Week 5 Love/Hate

Ranked running back 8; averaging 23 touches and 18% target share in three games since Jordan Mason went on IR; Saints giving up over 167 scrimmage yards per game to opposing running backs; every backfield Saints have faced this season has given up at least 20 fantasy points; top eight play this week.

Aaron Rodgers is averaging 38 pass attempts per game so far this year and faces the Colts, who have the 29th ranked pass defense. Matthew Berry considers him a viable streamer in deeper leagues, especially if Jacoby Brissett is not available. Mo ranks him at QB 17 but likes him more this week than he normally has so far this season.

Matthew Berry ranks Kamara at RB30, placing him at the edge of flex consideration in the 25-30 range for deeper leagues.

Matthew Berry expects Amon Ra to eat in Week 5 against Arizona; the Cardinals allow the highest rate of touchdown passes in the NFL and quarterbacks facing them average 9.1 yards per pass attempt (most in NFL). With the Lions secondary beat up and Arizona expected to move the ball, the Lions offense will have to throw, benefiting all weapons including Amon Ra.

Second on team in targets and percentage of routes run last week; had a long touchdown called back by penalties (holding and illegal shift). Matthew Berry expects 'the Antonio Williams breakout game is coming' and it might be Week 5 against Giants, especially if McLaurin and/or Diggs miss.

Braylon Allen saw every running back touch for the Jets last week and played over 90% of snaps; he's rated as a high-end RB2 against a Browns defense allowing 4.8 yards per carry to opposing running backs.

Ranked running back 5; 22% target share when either Jamar Chase or Tee Higgins are off field; Joe Burrow dumping it down to him; Dolphins allow 29.6 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs (second most in NFL); every running back facing Miami has scored at least 16.8 fantasy points; has 11 receptions showing he's big part of passing game; three of four opponents were bottom eight matchups for running backs earlier in season; schedule gets favorable after bye week.

Matthew Berry is in on Dak Prescott as QB5 this week against the Buccaneers in a Thursday night game. The Cowboys are top five in the NFL in pass rate over expected so far this season. The Buccaneers are 31st in pass rate over expected, with only one team worse at pressure rate. Dak will have a clean pocket and has the fourth-highest passer rating in the NFL when not being pressured. The Cowboys also have a very high implied team total.

Cowboys are top five in pass rate over expected and face the Buccaneers, who rank 31st in pressure rate (worst in NFL except one team). Dak has the fourth-highest passer rating in the NFL when not pressured. Cowboys also have a very high implied team total. Matthew Berry rates him as a top five play Thursday night.

Dak has Tyler Smith back on the offensive line, an all-pro caliber player, giving him enough time. He's playing at a top five or six level in the league right now and has been great so far against a struggling defense with a good offensive line.

Dallas Goedert is potentially unavailable for the Eagles this week, contributing to Jalen Hurts' downgrade to QB 15 as a mid-tier QB 2.

DeVonta Smith is potentially unavailable for Jalen Hurts and the Eagles this week, contributing to Hurts' downgrade to QB 15 as a mid-tier QB 2.

Drake Maye got back on track last week and is expected to keep it going against the Raiders, whose secondary has allowed six touchdown passes over just the past two games. Matthew Berry is in on Drake Maye this week.

Drake Maye was a top three fringe QB coming into the season. His confidence is back; he's letting conspiracy theories rip and doesn't care what anyone thinks. Over the next eight games (Raiders, Jets, Bears, Dolphins, Packers, Lions, Chargers, Bills), the schedule starts to get a lot easier for him. Mo ranks him at QB 8 this week.

Emmanuel Wilson is expected to continue leading the Seahawks backfield; he's seen over 20 touches in the past three games and is ranked as a top 15 play this week.

Jamar Chase remains in concussion protocol heading into Week 5, creating uncertainty around the Bengals passing game for Sunday.

Jacoby Brissett faces the Lions defense, which is allowing over 300 passing yards and nearly three touchdowns per game to opposing quarterbacks. Every quarterback that's faced the Lions this year has scored at least 21 fantasy points. Matthew Berry rates Brissett as a top 10 play. Mo ranks him at QB 9 this week.

