Starts of the Week + Week 5 Games, Smooshed! - Fantasy Football Podcast for 10/8

Prize Picks projections have Brown as the favorite for receiving yards among Bears receivers at 44.5 yards, though the projection is not particularly strong.

Aaron Jones has been a top-24 running back in all four weeks of the season; he is sneakily part of the Packers operation despite not having the best quarterback in football, but the team has a great defense and runs the ball effectively, which supports his consistent production.

Alvin Kamara is a probable pivot in most situations for the Saints against Minnesota; Pittsburgh. Then would not touch a running back on New Orleans with a thousand-foot pole against the Vikings, whose defense is ranked number one against running backs.

Antonio Williams is a sneaky start this week; the source moved him into their Scotty Fish lineup for bi-week situations, indicating confidence in his play.

Bo Nix faces the Chargers defense (24th in pressure rate, 24th in explosive pass rate allowed, 25th in yards per attempt), which should work in his favor; the Broncos lack a real running game but have 10 targets to RJ Harvey, benefiting a player like Bo Nix who can take advantage of short checkdowns and targets to the running back position.

Bo Nix faces the Chargers as a road underdog (Chargers are 3.5-point favorites). Pressure is what messes up Nix the most, and the Chargers defense should be able to generate that pressure, making this a difficult matchup for the rookie quarterback.

Sean Payton is expected to take over play-calling duties this week for Bo Nix, moving away from Davis Webb's involvement; this represents a significant shift in offensive control that could benefit Nix's performance.

Braylon Allen was a full workhorse in the game referenced, indicating heavy workload and lead-back role.

Breece Hall was not seen at practice for the Jets; Braylon is expected to be the primary back again.

Brenton Strange went crazy last week and had a touchdown-like drop play that, if it connects, would have made him fine; this suggests strong recent production and opportunity in the Jacksonville offense despite the missed play.

Brian Thomas Jr. caught a touchdown last week but the speaker is not looking to start him, indicating that a single touchdown does not change the overall assessment of his role and opportunity in the Jacksonville offense.

Bowers is a consolidation play in the Raiders offense; analysts are not afraid to start him confidently as part of Kubiak's impressive offensive system.

Watson and Golden Tate are locked into lineups for good; the offense is running downhill effectively and it's hard to see that stopping.

Lamb's return to the Dallas offense has shifted target distribution; last week he received heavy volume, prompting some fantasy managers to fear Pickens's role has diminished. However, the hosts contextualize this as a single-game variance rather than a permanent role redefinition. Lamb's presence does not eliminate Pickens's value, as the two can coexist in the offense.

Chris Bell showed up as questionable on the injury report, making him unavailable as a reliable start option this week.

Chris Brooks is not practicing and is out, which opens a path for Marshawn Lloyd to get five-plus targets in the Packers running game.

Chris Olave did not practice on Wednesday and left early on Monday night, but the Saints have stated it is a rest day, not a knee issue, citing the short week; however, if Olave does not practice again on Thursday, Pittsburgh. Then will be worried about the knee; Olave will be started no matter what if active, despite the matchup against Minnesota being poor and other factors potentially going bad.

DJ Moore is conditionally playable if he clears the injury report; the speaker would start him over Marvin Harrison Jr. if available.

Swift is mentioned as part of Chicago's running back duo (with Montgomery) that can dominate possession against Green Bay; the Packers are dead last against running backs, giving up 8.8 fantasy points more than expected, making this a run-down-your-throat type of game for Swift.

Darius Cooper had 28% of targets last week and has scored three touchdowns; speaker is 'kind of in on' Cooper as a touchdown-dependent play in a three-way Eagles receiver comparison (vs. Wicks and Lemon).

Darius Cooper is getting picked up in leagues as a waiver wire option, likely due to Philadelphia's receiver injuries (DeVonta Smith, Saquon Barkley) creating opportunity.

Darius Cooper is mentioned as a start option for Week 5 alongside Damien Pierce, though no specific reasoning or usage data is provided in the transcript.

