Another week in the NFL, another week of significant injuries that have impacted fantasy football.
The Philadelphia Eagles are running out of running backs. The Baltimore Ravens most likely will be without their starting quarterback and the Cincinnati Bengals are potentially going to be without their top two wide receivers. The Minnesota Vikings are in the same boat with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
Injuries are a killer in fantasy, but there are always players who step up and produce. So, who should you start and sit in Week 5?
Start: QB Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals
There is a reason Jacoby Brissett is not rostered on most fantasy rosters -- he generally does not score a lot of points and had three interceptions last week. However, the Detroit Lions vs. Arizona Cardinals game
is going to be a track meet. Both teams have horrible defenses, especially in the pass game. The Lions only have two interceptions all year and Brian Branch will certainly be not in the lineup for this game, so it is not like their secondary is any better. This is a one-week deal which should work out well with two teams on bye and some injuries. Brissett should have his best game of the season against the Lions.
Sit: QB Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
With Marcus Mariota now down with an injury of his own, the Commanders are really trying to bring back their starting quarterback. Playing the New York Giants is not a horrible matchup if Jayden Daniels is able to go, which he might given he was a full participant in practice on Wednesday. However, even if he plays, he will have an elbow brace which will severely limit his mobility. His ability to run with the ball is part of the reason why he is such a valuable fantasy prospect and with that gone, he is not worth putting in the lineup.
Start: WR Carnell Tate, Tennessee Titans
Last season, going against the Houston Texans could be a fantasy nightmare. This year, it is an ideal matchup. Their pass defense is one of the worst in the league. Head coach DeMeco Ryans is taking over the defensive playcalling, but that does not mean this defense is going to change overnight. Rookie Carnell Tate is coming off his first monster performance against the Baltimore Ravens with nine receptions for 145 yards although he is still looking for his first touchdown. Houston is the best matchup a young receiver could ask for this year and they have already given up six touchdowns to receivers. Tate is someone who needs to be in your lineup this week.
Sit: WR DK Metcalf, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Indianapolis Colts have gotten better on defense after the past two games and DK Metcalf is not known for his reliability. He has been getting targets with at least nine targets in three games this season, but does not turn his targets into a lot of receptions. His most receptions in a game came last week against the Cleveland Browns with five targets for 115 yards. It was his first 100-yard game of the season. Between bye weeks and injuries, maybe you have to start Metcalf and that is not a horrible thing. But, if you have a more reliable option, keep Metcalf on the bench.
Start: RB Emanuel Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
Last week was Emanuel Wilson’s first week as the starting running back for the Seattle Seahawks and it went incredibly well with 81 rushing yards, 39 receiving yards and two total touchdowns. He is going into this game against the San Francisco 49ers as the top back again with a team that loves to run the ball. The 49ers may have a good run defense, but so do the Los Angeles Chargers and that did not stop him. If he happens to be available in your league, pick him up and if you have him on the roster, start him.
Sit: Every active Philadelphia Eagles RB
Who the active running backs are going to be for the Philadelphia Eagles is a question in itself. Saquon Barkley did not practice on Wednesday and assuming he cannot play in London on Sunday, Will Shipley and Dameon Pierce are the only running backs left and they are going against one of the best run defenses in the NFL in the Jacksonville Jaguars. With Barkley’s injury, it is also the most likely scenario that Shipley and Pierce will be the running backs. Keep them on the bench.
Start: TE Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
Hunter Henry is very much a boom-or-bust player. But, the Patriots finally figured some things out in their win last week against the Buffalo Bills and that was partially because of Henry who had his best day of the season with five receptions for 62 yards which is a solid day in PPR leagues. The Las Vegas Raiders give up the fifth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends, which provides Henry with another opportunity to have a good game.
Sit: TE Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers
Through the first four games of the season, Tucker Kraft only has one game with over four receptions. His one good game of the season came against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who allow the sixth-most fantasy points to tight ends out of any team in the league. Kraft’s matchup against the Chicago Bears is much different; they have only allowed an average of 3.5 points to tight ends per game. Especially with this matchup, almost any other starting tight end has a higher ceiling than Kraft.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Starts and sits for fantasy football ahead of Week 5
