Team-by-Team: Everything To Know Heading Into Week 5 (Episode 1031 with Evan Silva and Adam Levitan)

Evan Silva notes that Eagles coordinator Brian Fleury indicated the team prefers to deploy A.J. Brown on tush push plays further out than the half-yard line, rather than exclusively at the goal line. This distinction matters for projecting goal-line carries and touchdown opportunities for Brown, as it affects his red-zone role and scoring probability.

Aaron Jones is projected for another huge workload in Week 5; the Vikings have a bye in Week 6, and Jordan Mason is expected back in Week 7, meaning Jones will continue to see heavy volume.

In the first game without Travis Etienne, Alvin Kamara had two short touchdowns and five catches; Silva notes that while Kamara is one of the worst running backs in the NFL athletically, he remains fantasy-viable because he gets high-value touches (goal-line carries and catches). However, the upcoming matchup against the Vikings is described as an impossible spot.

Bijan Robinson is a core part of the Falcons' offensive identity under the Bill Callahan run scheme and Kevin Stefanski's play-calling. The Falcons are intentionally involving both Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson in a run-heavy scheme, with the offense built around their ability to execute play-action off the ground game to attack downfield.

Bijan Robinson has been unstoppable in the Falcons' run-heavy scheme; he scored a 59-yard touchdown on his first touch of the game (third play), and his ability to avoid first-contact tackles is exceptional.

Kyrie Williams has 'waxed Blake Corum over the last two weeks,' indicating a clear backfield hierarchy shift where Williams is receiving the bulk of touches and targets, making Corum a less attractive fantasy option.

Corum has run only 29 routes this season compared to Kyren Williams' 99 routes, indicating a significant pass-catching role disparity. This usage split suggests limited receiving opportunity and a secondary role in the Rams' offense.

Bo Nix's performance has deteriorated significantly in Week 5; his completion percentage is down to 60% and yards per attempt dropped to 6.1, both well below his numbers from his first two NFL seasons, indicating a major regression in the struggling Broncos offense.

Brian Robinson is showing standalone value in the Falcons' run-heavy offensive scheme. The Falcons are intentionally involving both Brian Robinson and Bijan Robinson in a two-back approach, with the offense designed to be extremely run-heavy and then use play-action to attack downfield.

Bryce Young has had an insane turnaround, shredding the Lions defense with 329 passing yards and two passing touchdowns with no interceptions; he's been technically sound and accurate like Drew Brees, though he's faced the easiest pass defense schedule in the NFL through four games, so sustainability depends on tougher matchups.

Evan Silva issued a public apology to Bryce Young, admitting he was wrong about the quarterback's prospects after Young was benched for Andy Dalton. Young has returned as an NFL MVP candidate and is performing at an elite level; Silva expects Young to receive a huge contract soon.

Had a massive Week 4 performance; part of a wide receiver resurgence in Week 4 that also included Ted McMillan and Nico Collins.

Chase Brown ran 9 times for 10 yards in Week 4 but salvaged his fantasy day with 11 catches, demonstrating a pass-catching role in the Bengals offense; the team called 13 runs on 58 Joe Burrow dropbacks, indicating a pass-heavy approach.

Despite running nine times for 10 yards, Chase Brown salvaged his fantasy day with 11 catches in Week 5 against the Ravens, demonstrating significant pass-catching volume that can offset limited rushing production.

Chris Olave got dinged up late in the Saints game but Silva expects he'll be all right based on post-game observations; Olave remains a core weapon in the Saints' high-volume passing offense.

Silva still loves Christian Watson despite the conservative Packers game plan against Tampa, noting that Watson and Golden Craft's production is 'so concentrated' and they will be forced to throw much more against stronger opponents like the Bears, where Watson is 'way more likely to be pushed.'

