Fantasy Football Week 5 Lineup Cheat Sheet: Starts, sits and sleepers
Need help selecting a starter? Dave Richard provides his analysis and confidence to help you choose the best Week 5 lineup.
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Dave Richard
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15 min read
Week 5 Rankings: Standard | PPR
The Lineup Cheat Sheet combines Fantasy analysis and game flow predictions with a confidence scale to give you a definitive answer on who to start in your leagues.
The higher the number next to a player's name, the more confident you should be to start him.
If a player isn't listed, don't start him.
Numbers are based on non-PPR scoring but are typically applicable to PPR formats.
To find a specific player, use your search function -- CTRL-F on PCs and Command-F on Macs. If neither of those are options, or if you're on a mobile device, you can search by game.
If you're still unsure, just send a note on Twitter (@daverichard) using #CBSFLCS and I'll give it a look, time permitting.
Patriots at Browns
Tom Brady's welcome-back gift is a date with the Browns and a very generous pass defense. One might expect him to ease back into the offense with a slightly simplified game plan that focuses on bread-and-butter targets like Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski (who seemed to run a little better as last week's game went on). It might mean fewer deep shots -- only one receiver has landed a reception for 40-plus yards against the Browns all season -- but the Browns dubiously are among the league leaders in passing touchdowns allowed (10) and pass plays of 20-plus yards (15). The Pats might test the defense with some deep shots, but expect their typical no-huddle offense without as many intricacies.
| Patriots | Browns | ||
| Tom Brady | (8.4) | Cody Kessler | (2.0) |
| LeGarrette Blount | (7.5) | Isaiah Crowell | (6.0) |
| James White | (4.4) | Duke Johnson | (5.2) |
| Julian Edelman | (6.6) | Terrelle Pryor | (6.3) |
| Chris Hogan | (5.8) | Gary Barnidge | (5.4) |
| Danny Amendola | (2.3) | Browns DST | (2.4) |
| Rob Gronkowski | (7.9) | ||
| Martellus Bennett | (5.9) | ||
| Patriots DST | (6.6) |
Risky starter
Bill Belichick is famous for focusing on an opponent's most impactful offensive player and taking him away. It would make sense for that person to be Pryor this week, though it doesn't completely make him useless for Fantasy. Two receivers this season have notched over 100 yards on the Patriots thanks to garbage time, though no other wideout has recorded even 90 yards. The Patriots shut down DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller two weeks ago and kept them down in a blowout, so sometimes even garbage time isn't guaranteed. Assume he won't get any more than 10 Fantasy points.
Eagles at Lions
The Bears upended the Lions without blitzing last week, barely going after Matthew Stafford. The Eagles should end up doing the exact same thing, though they have the defensive front to actually pressure Stafford without sending extra defenders. It will mean a lot of zone coverage for Philadelphia, and with ex-Lions coach Jim Schwartz battling his former passer, don't expect the stats to come easy for the Lions.
| Eagles | Lions | ||
| Carson Wentz | (7.5) | Matthew Stafford | (5.8) |
| Wendell Smallwood | (5.5) | Theo Riddick | (3.8) |
| Ryan Mathews | (5.4) | Zach Zenner | (2.9) |
| Darren Sproles | (4.8) | Marvin Jones | (7.5) |
| Jordan Matthews | (7.7) | Anquan Boldin | (2.8) |
| Dorial Green-Beckham | (4.9) | Golden Tate | (2.7) |
| Zach Ertz | (7.7) | Lions DST | (4.0) |
| Eagles DST | (6.4) | | |
Sneaky sleeper
Each of the last three lead running backs to roll against the Lions have totaled a minimum of 105 total yards. Without DeAndre Levy, the defense just hasn't done well and has yielded an insane 5.9 yards per carry in the last three weeks. This is where Wendell Smallwood comes into play as a big-time sleeper for Week 5. He led the Eagles in carries in their last game and garnered some praise from coach Doug Pederson during the bye week for his between-the-tackles downhill running. Why wouldn't the Eagles keep giving him experience? He's got more potential for a big game than Matt Jones, Tevin Coleman and any of his teammates.
