One month into the NFL season. So far, my starts and sits picks have done fairly well. I could not be more proud of myself for adjusting my process and, most importantly, believing in myself. Some of my decisions on the starts and sits look crazy, but after the results, I give myself a pat on the back most of the time.
In Week 4, I said to sit Brock Purdy and the best quarterback in the NFL, Patrick Mahomes. Yes, sounds insane, and people still started Mahomes, most likely. You drafted Mahomes in one of the first five rounds, so I understand, but at times, a name is just a name. Mahomes ended up as the QB17, and Purdy finished as the QB14 in Week 4.
For running back sits, that featured a top running back people were drafting ahead of ADP, Travis Etienne. Etienne finished as the RB41. JK Dobbins also made the sit side and ended up as the RB34. Safe to say, I went 4/4 on the sits.
Now, for the starts, I went 2/4. Najee Harris did not live up to the great match-up and finished as the RB31, and Caleb Williams finished as the QB21. The two great hits were Tony Pollard’s 18.8 fantasy points and an RB14 finish. Justin Fields was my other start for quarterbacks, and he finished as the overall QB1 in Week 4.
Week 5 Starts and Sits
Quarterback Starts
Trevor Lawrence vs. Indianapolis Colts
Trevor Lawrence needs saving. The saving will be done by Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. For now, he is having his worst season since his rookie season. The Jaguars are lost and have no identity as a team. Lawrence looks flat, and no sight of that Clemson Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence is on pace for to not even reach 20 touchdowns and barely hit 3,000 passing yards.
As bad as it sounds, I am still starting him in leagues I roster him in Week 5. Lawrence faces the Indianapolis Colts, who allow 20.24 fantasy ppg to quarterbacks, which is third most. Lawrence has thrown for nine touchdowns, two interceptions, 1,207 passing yards, and a 100.8 QBR (quarterback rating) in games he has faced the Colts. He gets his first QB1 finish of 2024. Fire him up in your leagues. Fantasy managers that roster Jalen Hurts should look into Lawrence.
Kirk Cousins vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kirk Cousins has not looked the same since he recovered from his Achilles injury last season. He has had one QB1 finish, which came in Week 2. In the other three weeks, his best finish was QB23. The good thing is he faces the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs have allowed the six most fantasy ppg to quarterbacks. The Bucs also score 24.3 ppg.
On Thursday Night Football, I expect the over to hit for the score. The Buccaneers are a high-powered offense in terms of passing the football. Although the Falcons secondary is elite, I expect each team to surpass 20 points.
Quarterback Sits
Sam Darnold vs. New York Jets
The Minnesota Vikings face off against the New York Jets in London. Sam Darnold has been the Geno Smith of the fantasy football and overall regular season. Darnold is the QB5 in ppg, leads the NFL in touchdowns, and is second in YPA at 8.8 (yards per attempt).
All those great things will not change the fact he will face the Jets, who are allowing just 8.61 ppg, which is second-best. Despite how great Sam Darnold is, it gives me anxiety thinking about starting him in Week 5. Pass for now, or come back and laugh at my bald head if he finishes as a QB1 this week. The Jets losing an ugly game to the Denver Broncos makes me think they are out to prove a point. Handing the Vikings their first loss sounds like the scriptwriters could not have made it any more perfect.
Dak Prescott vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Dak Prescott finished off as one of the three best quarterbacks in fantasy football last season. This season, he is still a QB1, but the match-up is way too tough in Week 5. Straight to the point, the Pittsburgh Steelers are one of, if not the best defense in the NFL. They are allowing the second-fewest ppg with 13.3 ppg. The Cowboys are allowing 26 ppg (6th most), and an injury to Micah Parsons sets the defense back even more.
Prescott was viewed as a value in drafts, and he still is and playing well. I would just pivot to other options facing softer defenses.
Check out all of our Week 5 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Flex
Week 5 Running Back Starts
Javonte Williams vs Las Vegas Raiders
Javonte Williams has been more disappointing than me going bald when I was 24. Williams is currently the RB40 on a ppg basis. He is also averaging his lowest YPC (yards per carry) in his four NFL seasons. The glimmering light in this is he gets to face the Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders are allowing the eighth most fantasy ppg and look like a team already looking toward the 2025 NFL draft.
I think Williams will post his highest finish this season. With the elite running backs on a bye in Week 5, Williams is in a perfect spot to help fantasy managers fill that void.
D’Andre Swift vs Carolina Panthers
D’Andre Swift is forgiven after his epic Week 4 performance. He just posted his third-highest scrimmage yard total in his five-year career. He gets to continue the epic performance as he faces the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers are allowing 32.3 ppg to teams, which is the most.
The Bears are looking to build up their Week 4 win with another one against one of the worst teams in the league. Swift saw a team-leading 30% target share and is looking to continue his connection with Caleb Williams. Fire up Swift again and enjoy another RB1 finish. Swift is my favorite player in starts and sits for Week 5.
Running Back Sits
Zack Moss @ Baltimore Ravens
Zack Moss is living up to his ADP and is RB21 on a ppg basis. He faces one of the better run defenses in the past DECADE. The Baltimore Ravens are allowing 42.5 rushing ypg (yards per game) and the third-fewest points to running backs with 16.4 fantasy ppg. Coming off of consecutive games of over 17 fantasy points, I just do not see it for Moss this week. It will be a Joe Burrow 40-plus pass attempts type of game as the Bengals try to avoid a record of 1-4.
Rachaad White @ Atlanta Falcons
Numerous people were tricked by Rachaad White last season. Yeah, he finished as the RB4 in total points and the RB10 on a ppg basis, but he did not even crack 1000 rushing yards.
Bucky Irving has been the better running back on the Buccaneers. To the fantasy managers of White, keep him on your bench the rest of the season or find a desperate soul to trade him to. White is on pace for 59 catches, which is less than five of his 2023 total. The serious issue is his YPC (yards per carry) has dipped from 3.6, which was not good to begin with, down to 2.8 ypc. The major concern is White is on pace for just 488 rushing yards. He had 990 last season.
Pivot towards other options, take the loss, and look elsewhere, as White should never enter your lineup again.
If you liked Brandon’s Week 5 Starts and Sits, make sure to check out all of our Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!