Quarter number one in the 2020 Fantasy Football season is history. Bye weeks now play a factor; but the continued frequency of injury and a spike in positive COVID-19 cases makes Week 5 start/sit decisions particularly challenging. Before we get to those Week 5 start/sit recommendations let’s take a quick look back at my Week 4 hits and misses.

So many moving parts heading into Week 5; so I’m stacking particular matchups as reflected in my Start/Sit recommendations.

Quarterback Start/Sit Recommendations

START Teddy Bridgewater @ Atlanta Falcons

Teddy “Two Gloves” has Carolina on a 2-game winning streak and has thrived in Joe Brady’s offense through the first quarter of the season. In Week 5, he has a choice matchup against the Atlanta Falcons and their very forgiving defense. A defense allowing 33.0 fantasy points per game to the quarterback position, most in the NFL.

I imagine the Falcons offense will have something to say about the outcome of this game; so I anticipate a shootout and a Top 12 fantasy finish by Teddy Bridgewater in Week 5. Start em.

START Daniel Jones @ Dallas Cowboys

The new offense and lack of an offseason has proven too much for Daniel Jones thus far. You compound that with the Saquon Barkley injury and Jones looks like a fish out of water. Three straight weeks of one interception and no touchdowns and a 2:5 TD/INT ratio through four weeks. Jones, a trendy, late round upside fantasy football draft selection has been a bust thus far.

But injuries and COVID-19 abound, bye weeks have began and the Dallas Cowboys defense has been atrocious. The Cowboys are allowing 42 points per game over the last three weeks and their effort has been called into question. It’s not without some trepidation that I recommend starting Jones this week. But the film suggests that the Dallas Cowboys defense is the panacea for what ails the young QB. As a result, the stars just might align for a little Jason Garrett payback.

SIT Philip Rivers @ Cleveland Browns

It’s a great matchup on paper but I am all the way out on Philip Rivers. As I’ve stated before his reality value is reflected in his ability to get the Colts into the right play pre-snap. He simply doesn’t have his fastball anymore and to make matters worst his left tackle Anthony Castonzo has been ruled out for this game. Enter the current favorite for 2020 Defensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett. Look elsewhere, sit em.

Running Backs

START Kareem Hunt vs. Indianapolis Colts

Be at ease, Hunt has been playing with his current groin injury designation for a couple weeks now. As for workload, the Browns backfield is his for the forseeable future with D’Ernest Johnson sprinkled in. Hunt should see all of the goal-line and passing down work so while I’m not anticipating 20 carries against a stout Colts defense, 20 touches certainly is in the cards. Also, Darius Leonard has been ruled out and the Browns offensive line can move people.

START Mike Davis @ Atlanta Falcons

Mike Davis has been phenomenal in relief of Christian McCaffrey over the past two weeks. He’s ran it well and demonstrated soft hands in the passing game. With back-to-back Top 9 finishes in weeks 3 and 4 and consistent touches Davis is a must start until McCaffrey returns to the lineup. Atlanta is in the middle of the pack at defending opposing running backs; but I anticipate the Panthers moving the ball up and down the field and Davis finding the endzone at least once. Start em’.

SIT Myles Gaskin @ San Francisco 49ers

His value to the Miami Dolphins’ offense in reality obviously is more significant compared to your fantasy football team. Sixty-six (66) scoreless touches behind an inexperienced, battered and bruised offensive line is something I can’t endorse. Which means of course he’ll have a career day… I’ll hold the “L” if that’s the case. Sit em’.

Wide Receivers Start/Sit Recommendations

START D.J. Moore vs. Atlanta Falcons

There’s clearly a theme here. Look! I’m recommending you start all your Panthers not named Samuel or Thomas. Moore has had a disappointing fantasy season thus far and owners are growing impatient. The young wideout has taken a back seat to Robby Anderson in the early going but I believe your patience will be rewarded in Week 5. I suspect Moore gets loose against the Falcons’ banged up secondary to the tune of 5/75/1… as a floor.

START Darius Slayton @ Dallas Cowboys

I did mention I’m stacking certain matchups. If Daniel Jones puts up numbers it will be because he connected with Darius Slayton deep on more than one occasion. Dallas’ secondary currently doesn’t have the horses to defend consistently. They lack discipline and fundamentals. If the Giants are looking at the same film I’m looking at, pre-snap motion, play-action, and max protection will generate plenty of chunk play opportunities for the deep threat Slayton. The 2nd-year wideout has seen his fair share of targets but Daniel Jones just hasn’t been able to hit him consistently. I anticipate QB and WR get on the same page in Week 5.

SIT Jerry Jeudy @ New England Patriots

Jerry Jeudy does avoid the 2019 DPOY Stephon Gilmore who won’t suit up due to COVID-19; but Bill Belichick and the Patriots defense are going to be entirely too much for Brett Rypien. Sometimes talent > matchups and there’s no doubt in my mind that Jeudy has the goods. But this particular matchup stands to marginalize Jerry Jeudy considering the question marks at quarterback in Denver even with no Gilmore. Stay away, sit em’.

Tight Ends

START Eric Ebron vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Eric Ebron is no George Kittle, but the fact remains, Philadelphia struggles to defend the tight end position. Pittsburgh has had a ton of time to prepare for this matchup and if Week 3 (7/5/52/1) was any indication, Ebron and Ben Roethlisberger are getting on the same page. With competent quarterback play and a well-rounded offensive approach the Steelers can attack opposing defenses in a multitude of ways. As a result, Ebron probably isn’t a focal point in terms of the Eagles defensive gameplan. I’ll take 4/40/1 from Ebron with T.J. Hockenson, Robert Tonyan on a bye.

START Evan Engram @ Dallas Cowboys

I’m picking on the Cowboys again. Engram not unlike Darius Slayton has seen his fair share of targets. But between the struggles of Daniel Jones and Engram’s concentration drops the fantasy production I anticipated from the tight end in Jason Garrett’s offense simply hasn’t manifested. I’m putting a lot of eggs in one basket but the Cowboys defense has yet to demonstrate anything that they do well. I expect points, a lot of them in this game and Engram will be one of the main beneficiaries.

SIT Austin Hooper vs. Indianapolis Colts

Hooper does get a reprieve with talented 2nd level defender Darius Leonard out with injury. But the Colts defense is the absolute best at defending the tight end position. In fact, through four weeks the Colts are allow an average of just 1.8 fantasy points per game (0.5 per catch) to the position. The suffocating defense the Colts have employed to defend tight ends juxtaposed with Austin Hooper relegated to more of an extension of the offensive line role suggests, Sit em’.

Best of luck this weekend. Remember always start your STUDS and I take ZERO responsibility if these Start/Sit recommendations are wrong. Also, if my calls are right make certain you tell a friend. Start/Sit.

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