Montgomery is mentioned as part of Chicago's running back duo with Swift that can dominate possession against Green Bay; the Packers are dead last against running backs, giving up 8.8 fantasy points more than expected, making this a favorable matchup for Montgomery.

DeVonta Smith could miss multiple weeks and is unlikely to play in the London matchup against Jacksonville, further depleting Philadelphia's receiving corps.

Metcalf faces the Steelers this week in a matchup that should produce dominant performances. His target share is expected to be significant, and he looks physically imposing—described as appearing too large for his position—suggesting he should dominate in this favorable setup.

DK Metcalf is an OK play this week against a defense that can be targeted; the source prefers him over Josh Downs as a start.

Drake Maye is ranked 7th in weekly QB projections, one spot ahead of Jordan Love at 8th; the over/under is better for Maye against Vegas, making him a preferred start over Love.

Drake Maye got his mojo back; he received nine targets and deep shots, scoring twice in the matchup against the Raiders.

Eli Stowers was a swing-and-miss pick for Philadelphia; the speaker criticizes the selection as a missed opportunity for a pass-catching tight end.

Despite CD Lamb's return and last week's target distribution favoring Lamb, Pickens remains Dallas's second receiving option with significant upside ahead. The hosts emphasize that one game where Lamb dominated targets does not redefine the offense; Pickens is not in competition with multiple pass-catchers like Jamison Williams faces in Detroit. From week seven onward last season, Pickens posted six of eight games at WR27 or lower despite a 150-target pace stretch, reflecting his boom-bust archetype as a deep-ball threat rather than a consistent chain-mover. The conviction is strong: "Not only play George Pickens, trade for George Pickens. He's going to have bright, amazing days ahead."

Pickens was drafted as the wide receiver 10 this year; the source notes that for four weeks, at least one big performance was expected, and suggests it could happen in week five.

George Pickens is projected to have a strong performance tonight against the Cowboys; the sources provide stat line projections ranging from 4 catches for 74 yards (no TD) to 5 catches for 117 yards and a TD, with target projections of 7-8. The Cowboys offense is expected to put on 'an absolute show' with Dak playing great, though the offense has been more meticulous than big-play focused.

Against the Bengals defense, which gets killed by the tight end position, Dulcich should get five or more targets; a DFS situation for desperate roster managers.

Thomas is part of the Raiders' tight end rotation in Kubiak's system, benefiting from play-action opportunities created by the improved offensive line and Jinty's usage.

The speaker would play Shipley over Pacheco, indicating a preference for Shipley's role and opportunity in the passing game despite Pacheco's typical role.

If Ramondre Stevenson is unavailable, J.J. Taylor would see increased opportunities in the Patriots passing game, which excites Pittsburgh. Then about his potential usage.

Dobbins is favored over Shipley for Week 5 start against Jacksonville, which ranks seventh against running backs; the speaker leans toward Dobbins despite Shipley's snap share, suggesting Dobbins' role and matchup are more favorable.

Jamar Chase is unavailable as a start option this week due to injury uncertainty; the speaker notes he might not play, ruling him out despite being a top-tier receiver.

Jamar Chase is going through concussion protocol, creating uncertainty for Week 5 start decisions.

Brissett is a strong streamer/spot-start option this week. Detroit allows over 300 passing yards per game, and recent top-five finishes at the position against the Lions include Josh Allen, Gino Smith, and Bryce Young. Brissett should be confident in this matchup if you need a spot start at quarterback.

The Panthers are hopeful Jalen Coker will be ready to return to action following the week five bye; he is currently out alongside Darren Waller and Chuba Hubbard.

Jaylen Hurts is facing Jacksonville in Week 5, mentioned as a potential start option alongside other quarterback considerations.

Jalen Hurts is not a startable fantasy asset in single-quarterback leagues this week, particularly given Jacksonville's strong defensive performance and Philadelphia's depleted offensive weapons.

Jalen Hurts' PrizePicks projection is 193.5 passing yards, his lowest of 2026, while averaging 176 yards per game; the Eagles' offensive efficiency is heavily dependent on scoring near the 'tush push zone,' limiting upside when not in red zone territory.

Jalen Naylor suffered a concussion last week, creating uncertainty around his availability.

