’s not a slam dunk.
Fade: N/A
DET FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.16
DET FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.23
DET FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.19
DET FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.10
It’s easy to be down on Cincinnati’s offense. They
were sloppy in Week 3, and then toothless in Week 4. Those were
both road games in tough environments, though, and while the Lions
have talent on defense, it’s hard to say if they’re
on the same level of Denver or Minnesota. Expect Cincinnati to
perform better back at home, and for them to have a game plan
that consists of more than just don’t turn the ball over
at all costs. Brown is off to a poor start, and it’s resulted
in his removal from no-brainer status. Despite that, he quietly
put up 71 yards of offense Monday night, and Detroit allowed Quinshon
Judkins to compile 115 yards and a score in rout of Cleveland
last Sunday, so using Brown as an RB3/flex is a solid move.
For the time being, Chase remains on the no-brainer list. He’s
supremely talented, and we saw evidence in Week 2 that he could
put up numbers even with Jake Browning throwing the ball. Although
Higgins did score a touchdown that day, he has just 136 yards
receiving for the season and has fallen from WR2 to someone you
could absolutely leave on your bench depending on your alternatives.
Detroit’s defense has been decent against the pass, but
their cornerbacks are middling, which gives Cincinnati’s
duo a chance to make some plays. Given how disappointing his numbers
have been thus far, starting Higgins is a risky move, but he might
pay dividends as your No. 3 wideout.
Browning turned the ball over far too often in Weeks 2 and 3.
In response, the team reined him all the way in, resulting in
an offense that only crossed midfield once during their blowout
loss in Denver. They’ll need to open things back up in Week
5 to have any hope of competing with the Lions, so expect better
from Browning during his first start of the year in Cincinnati.
He might even deliver playable value -- garbage time yardage still
counts -- but the idea of trying to thread that needle is dubious
at best.
Maye has been one of 2025’s breakout stars, completing
a league-best 74% of passes with 7 TDs through four games while
also rushing for 98 yards and 2 scores. His dual-threat ability
locks in a strong floor and creates weekly ceiling potential.
Buffalo’s pass defense looks daunting on paper, allowing
just 141 pass yards/game, but they’ve feasted on weak offenses
(Jets, Dolphins, Saints). Their lone test -- Lamar Jackson in
Week 1 -- resulted in 279 total yards and 3 TDs allowed. Maye’s
efficiency and mobility make him a strong bet to exploit the Bills’
aggressiveness. He’s a top-10 QB with 20+ point upside.
Diggs finally showed life in Week 4 (6/101) after three quiet
games coming off his 2024 ACL tear. He’s still looking for
his first TD, and now he draws a Buffalo secondary that has suffocated
WRs: 39 catches, 435 yards, 5 TDs allowed on 62 targets all year.
The Bills have already limited Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Garrett
Wilson, and Chris Olave. Diggs’ history with Buffalo gives
this matchup extra juice, but he’ll likely see plenty of
Taron Johnson in coverage. He’s a volatile WR3 with WR2
upside, depending on whether Maye’s volume can carry him.
Fade: Patriots RBs
New England’s backfield has devolved into a full committee
of Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson, and Antonio Gibson.
Stevenson still leads in snaps, but none are seeing reliable workloads.
Against a tough Buffalo front, all three backs profile as low-end
Flex options at best.
NE FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.17
NE FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.20
NE FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.13
NE FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.8
Kincaid has been efficient (14 catches on 18 targets, 179 yards,
3 TDs), but his modest 4.5 targets/game cap his floor. That said,
New England has been a sieve against TEs, allowing 24 catches
for 256 yards through four weeks, including a Week 4 collapse
against Carolina’s tight-end committee. Kincaid’s
red-zone usage and matchup keep him in the TE1 range with top-5
upside, but beware of his floor if the TDs dry up.
Khalil Shakir has caught 80% of his targets and scored in back-to-back
weeks, but hasn’t topped 5 targets in any game.
Keon Coleman flashes big-play potential, yet has just 9 catches
for 91 yards over his last 3 games.
The Patriots’ secondary has yet to allow more than six
receptions to a WR in a game since Week 1. In a projected high-scoring
matchup, one wideout could pop, but the usage is too shaky for
confident lineups. Both are WR4/5 dart throws only.
Worthy hit the ground running in his first game back since injuring
his shoulder in Week 1. His 5-83-0, 2-38-0 line was good for a
WR16 finish in half PPR leagues. His return sparked the Chiefs
offense who take advantage of a depleted Ravens defense and racked
up 37 points. Points won’t be as easy this week as Jacksonville
has given up the 5th fewest (72) and leads the league with an
insane 13 takeaways in four games. However, they’ve given
up a couple 100-yard games (Ja’Marr Chase, Nico Collins)
and have yet to face a top-shelf offense. Mahomes missed Worthy
on a couple deep throws last week… connect on one of those
this week and we may see Worthy as WR1.
Kelce is bouncing around as a fringe TE1 through four games,
largely because the position is void of good options. His 22 targets
rank 10th at the position and he’s playing a respectable 74.4%
of the snaps. The Jaguars are middle of the road against the position
and the best ranking tight end they’ve faced has been Jake Tonges.
At the tight end spot, it often comes down to finding a touchdown,
and Kelce on Monday night gives you as strong a chance as any
option.
The Chiefs are one of the few teams in the league with a high
pass-rate over expected, 2nd only to the Chargers. What limited
opportunities the Chiefs running backs have, are being split between
Pacheco and Hunt, making each of the undesirable fantasy assets.
Throw rookie Brashard Smith into the mix (7 touches last week),
and this is a situation to avoid. If forced into choosing one
of these three, I’d lean toward Hunt who seems to have the better
opportunity around the goaline.
KC FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.25
KC FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.9
KC FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.25
KC FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.29
Etienne’s hot start in Week 1 (19-124-1) made the team comfortable
jettisoning Tank Bigsby to the Eagles and that move continues
to look good as the Jags starting running back continues to be
the bright spot in the offense, ranking third among RBs in rushing
yardage (394) and leads all qualifying running backs with a 6.1
average. The only hole you can poke in Etienne’s game is his lack
of usage in the passing attack (2.5 tgts per) … and perhaps his
overall touch count (17.7 per game) is a little light compared
to other top 10 fantasy backs. Still, he’s a low-end RB1 against
a Chiefs defense that is typically decent against the position,
but has allowed TDs to Barkley, Skattebo and Justice Hill to start
the season.
The lights have yet to come on for BTJ this season but it’s
not for a lack of trying. His 32 targets rank 15th at the position
but is horrible catch rate (37.5%) is alarming. He’s playing
85.5% of the snaps with a 23.2% target share so we’d expect
things to turn around at some point. It’s not like the Jags
have other reliable options to go to. Parker Washington is a replacement
level player and Travis Hunter is stuck in one position on offense.
The Chiefs haven’t given up a TD to a wideout in their last
three games (Eagles, Giants, Ravens). Muck like Olave, it’s
tough to sit Thomas given the volume but expectations must be
tempered for the time being.
