FANTASY FOOTBALL
Solid plays from unlikely sources in Week 5
We are only four weeks into the regular season and one NFL head coach (Joe Philbin, Miami) has already been shown the door. His ouster is no mystery to owners of Ryan Tannehill and Lamar Miller.
Although fantasy owners generally have job security, no one wants to see their season slip away this early. If you are 1-3, or even 0-4, don’t lose faith. Injuries happen, players emerge and things can change quickly. Here’s our advice for those in need of a “W” in Week Five:
MATCHUPS TO EXPLOIT
RAVENS (vs. BROWNS)
Noon Sunday Cleveland has been competitive thus far this season, but that’s despite a league-worst defense that is giving up 406 yards per game.
Because the Ravens are decimated at receiver, this matchup is perhaps not the cakewalk it appears to be. Steve Smith will miss this game, which makes Kamar Aiken an intriguing pickup.
Solid play: Justin Forsett, Justin Tucker Worth a look: Joe Flacco, Aiken, Ravens D/ST Last resort: Buck Allen, Marlon Brown, Maxx Williams
EAGLES (vs. SAINTS)
Noon Sunday Regular readers of this column might be surprised to see the Eagles as a recommended play. We’re not big fans of the inconsistent Philly offense. Last week, Sam Bradford threw for 270 yards and three TDs, but no receiver threatened the 100-yard mark and no rusher reached even 40 yards. But if you did invest in the Eagles, this would be aweek to roll the dice. The Saints come to town with the NFL’s 24thranked defense. They rank 20th against the pass and 27th against the run. Solid play: Bradford Worth a look: DeMarco Murray, Ryan Mathews, Jordan Matthews, Caleb Sturgis, Eagles D/ ST Last resort: Nelson Agholor, Zach Ertz Stay away: Riley Cooper, Miles Austin
BUCCANEERS (vs. JAGUARS)
Noon Sunday This might be the week that the Bucs and their No. 23 offense get things rolling, at least to some extent. They have decent talent on offense, especially at receiver. Jacksonville’s defense is ranked 18th in total yards allowed and is 27th against the pass. Tampa waived kicker Kyle Brindza.
Solid play: Doug Martin, Vincent Jackson, Mike Evans Worth a look: Jameis Winston Last resort: Charles Sims, Brandon Myers Stay away: Connor Barth
BRONCOS (@ RAIDERS)
3:25 p.m. Sunday
There has been much debate about Peyton Manning’s arm strength. The debate should end – he has no arm strength. If he were a pitcher, he’d be considered a rag- arm junk thrower. That said, he is still one of the gutsiest, and perhaps the smartest, QBs to ever play the game. He’ll get you some points each week, just not a ton of them.
He likely will not finish as a top- 10 fantasy QB in 2015, and it’s possible he’ll slip to around No. 15… which means you might need to consider other options. But the Broncos should roll in this game, and Manning has a chance to put up reasonable numbers against the NFL’s second-worst defense.
The Broncos’ backfield is a tough call for fantasy owners. C.J. Anderson has four more carries than Ronnie Hillman, but Hillman averages 4.9 yards per carry while Anderson is at 2.9. Last week, both backs carried the ball 11 times. Hillman reeled off a 72-yard TD, but averaged 3.1 yards on his other 10 carries. Anderson averaged 3.9 yards. Both backs are probably OK plays in larger leagues, but neither is a must start, at least until one emerges.
Must start: DeMaryius Thomas Solid play: Manning, Emmanuel Sanders, Brandon McManus, Broncos D/ST Worth a look: C. J. Anderson, Ronnie Hillman, Owen Daniels
PATRIOTS (@ COWBOYS)
3:25 p.m. Sunday
The Dallas defense is currently ranked in the middle of the pack (No. 14 overall, No. 19 versus the pass). They should be just good enough to bring out the best in a Patriots offense that has been on fire through the first three weeks of the season. The over/under in this game is hovering around 49, near the top in Week Five.
Must start: Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Stephen Gostkowski Solid play: Julian Edelman Worth a look: Dion Lewis, LeGarrette Blount
Last resort: Danny Amendola, Patriots D/ST
Stay away: Aaron Dobson
ALSO CONSIDER
CHIEFS (vs. BEARS)
Noon Sunday
The Bears’ defense looked pretty good against Oakland, but expect to see a desperate and fired up KC team, playing at home for the first time since Sept. 17.
STEELERS (@ CHARGERS)
7:30 p.m. Monday
Michael Vick had – at best – a mediocre debut for the Steelers. He’s still not a great play, but Pittsburgh should score in the high 20s or low 30s.
CHARGERS (vs. STEELERS)
7:30 p.m. Monday
The Chargers are averaging 309 yards passing. They should keep things rolling in a high-scoring affair on Monday night.
MATCHUPS TO AVOID
SEAHAWKS (@ BENGALS)
Noon Sunday
Playing on a short week and traveling across three time zones, the Hawks will have their hands full against a Bengal defense that gives up just 19.2 points per game.
Solid play: Marshawn Lynch*, Seahawks D/ST
Worth a look: Russell Wilson, Jimmy Graham, Steven Hauschka
Last resort: Thomas Rawls (if no Lynch), Doug Baldwin
Stay away: Tyler Lockett, Jermaine Kearse
RAMS (@ PACKERS)
Noon Sunday
Only the Jets and Broncos are surrendering fewer points per game than the Packers. Todd Gurley shredded the Cardinals for 146 yards on 19 carries. Don’t hesitate to play the talented rookie; Green Bay is better against the pass than the run. After Gurley, the Rams don’t offer much fantasy-wise. Solid play: Gurley
Worth a look: Tavon Austin
Last resort: Nick Foles, Greg Zuerlein
Stay away: Rams D/ST RAIDERS (vs. BRONCOS)
3:25 p.m. Sunday
The Denver defense is No. 1 overall and against the pass. This game might be fairly close on the scoreboard, but don’t expect big numbers from Oakland’s offense.
Solid play: Latavius Murray, Amari Cooper
Worth a look: Michael Crabtree, Sebastian Janikowski Last resort: Derek Carr Stay away: Roy Helu, Raiders D/ST
ALSO BEWARE
BEARS (vs. CHIEFS)
Noon Sunday
Kansas City is 1-3 and has the NFL’s 29th-ranked defense. They have played a brutal schedule, however. The Chiefs do not have an elite defense, but they should finish the season in the top 15, at least. The Bears are taking a very conservative approach on offense. Beyond Matt Forte – and maybe Martellus Bennett – the Bears won’t offer fantasy owners much this week.
49ERS (@ GIANTS)
7:30 p.m. Sunday
Back in the summer, NBC probably thought they had a pretty good matchup scheduled for Week Five. Unfortunately, the 49ers are absolutely awful on offense. They are averaging 12 points per game and have scored a combined 10 points in their last two contests. You have to imagine that Joe Philbin is saving the bar stool next to him for SF coach Jim Tomsula.
*Check injury status