We are already a quarter of the way into the fantasy football season and we have two more teams on a bye this week. The Detroit Lions are on a bye which means Kerryon Johnson, Kenny Golladay, and Matthew Stafford owners will be looking for replacements. The Miami Dolphins are also on bye which means that it will be a little hard to pick out which defense to stream. Whether it is a bye week, injury, or a bad matchup, we have options to help you get a win in Week 5.
Quarterbacks
Philip Rivers – Los Angeles Chargers Vs. Denver Broncos
The Los Angeles Chargers welcome back Melvin Gordon and also welcome in the 0-4 Denver Broncos to town. The Broncos’ defense has struggled so far this season, and they are going to be without pass rusher Bradley Chubb after losing him to a season-ending knee injury last week.
Philip Rivers is a solid quarterback streaming option that should benefit from a strong running game. He should also be getting one of his weapons back as Mike Williams is trending towards playing. Whether it is throwing to his receivers or to his running backs out of the backfield, Rivers will find a way to get it done this Sunday.
Baker Mayfield – Cleveland Browns Vs. San Francisco 49ers
Baker Mayfield is most likely on the bench of someone who drafted him or possibly on the waiver wire. The season has not started as expected, and the hype has not been real so far. Mayfield reminded us of his potential last week though as he turned in an impressive game in a big win against the Baltimore Ravens. This week, Mayfield gets Antonio Callaway back into the mix coming off of suspension, and Jarvis Landry has been cleared to play as well.
The team has identified the issues with the offensive line, and game planning allowed Mayfield to get the ball out faster last week. Look for the team to continue the quick passing game to help get Mayfield going. Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. both turn into kick returners once they get the ball in their hands. With a full arsenal of weapons and a good matchup, Baker is worth a shot at redemption this Monday.
Andy Dalton – Cincinnati Bengals Vs. Arizona Cardinals
Andy Dalton and the Cincinnati Bengals looked awful on primetime this past Monday, and everyone was reminded of the lows that come with Dalton. He has had an impressive season, however, prior to this game, and I would expect more of that.
The Arizona Cardinals are leading the league in pace of play, and the Bengals are not far behind. This game has the potential for a lot of plays. Dalton should benefit from a depleted defense that is struggling against the pass this season. The Cardinals are still without Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Peterson, and they just cut safety D.J. Swearinger. Swearinger played 100% of the snaps for them last week. Even without John Ross, the Bengals should have no problem moving the ball against the defense. Don’t be afraid to break the glass and pull out the red rifle this weekend.
Tight Ends
Tyler Eifert – Cincinnati Bengals Vs. Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals lead the league in allowed fantasy football points to the tight end. Tyler Eifert is widely available and you should not worry about C.J. Uzomah. Eifert is running more routes than Uzomah who is being used primarily as a blocking tight end. Eifert has been getting targets each week and has been used in the red zone. He is due for a touchdown, and this week looks like a great bet. Streaming tight ends against the Cardinals’ defense looks to be a formidable strategy, and we’ll continue with it until proven otherwise.
Jimmy Graham – Green Bay Packers @ Dallas Cowboys
Jimmy Graham has not had the success we hoped for since joining the Green Bay Packers, but last week was the most we have seen him involved since joining them. Last week, as soon as Davante Adams left the game, Graham started becoming a top target. Adams will be out this week, and Graham should be up for an increase in targets including in the red-zone.
Jack Doyle – Indianapolis Colts @ Kansas City Chiefs
In a game that is likely to lead to a lot of Jacoby Brissett passing attempts, Jack Doyle is worthy of a start in all point per reception leagues. Doyle is the obvious safety valve for Brissett and T.Y. Hilton may be out on Sunday night.
Defenses
Carolina Panthers D/ST Vs Jacksonville Jaguars
The Carolina Panthers have racked up 14 sacks in the last two weeks. Meanwhile, the Jacksonville Jaguars allowed five sacks just last week. The Jaguars have won games with American hero Gardner Minshew under center, but they haven’t exactly been lighting the world on fire. Their offensive line is suspect and the Panthers’ defensive line should be in line for some sack production. In a lower-scoring game, the Panthers defense should be a safe play this weekend.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers D/ST Vs. New Orleans Saints
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defense has been much improved under defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, and the New Orlean Saints’ offense has struggled under quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Look for the Buccaneers to make a conscious effort to key in on Alvin Kamara in order to put the ball in Teddy’s hands.
Ndamukong Suh and Vita Vea have been dominant upfront in the running game. Shaq Barrett currently leads the league in sacks, and the hope is that the Buccaneers will get the number five pick in this year’s draft, Devin White, back this week. Pick up the Buccaneers’ defense if you need a spot filler this week.
Pittsburgh Steelers D/ST Vs. Baltimore Ravens
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense was on full display last Monday night against the Bengals. The defense looked dominant and is currently the strength of this team right now. Their pass rush and their playmakers should give Lamar Jackson trouble. Jackson has improved as a passer, but he still throws a few errant balls a game. Between that and his history of fumbling, there is more potential for fantasy football production in this matchup than it may appear.
David Heilman is a writer and Fantasy Football co-director for Pro Football Network. You can follow him at @DynastyDorks on Twitter.