NFL Fantasy Football Advice: How To Win Week 5 (2015)
It’s that time again, when we put on our thinking caps, crunch the data, and publish our best NFL Fantasy Football advice. Our editorial team scours the Internet looking for the best insights into matchups, fantasy trends, injuries to come up with the best player strategy for you to win the week. We also turn to trusted fantasy football advice sources for the predictions and compare our results to theirs. This week we look at Rotoworld’s fantasy advice for NFL Week 5 in the “league where they play for pay.” The picks are courtesy of Nick Mensio. Make sure to head over to Rotoworld for the full start’em or sit’em column.
Fantasy Advice At Running Backs
Dion Lewis (Patriots) versus Dallas Cowboys
Nick Mensio points out, “Lewis has been a PPR machine for New England and is even returning value in standard formats. The Patriots have the highest team total of Week 5 at 29 points. Dallas has allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing running backs, including the fourth-most catches for the second-most yards to the position.” We’re hoping Mensio is correct. F&TS picked up Lewis off our league’s Fantasy Football waiver wire in Week 3. Lewis has been the New England Patriots‘ only consistent running back. Honestly, as New York Giants fans, we’d prefer if both teams lost, but let’s hope Lewis scores three touchdowns.
Other Running back Options
If you can’t pick up Dion Lewis, there are four other running backs to consider this week. T.J. Yeldon of the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or New Orleans Saints‘ back C.J. Spiller at the Philadelphia Eagles. Two other backs to consider are Washington‘s Alfred Morris against the Atlanta Falcons or Justin Forsett of the Ravens versus the Cleveland Browns.
Wide Receivers Fantasy Starts
Kamar Aiken (Ravens) versus the Cleveland Browns
Coming into the year, pass coverage was viewed as the strength of the Browns’ defense. To this point, the Browns haven’t able to stop the run or pass. They’re allowing the 11th-most fantasy points to receivers. Aiken can be plucked off the wire and plugged in as a WR3 immediately. Steve Smith (back) isn’t going to play Sunday, leaving Aiken as the default No. 1 receiver. Aiken has been in on 81.3 percent of the snaps the past two games and figures to pace Baltimore in targets Sunday.
We never heard of Kamar Aiken. As much as Steve Smith has been a consistent fantasy receiver this year, we are always leery of Ravens wideouts. We’ve had Torrey Smith on our teams in the past. The Ravens passing game isn’t as explosive or consistent as we need them to be. Buyer beware.
Other Receiver Options
Kamar Aiken should be available on the waiver league of your league, but if not, try to pick up Travis Benjamin (Cleveland Browns) at the Ravens, Kendall Wright (Tennessee Titans) at the Buffalo Bills, Willie Snead (Saints) at the Philadelphia Eagles, or Allen Robinson (Jacksonville Jaguars) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Quarterback Advice
Philip Rivers (Chargers) versus the Philadelphia Steelers
Philip Rivers is coming off his best game of the season, a 358-yard, three-touchdown performance against the Cleveland Browns. The Steelers are another leaky AFC North defense. They have tightened their defense a bit since Tom Brady and Colin Kaepernick went off against them in Weeks 1 and 2, but Pittsburgh’s secondary remains suspect. Rivers will be without receivers Malcolm Floyd or Steve Johnson in the game, but tight end Antonio Gates returns.
In the spirit of full transparency, Rivers is F&TS’ Quarterback No.1. To that end, let’s hope he has his second great week in a row. Rotoworld’s other quarterback alternatives for the week are Eli Manning (New York Giants) versus the San Francisco 49ers, Sam Bradford (Philadelphia Eagles) against the New Orleans Saints, Marcus Mariota (Tennessee Titans) versus the Buffalo Bills, or Alex Smith (Kansas City Chiefs) against the Chicago Bears.