We're past the quarter point in the NFL season, which means we should know a lot about all of these teams after four games. For example, the Patriots and Chiefs are good, and the Dolphins and Redskins are bad.
Everyone else is in the middle.
Obviously, there's more to it than that, but Fantasy managers should have a pretty good idea about their teams as well. For example, JuJu Smith-Schuster misses Ben Roethlisberger, it's nice to see what Dalvin Cook and Leonard Fournette can do when healthy and Lamar Jackson is a legit Fantasy star.
There are many more examples we can list, but there are also some things we are still hopeful can change. And there are three star receivers who I expect to have a breakout performance in Week 5 after some recent struggles – DeAndre Hopkins, Odell Beckham and Adam Thielen.
Hopkins was great in Week 1 with 31 PPR points at New Orleans, but he's combined for 28 PPR points in his past three games. That's not what you expect from the No. 1 Fantasy receiver.
This week, Hopkins is facing a beat-up Falcons secondary that is tied for the second most touchdowns allowed to receivers with seven. Atlanta just gave up three touchdowns to A.J. Brown (two) and Corey Davis (one), so look for Hopkins and potentially Will Fuller to go off. It's also good news for a struggling Deshaun Watson.
Beckham had a big Week 2 with 28 PPR points at the Jets, but he's combined for 29 PPR points in his other three games, including just four PPR points in Week 4 at Baltimore. This week, he should bounce back against the 49ers, who have allowed five receivers to either score or gain at least 100 receiving yards in three games, including big plays to John Ross, Smith-Schuster and Diontae Johnson.
Beckham could benefit with an uptick in targets if Jarvis Landry (concussion) is out, but I don't think it will matter. This will be a game where Baker Mayfield should get Beckham back in the end zone.
Thielen has the ultimate squeaky wheel game coming against the Giants in Week 5. While he scored at least 12 PPR points in his first three games, he hadn't come close to matching his Fantasy production from last year. And in Week 4 at Chicago, things fell apart.
Thielen had two catches for 6 yards on six targets against the Bears, and he complained about Minnesota's passing game after the loss. It was likely him expressing his frustration, but it sounded like a clear shot at Kirk Cousins and the coaches, who are definitely focused on being a run-first team.
That likely won't change much against the Giants, but Thielen should get a season-high in targets from Kirk Cousins (his best game was eight in Week 2 at Green Bay). And the Giants allowed five receivers to either score or gain at least 100 receiving yards in their first three games before playing the inept Redskins in Week 4.
Stefon Diggs can also benefit in this matchup, but this game is about Thielen. And Fantasy managers who have been frustrated with him will reap the rewards of a huge outing.
I hope this is a good week for all of your Fantasy teams. But I'm confident those of you with Hopkins, Beckham and Thielen will have strong performances in Week 5.
Editor's Note: Projections are provided by CBS Sports and not Jamey Eisenberg. Projected points are for PPR leagues.
Start 'Em & Sit 'Em
START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Start of the Week
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This is the week for David Montgomery to break out. He's due, and the matchup with the Raiders should be considered a favorable one.
We can complain all we want about Montgomery's usage – and we have – but now it's on him and the Bears to deliver a strong performance against Oakland in London. The Raiders are without middle linebacker Vontaze Burfict (suspension), and there's a good track record of running backs with a quality workload having success against Oakland going back to last year.
In the past 20 games for the Raiders going back to the start of the 2017 campaign, a running back has had at least 14 carries in 13 games. In 12 of those outings, a running back has either scored or gained at least 100 total yards.
That's only happened once this season with Dalvin Cook in Week 3 when he had 16 carries for 110 yards and a touchdown, as well as four catches for 33 yards. Montgomery should be the next running back to accomplish that feat.
Despite seemingly being underutilized, Montgomery does have at least 16 total touches in each of his past three games against Denver, Washington and Minnesota. In two of those games, he has at least 18 carries.
Now, he hasn't topped 67 rushing yards or 81 total yards in any game yet, he only has one touchdown and he's averaging just 3.5 yards per carry. But this will be the game he goes off.
The Bears, with Chase Daniel in for the injured Mitchel Trubisky (shoulder), should lean on Montgomery as much as possible. And if he gets more than 14 carries against the Raiders, I expect him to have a big game.