Jalen Hurts faces significant injury concerns with potentially no DeVonta Smith, no Saquon Barkley, and no Dallas Goedert. The Eagles' offensive line is depleted with Lane Johnson retired and Cam Jurgens traded. Mo ranks him at QB 15 as a mid-tier QB 2 this week.

Matthew Berry expresses strong support for Goff, introducing him as a love pick with enthusiasm: 'And you know what? We're also very pro Jared Goff.' This signals Goff as a recommended play for the week.

Matthew Berry ranks Jared Goff as his number two quarterback this week; Goff is sneaky top five in fantasy points this year and faces Arizona, which allows touchdown passes at the highest rate in the NFL. Quarterbacks facing Arizona are averaging 9.1 yards per pass attempt (most in NFL), and the Lions have the highest implied team total in Week 5 at 50. With the Lions secondary beat up, Arizona will move the ball and Goff will have to throw to Amon Ra, Jameer Gibbs, Laporta, and J-Mo.

Officially a full go for Week 5 per Adam Schefter. Matthew Berry expresses confidence in his return, calling him 'a dog' and noting he was Clemson's leading receiver in program history, suggesting strong upside with his receivers.

Ranked running back 12 assuming Rico Dattel misses another week; in both games Dattel has missed, Warren had 125 yards from scrimmage with running back 3 utilization score; 20 touches per game over past two weeks; Colts allow over 11 yards per reception to opposing running backs; should still get meaningful role even if Dattel returns; ranked higher than Dattel for rest of season.

Matthew Berry ranks Warren higher than Rico Dattel even if Dattel is active; Warren has accumulated over 220 yards in the last two weeks and faces a Colts defense allowing 7.0 fantasy points to running backs, supporting RB1 status for the week and rest of season.

Jeremiah Love is a target option for Jacoby Brissett against the Lions defense, which is allowing over 300 passing yards and nearly three touchdowns per game. Matthew Berry emphasizes getting all of this game he can to Love in the flat.

Outside top 40 for the week; targeted at only 13% of his route when Jefferson has been on field; Saints allow six fewest yards to opposing wide receivers; has hamstring injury and missed Wednesday practice; Vikings likely to run heavy against Saints, limiting passing volume.

Ranked wide receiver 42, outside top 40; zero end zone targets so far this season with just 17% red zone target share; Jets allow fewest yards per target to slot wide receivers; has 28 targets without a touchdown, tied for second in league; tough matchup this week despite volume.

Should be rostered in every league, especially with H-Hand out; target share is above guys like T-Mac, Tee Higgins, and Devontae Adams; number one option on a really bad offense but still a consistent floor play.

Ranked tight end 17 against Falcons; very touchdown-dependent; receiving over/under is 29.5; in two starts with Tyler Huntley last year averaged 31 yards per game; has one game with more than 50 yards since start of last season; Falcons did good job against Juwan Johnson; health of Lamar Jackson uncertain.

Marvin Harrison Jr. is a primary target for Jacoby Brissett against the Lions defense, which is allowing over 300 passing yards and nearly three touchdowns per game. Matthew Berry emphasizes getting all of this game he can to Harrison.

Matthew Berry ranks Matthew Stafford as QB3 this week in the Monday night matchup against Buffalo. The Rams have the second-highest implied team total on the Week 5 slate. The Bills allow over 21 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks (fourth most in NFL), are 27th in pass defense, and have allowed more touchdown passes than all but three teams this season. Stafford has Puka back healthy, all weapons are back and healthy, and Kyron is catching passes out of the backfield. The game is expected to be a shootout with back-and-forth possessions.

Matthew Berry initially had a negative preseason take on Wilson due to Marvin Harrison's presence and new offensive system, but reversed course after Josh Richmond pointed out Wilson plays the Puka Shell role in LaFleur's offense. Over the past two games, Wilson has a 35% target share with nine different red zone targets. Facing Detroit Lions, who have allowed the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season and given up 100+ yards to a receiver in three of four games, Wilson is positioned for a very big game as a top-10 play overall.