Evan Silva admits he was very wrong about Chuba Hubbard before the season, calling it one of his worst calls for not wanting to draft him. Hubbard has been an electric pick so far and is shaping up to be one of the best picks in fantasy for at least the first month. Silva notes that Hubbard was hurt for two-thirds of training camp, which contributed to the initial skepticism, but he has been outstanding.

Parkinson did not play in Week 4. His absence contributed to the Rams' heavy 11 personnel usage, which benefited Tyler Higbee's route volume (41 routes). If Parkinson remains out, Higbee's role and fantasy value should remain elevated.

Loveland had five catches on five targets for 83 yards in the slot; Evan Silva compared his slot usage to Marcus Colston's role, noting that Brad Idzik said he would use Loveland in the slot and followed through on that plan.

Cyrus Allen made significant noise during training camp and is positioned as Rasheed Rice's direct backup rather than Thornton's; Silva expressed interest in seeing Allen play more, suggesting he could step up if Tyreek Hill remains unavailable.

DJ Moore aggravated his shoulder injury during the Bills' 29-26 home loss to the Patriots in Week 4.

Starting to get worried about DJ Moore's left shoulder injury; this is the second time he's had an issue with it. Evan Silva suspects shoulder subluxation/dislocation that can pop out repeatedly, forcing him to leave games. Moore left early in this game despite being mega tilted about it.

DeAndre Swift lost a fumble midway through the third quarter in the Bears' Week 4 game against the Jets and was benched outright by offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. This benching allowed Kyle Mononga to rack up 30 carries, 146 yards, and two touchdowns.

Dalton Kincaid saw just two targets despite running 17 routes in a game where DJ Moore left early—unacceptable usage according to offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who said post-game 'I have to be better. There's no reason Don Kincaid should have two targets, especially with the flow of the game.' Kincaid was wide open in the end zone from six yards out but Josh Allen didn't see him. Evan Silva is disappointed but notes Brady is aware of the problem.

Cooper emerged as the two-receiver option in the Eagles' offense, running 29 routes on 32 Jalen Hurts dropbacks compared to Makai Lemon's 27 routes. He made a couple of plays in the recent game and is expected to maintain this elevated role entering Week 5 against the Jaguars.

Allen ran 13 routes in Week 4, significantly fewer than Tyler Higbee's 41 routes, confirming Higbee as the primary tight end in the Rams' offense with Ferguson sidelined.

With Tyler Huntley starting at quarterback for the Ravens, Derrick Henry's production has been volatile in a small two-game sample. In one Huntley start last year, Henry rushed 21 times for 71 yards and two touchdowns; in the other, he had 36 carries for 216 yards and four rushing touchdowns. The speaker advises not to overthink Henry's performance in this backup QB situation.

Evan Silva is buying Deshaun Watson's resurgence; Watson is completing almost 70% of his passes with a quarterback rating over 100, and can support a functional passing game with receivers like Casey Concepcion and Denzel Washington getting opportunities.

Already sidelined heading into Week 4; Eagles offense severely depleted with multiple key receivers and offensive linemen unavailable, contributing to offensive struggles and late-game loss to the Rams.

Devonta Smith is not expected to play in Jacksonville in Week 5, creating additional offensive constraints for the Eagles alongside injuries to Saquon Barkley and other offensive line issues.

Devonta Smith was out for the Eagles' recent game and could miss the upcoming Week 5 matchup against the Jaguars, which was described as a very tough matchup.

Drake London is the primary downfield target in the Falcons' play-action passing scheme. The offense is designed to be extremely run-heavy and then use play-action to get Michael Penix free to throw the ball downfield to Drake London, making him the focal point of the vertical passing attack.

Drake London has maintained a 30% target share with Michael Penix on the field through two games; the Falcons' play-action heavy scheme is designed to get London downfield, and he would have produced significantly more if the run game (led by Bijan Robinson) hadn't been so dominant.

Harold Fannin has been getting into the end zone for the Browns, contributing touchdown production in the improved passing game.