I'm starting Montgomery over: Melvin Gordon (vs. DEN), Wayne Gallman (at MIN), Aaron Jones (at DAL), Phillip Lindsay (at LAC), Josh Jacobs (vs. CHI)
START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Quarterbacks
Start 'Em
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Wentz had one of his best games in Week 4 at Green Bay when he scored 25 Fantasy points behind 160 passing yards and three touchdowns, along with 13 rushing yards. He's now scored at least 25 Fantasy points in three of four starts, and he should have another strong outing against the Jets in Week 5. Baker Mayfield and Tom Brady have already passed for at least 300 yards against the Jets, with Brady and Josh Allen scoring multiple touchdowns against this defense. I like Wentz as a top five Fantasy quarterback in Week 5.
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The Rams defense got exposed in Week 4 against Tampa Bay when Jameis Winston went into Los Angeles and passed for 385 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Now, we'll see if Wilson can do something similar, or will the Rams defense play the way it did in the first three weeks of the season against Carolina, New Orleans and Cleveland? Wilson has scored at least 30 Fantasy points in two of his past three games, and he scored at least 25 Fantasy points in two meetings with the Rams last season. I'm counting on Wilson to play well once again against the Rams on Thursday night.
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Murray's had an up and down Fantasy campaign in his rookie season so far. He's scored at least 20 Fantasy points in two games and been at 15 points in two others. This week could be his best game to date. In his first two games against Detroit and Baltimore, Murray passed for at least 300 yards in both outings. In the past two games against Carolina and Seattle, Murray has scored at least six Fantasy points with his rushing stats. Let's see if he can put it all together against the Bengals, who have allowed multiple touchdowns against Wilson, Jimmy Garoppolo and Mason Rudolph this season. If the offensive line can protect Murray this week -- he's been sacked 12 times in the past two games -- then Murray should have a big game against the Bengals.
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Forget about what happened to Dalton on Monday night at Pittsburgh in Week 4 when he scored just two Fantasy points. It was another prime-time meltdown behind a bad offensive line. He will rebound in Week 5 at home against Arizona, and I like Dalton as a low-end starter in all leagues against the Cardinals. Prior to facing the Steelers, Dalton was averaging 21.3 Fantasy points per game in his first three outings. Arizona has allowed huge games to Matthew Stafford, Lamar Jackson and Kyle Allen, and Dalton should follow suit. He's the best streaming quarterback for Week 5.
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I spoke to Carson Palmer, who played quarterback for Tampa Bay coach Bruce Arians in Arizona, prior to Week 2, and I asked him when things would click for Winston in Arians' offense. He said give it 2-3 weeks, and then Winston would start having some big games. Palmer was right, and now Winston looks unstoppable. In Week 3 against the Giants, Winston scored 31 Fantasy points, and he followed that up with 37 points at the Rams in an impressive performance. He should be considered a top 10 Fantasy quarterback this week, even at New Orleans. While the Saints shut down Dak Prescott in Week 4, the previous three quarterbacks against New Orleans (Deshaun Watson, Jared Goff and Wilson) all had multiple touchdowns and at least 268 passing yards. Winston should stay hot in this matchup.
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Sleepers
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Brissett has improved as a Fantasy quarterback in each game this season, going from 19 Fantasy points in Week 1 to 27 points in Week 4. Could this be the week he scores more than 30 points? It would be great if he got T.Y. Hilton (quadriceps) back this week, but his best game this season came without Hilton on the field. Since he'll likely be chasing points in Week 5 at Kansas City, consider Brissett a low-end starting option this week in all leagues.
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Three quarterbacks this season have passed for at least 247 yards and two touchdowns against the Browns, including Marcus Mariota, Goff and Lamar Jackson. Garoppolo only has one game this season with more than 12 Fantasy points, but I would trust him this week as a low-end starting option. We'll see if Cleveland gets back cornerbacks Denzel Ward (hamstring) and Greedy Williams (hamstring) this week, but I would still roll with Garoppolo either way in this matchup at home.
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I'm taking a flier on Cousins here as a streaming option since this is a spot where he can have a rebound game. He's been bad in Fantasy and reality, and he's averaging just 11.2 Fantasy points per game. But with Adam Thielen complaining about the offense, as well as the Giants defense being a disaster, look for Cousins to score at least 20 Fantasy points for the first time in 2019. In the first three games of the season, Prescott, Josh Allen and Winston each had at least 250 passing yards and multiple touchdowns against the Giants, and this should be Cousins' best game in 2019 to date.