Bears at Colts
The Colts requested not to have a bye following their game in London, making them the first team to play after going overseas the week before. The early timing of their Week 4 matchup made the experience almost feel like a normal week, but that's a lot of adjusting for each player to deal with. Also, they lost, so there could be more pressure than normal to rebound. The Bears defense has unearthed some decent players and used heavy coverage to bring home a win last week. The same formula could mean more turnovers for Andrew Luck, especially if his O-line isn't healed up.
| Bears | Colts | ||
| Brian Hoyer | (6.4) | Andrew Luck | (7.9) |
| Jordan Howard | (7.6) | Frank Gore | (6.6) |
| Alshon Jeffery | (8.0) | T.Y. Hilton | (8.4) |
| Cameron Meredith | (3.6) | Phillip Dorsett | (4.0) |
| Zach Miller | (6.5) | Jack Doyle | (4.7) |
| Bears DST | (5.6) | Dwayne Allen | (3.9) |
| Colts DST | (4.6) |
Streaming tight end
As a streaming tight end, Miller should serve his purpose. But it felt like we got lucky with him last week when he was wide open against busted coverage for a touchdown. The Colts have played better against tight ends than most teams, so it feels like there isn't much of a ceiling for Miller. But 70 or 80 yards? With Kevin White out and his targets likely to stay stable at around five per game, he should be all right.
Titans at Dolphins
Tennessee hasn't allowed a quarterback to get to 20 Fantasy points yet this season -- but it will be challenged this week. On the road for the second week in a row, the Titans face the Dolphins with a healthy O-line and a non-existent run game. That should lead to Ryan Tannehill picking up around 35 pass attempts and firing against a secondary that has some exploitable talent. The Titans have allowed at least 100 yards to the most targeted opponent in 3 of 4 games this year and a touchdown to a non-No. 1 receiver in each of their last three games.
| Titans | Dolphins | ||
| Marcus Mariota | (4.7) | Ryan Tannehill | (6.1) |
| DeMarco Murray | (8.9) | Jay Ajayi | (3.9) |
| Derrick Henry | (2.7) | Jarvis Landry | (7.75) |
| Andre Johnson | (3.3) | Kenny Stills | (5.7) |
| Rishard Matthews | (3.1) | DeVante Parker | (4.8) |
| Tajae Sharpe | (2.6) | Dolphins DST | (5.4) |
| Delanie Walker | (7.3) | ||
| Titans DST | (5.2) |
Sneaky sleeper
Unless the Titans do something different, Jason McCourty will stay stationed to the left of the quarterback, Perrish Cox to the right and Brice McCain in the slot. That should make for a good matchup for Jarvis Landry but what about the other Dolphins? Kenny Stills and DeVante Parker are the outside receivers -- both line up all over the place but in the past two weeks Parker has taken more snaps from the left side (McCourty's side) and Stills has been on the right side (Cox's side). The hunch is that the Dolphins will give Stills a little more work since he's provided some big plays lately. Stills has delivered at least seven Fantasy points in each of his last three and would have in all four if not for a dropped deep ball. He's a perfect bye-week replacement.
Redskins at Ravens
Typically the Ravens play better at home, and they'll need to bring it on both sides of the ball against Washington. Offensively they should have no excuses -- the Redskins rank 25th against the pass and 30th versus the run, and that's when they're healthy. Defensively they have to come up with some stops of a hot Washington offense. The matchup between Jordan Reed and Eric Weddle should be fun to watch, but the real matter is how the Ravens pressure Kirk Cousins. A quarterback who typically struggles away from FedEx Field, Cousins will have a big target on his back if the Ravens have any kind of second-half lead.
| Redskins | Ravens | ||
| Kirk Cousins | (6.0) | Joe Flacco | (5.3) |
| Matt Jones | (5.4) | Terrance West | (7.2) |
| Chris Thompson | (3.6) | Javorius Allen | (3.0) |
| DeSean Jackson | (7.8) | Kenneth Dixon | (2.5) |
| Jamison Crowder | (4.1) | Steve Smith | (7.9) |
| Jordan Reed | (8.9) | Mike Wallace | (5.4) |
| Redskins DST | (4.8) | Dennis Pitta | (4.9) |
| Ravens DST | (4.4) |
Start him
Everyone looking for the Steve Smith-Josh Norman battle might be disappointed. Smitty has lined up everywhere but most of his reps have come from the slot, which traditionally has been no man's land for Norman. Every receiver with at least seven targets against Washington has come away with 10 or more Fantasy points this season, and Smith has eight-plus targets in three of four games this year.
