I would like to start this article off with an apology. An apology to you, the reader, the fantasy football fan, and the consumer of this content. I failed you last week. I was unable to write this article and do what I hope to do every week, help you win your fantasy football matchups.
This year, like every year that I have created fantasy football content, has been challenging. I won’t bore you all with the details but simply remind you that this is a game. It is meant to be enjoyed. If you are not enjoying what you do, I would say you should stop doing it. This is not exclusive to fantasy football. You have the power to change your perspective and to change how you view your situation. I promise to do that as well.
I got away from what I enjoyed in this space, and in the midst of some turmoil in my life outside of fantasy football, I started focusing on being “right.” That is not my goal in this industry. I once read a quote that said, “being right is the poor man’s self-worth,” and I agree. From here on out, I am choosing to let my love for football and my desire to help people guide me in this journey. I hope you enjoy my work and feel free to reach out either way. Now let’s dive into Week 5!
As I will do every week for this article, I am using the FantasyPros Expert Consensus Rankings to bring you, players, in ranges where the start/sit conundrums exist. Your RB2, WR3, and FLEX positions. Here are the ranges in which I will try to live when writing this column each week:
QB ECR: 10-20 | RB ECR: 20-40 | WR ECR: 20-40 | TE ECR: 10-20
With that, I will bring you my confidence plays and fades for this week. Again, my goal here is to give you plays and fades beyond just your obvious studs & duds. Good luck!
Week 5 Fantasy Football Start Em, Sit Em
PLAY
QB Carson Wentz ECR QB#18 vs TEN
I understand that trusting Carson Wentz in fantasy is like trusting a fart after a 2 AM Taco Bell run, but I really do like his outlook this week. Not only have the Titans given up the 7th-most points per game to quarterbacks this season, but every signal-caller that has faced them has thrown for two or more touchdowns. So Wentz is in a good spot this week.
RB Damien Harris ECR RB#19 vs DET
Damien Harris has lived on both sides of this column this season, and I am back in on him this week in a fantastic matchup. Harris has been productive as the “lead” back for the Patriots, seeing 13 or more touches and a touchdown in three straight contests. Now he and his running mate are in a superb matchup against a Lions defense that is the second-most friendly to opposing running backs. Detroit has allowed eight rushing touchdowns this season which is the most in the NFL. So fire up, Damien Harris.
WR Terry McLaurin ECR WR#25 vs TEN
Fantasy GMs with Terry McLaurin on their roster have been experiencing quite the roller coaster so far this season. However, this week’s matchup provides some room for optimism. McLaurin has six or more targets in the last three games and 58 or more receiving yards in three of his previous four. Additionally, he is facing a Titans secondary that has surrendered the 4th-most fantasy points to their wide receiver opponents this year. Lastly, he will likely be playing without his teammate Jahan Dotson who has run very similar routes downfield and in the endzone as Scary Terry this season. As a result, McLaurin is in a smash spot this week.
TE Tyler Conklin ECR TE#13 vs MIA
Conklin has been one of if not the surprise tight end of 2022. He has now seen five or more targets in every contest this season and now has back-to-back contests with 50 or more receiving yards. Conklin looks to build on his success in a nice matchup against a Dolphins defense that is top-10 in points allowed to his position this season.
If you have more Week 5 Start Em, Sit Em questions, join us tomorrow at 11 AM EST on Start Sit, Different Day. We spend an hour doing nothing but answering your most pressing lineup questions!
FADE
QB Aaron Rodgers ECR QB#11 vs NYG
It always hurts my heart when I have to suggest sitting my favorite player from my favorite team, but here we are. My job is to give you advice, and I advise not starting Aaron Rodgers this week. Not only has Rodgers failed to throw for over 275 yards in a contest this season, but he has an interception in three of his last four games. This game is in London against a surprisingly stout Giants defense. The G-Men have allowed the 8th-fewest points to quarterbacks this season.
RB Tyler Allgeier ECR RB#34 @ TB
I understand your excitement if your waiver wire came through and you snagged Tyler Allgeier, but this is not the week to play the rookie. Only three teams in the league allow fewer points on average to enemy backs than the Buccaneers. Additionally, we may have a bit of an ugly committee on our hands with Atlanta’s backs. Last week Caleb Huntley equaled Allgeier’s carries. Avoid the headache of this backfield, especially in such a tough spot.
WR D.J. Moore ECR WR#37 vs SF
I love D.J. Moore, but he has a massive Baker Mayfield problem. Moore’s best game of the year was last week, where he saw 11 targets and caught six of them for…50 yards! 50! This week, it doesn’t get any easier for Moore against a 49ers defense that is bottom-five in points allowed to WRs. Every alpha wide receiver not named Cooper Kupp to face San Fran has failed to gain more than 60 receiving yards. So it might be a very long day for Moore.
TE Dalton Schultz ECR TE#16 @ LAR
Last year’s PPR darling is coming off some bad performances, albeit likely due to his knee injury. Even though Schultz saw 90% of the offensive snaps last week, he failed to catch even one of his three targets. In fact, in his previous two games played with backup Cooper Rush, he has seen seven targets, caught two passes, and gained 18 scoreless yards. Finally, his matchup is the toughest for a tight end to face this season. The Rams are allowing just four fantasy points per game to tight ends this year.
Good luck this week. If you need additional help, we have Ryan’s Streams of the Week to help you get that Week 5 win!