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Sit 'Em
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Mayfield has been playing better of late, but it's not translating into quality Fantasy production. He has yet to score more than 17 Fantasy points in any game this year, and I'm not sure you can expect that to change at San Francisco. The 49ers have been tough on Winston, Dalton and Mason Rudolph, allowing five touchdowns with five interceptions in three games, and Dalton is the lone quarterback with more than 200 yards. I'm still hopeful Mayfield will get things going this year as a Fantasy starter, but he has to prove himself first.
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Goff's performance in Week 4 against Tampa Bay brought mixed results. He finished with 24 Fantasy points and was a top 10 Fantasy quarterback after passing for 517 yards and two touchdowns, but he also had four turnovers and attempted 68 passes. He now has nine turnovers in four games, and it's hard to trust him on a short week on the road at Seattle. He's never played well in Seattle with 576 passing yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions in three career games, and Goff's arm should be tired after all those attempts in Week 4. This game should be all about getting Todd Gurley going for the Rams.
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Minshew mania has been fun to watch, and he's actually been a good Fantasy quarterback, scoring at least 20 points in three of four games. But this should be a bad week for him against the Panthers. Carolina has locked down Goff, Winston, Murray and Watson in four games this season, with Murray the only one getting multiple touchdowns. None of those quarterbacks passed for more than 210 yards, and Carolina has 14 sacks in the past two games against Murray and Watson. Minshew is worth using in two-quarterback and Superflex leagues, but he should struggle on the road in this matchup.
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I expected Jones to light up the Washington defense in Week 4, but he underperformed with 14 Fantasy points. This was after he had a huge game at Tampa Bay in Week 3 with 37 Fantasy points in his first ever start. He should have another bad outing again in Week 5 against the Vikings, who are looking for their first win on the road. Minnesota has allowed multiple touchdown passes to Matt Ryan, Aaron Rodgers and Derek Carr, but Ryan is the only one to go over 245 passing yards. I would use Jones in two-quarterback and Superflex leagues, but he's not worth using as a streaming option in Week 5.
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Mariota was great in Week 4 at Atlanta with 227 passing yards and three touchdowns, and he also added 22 rushing yards, which was good for 29 Fantasy points. He's rushed for at least 22 yards in every game this season, which is nice, and he has two games with 29 Fantasy points after his performance in Week 1 at Cleveland. But he also had 15 Fantasy points in each game against Indianapolis and Jacksonville, and I expect him to be closer to that production this week against Buffalo. The Bills just held Tom Brady to four Fantasy points in Week 4, and no quarterback has passed for multiple touchdowns against Buffalo this year. Mariota is a low-end starting option even in two-quarterback and Superflex leagues this week.
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Bust Alert
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I would like Rodgers this week if Davante Adams (toe) was healthy, but it appears that Adams will be out against the Cowboys. That should limit Rodgers' ceiling against a good Dallas defense, and the Cowboys have yet to allow a quarterback to score 20 Fantasy points. Now, Dallas hasn't played a good quarterback yet with matchups against Eli Manning, Case Keenum, Josh Rosen and Teddy Bridgewater. But Rodgers only has one game this season with more than 18 Fantasy points, which was Week 4 against Philadelphia. I still consider Rodgers a low-end starter in all leagues, but he's closer to No. 15 in my rankings than the top 10 given that Adams is likely out.
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START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Running Backs
Start 'Em
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You're starting Melvin Gordon this week against the Broncos since he's expected to make his 2019 debut. But you can still play Ekeler with confidence, and I like him better than Gordon in PPR. The Broncos got embarrassed by the Jaguars in Week 4 with their running backs, as Leonard Fournette (245 total yards) and Ryquell Armstead (49 total yards and a touchdown) went nuts. Denver has now allowed a running back to score in four games in a row, and Ekeler should still be in the neighborhood of 15 total touches this week. He's also scored a touchdown in two of his past three meetings with the Broncos over the past two seasons.
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Even with Damien Williams (knee) back at practice, I would still start McCoy as a No. 2 running back in all leagues this week against the Colts. He should still continue to lead this backfield in touches, and he has either 90 total yards or a touchdown in three of four games. In the past two outings against Baltimore and Detroit, with Williams out, he's scored a combined 38 PPR points with at least 80 total yards in each game. Damien Williams will likely push Darrel Williams to the bench, and Damien is worth using as a flex option this week. But I still plan to start McCoy against the Colts, who have allowed a running back to score or gain at least 95 total yards in every game this year.