Texans at Vikings
The Vikings defense is as hot as any in the league, shutting down Aaron Rodgers, Cam Newton and Eli Manning in succession. Now it's Brock Osweiler's turn -- the Texans starter has six interceptions through four games. Expect the target to be squarely on him this time as the Vikings find ways to pressure him into mistakes. That's also bad news for DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller as no receiver has amounted for more than 76 yards against Minnesota this season, and only one has scored on them through four weeks. Ask Kelvin Benjamin and Odell Beckham how good this defense is.
| Texans | Vikings | ||
| Brock Osweiler | (3.5) | Sam Bradford | (3.4) |
| Lamar Miller | (6.3) | Jerick McKinnon | (7.0) |
| DeAndre Hopkins | (7.0) | Matt Asiata | (4.1) |
| Will Fuller | (6.2) | Kyle Rudolph | (7.8) |
| Texans DST | (6.0) | Vikings DST | (8.6) |
Jets at Steelers
Given the pass defense woes and Ryan Fitzpatrick's interception parties, keeping up on the scoreboard will be crucial for the Jets. After seeing the Chiefs fall behind quickly last week, the emphasis should be on jump-starting the run game and take advantage of a defense that technically ranks fourth but allows 4.0 yards per rush and at least nine Fantasy points per week to a rusher. Moreover, the Steelers have allowed two running backs to catch for at least 100 yards and a touchdown over the last three games. The Jets should aim to have Matt Forte and Bilal Powell ready for a big workload to keep the chains moving, keep Big Ben off the field and, most importantly, keep Fitzpatrick from chucking more interceptions.
| Jets | Steelers | ||
| Ryan Fitzpatrick | (3.7) | Ben Roethlisberger | (8.5) |
| Matt Forte | (6.1) | Le'Veon Bell | (9.5) |
| Bilal Powell | (5.1) | DeAngelo Williams | (3.4) |
| Brandon Marshall | (8.3) | Antonio Brown | (9.7) |
| Quincy Enunwa | (4.75) | Sammie Coates | (5.0) |
| Jets DST | (3.8) | Jesse James | (5.3) |
| Steelers DST | (6.2) |
Risky start
Unfortunately, what we've seen from Forte over the last two weeks is what was expected coming into the year. He played 54 and 60 snaps in Weeks 1 and 2, averaging 29.5 touches per game, but then worked just 41 and 34 snaps in Weeks 3 and 4. That led to 16.5 touches per game. I suspect the Jets toned down Forte's touches after Week 2 in an effort to keep him from breaking down. Turning it around on the road against the Steelers without 20 touches seems unlikely, even if the Steelers are allowing an even 4.0 yards per carry.
Falcons at Broncos
So far, Matt Ryan has feasted on the 15th, 32nd, 28th and 14th ranked pass defenses and has been sacked just 2.3 times per game. A greater challenge is obviously expected when he plays at the Broncos and their second-ranked pass defense averaging 4.3 sacks per game. No quarterback has thrown for more than one touchdown or over 210 yards on their defense, and they've faced some big-armed passers. Ryan's helped by a good offensive line and Julio "300" Jones, but he's already faced Wade Phillips-coached defenses twice in his career and threw multiple interceptions, fell short of 20 Fantasy points and lost both meetings.
| Falcons | Broncos | ||
| Matt Ryan | (6.9) | Paxton Lynch | (5.9) |
| Devonta Freeman | (6.7) | C.J. Anderson | (8.0) |
| Tevin Coleman | (4.7) | Devontae Booker | (2.3) |
| Julio Jones | (8.9) | Demaryius Thomas | (9.0) |
| Jacob Tamme | (5.5) | Emmanuel Sanders | (8.6) |
| Falcons DST | (2.6) | Virgil Green | (3.65) |
| Broncos DST | (8.7) |
Bengals at Cowboys
Cincinnati's defensive front is powerful enough to push the Dallas offensive line and provide some pressure, and the secondary should have enough talent to match up with what's left of the Cowboys receiving corps. Maybe if Dez were healthy the Cowboys would have a better shot here, but given that teams with super-talented wideouts have done the most damage against the Bengals, it's looking like an uphill battle for Dak Prescott, who is aiming for his third consecutive game with at least 21 Fantasy points.
