Just past the quarter mark of the NFL season with Week 5 approaching, it's time to get locked and loaded and lead your team on a game-winning drive. These tips could send your squad en route to a 'W.' They better...every game from here on out has heavy playoff ramifications.
Bye-Week Teams: New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings and Carolina Panthers
Starters You'll Need to Replace
Jets: You'll need to replace bruising running back Chris Ivory and ultra-physical possession wide receiver Brandon Marshall, who have been solid performers early this season.
Dolphins: You may need a backup for receiver Rishard Matthews, who has hauled in 278 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Vikings: Adrian Peterson. Pretty self explanatory.
Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton has been pretty good this season, leading the Panthers to a 4-0 start entering their bye week.
Need a Running Back? Claim Them Off Waivers Now: Ronnie Hillman, Duke Johnson, Anthony Dixon
Ronnie Hillman continues to be the life line for fantasy owners looking for a running back...just like he was last year. With Denver Broncos starter C.J. Anderson looking every bit like an early-season bust-even telling owners to drop him from their teams-Hillman seems poised to keep putting up solid numbers. After rushing for 13 yards and a touchdown in Week 3, Hillman went off for 103 yards and a TD in Week 4 for 17 fantasy points in non-point-per-reception (PPR) leagues. With the Broncos facing the Oakland Raiders this week, Hillman should put up favorable numbers yet again.
The thought on Duke Johnson was the Cleveland Browns rookie running back was far too talented to be bottled up for long. Well, Johnson finally broke loose for a 17-point performance in non-PPR leagues by receiving for 85 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 31 yards. If you're looking for a quick fix in Week 5 and possibly beyond, give Duke a shot. The rook will be up the Baltimore Ravens this week.
With LeSean McCoy nursing a hamstring injury and Karlos Williams suffering a concussion in Week 4, veteran Anthony Dixon becomes the Buffalo Bills' featured running back by default Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. While the Bills might air it out, Dixon will get his fair share of carries for sure.
Need a Wide Receiver? Claim Them Off Waivers Now: Leonard Hankerson, Allen Hurns, Willie Snead
It's crazy to think that Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman rang up another three-touchdown game...and Leonard Hankerson still managed to total 16 fantasy points in non-PPR leagues in Week 4. But that's the way it has been going for the 4-0 Falcons this season. Results in the vicinity of 103 receiving yards and a touchdown for the Falcons wideout could continue in Week 5 at home against the Washington Redskins, too. They're on a roll.
If Ted Ginn Jr. could come out the woodwork and score two touchdowns against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers...oh yeah, better believe the Bucs' secondary is in trouble. That sparks the opening for Jacksonville Jaguars wideout Allen Hurns to put up similar numbers to the 116 receiving yards and a touchdown that he posted last week against the Indianapolis Colts.
Hauling in all six of his targets for 89 receiving yards, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Willie Snead could be a sneaky, but effective play against the struggling Philadelphia Eagles in Week 5.
Anticipated Letdowns: Amari Cooper, Antonio Brown
With three straight weeks of notching double-digit scoring, this could be the week that dynamic Oakland Raiders rookie Amari Cooper comes back down to earth. Why? Well, he's going up against an ultra-stingy Denver Broncos defense, one that arguably owns the best secondary in football. Through four games, the Broncos have only allowed two touchdowns in the air. That doesn't bode well for Cooper this Sunday afternoon.
The San Diego Chargers defense has allowed at least two passing touchdowns in three of their first four games. Still, a Michael Vick—with his best days clearly behind him—doesn't have the chemistry with Antonio Brown that Ben Roethlisberger has with the dynamic wideout. That was evident in Week 4, when Brown's numbers plummeted to an anemic four points. That was down from the 19, 27 and 10 points Brown posted in non-PPR leagues during the first three weeks of the season.
Sleeper Picks: Bengals Defense, Andre Williams
The Seattle Seahawks defense remains as good as it gets around the league. Their offense, though, is just OK. How else would you describe a 13-point outing against the winless Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football? That could spell the Bengals defense being a sleeper against the Seahawks in Week 5.
There's no end in sight for how bad the San Francisco 49ers (1-3) could be this season. Making matters worse, they fly across the country to visit a New York Giants team, that seems to be hitting their stride, on Sunday Night Football. Although Rashad Jennings could pile on more yards, it wouldn't be surprising to see Andre Williams thump in a couple of TDs. At 5-11, 230 pounds...Williams is an absolute bruiser.
Confusion By Committee: Redskins running backs Matt Jones, Chris Thompson and Alfred Morris
Having a Washington Redskins running back on your fantasy squad at this juncture is the epitome of a headache. On any given week, you just don't know who's going to ring off the best numbers in a cluster of frustration. Take Week 4 in a Redskins' 23-20 win over the Philadelphia Eagles for instance: Alfred Morris rushed for 62 yards on 17 carries, Chris Thompson had 53 yards on six attempts and another 24 receiving, edging his teammate's production by one point. And this came two weeks removed from Matt Jones' offensive explosion.
Who to play? Well, if you're able to keep any of these three on your bench, do so, and opt for a running back more reliable with a clearer upside. But if you have to play one this week...Tech Times would give the slightest nod to Thompson in Week 5 against the Atlanta Falcons. But that feeling could very well change next week.
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