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You're starting James Conner this week as long as he's healthy with his injured ankle. But if he's out, then Samuels goes from a borderline No. 2 running back to a star in all leagues. You have to be excited about Samuels after his performance in Week 4 against Cincinnati when he was used as the trigger man for the wildcat. It resulted in an amazing performance with 3-of-3 passing for 31 yards, 10 carries for 26 yards and a touchdown and eight catches for 57 yards on eight targets. Coach Mike Tomlin has said the wildcat won't be a staple of Pittsburgh's offense, but it's now something the Steelers can use if needed, with Samuels leading the way. And if Ravens defensive lineman Brandon Williams (knee) is out again in Week 5, the Steelers should be able to run wild against Baltimore, much as Cleveland did in Week 4 with 26 carries for 192 yards and four touchdowns, along with five catches for 45 yards from Nick Chubb and Dontrell Hilliard.
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Michel is not playing well now, and it's risky to trust him. And we could see more of Rex Burkhead this week, especially if the foot injury that bothered him in Week 4 at Buffalo isn't an issue, as well as James White in the passing game. But the Patriots still continue to lean on Michel, who has at least 15 carries in three of four games. He's scored in two of them, and I would expect him to get a significant workload this week against Washington in a game where New England is favored by nearly two touchdowns on the road. Two running backs have already had more than 15 carries against Washington this season with Ezekiel Elliott in Week 2 and Wayne Gallman in Week 4, and both had more than 100 total yards and scored. Michel's more of a starting option in non-PPR leagues than PPR, but I would consider Michel a low-end starter in this matchup.
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With Jamaal Williams (concussion) likely out in Week 5 at Dallas, we should see plenty of Jones once again. I consider him a volume-based No. 2 running back, and he's worth starting in all leagues despite some disappointing performances this season. Aside from Week 2 against Minnesota when he had 23 carries for 116 yards (5.0 yards per carry) and a touchdown, along with four catches for 34 yards, Jones has been at 3.0 yards per carry or less in each of this three other games. He did have six catches for 37 yards on seven targets in Week 4 against the Eagles in the game where Williams got hurt, but touchdowns have saved his Fantasy production since he has three touchdowns in his past two games. I'm not sure what to make of Dallas' run defense with strong outings against Washington and Miami. Saquon Barkley beat up the Cowboys for 139 total yards on just 15 touches in Week 1, but Dallas did a nice job on Alvin Kamara last week in holding him to 89 total yards. If Williams is out, the outlook for Jones improves greatly, so keep him active in all leagues.
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Sleepers
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We'll see what happens with the 49ers backfield this week if Tevin Coleman (ankle) is able to return. But I would still use Breida as at least a flex, and he should have a consistent workload regardless. He's had at least 13 total touches in all three games for the 49ers, and he's averaging 12 PPR points in each of his past two games against the Bengals and Steelers.
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Hyde is worth using more in non-PPR leagues than PPR, although he did have four catches in Week 4 against Carolina on five targets – but only 6 receiving yards. Still, he does have 85 total yards or a touchdown in three of four games this year, and the Falcons have allowed a running back to score or gain at least 100 total yards in three games.
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This is contingent on Marlon Mack (ankle) and his health, but I would lean on Wilkins more than Nyheim Hines if Mack is out. You can run on the Chiefs, with Josh Jacobs, Mark Ingram and Kerryon Johnson each gaining at least 99 rushing yards in the past three games. I would expect the Colts to try to slow the game down with their rushing attack, and Wilkins would slide into Mack's role as the lead rusher for Indianapolis. Wilkins is a flex option in all leagues if Mack is out for Week 5.
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Howard is worth using as a starter in non-PPR leagues and a flex in PPR, and he's better than a sleeper. I just needed a place to write about him, so he falls into this category. He was awesome in Week 4 at Green Bay with 31 PPR points, and he's scored four touchdowns in his past three games. He also had three catches for 28 yards on four targets against the Packers, which was a pleasant surprise. Miles Sanders can also be considered a sleeper with this matchup against the Jets, who could again be without linebacker C.J. Mosley (groin).