| Bengals | Cowboys | ||
| Andy Dalton | (6.5) | Dak Prescott | (5.5) |
| Jeremy Hill | (5.6) | Ezekiel Elliott | (7.4) |
| Giovani Bernard | (4.0) | Lance Dunbar | (2.4) |
| A.J. Green | (9.6) | Brice Butler | (5.6) |
| Brandon LaFell | (2.5) | Cole Beasley | (5.5) |
| Bengals DST | (6.8) | Terrance Williams | (3.45) |
| Jason Witten | (3.4) | ||
| Cowboys DST | (4.2) |
Bills at Rams
There's not a whole lot to like here outside of the running backs for Fantasy, and even then, Todd Gurley isn't exactly bringing down the house. Buffalo did a nice job last week of bottling up the Patriots' rushers and forcing some bad plays on third down. A similar formula is expected in this game. Buffalo's run defense even gets a boost with defensive tackle Marcel Dareus coming back to plug in running lanes and collapse pass protection. The Rams' inability to win at the line of scrimmage on offense could haunt them -- when it comes to run offense and run defense, the Bills have an edge. The Rams might play without three defensive linemen including Robert Quinn -- that will hurt their DST and improve the matchup for the Bills.
| Bills | Rams | ||
| Tyrod Taylor | (5.1) | Case Keenum | (3.9) |
| LeSean McCoy | (9.1) | Todd Gurley | (7.1) |
| Mike Gillislee | (3.2) | Tavon Austin | (4.6) |
| Robert Woods | (4.4) | Kenny Britt | (3.55) |
| Marquise Goodwin | (2.4) | Brian Quick | (3.2) |
| Charles Clay | (3.5) | Rams DST | (6.1) |
| Bills DST | (5.0) |
Chargers at Raiders
If Philip Rivers is going to play the matchups, he should zero in on Raiders cornerbacks Sean Smith and D.J. Hayden. Smith lines up outside while Hayden mostly mans the slot -- that will put the spotlight on Dontrelle Inman, who according to Pro Football Focus, runs most of his routes out of the slot but also scored on a play-action bomb from Rivers when lined up to the left (Smith's territory). Travis Benjamin might get some shots against the slower cornerback in Smith, but Inman makes a lot of sense as a sleeper this week (better than Tyrell Williams) given his matchup.
| Chargers | Raiders | ||
| Philip Rivers | (8.1) | Derek Carr | (8.2) |
| Melvin Gordon | (9.2) | DeAndre Washington | (5.3) |
| Travis Benjamin | (7.4) | Jalen Richard | (4.3) |
| Dontrelle Inman | (5.1) | Michael Crabtree | (8.1) |
| Tyrell Williams | (4.7) | Amari Cooper | (7.65) |
| Hunter Henry | (5.2) | Seth Roberts | (4.3) |
| Antonio Gates | (3.7) | Clive Walford | (3.3) |
| Chargers DST | (2.8) | Raiders DST | (3.0) |
Start them
IsCrabtree for real? Well, he's 3 for 3 in red-zone targets with three touchdowns, so that helps his case. He also scored in each game against the Chargers in 2015. Cooper has been for real, too, unfortunately, not scoring and coming up empty on just two red-zone targets. But with the Chargers secondary depleted -- both corners and one safety are out -- the Raiders should be able to keep Derek Carr upright and let him pick apart the Bolts. The Chargers have allowed a score to the most targeted receiver in three of four games this year (Crab's 37 targets leads the Raiders), but they should really fall apart this week. Hopefully the Raiders use this game to give Cooper a score.
