Week five of the NFL season can be the make-or-break for your team, with several rising stars earning lineup lock status. These rising stars, such as Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud, have shown consistent and impressive performances in recent weeks, making them must-start players. Matchups, usage trends, and defensive rankings are more important than ever. These rankings will be crucial in our breakdown of Week Five lineup locks and flops. With the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers on a bye and several superstars injured, this week should be a wild one.
Lineup Locks for Week Five:
Quarterbacks:
Justin Fields:
After coming back from an injury last week against the Miami Dolphins, Fields showed why he is a must-start against bad defenses. The Dolphins, who let up the second-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, gave up 27.14 to Fields in a win. Guess who Fields goes up against this week? The Dallas Cowboys allow the most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, with 32 points per game, due to their struggling secondary. Justin Fields has put up at least 48 rushing yards in his last three games, along with three rushing touchdowns. Fields is a lineup lock this week.
C.J. Stroud:
In a massive win last week against a stingy Tennessee Titans defense that allows only 17 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, Stroud scored 19 points. This week, the Houston Texans face the Baltimore Ravens, a defense ravaged by injuries, with six different defenders listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. The Ravens, who have allowed the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks, allowed Patrick Mahomes to score four touchdowns against them last week. The Texans need to right the ship, and this is the perfect opportunity for Stroud to return to his Offensive Rookie of the Year stature.
Running Backs:
Cam Skattabo:
Watching the newly added New York Giants running back have 27 touches last week was remarkable. Skattabo only scored 13 fantasy points on a tough Los Angeles Chargers Defense, but this is his second straight game with at least 16 touches. The New Orleans Saints are the next team up, and they let James Cook rush for 117 yards on 22 carries, which works out to be about five yards per carry. The Saints let up the ninth-most fantasy points per game to running backs, and without Malik Nabers, Skattabo should have a field day on the ground.
Travis Etienne Jr.:
A bounce-back season for the fourth-year back out of Clemson is what the world of fantasy football needed. Travis Etienne Jr. was a top pick in last year’s fantasy draft and didn’t deliver, but this year is the 10th-highest-scoring running back, averaging 16.7 fantasy points a game. Last week, he ran all over the San Francisco 49ers for 124 yards and a touchdown, and averaged six and a half yards per carry. His only negative is that he has only seen six catches this year, which hasn’t slowed him down, but could be alarming down the stretch of the season. The Jacksonville Jaguars have a date with the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, who have allowed running backs to score 18 fantasy points per game, which ranks 23rd out of 32 teams. Look for Etienne Jr. to continue to carry the load.
Wide Receivers:
Garrett Wilson:
It’s odd to have two players on this list who are on a winless team, but Wilson has been rock solid this year. The Dallas Cowboys are the defense to attack this year, and have let fantasy receivers score an average of 33.5 points through four games this season. Wilson has three out of four games with over 20 points, and that is enough to get him to wide receiver five on the year. Following his game against the Miami Dolphins, he is a set-it-and-forget-it type of player poised to continue producing well, with a target share that ranks in the top five in the league at 35%.
Ja’marr Chase:
As we progress deeper into the season, the Cincinnati Bengals have been the worst offensive team in the league. They are dead last in yards, yards per game, passing yards, rushing yards, and second to last in points scored. Chase was the consensus number one overall pick for most fantasy players this season. Chase has a 22.5% target share this season, which is a slight dip from his 26.8% target share in his triple crown season. Start Chase this week as he faces the Detroit Lions, who are letting wide receivers score 20 fantasy points per game, and it could be a turning point for Chase this season.
Tight Ends:
Dalton Kincaid:
Consistent tight ends are a rare find to start the season, as the position has been slow out of the gates. A bright spot in this position has been Kincaid, who is averaging 12.5 points per game. Josh Allen likes to spread the wealth in the Buffalo offense. Still, the player he is looking at the most is Kincaid, with 18 targets resulting in a 15% target share this season. The Bills host a New England Patriots squad that has given up nine points per game to tight ends this year, which is the eighth-worst in the NFL. Look for Kincaid this Sunday night.
Sam LaPorta:
A sluggish start to the season for the third-year tight end out of Iowa has raised some concerns about his status as a starting tight end. He is looking at a 17.2% target share while playing next to fantasy studs. The Detroit Lions have been scoring on offense, ranking first in points this year with 137, which translates to an average of 34.3 points per game. LaPorta goes up against the Cincinnati Bengals, who are the eighth-worst defense against tight ends, allowing nine points per game. Sam LaPorta was a top tight end pick this season and has all the tools to put together a great season, but let’s see if he puts that together.
Lineup Flops:
Quarterbacks:
Trevor Lawerence:
Scoring only 11.66 points against the San Francisco 49ers, who have a top-five defense against quarterbacks, could mean an unforgiving game on Monday Night Football. The Kansas City Chiefs are allowing quarterbacks to score only 15.5 points per game, and Lawrence has achieved this number only once, against the Cincinnati Bengals. Lawrence is a lineup flop, and shouldn’t be in you’re starting quarterback spot this week.
Runningbacks:
Jordan Mason:
When analyzing the Minnesota Vikings offense, it’s stacked at all skill positions except for running back. Aaron Jones used to be a top-20 fantasy player, but the aging process comes quickly to running backs. Jordan Mason got the nod to start in place of Jones while he recovers from injury, and he looked great in week three against a horrible defense in the Cincinnati Bengals. This week, they take on the fourth-best rush defense when it comes to fantasy in the Cleveland Browns, who let up an average of 11 points to running backs. Managers should be very hesitant to start Jordan Mason this week.
Wide Receivers:
A.J. Brown:
It’s hard to say that an All-Pro caliber player is a lineup flop week in and week out, but A.J. Brown has been a bench candidate for a while. The Philadelphia Eagles are undefeated because they always find different ways to win, but for the third game this season, A.J. Brown has been under eight fantasy points. The Eagles take on the Denver Broncos, who have the second-best defense against wide receivers in fantasy, allowing an exceptionally low 13 points. Pat Surtain II, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, will be shadowing Brown all game. If you can get A.J. Brown back on track, show that he is back to All-Pro form.
Tight Ends:
Hunter Henry:
Sitting the number two-ranked tight end in fantasy is a tough ask, but it could be a crucial one for you to win your matchup. The New England Patriots take on the Buffalo Bills, and the Bills have allowed tight ends to score just 2.5 points per game this season. Henry is targeting a 19.5% share, which is the best of his career, but he has been very touchdown-dependent, and the Bills have yet to allow a tight end to score a touchdown against them this season. Sit Hunter Henry and try to find a gem on the waiver wire.
