Yes, folks, this is the moment you’ve all been waiting for!
Who do I start?
Who do I sit?
However, there is something that makes THIS WEEK and susbsequent weeks going forward a lot more special from others we’ve had so far in 2020.
That thing being…..BYE WEEK SEASON!
Say goodbye to those perfect rosters you assembled during draft season, and, instead, let me introduce you to your best friend when it comes to fantasy football from here on out, the waiver wire!
The waiver wire is not something to be feared. Yes, it’s full of people whose names you barely know and ultimately you’ll be placing your faith in to lead you to victory each week. But that’s OK! That is OK……
…hmm.
Ah, CRAP….now even I’m freaking out! AHHHHHHHHH!
Phew!
Now that I’ve regained my senses let me get back to helping you!
You see it is very easy to freak out over the unknown. That being said you have two big advantages when it comes to this time of year:
- Other people in your league are probably freaking out as well, therefore, are more prone to making poor choices of who they add to their rosters
- You have the experienced crew here at Fantasy In Frames relentlessly sifting through all the data and news to help bring you the very best advice around
Day or night we are always available to take your questions and alleviate your concerns going into each matchup each week!
NOW let’s get down to business, folks!
Here is a list of teams that are on a bye this week:
Here are your 4-EYED Starts & Sits For Week 5!
Quarterback
Justin Herbert vs. The New Orleans Saints: START
Averaging 21.5 fantasy points on the season, Herbert is going up against a Saints team who been allowing 23 fantasy points per game to the position, ranks in the middle of the pack in pass-rushing, and could be without starting cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Janoris Jenkins again this week. Make no mistake, this is Herbert’s team now and with the way he’s been playing combined with this juicy matchup this week, all signs point to fantasy success with Herbert at the helm!
Carson Wentz vs. The Pittsburgh Steelers: SIT
Look I know he pulled a rabbit out of his hat on Sunday Night Football, but that was against a banged-up 49ers defense. This week he’s going up against the full force of the Steelers defense that is ranked 3rd overall and 2nd in pass-rushing. The Eagles rank 20th in pass protection and have allowed the 4th most sacks in the league. My advice would be to find other options on your waiver wire like the ones listed on our 4-EYES On The Waiver Wire page.
Running Back
Antonio Gibson vs. The Los Angeles Rams: START
Finally! FINALLY, I get to write about my hometown team in a positive light. And make no mistake about it, Antonio Gibson is a positive light for this offense! On the season Gibson has led the way in touch percentage (both rushing attempts and receptions), and in week 4 dominated all other running backs on the team in rush percentage & target percentage. His last three games of the season you have seen his role increase in this offense and his fantasy point production increase to an average of 14.7 fantasy points per game in 0.5 PPR during that time span. The Rams, on the flip side, have allowed 19.1 fantasy points per game to the position, and with Gibson starting to see a majority of the workload look for him to have another solid outing this week!
David Montgomery vs. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers: SIT
“Monty” wasn’t able to get much going last week, despite owning this backfield due to Tarik Cohen’s season-ending knee injury. He’ll face another tough matchup this week going against a Buccaneers defense whose strength is “right up the gut” along the defensive line along with two stud linebackers in Lavontae David & Devin White in the middle of the field, and a run-stopping strong safety in Antoine Winfield Jr. That’s a lot of playmakers on a run-stopping defensive unit ranked 4th in the NFL. Fade him again this week!
Wide Receiver
Deebo Samuel vs. The Miami Dolphins: START
DEEBO. IS. BACK.
Granted, he wasn’t asked to do too much in his first week back since dealing with a foot fracture in the preseason. However, going forward let’s just remember that this is the same playmaker who, from weeks 8-17 last season, averaged 12.95 fantasy points per game during his rookie season. He’s a threat out of the backfield as well as through the air, AND he’s the best receiving option on his team right behind George Kittle. He’s a must flex this week against a Dolphins team that ranks last in the league in coverage and 16th against the run, and given the instability at quarterback on the 49ers look for head coach Kyle Shanahan to scheme up some real playcalling gems for Deebo this week!