Isaac Teslar received eight targets for a 15% target share in Week 5, which is notably high given he has been 'a really, really, really bad target earner in his NFL career.' Silva plans to monitor whether this elevated target share is sticky, noting it would make a significant fantasy difference if sustained.

Jamar Chase sustained a concussion in Week 4 against Jacksonville after a nasty face mask hit from Jarius Jones; he is in the concussion protocol with uncertain status for Week 5. The Bengals offense was noticeably less efficient without him on the field.

Ja'Cory Krosky-Merritt recorded four targets in the Commanders' London game against the Colts, doing something he's never really done before by becoming an actual threat in the passing game; this opportunity emerged with Rashad White sidelined, though White is expected to return in Week 5.

Jahan Dotson got involved in the Falcons game but remains secondary to Drake London in the passing game as the Falcons rely on a run-heavy, play-action formula.

Jahan Dotson was traded to the Falcons and has received some involvement in the offense, though he is not the primary target in the Falcons' current scheme. The offense is focused on run-heavy play-action with Drake London as the primary downfield receiver.

Jalen Coker was out for the Panthers' Week 4 game against the Lions and is questionable for Week 5. Evan Silva notes that when Coker or McMillan is out, the other gets a significant boost in production.

Jalen Hurts was 12 of 27 for 93 passing yards and carried it five times for 18 yards in Week 4 against the Rams. The Eagles offense has been historically poor through four weeks—the worst performance through the first four weeks of a season this century according to success rate metrics; they've gone three and out on over 45% of offensive possessions and accumulated only 172 yards from scrimmage, the lowest in a game in 12 years.

Jameis Winston threw three touchdowns for 250 yards with 8.6 yards per attempt in the Giants' 36-point win over the Cardinals, but also threw two interceptions and took four sacks; Silva notes this represents the vintage Jameis experience when games get loose.

James Cook ran only 12 routes on 36 dropbacks in Week 4; on a two-yard goal-line situation, the Bills went to Josh Allen instead of Cook, suggesting underutilization of the running back in high-leverage scoring opportunities despite being described as an awesome asset.

James Cook played well but lost a critical two-yard touchdown opportunity when the Bills ran a tush push with Josh Allen instead of going to Cook from the two-yard line. Cook ran only 12 routes on 36 dropbacks, and Ty Johnson also played, limiting Cook's involvement. Evan Silva flags this as a missed opportunity for a player who should be getting much more volume.

Jaden Daniels has a real chance to be back in Week 5 against the Giants at home; Evan Silva expects him to play in this game, which represents the primary source of hope for a Commanders offense that currently looks shot with four running backs and no quality options at the position.

Jeremiah Love, the third overall pick in the draft, played only 11 snaps in the second half of a close game against the Giants despite critical situations (goal line, two-minute drill comeback attempt); Love attributed limited usage to fatigue, saying it's been 'the longest year of his life' and that Tyler Algier and Bam Knight 'can exert themselves a little more,' raising concerns about his commitment and work ethic.

Jerry Judy ran only 19 routes in Week 5 and is mentioned in trade candidate discussions, suggesting the Browns may look to move him despite his presence on the roster.

Evan Silva expresses strong skepticism about Mixon's fantasy viability going forward, stating he thought Mixon was 'done for his career' due to a foot injury and explicitly advises against adding him at age 30. Silva expects the Seahawks to deploy Charbonnet, Helani, and Price (when healthy) instead, indicating Mixon is not part of the team's running back plans.

Jonathan Brooks was ranked around 120 overall in ETR rankings heading into the season, despite pre-draft hype about his college tape. Evan Silva and the projections team held strong on their ranking of Brooks below Chuba Hubbard (who was ranked in the 70s-80s), and Brooks has underperformed relative to expectations while Hubbard has thrived.

Despite facing Miami at home without Justin Jefferson—the best spot of his career—Jordan Addison only had a 16% target share with 4 catches for 52 yards; this was a red flag for Addison's role in the Vikings offense.