Giants at Packers
This is a put-up or shut-up game for Odell Beckham. The Packers have struggled against the pass for much of the season -- Marvin Jones went off for over 200 yards and two scores and Stefon Diggs had over 180 yards and a score the week before that. Cornerbacks Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins haven't fared well and shouldn't be expected to hang with Beckham, even if they're coming off the bye. The Giants figure to play from behind which should translate to Beckham staying involved. Expectations are already downgraded a little bit but if he comes up short again, Fantasy owners should really tone them down moving forward.
| Giants | Packers | ||
| Eli Manning | (7.6) | Aaron Rodgers | (9.0) |
| Orleans Darkwa | (4.6) | Eddie Lacy | (6.5) |
| Bobby Rainey | (4.5) | James Starks | (2.2) |
| Odell Beckham | (8.5) | Jordy Nelson | (9.1) |
| Sterling Shepard | (7.3) | Randall Cobb | (5.9) |
| Victor Cruz | (3.8) | Davante Adams | (3.7) |
| Will Tye | (3.6) | Richard Rodgers | (4.3) |
| Giants DST | (3.4) | Packers DST | (5.8) |
Now or never
Only one of Cobb's last 16 games has been good for 10-plus Fantasy points in non-PPR leagues. Fantasy owners are rightfully annoyed, especially since he's played with Jordy Nelson so far this season and has done bupkis. So this is the make-or-break week -- if Cobb's role in the offense isn't refreshed following the Packers' bye, and if he's not getting a lot of chances to make plays, then Fantasy owners should punt. Because the matchup is favorable this week and Aaron Rodgers typically goes off in prime-time home games, Cobb is worth a flier as a No. 3 receiver. But be non-committal.
Buccaneers at Panthers
The Tampa Bay run game seems to be in flux -- coach Dirk Koetter suggested he move to a system where players play roles versus one guy handling most of the work. One could construe it means fewer touches for Charles Sims moving forward, though he is still very adept at catching passes. That's a role the Bucs will need filled against the Panthers since they're still a very good run defense (2.9 yards per carry to running backs). This should be another high-volume game for Jameis Winston, who will not only test the Panthers deep but also take advantage of easy check-downs to players like Sims.
| Buccaneers | Panthers | ||
| Jameis Winston | (6.3) | Derek Anderson | (5.6) |
| Jacquizz Rodgers | (4.2) | Fozzy Whittaker | (4.9) |
| Mike Evans | (8.8) | Cameron Artis-Payne | (3.5) |
| Vincent Jackson | (2.0) | Kelvin Benjamin | (8.7) |
| Cameron Brate | (6.7) | Ted Ginn | (4.2) |
| Buccaneers DST | (3.2) | Devin Funchess | (3.4) |
| Greg Olsen | (9.0) | ||
| Panthers DST | (7.7) |
Sit Him
Sims' absence opens up an opportunity for Jacquizz Rodgers, not that he's taken advantage of them in the past. In 71 career games he's made five starts, rushed for five touchdowns and caught five more. Of those 71 games, he's had 10 or more touches just 18 times. In those games he's had 10-plus Fantasy points just four times. Now he's going up against a tough Panthers run defense. The Raiders rookie rushers and the Giants running back duo would be better options.
Cardinals at 49ers
How might this Cardinals offense look without Carson Palmer? He started eight games back in 2014, throwing multiple touchdowns in two of them and gaining over 250 yards in two more. His receivers notched five total touchdowns and one 100-yard game, none belonging to Larry Fitzgerald. It's a significant downgrade for all Cardinals except one: David Johnson, who should make minced meat of a 49ers defense playing on a short week minus NaVorro Bowman and rookie lineman DeForest Buckner.
| Cardinals | 49ers | ||
| Drew Stanton | (2.5) | Blaine Gabbert | (3.3) |
| David Johnson | (9.6) | Carlos Hyde | (7.3) |
| Andre Ellington | (2.6) | Jeremy Kerley | (3.0) |
| John Brown | (6.0) | Garrett Celek | (5.1) |
| Larry Fitzgerald | (5.2) | 49ers DST | (3.6) |
| Michael Floyd | (4.5) | ||
| Cardinals DST | (7.0) |
Risky starter
If there's a Cardinals receiver to chase, it's Brown. The 49ers unearthed an intriguing cornerback prospect last week in Rashard Robinson. He mostly plays on the defense's right side and figures to match up often with Michael Floyd. It leaves the Niners' other two corners, Tramaine Brock and Keith Reaser, to go one-on-one with Brown. His speed will tempt Bruce Arians to dial up some deep lobs for Stanton to try, so there's potential of a big play. His upside puts him ahead of his own teammates and some recently frustrating wideouts on the Fantasy rankings this week.
