Welcome back for another edition of Fantasy In Frames “Plays & Fades” for Week 5! Bye weeks are starting and things will start to become more difficult to pivot from key players. However, I will be here to help you figure out your toughest lineup questions.
As stated, things start to get more difficult from here in terms of the amount of players that you have available to you in a given week. There are plays to be made though, some on waiver wires, some on your bench. Check out the following Plays & Fades for the best and worst matchups of the week!
Quarterbacks
Plays
- Jordan Love vs. LAR
- Jordan Love came back from injury to drop 31.16 points on one of the toughest defenses in the league, the Minnesota Vikings. His throwing stance was lacking, as he appeared to be unable, or unwilling, to step through passes, which turned into several turnovers. However, Love was able to put together a string of amazing plays that had the Minnesota Vikings on their heels despite a 28-0 lead going into the half.
- The Rams are giving up, on average, 20.1 PPG against opposing quarterbacks. Love should be able to exploit the Rams defense this coming week for big gains. It also helps that the Rams should make it a good game with McVay’s prolific offensive schemes. The Packers will have to throw early and often to keep up again this week.
- Kirk Cousins vs TB
- Kirk Cousins has not looked great so far, as he still deals with the lingering Achilles injury. Still, this should be one of his best matchups of the season so far and I expect it to be a high scoring affair. Tampa Bay has been giving up 19.1 PPG against opposing quarterbacks. This should be a high scoring affair that Cousins must throw in early and often to keep up with the high-powered offense that is ran by Baker Mayfield, a string of words I never though I would put together.
- Trevor Lawrence vs IND
- There’s been little to like out of Trevor Lawrence this year in terms of fantasy. He is quarterback 21 on the year and has yet to break 15 points in a game. However, this week he is going up against the susceptible Indianapolis Colts who have been giving up 21.7 PPG on average to opposing quarterbacks. This feels like a “get right” kind of game for Lawrence. Hopefully he’ll have one of his best weapons back, as well, as there is lingering hope that Evan Engram will be ready to go this week.
Fade
- Dak Prescott vs PIT
- Dak Prescott has one of the most difficult matchups coming this weekend against the Pittsburgh Steelers. This defense has given up the fourth fewest points to opposing quarterbacks, averaging a stifling 10.6 PPG on average. Bench Prescott this week and look for his competition on the waiver wire, Justin Fields. He should have a much better game against a poor Cowboys defense that is giving up the eleventh most points to opposing quarterbacks.
- Sam Darnold vs NYJ
- Despite being QB4 on the year, Darnold has shown some moments of concern and has gotten away with a few poor choices that should have had a much bigger impact on the games he’s played in. Add that into the fact that he’s going up against the best defense in the league in the New York Jets, and this week feels like a coming back to Earth kind of game. The Jets have only been giving up 7.9 PPG on average to opposing quarterbacks. While they’ve only faced one offense close to the caliber the Minnesota Vikings have, this game will be the toughest challenge Darnold has faced.
- Andy Dalton vs CHI
- Andy Dalton has been a breath of fresh air for the Carolina Panthers, to say the least. That said though, this week is going to be an oppressive matchup against the stout Bears defense that has only allowed 10 PPG against quarterbacks they’ve faced so far. Part of that might be game script, as the Colts were the only team to break 20 points scored on them. Still, the Panthers are not the greatest show on turf and it should be expected that Dalton will have a bad game now and then. This week is shaping up to be one of those bad games.
Running Backs
Plays
- Josh Jacobs vs LAR
- To say that Josh Jacobs has been disappointing would be underselling the situation given where Jacobs was being drafted. In fact, I have to eat a little crow with the fact that he has not lived up to the hype that I was driving there. That said though, if there is going to be a week that Jacobs should show up, it will be this week against the Los Angeles Rams.
- The Rams have given up 28.2 PPG on average to running backs so far this season. This with them facing running backs such as the aging James Conner, surprise show out Jordan Mason, and now even D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson had strong showings against the defense. If there was ever a chance that Jacobs will have a good week, this is it.
- D’Andre Swift vs CAR
- D’Andre Swift has been another back that has been disappointing this season and when I was getting to write him off as a constant fade for the rest of the season, he showed up last week against the Los Angeles Rams. Scoring just shy of 30 points last week, Swift gave managers a reason to believe again. This week should be another great matchup for the journeyman veteran, as he will be facing Carolina Panthers who’ve given up 30.9 PPG on average to running backs. Expect him to go off once again, especially with a defense that should effectively shut down the Panther’s offense.
- Dameon Pierce vs BUF
- It needs to be said first and foremost that this was written with the expectation that Joe Mixon was going to be sidelined still with his injury that he suffered from a hip drop tackle. If Mixon is ready to go, then pivot if you can. Regardless of who goes though, they should have an excellent week against a Buffalo Bills defense that is giving up 34 PPG to opposing running backs. These are monster numbers that opposing offenses should be taking advantage of when they are facing the Bills. I do believe the Texans will be able to rely on their run game throughout the matchup, despite the game script possibly working them out of contention.
Fades
- James Cook vs HOU
- On the other side of the ball in the previous matchup is James Cook, who has been stellar so far this season, but I’m expecting him to take a bit of a step back this week. Last week against Baltimore Ravens, Cook only put up 5.8 points in PPR leagues. Not great, Bob. This week he faces an opponent who is just as capable in run defense in the Houston Texans. The Texans have given up 17.8 PPG to running backs they’ve faced this season, which seems like a decent number until you realize that this is all of the running backs on the team. Pivot to another running back if you can, because Cook is going to be trying to ice skate uphill this week.
- Zack Moss/Chase Brown vs BAL
- It doesn’t matter who you were planning on starting this week in the Cincinnati Bengals backfield, abort! Whether you are a Zack Moss stan or you’ve been banging the drum for Chase Brown, nobody is going to leave this week happy. The Baltimore Ravens are averaging just 16.4 PPG given up to opposing running backs. Expect the offense to flow through Joe Burrow’s arm and the receivers for the Bengals. If you have to lean on one or the others, I’m leaning Zack Moss and his ability in the receiving game. Even that seems like a stretch, though.
- The Entire Cowboys Backfield
- This doesn’t require any explanation. The Dallas Cowboys run game has been hideous this season and until they make a change, I’m not starting any of them. Especially against the Pittsburgh Steelers who have shut down opposing running backs to 16 PPG on average. Let me know when Dalvin Cook is activated from the practice squad.
Wide Receivers
Plays
- Amari Cooper vs WAS
- The Cleveland Browns have been abysmal this year. This is not how you want to start a “Play” dissertation on Amari Cooper, but it’s the truth. Deshaun Watson is a shell of what he was when he played for the Houston Texans. The play calling hasn’t been terrible, but Kevin Stefanski has some areas he could improve upon. Fast forward to this week and the exploitable Washington Commanders defense that has given up 46.7 PPG on average to opposing wide receivers. Almost 50 points a game! The best part is that not only is their defense not great, but their offense is now good enough that causes the game script to be positive for the opposing offensive receiving game. This will be a get right game for Amari Cooper, plug him wherever you have him.
- Allen Lazard vs MIN
- Another high scoring offense that gives up a lot of points on offense is the Minnesota Vikings, who have given up 44.2 PPG on average to opposing receivers. Granted, a lot of this has come in garbage time, but we love garbage time in fantasy football! What’s more is the fact that the Vikings have essentially shut down WR1’s on opposing teams, but have been more susceptible to the second or third option at receiver. This is exactly where Allen Lazard will thrive as the Vikings focus on shutting down Garrett Wilson and the Jets will have to produce in order to keep up with the Vikings.
- Michael Pittman vs JAX
- Michael Pittman was having a down year… and then Joe Flacco arrived. Much like how he revived David Njoku’s and Amari Cooper’s careers last season, Flacco works well with the possession receiver that Pittman is. More so than Anthony Richardson, at least. Maybe that will come in time, but for now, let’s focus on what Pittman could be facing with Flacco throwing him the ball. Pittman had the most targets and yards on the year in the partial game he played with Flacco. Add in the fact that the Jaguars have given up 40.8 PPG to receivers, and it’s easy to see the potential output Pittman could be giving us this weekend. If you have him, you have to start him.