Michael Wilson is a primary target for Jacoby Brissett against the Lions defense, which is allowing over 300 passing yards and nearly three touchdowns per game. Matthew Berry emphasizes getting all of this game he can to Wilson.

Backfield usage has shifted after a fumble; prior to the fumble, Harris and Cam Scadaboo were splitting carries nearly 50-50, but Harris received significantly fewer carries afterward. The uncertainty around future backfield distribution remains a concern for Harris owners despite the team's preference for him.

Matthew Berry ranks Nico Collins as a wide receiver 8 this week with a monster game projection against Tennessee. Collins has posted a 27% target share in both games played; the Titans allow a league-high 78% catch rate to opposing wide receivers, with all WRs seeing at least six targets averaging over 17 fantasy points per game against them.

When active, Nico Collins has commanded 100% of the Texans' end zone targets and 50% of their red zone targets, demonstrating elite red zone involvement despite missing two games this season.

Collins has seen 100% of the Texans' end zone targets in games where he's been active this season, plus 50% of their red zone targets. When active, the Texans average over 30 points in actual football and 30 fantasy points in the two games he's played. CJ Stroud is throwing the ball about 35 times per game (top five in the NFL), with a lot of those targets going to Collins, who is one of the best receivers in the league.

After playing only 19 snaps for the Giants and failing to beat out Malachi Fields or Darnell Mooney, Beckham joined the Vikings where he faces significant depth chart competition including Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Juwan Jennings, and Hawkinson. Matthew Berry assesses that it would take at least two big injuries for Beckham to have fantasy impact, making him safely ignorable for now; Berry prefers stashing Tyreek Hill over chasing Beckham despite the theoretical offensive upgrade.

Beckham has a hamstring injury while on the Vikings roster, adding to the obstacles limiting his fantasy upside.

Signed to Vikings practice squad; Matthew Berry says to ignore it for fantasy purposes. Beckham played only 19 snaps with Giants and couldn't beat out Malachi Fields or Darnell Mooney. Vikings have Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison ahead of him, providing less opportunity than he had with Giants.

Matthew Berry ranks Gordon in the RB29-30 range, placing him in the back half of flex-tier running backs (25-30 range) for deeper leagues.

Puka Nacua is back healthy for the Rams in Week 5 against Buffalo. Matthew Berry highlights that all of Stafford's weapons are back and healthy, and the game is expected to be a shootout with back-and-forth possessions, benefiting pass catchers.

R.J. Harvey has a 24-25% target share over the past two weeks and had 10 receptions on 10 targets last week; he's second in target share among all running backs and benefits from Bo Nix's heavy checkdown usage, making him a viable flex play in PPR leagues despite modest rushing efficiency.

Matthew Berry expects Sam LaPorta to benefit in Week 5 against Arizona; the Cardinals allow the highest rate of touchdown passes in the NFL and quarterbacks facing them average 9.1 yards per pass attempt (most in NFL). With the Lions secondary beat up and Arizona expected to move the ball, the Lions offense will have to throw, benefiting all weapons including LaPorta.

Saquon Barkley is potentially unavailable for the Eagles this week, contributing to Jalen Hurts' downgrade to QB 15 as a mid-tier QB 2.

Hamstring issue; missed practice. Status uncertain for Week 5 must-win game. If Diggs is out, Antonio Williams and Chica Conquo could see increased short-yardage targets.

Tee Higgins did not practice on Wednesday, creating uncertainty around his availability for Week 5 Sunday game.

Hamstring injury; status uncertain for Week 5 must-win game against Giants. Matthew Berry hopes at least one of McLaurin or Stefan Diggs returns, but if McLaurin misses, Antonio Williams and Chica Conquo could see increased opportunity.

Makes the hate list this week facing Houston Texans; running backs against the Texans are averaging only 3.5 yards per carry this season. Tennessee has the lowest implied team total in Week 5 at just 15 points and is a 7.5-point underdog, likely to throw more. Additionally, Pollard has a banged-up foot. Matthew Berry ranks him RB28.

Trey McBride is a primary target for Jacoby Brissett against the Lions defense, which is allowing over 300 passing yards and nearly three touchdowns per game. Matthew Berry emphasizes getting all of this game he can to McBride.