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Penny is expected to return from his two-game absence with a hamstring injury, and his fresh legs against a tired Rams defense could be useful. Chris Carson is still the best running back for the Seahawks and a must-start option, but Penny can be a flex in all formats. He had a quality game in Week 2 at Pittsburgh with 13 PPR points before getting hurt, and hopefully he keeps getting work in tandem with Carson to help your Fantasy roster if needed.
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Sit 'Em
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It's amazing what Gore has been able to accomplish in his career and this season, and he just became the fourth player in NFL history to eclipse 15,000 career rushing yards in Week 4 against New England, joining Walter Payton, Barry Sanders and Emmitt Smith. He had 17 carries for 109 yards against the Patriots, becoming the second oldest player in NFL history to rush for 100 yards behind only MacArthur Lane (both were 36 but Lane was 60 days older). But accolades aside, this should be a tough game for Gore against the Titans, especially if Josh Allen (concussion) is out. Devin Singletary (hamstring) is expected to return, which should impact Gore's touches, and he will likely need a touchdown to save his production. Gore only has four catches for 28 yards on the season.
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Jacobs needs more work in the passing game. He had two catches for 29 yards on two targets in Week 4 at Indianapolis, which was a season high, but his Fantasy production hasn't been stellar since Week 1 when he scored 23 PPR points against Denver. He's averaging just 8.0 PPR points in the past three games, and he hasn't scored a touchdown since facing the Broncos. This week, he has a brutal matchup in London against the Bears, who have allowed just one touchdown to a running back no one to gain more than 54 rushing yards this year. Jacobs is a flex option at best in non-PPR leagues and someone you might want to avoid altogether in PPR.
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We told you to add Jones wherever he was available this week on the waiver wire, but we didn't say you had to start him. This is a brutal matchup against the Saints, who have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in their past 26 games. They have allowed two running backs to score this season with Todd Gurley in Week 2 and Ezekiel Elliott in Week 4, but Jones just scored his first touchdown of the season in Week 4 at the Rams. He's the best Tampa Bay running back, and he should be useful moving forward for the rest of the season. But he's a flex at best in most leagues at New Orleans this week.
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Thompson is still worth using as a flex option in PPR, but it could be hard to trust any of Washington's weapons in this matchup against the Patriots. The quarterback situation in Washington is a mess, and we don't know who's starting out of Case Keenum, Colt McCoy or Dwayne Haskins as of Wednesday morning. Thompson has two games this season with at least 13 PPR points and two games with nine PPR points or less, including last week at the Giants. He has yet to find the end zone, and New England has yet to allow a running back to score a touchdown. I'd try to avoid all of Washington's players this week if you can, even Thompson in PPR.
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It's tough to trust Johnson this week against the Falcons based on his production over the past three games. He's combined for just 16 PPR points over that span against Jacksonville, the Chargers and Carolina, and he only has two catches for 44 yards on seven targets in those outings. I'm not sure why Texans coach Bill O'Brien isn't leaning on Johnson more as a short-area target for Deshaun Watson, but maybe that will change if Kenny Stills (hamstring) is out this week. Johnson is a flex option in PPR at best this week – I'd rather start Hyde – and the Falcons have not struggled with pass-catching running backs like in past years. The best performance against Atlanta this season was Nyheim Hines with three catches for 26 yards on four targets in Week 3.
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Bust Alert
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Lindsay went from his best game in Week 3 at Green Bay with 28 PPR points to his worst game in Week 4 against Jacksonville with six PPR points. He scored 10 PPR points in each of his first two outings against Oakland in Week 1 and Chicago in Week 2, so that's the production you should likely expect most weeks. He continues to share playing time with Royce Freeman, who played more snaps than Lindsay against the Jaguars and was more involved in the passing game. The Chargers run defense has been stout since getting abused by Marlon Mack in Week 1, and I would only use Lindsay as a flex option in most leagues this week.
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START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Wide Receivers
Start 'Em
Gordon has two good games and two mediocre ones this season, but this should be a strong showing for him against Washington. He's scored at least 14 PPR points against Pittsburgh and the Jets, and he had seven PPR points or less against Miami and Buffalo. His two good outings were at home, so take that into account, but I expect him to do well against a Washington defense that has allowed eight receivers to score at least 12 PPR points this year. Washington also leads the NFL with eight touchdowns allowed to receivers on the season, so consider Julian Edelman a strong starter as well, with Phillip Dorsett as a sleeper.
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