T.Y. Hilton vs. The Cleveland Browns: SIT
Phillip Rivers has a throwing depth of target of 7.7 yards. T.Y. Hilton has a receiving aDOT of 12.59 yards. In other words, one runs far down the field to catch passes, and the other throws a lot of short passes. Not exactly a recipe for fantasy football success. Despite facing the Browns this week that rank 23 in pass coverage, and who got torched by the Cowboys in week 4, the Colts just aren’t a high powered offensive team anymore. They’re firmly committed to the strength of their running game/offensive line evidenced by having a pass to run ratio of 49.6-50.4. Until we see Rivers taking more chances downfield you have to fade Hilton going forward.
Tight End
Eric Ebron vs. The Philadelphia Eagles: START
The Eagles have given up the third-most fantasy points to the tight end position on the season, and with the steady rise in target share for Eric Ebron, particularly from inside the 10-yard line, look for him to be a viable red zone scoring target for you this week!
Mike Gesicki vs. The San Fransisco 49ers: SIT
Ah, yes the preseason darling at tight end. EVEN I drank the Kool-Aid on that one….
Flash forward to now and I shouldn’t be that surprised at his poor performance in 2020. In 2019, among tight ends he was near the bottom in YAC/REC, meaning he basically acted like a big open target waving his hands in the air but once receiving the ball he wasn’t able to do anything with it in terms of turning upfield for positive yardage. And surprise, he’s doing that same thing again this season. Facing a 49ers team allowing the second-fewest fantasy points per game to the tight end you can safely send Gesicki to your bench this week.
IDP CONTENT
As we do every week, when discussing IDP players we reference their fantasy point production using the FantasyPros IDP scoring rubric:
Linebackers
Kyle Van Noy vs. The San Fransisco 49ers: START
It was tough deciding which Dolphins linebacker to recommend starting this week. Both Van Noy and Jerome Baker have been playing lights out from an IDP perspective. However, I went with Van Noy this week because of his consistency in tackle production this season as well as his play on the ball, causing two forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery on top of his 2 sacks on the season. This week he faces a 49ers team ranked 17th in pass-blocking. Advantage: Kyle Van Noy. Start him this week!
Germaine Pratt vs. The Baltimore Ravens: SIT
Second on the team in defensive snaps, Pratt has yet to take a more prominent, consistent role on this defense. He’s been streaky in terms of tackle production from week to week and given the mobile nature of Lamar Jackson (the Ravens true RB1), look for Pratt to be fairly ineffective keeping up with the running game of the Ravens to produce anything worthy from a fantasy perspective.
Defensive Backs
Josh Jones vs. The Houston Texans: START
Don’t let his DB29 ranking fool you, Jones’s 11.1 fantasy points per game have been a breath of fresh air for this Jaguars team. He leads all safeties on the Jaguars in tackle percentage and is tied for 7th with the most solo tackles among all DBs, LBs, and DLs (23) in the NFL. Fire him up with confidence this week.
Micah Hyde vs The New York Jets: SIT
Averaging 9.8 fantasy points per game on the season might sound impressive, but the fact that puts Michah Hyde as the DB51 on the season does not. Over the past three games, he’s averaged 11.5 fantasy points per game, but the teams he’s faced during that period have had a pass-heavy offensive philosophy that made use of his skills as a free safety. This week he’ll be taking on a Jets team that will look to run the ball more than pass given the fact their starting quarterback is out for this game. Look for a dip in production this week, and find other suitable options on your waiver wire.
Defensive Linemen
Yannick Ngakoue vs. The Seattle Seahawks: START
Coming over from the Jaguars in a trade earlier this season, Yannick has led all defensive lineman on the team in snaps, tackle percentage, and sack percentage. His 13.2 fantasy points per game from weeks 2-4 place him in the top 4 in fantasy scoring among all defensive lineman. Playing at an elite level, and going up against a Seahawks team that gave up 3 sacks to Aldon Smith and the Cowboys a couple of weeks ago, look for Ngakoue to pile on the pressure against this Seahawks offensive line and keep racking up the fantasy points!
Demarcus Lawrence vs. The New York Giants: SIT
I’ve written about him earlier this season in the STARTS & SITS column.
I hoped he would be performing better for IDP managers at this point in the season.
He’s only averaging 4.44 fantasy points per game which places him as the DL114 on the season. Drop him. NEVER start him again!
Thanks for reading, #4EYEDfans!
Good luck in week 5!
*References provided by: