When it comes to competition, one of the best ways to get an edge on the opposition is through prior preparation. In fantasy football, that way of thinking certainly applies. Here at Bet For The Win, we’re doing the preparation for you.
Week 4 was the week of huge bounce-back games for many players who’d let down the fantasy football world through three weeks — T.J. Hockenson, Austin Ekeler and Russell Wilson were among the many that stood out.
What will Week 5 bring to the fantasy football world? Here are some of our favorite studs, duds and sleepers ahead of this week’s NFL matchups.
Studs
QB Patrick Mahomes – Kansas City Chiefs
Somehow, Patrick Mahomes is still managing to do things to make us football fans lose our minds. He’s already established himself as the best quarterback in the league and he’ll have a field day versus the Las Vegas secondary in Week 5 on Monday Night Football.
RB Nick Chubb – Cleveland Browns
The Chargers have given up back-to-back 100-yard rushers, so it’s only right they face Nick Chubb in Week 5 — a running back who hit the century mark in consecutive weeks.
WR Mike Evans – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Not everything has been great about the Bucs’ passing offense, but the one thing that has remained great is Mike Evans. When in doubt, Tom Brady will look for his guy, who always seems to deliver.
TE Dallas Goedert – Philadelphia Eagles
Goedert isn’t as good as Travis Kelce, who went for eight catches, 121 yards and a TD vs. Arizona in Week 1. But he’s in the same ballpark as Darren Waller, who caught six for 50 yards and a TD in Week 2. I like Goedert’s chances against this Cardinals defense that lets tight ends produce.
Duds
QB Matthew Stafford – Los Angeles Rams
The Rams’ offense hasn’t looked good through four weeks, and now it’ll face one of the better defenses in the league.
RB Josh Jacobs – Las Vegas Raiders
Don’t buy the huge Week 4 explosion from Jacobs. He’ll go up against a Chiefs defense that is surrendering the fewest rushing yards per game, and the Raiders might need to throw it in order to keep up.
WR D.J. Moore – Carolina Panthers
D.J. Moore showed some life in Week 4, but now has to go up against a dominant San Francisco defense — arguably the league’s best. That doesn’t bode well for Moore or anyone else in the Carolina offense.
TE Pat Freiermuth – Pittsburgh Steelers
The most productive tight end to face the Bills this season was Tyler Higbee, who caught five passes for 39 yards. Buffalo does a tremendous job on tight ends and even with a potential QB change, there’s not a lot of optimism for Freiermuth on Sunday.
Sleepers
QB Jameis Winston – New Orleans Saints
There’s no certainty whether Jameis will play or not. If he does, he’s going to chuck it against a team that just allowed four TDs and almost 400 passing yards to Jared Goff.
RB Dalvin Cook – Minnesota Vikings
What better way to find your footing than to face the NFL’s worst run defense?
WR Davante Adams – Las Vegas Raiders
The assumption here is that the Raiders will be playing from behind and will be forced to throw a lot. Even if not, the Chiefs have given up 10 passing TDs already. Seems like a good week is in store for Davante.
TE T.J. Hockenson – Detroit Lions
Will Hockenson go for nearly 200 yards and two TDs again? Likely not. But the targets have been there all year and if the Lions’ offense is as banged up as it was last week, he could have another strong outing.