Jordan Love had 30 dropbacks, zero sacks, and was hit only twice against Tampa, but the Packers' conservative game plan limited explosive passing plays. Silva notes the Packers will likely be forced to throw more against stronger opponents like the Bears, creating better fantasy conditions.

Underhill reported Jordan Tyson sprinting and stopping as he comes off his hamstring injury; Schefter reported the most likely return date is week nine (Saints play in Paris week seven and have a bye week eight). Silva notes it's encouraging to see Tyson running and sprinting off the hamstring injury, and Underhill also reported seeing Tyson dunk. Silva acknowledges the injury concerns were a knock on Tyson pre-draft but believes if healthy he'd be performing at a high level.

More shootouts ahead are good news for Josh Allen and company. The Bills' defensive problems are being exposed weekly, and while the Bills didn't play their best offensive game for the second week in a row, Evan Silva expects this will ultimately be good for fantasy as it leads to more high-scoring games.

Vikings played Week 4 without Jefferson and failed to score a touchdown against the Dolphins at home, highlighting the team's offensive struggles without their star receiver.

Jefferson missed Week 4 against Miami but has a legitimate chance to play in Week 5; Evan Silva estimates 60-65-70% probability of playing.

Evan Silva notes that Juwan Johnson continues to be an excellent weekly start for the Saints, highlighting his consistent role in the passing game as part of the team's dome-based, high-volume offensive thesis.

Kendra Miller had a horrible lost fumble early in the Saints-Falcons game deep in Saints territory that led directly to a Falcons touchdown; Silva questions whether Miller will see much playing time the rest of the season following this turnover.

Walker had an outsized impact on the Chiefs' 30-27 victory over Vegas, carrying the ball 22 times for 177 yards and two touchdowns. He continues to demonstrate a really outsized impact on the Chiefs' offense.

Kenneth Walker is performing well and Silva expressed confidence that if he stays healthy, he will continue to produce at a high level; Silva joked about taking 'victory laps' on Walker's performance.

Keon Coleman is the primary beneficiary when DJ Moore is out; in four quarters without Moore, Coleman commanded 30% of targets (vs. Shakir 17%, James Cook 13%, Palmer 13%, Kincaid 13%). Coleman played a really good game with six catches, 116 yards, and a touchdown, continuing to show he can play at the NFL level. Evan Silva remains skeptical about him long term but acknowledges the light may have flipped on.

Kyle Pitts got a little bit involved in the Falcons game but remains a secondary target in the run-heavy, play-action passing scheme.

Kyle Pitts received some involvement in the Falcons' offense in the recent game, though he is not a primary focal point of the run-heavy, play-action-based scheme that emphasizes Drake London downfield.

Kyler Murray is dead last in QBR this season and was 23rd among 29 qualifiers in 2025 before being benched for Jacoby Brissett; Evan Silva wants to see Murray with Justin Jefferson for a full game or multiple full games before assessing his fantasy value, and there's a very good chance Carson Wentz gets under center at some point for Minnesota.

Williams has run 99 routes this season versus 29 for Blake Corum, accumulating 21 catches in four games. His previous career high is 36 catches, meaning he is on pace to shatter that mark. Silva notes his high-value touches have been absolutely great, indicating elite pass-catching usage and production.

Lamar Jackson suffered an ankle sprain during the Ravens-Titans game and has only an outside chance to play in Week 5 against the Falcons, per Ian Rapoport. The injury could sideline him for multiple games. Silva emphasizes the severity, noting that 'a banged up Lamar is not a very good Lamar' because his mobility is critical to his effectiveness, citing last season as evidence of performance decline when he cannot move freely.

Lamar Jackson left the Ravens game early, forcing a backup quarterback situation. The timing of his departure (first half) coincided with a sharp drop in offensive production and directly impacted dependent pass-catchers like Zay Flowers.