Jalen Naylor got a concussion last week, creating uncertainty for his availability.

Williams is used as a comparative archetype to Pickens: both are deep-ball, boom-bust receivers rather than consistent chain-movers. Williams faces greater receiving competition in Detroit (Laporta, Ferguson, Gibbs, Javante in the passing game), whereas Pickens operates as a clearer second option in Dallas. This distinction highlights why Pickens may have more consistent opportunity despite similar volatility profiles.

Goff has been on fire through the first month of the season, ranking second in passing yards, tied for second in passing touchdowns, and third in completions. Facing Arizona's non-existent defense, Goff should be started with confidence as a top-five quarterback on the year.

Daniels is ranked behind both Drake Maye and Jordan Love in weekly QB projections at 9th, though the speaker expects Daniels to move up once systems go is confirmed.

Matt LaFleur says Jeremiah Love's ankle injury should not impact him for week five against the Lions. The source identifies Love as a start/sit conundrum this year due to favorable matchups and expected workload if the injury truly doesn't limit him; one Pittsburgh. Then would play Love over both Jacob Dobbins and Ollie Gordon, and would play Love over Ollie Gordon against Cincinnati.

Jonathan Taylor is the primary path to winning for the Colts offense this week; the source emphasizes running the ball with Taylor as much as possible given Daniel Jones' poor passing performance and accuracy issues.

Love is ranked 8th in weekly QB projections, one spot behind Drake Maye at 7th; the speaker has Love higher in their projections but would play Bo Nix as start of the week over Love.

Love has not hit 20 fantasy points yet this year; his weekly scores have been 19.5, 13.8, 18.5, 13.1, and just under 20 in week one with 3 TDs and 2 INTs, showing inconsistency despite the strong offense around him.

Josh Downs is a scary start this week despite being on the field for almost every snap last week; Daniel Jones' poor accuracy (56 percent) and overall performance coming off an Achilles injury means there's nobody reliable to target in the receiving game, making Downs a risky play.

Justin Jefferson says he plans to play in week five against the Saints; final decision has not been made, but he said he feels great.

Juwan Johnson is the tight end three on the year for the Saints, but Pittsburgh. Then ranks him as the 12th-best tight end option for Week 5 against Minnesota's elite defense, which is ranked number six against tight ends; Pittsburgh. Then would play Colston Loveland, Isaiah Likely, and Fanon over him, and only considers Johnson viable if the Saints fall behind and garbage-time opportunities emerge.

Kenyon Sadiq is in a tier where Mike Gesicki would be preferred as a start option, suggesting limited confidence in Sadiq's Week 5 upside.

With the Raiders' improved offensive line anchored by Tyler Linderbaum acquisition, Cousins is pressured the second least among any quarterback in football; he's leading the league in touchdown passes because he can stand back and pick apart defenses.

Lamar Jackson did not practice on Wednesday ahead of Sunday night football; reporting indicated that if he practices on Thursday, he has a chance to play, but if not, he will not play. The assumption is that it's an uphill battle for him to play due to a mysterious, unorthodox ankle injury that is neither high nor low.

Lamar Jackson was not seen participating in practice again, indicating continued injury concerns.

Marshawn Lloyd finished as RB34 last week, which is not in the top 30; despite the opportunity from Brooks being out, Lloyd's production remains disappointing.

Marvin Harrison Jr. was dropped as a landmine by the Falcon; the speaker is forced to consider starting him over Trey Harris despite uncertainty, indicating significant disappointment relative to draft capital and expectations.

Mayer is part of an impressive offensive product under Kubiak's system with the Raiders, benefiting from play-action opportunities created by Jinty's do-everything back role and the improved offensive line.

Pittman re-injured his foot and is expected to miss multiple weeks. The injury creates an impossible situation for the receiver, as playing on a compromised foot severely limits effectiveness.

Mike Gesicki has a decent matchup against Miami; in seven games without Tee Higgins since 2024, he averages 49 receiving yards per game and has almost always come through when Tee is out. The speaker recommends starting him, noting he deserves a start and would throw him in over tier options like Kenyon Sadiq.

Mike Washington Jr. is in consideration for flex play if Ramondre Stevenson is unavailable, with the speaker indicating a preference for Washington over Damien Pierce in that scenario.

With Jaylen Warren banged up and wearing a non-contact jersey, Najee Harris becomes a viable handcuff and start option in most leagues; Pittsburgh recommends adding Harris if you have Warren to ensure a start.

Ollie Gordon is preferred over Jacob Dobbins in start/sit decisions; one Pittsburgh. Then would play Gordon over Dobbins but would play Jeremiah Love over Gordon against Cincinnati.

Ollie Gordon was discussed as a start option against the Broncos, with speaker expressing some concern about the Jets' slow pace of play affecting his fantasy value.

Parker Washington had only three targets last week with one catch for seven yards; the speaker describes this as a disaster and is not looking to start him, indicating poor production and limited opportunity in the Jacksonville offense.

Ramondre Stevenson was limited on Wednesday with a knee injury that could rule him out this week. Over the last two weeks, he has struggled with production: eight carries for 23 yards and 14 carries for 42 yards, indicating both injury impact and reduced efficiency.

Ramondre Stevenson's potential absence would open opportunities for Henderson in the Patriots passing game; Matt Collins suffered a non-contact calf injury this past week that warrants monitoring.

RJ Harvey received 17 opportunities in the past week with 10 targets, which is significant value; the Broncos offense is heavily reliant on checkdowns and short passes to the running back position, making Harvey a beneficiary of Bo Nix's play-calling style.

Roman Wilson is a fascinating stash who has been playing very well despite modest snap share (around 30%). With Pittman sidelined, Wilson could see increased target volume and opportunity to emerge as a secondary option in the Cardinals offense.

Rome is out there for the most snaps in single wide receiver sets and is getting the targets; he's the lead option in the Bears wide receiver room.

Rome is projected at 38.5 receiving yards on Prize Picks, trailing A.J. Brown's 44.5-yard projection.

Romeo Dobbs had a couple of touchdowns in the recent game, suggesting the Patriots offense is starting to figure things out with Drake Maye at quarterback.

Romeo Dobbs received nine targets against the Raiders, gets deep shots, and scored twice; if Matt Collins is out, Dobbs becomes a top-24 must-play tight end despite the Raiders holding wide receivers under expectations.

Saquon Barkley suffered an injury this week, contributing to Philadelphia's offensive weapons crisis heading into a London matchup against Jacksonville.

Stefan Diggs is dealing with a hamstring injury and working on the side field during practice.

Tank Bigsby is on injured reserve, removing him from Philadelphia's offensive equation for the London matchup against Jacksonville.

Tank Bigsby is mentioned in context of the Eagles' running back depth chart discussion; he is ranked ahead of Damien Pierce in the Eagles' backfield hierarchy, suggesting he is the preferred option over Pierce.

Tee Higgins did not practice with a groin injury, creating potential absence for Week 5 matchup against Miami.

Terry McLaurin was not seen at practice and may miss another week due to injury.

Tucker had eight targets last week and faces the Patriots with three cornerbacks absent from Wednesday's practice report, including Christian Gonzalez, making him a very interesting play.

Trey Tucker drew eight targets last week. The matchup becomes particularly interesting if New England cornerback Christian Gonzalez is unavailable, as three Patriots cornerbacks were absent from Wednesday's practice report including Gonzalez, creating a favorable receiving environment.

Tyler Warren was expected to blow up last week but failed to deliver; despite recent stat lines of 13, 21, 55, and 41 yards, he did not produce as anticipated. The Steelers offense outside of Jonathan Taylor is described as 'stinky,' limiting Warren's upside.

Tyson Bagent is the backup quarterback starting for Chicago against Green Bay; Chicago is road favorites at minus one and a half despite having a backup quarterback, which is notable context for offensive production.

Will Shipley is the focal point of Eagles running back discussion; the Eagles front office is withholding carries from Shipley despite his talent, suggesting a committee or limited-touch approach rather than a workhorse role.

Zay Flowers did not practice but the injury is a new foot issue, not a hamstring concern, which is good news for his availability outlook.