Fade
- Garrett Wilson vs MIN
- As stated above, the Vikings have given up a ton of points to wide receivers this season. However, only a third of those points are going to the WR1 on the opposing team. They are averaging 14.9 PPG, although that’s including Jayden Reed’s great show out against the Vikings this last week. However, it didn’t appear as though the Vikings were playing to shut down one receiver like they have in weeks past. Expect them to lockdown on Garrett Wilson and keep him from blowing up.
- Davante Adams vs. DEN
- Cam Taylor-Britt has been playing pretty well on the season, only allowing an NFL passer Davante Adams will be considered one of the best wide receivers in the game. That said, this year has been up and down for the elite receiver. Now, he faces one of the best defensive backs in the league in Patrick Surtain who plays on a defense that is only allowing 22.3 PPG on average to receivers. Add in the fact that Adams is injured and is now possibly looking for a new home, there’s a good chance he doesn’t play at all as they prepare to move on from the stud receiver. Steer clear of Adams this week and look for receiver play elsewhere.
- Diontae Johnson vs CHI
- I was banging the drum nonstop for Diontae Johnson this last offseason. I still fully believe he’ll be a top receiver when it is all said and done. However, as stated earlier, the Chicago Bears defense is no joke, as they are giving up only 25.4 PPG to receivers. It’s going to be a tough week for the stud receiver, along with anyone playing for the Carolina Panthers. If you have another option at receiver, I’d take it and run.
Tight Ends
Play
- Evan Engram/Brenton Strange vs IND
- The tight end landscape has been abysmal this year, to say the least, but there is still hope to be had. The hope here is that Evan Engram is back and ready to go, but you can fire up either tight end if he’s not. Brenton Strange has been serviceable in Engram’s absence, outside of the 4.9 point game last week. Still, Strange has been in line for the lead role while Engram has been sidelined. If Engram does suit up, feel confident in putting him back in your lineups, as the Indianapolis Colts have been giving up 14.7 PPG on average to the tight end position.
- Cole Kmet vs CAR
- Another tight end that deserves your consideration is Cole Kmet. TE4 on the year, Kmet had a solid showing two weeks ago against the Indianapolis Colts, putting up 25.7 points. We don’t chase points around here, but his matchup against the Carolina Panthers this week is intriguing, to say the least. The Panthers have given up 13.4 PPG on average to opposing tight ends and while his production has been closer to a TE2’s numbers, Kmet should have a solid game this coming week.
- Cade Otton vs ATL
- Cade Otton was my Waiver Wire Show tight end add for the week, given his play the last couple weeks and a solid matchup coming up against the Atlanta Falcons. Otton has been targeted seventeen times the last two weeks and finished as a TE1 both weeks. The Falcons are also giving up the ninth most points to the tight end position, although they have stood up well against big names such as Dallas Goedert and Travis Kelce. While I expect it to be a battle this week, I do believe Otton will come out on top as one of the top receiving tight ends this week.
Fade
- David Njoku vs WAS
- While the Washington Commanders defense has been susceptible in the pass game, they’ve only given up 4.9 PPG to tight ends on average. Even if David Njoku was fully healthy, you should have concerns and should plan on leaving him on the bench for another week.
- Dalton Kincaid vs HOU
- Dalton Kincaid has been one of the more exciting names the last couple of years. His numbers this year have kept up with the other top tight ends, but they have remained pedestrian numbers. Kincaid’s best week so far was Week 3 when he was TE5 with 13.1 points. The Houston Texans are giving up a measly 5.2 PPG against tight ends, as well, which makes it safe to say that, unless you don’t have another option, you should be benching Kincaid this week.
- Trey McBride/Elijah Higgins
- Finally, there is the Arizona Cardinals’ tight ends. While the injury situation with Njoku is starkly different, we’re going to treat them the same way. Odds are you don’t have a much better option than McBride, which is understandable, but don’t be surprised when the San Francisco 49ers hold him to near the average of 5.6 PPG that they’ve been keeping most tight ends to this year.
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