Lemon ran 27 routes on 32 Jalen Hurts dropbacks but did not expand into two-receiver sets even with Devonta Smith out. Darius Cooper took over the two-receiver role instead, and this role split is expected to remain the same entering Week 5 against the Jaguars.

Silva notes that Matthew Stafford 'has not played his best football through four weeks' despite the Rams' comeback win, suggesting there is room for improvement in his fantasy performance going forward.

Stafford has not played his best football through four weeks heading into Week 5, though Silva notes prior injury reports (back injury last August) proved overblown and did not affect his MVP-winning season.

Michael Penix has exceeded expectations since returning to the Falcons. In two games, the Falcons have scored 80 points and accumulated 918 yards of offense against the Packers and Saints. While the speaker expected Penix to provide a boost, the magnitude of offensive production—particularly against two good matchups—has been surprising and suggests the Falcons' offensive scheme is highly effective with him under center.

Michael Penix has been really good through two games with the Falcons despite poor performance last year before injury; however, both wins came against very favorable matchups (Green Bay and New Orleans), so sustainability remains a question.

Had a massive Week 4 performance; part of a wide receiver resurgence in Week 4 that also included Ted McMillan and CeeDee Lamb.

Puka Nakua returned from a two-week hip injury and performed at an elite level, 'taking Rick Woolen to the woodshed time and time again.' Silva calls Nakua 'incredible' and notes his return to form was 'awesome to see,' indicating he is back in full fantasy consideration.

Despite pre-hernia concerns that could require six-week surgery, Nakua played 76 of 84 snaps, ran 49 routes on 54 Stafford dropbacks, handled 12 carries including a goal-line carry, and showed no limitations in Week 4. Evan Silva emphasizes he would not sell Nakua given his value as an asset, dismissing speculation about the hernia risk.

With Dylan Sampson sidelined, Quinshon Junkins has dramatically increased his pass-catching role; over the last three weeks he has 14 targets for a 15% target share, on pace for 64 catches this season compared to 26 last year when Sampson was healthy. This represents a major shift from his previous two-down, run-only role.

Rice left the Chiefs' game against Vegas with a hamstring tweak, creating uncertainty about his availability going forward.

Rasheed Rice suffered a hamstring injury (characterized as a 'tweak' rather than a pull) in Week 5 but did not return to the game; reports are positive that he has a chance to play in Week 6 after the bye week, though Silva noted ongoing concerns about Rice's knee health and off-field issues.

R.J. Harvey is receiving repeated dump-down passes from Bo Nix in the Broncos offense, accumulating target volume as Nix avoids throwing downfield to open receivers like Jalen Waddell.

Evan Silva calls Sam Laporte a 'smash every week' in fantasy, citing the Lions' deficient back seven due to injuries and personnel issues, which creates consistent passing game opportunity.

Suffered a hamstring injury in-game during Week 4 loss to the Rams; Eagles already depleted at running back with Tank Bigsby also injured in the same game, creating significant backfield uncertainty heading into Week 5.

Saquon Barkley is dealing with a hamstring injury being called week-to-week. The injury appeared significant rather than a minor tweak; he immediately pulled up lame and started limping, suggesting it may sideline him for Week 5 against Jacksonville.

Suffered a hamstring injury in-game during Week 4 loss to the Rams; with Saquon Barkley also injured in the same game, the Eagles backfield is severely depleted heading into Week 5.

Tank Bigsby requires surgery on his sports hernia and will be out for six weeks. This opens the door for Will Shipley to assume a lead role in the Eagles backfield, though the Eagles' prior trade for Bigsby suggests limited confidence in Shipley as a long-term solution.

Tee Higgins sustained a groin/adductor injury in Week 4 against Jacksonville and is listed as day-to-day; not considered a serious injury, but his status for Week 5 against Miami and the subsequent bye week is uncertain.

Ferguson went on IR prior to Week 4, meaning he is out for at least three more games. His absence has opened up significant receiving opportunities for Tyler Higbee.

Terry McLaurin sustained an injury during Friday's practice ahead of the Commanders' London game; the severity is unclear, and his status for Week 5 remains uncertain.

Trevor Etienne is due to come off injured reserve after the Panthers' bye week. Evan Silva notes this is a small note but suggests he may be a pickup in deep, full PPR leagues.

With Terrence Ferguson on IR for at least three more games, Higbee has produced top-12 tight end viable fantasy output in two games without Ferguson. He posted 5 catches for 67 yards on 6 targets in Week 4, ran 41 routes (vs. Davis Allen's 13), and Silva projects him as a fantasy starter against Buffalo on Monday night, citing Buffalo's major linebacker problems.

Evan Silva expresses strong skepticism about Tyler Huntley as a replacement for Lamar Jackson, stating 'Tyler Huntley is not good.' Silva cites Huntley's poor passing production: 63 passing yards in the recent game, 186 yards in one start last year, and 107 yards in another start. While Huntley did rush 16 times for 113 yards across two starts last season, Silva concludes the overall outlook is 'not good' for the Ravens offense with Huntley under center.

Thornton suffered a gruesome ankle dislocation during the Chiefs' game against Vegas and is likely done for the season. This is particularly unfortunate because Thornton was outplaying Xavier Worthy and was in the midst of the game of his life before the injury.

While the Chiefs are likely to sign Hill during their bye week, Evan Silva expressed skepticism about his fantasy value. Hill is 32 years old and suffered a severe knee injury one year ago—a dislocated left knee with multiple ligament tears including his ACL. As of a month ago, he was still reporting trouble pushing off his left leg, raising concerns about his ability to return to form.

Will Shipley, a 2024 fourth-round pick, is positioned to assume a lead role against Jacksonville with both Saquon Barkley (hamstring) and Tank Bigsby (sports hernia surgery) sidelined. Shipley is a 5'11", 206-pound athlete who ran 4.39 at the combine with a 6.8-second 3-cone; at Clemson he carried over 210 times in 14 games and was sharing carries almost evenly with Bigsby before the injury. He plays well in the passing game and will likely be the most pursued running back off waivers this week, expected to be an FFPC main event.

Despite the opportunity, Will Shipley's workload history raises concerns about a true workhorse role. The Eagles have given him only 59 carries in 35 games as an Eagle and have hesitated significantly to deploy him; the team's prior trade for Tank Bigsby suggests limited confidence in Shipley as a long-term solution. Backup options include Damian Pierce, Jaden Blue, and Carson Steele—not an imposing group, but the Eagles' reluctance to commit carries to Shipley is a notable constraint.

Despite being drafted by Philadelphia, Shipley has received only 59 carries across 35 games as an Eagle, indicating the team has hesitated significantly to give him a workhorse role. While he plays well in the passing game, Jalen Hurts has not historically thrown to running backs in his career, limiting Shipley's upside in the Eagles' offense.

Worthy was being outplayed by Tyquan Thornton before Thornton's season-ending ankle dislocation. With Thornton out, Worthy's role in the Chiefs' offense may expand.

Xavier Worthy is being thrust into a larger role following Taequann Thornton's ankle dislocation, but Silva expressed doubt about Worthy's ability to handle the expanded workload, saying 'I'm just not sure he can do it.'

Zay Flowers was on pace to be a top-tier wide receiver in the NFL this season and had generated 118 receiving yards on a per-play basis that was the most productive in the NFL by a large margin through the first half of the season. However, Lamar Jackson's injury has put his WR1/WR3/WR5 finish in jeopardy. The speaker notes that while Flowers had elite efficiency, the Lamar Jackson offense structure limited his ceiling compared to other elite receivers.

Evan Silva expresses concern about Zay Flowers' fantasy outlook due to Lamar Jackson's ankle injury. Silva notes that Flowers 'was on his way to being one of the best wide receivers in the NFL this year,' but the loss of Lamar as his quarterback significantly diminishes his production potential, as Huntley is a far inferior passer.