• Rhamondre Stevenson is a top-12 RB play because the New England Patriots enter Week 5 as favorites: Stevenson completed as a top-10 fantasy RB in each Weeks 1 and a pair of when the Patriots had been in shut matchups. The Patriots enter the weekend as 1.5-point favorites in opposition to the struggling Miami Dolphins.
• Jayden Reed is an elite fantasy extensive receiver with Jordan Love beneath middle: Reed is averaging 18.1 fantasy factors per recreation since Week 10 of final season, which ranks seventh-most amongst all extensive receivers who’ve performed 5 or extra video games throughout that span.
• Unlock your edge with a PFF+ subscription: Get full entry to all of our in-season fantasy instruments, together with weekly rankings, WR/CB matchup charts, weekly projections, the Start-Sit Optimizer and extra. Sign up now!
Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes
Are you struggling to set your fantasy lineups? Maybe I can assist… Below you’ll find my prime hearth (growth) and ice (bust) gamers at every place for Week 5 I additionally embrace my sleeper of the week at every place in case you might be in a deeper league or in want of a substitute for an ice participant.
Don’t miss my Fire & Ice chart on the backside of this web page. There, I’ve listed out all of my hearth, good, sleeper and ice performs for Week 5 of the 2024 fantasy soccer season.
Quarterbacks
Fire QB Start of the Week: Jordan Love (at LAR)
Jordan Love could also be a turnover machine, however that hasn’t stopped him from placing up fantasy factors. Last week, Love threw three interceptions however nonetheless completed the day with 28 fantasy factors in opposition to the robust Minnesota Vikings protection. He has now completed as a top-five fantasy quarterback in three of his final 5 video games performed courting again to final season, with six straight video games as a top-12 QB.
The Los Angeles Rams allowed each Kyler Murray and Brock Purdy to throw for 3 landing, zero interceptions of their matchup in opposition to them this season — each Murray and Purdy scored 26-plus fantasy factors in opposition to LA.
Sleeper QB of the Week: Geno Smith (vs. NYG)
Through 4 weeks of the 2024 season, Geno Smith leads the NFL in passing makes an attempt and passing yards. He has completed because the QB8 in three of the 4 weeks this season regardless of not throwing for a number of touchdowns in any recreation. He and DK Metcalf are on hearth, connecting for over 100 yards in three straight weeks. This is a pleasant matchup for Smith, because the New York Giants have allowed the third-highest completion proportion within the NFL this season whereas Smith ranks second amongst certified quarterbacks in completion proportion.
My solely worry is hat if Malik Nabers is out, the Giants might not have the ability to preserve this recreation aggressive, which might enable the Seattle Seahawks to have a run-heavy offense within the second half.
Ice QB Start of the Week: C.J. Stroud (vs. BUF)
A development could also be growing on the subject of C.J. Stroud’s fantasy manufacturing. Over his seven profession video games in opposition to divisional opponents, Stroud has averaged 21.2 fantasy factors per recreation. However, in hs 12 profession matchups in opposition to non-divisional opponents, he has averaged simply 16.1 factors per recreation. This season, his two poor fantasy performances have come in opposition to non-divisional opponents — he scored simply 14.3 factors in Week 2 in opposition to the Chicago Bears and 9.8 factors in Week 3 in opposition to the Vikings.
Even in case you aren’t involved about his division/non-division splits and consider its simply coinicidence, this Buffalo Bills matchup is especially robust for Stroud, who has discovered nice success in opposition to man protection however not a lot in opposition to the zone this season. The Bills protection has performed zone protection on 81.3% of their opponent’s dropbacks this season, rating them the fifth-heaviest zone protection within the NFL.
Running backs
Fire RB Start of the Week: Rhamondre Stevenson (vs. MIA)
Rhamondre Stevenson has scored simply 8.5 fantasy factors during the last two weeks mixed because the New England Patriots had been blown out in back-to-back video games. However, the Patriots truly enter Week 5 because the favorites of their matchup as they face the pitiful Miami Dolphins offense with out Tua Tagovailoa beneath middle. In Weeks 1 and a pair of, when the Patriots stored their matchups shut, Stevenson completed as a the RB5 total with 21.6 fantasy factors in opposition to the Bengals and the RB10 total with 17 fantasy factors in opposition to the Seahawks .
Stevenson has performed on 75% of New England’s offensive snaps when the Patriots are tied or holding a lead on the time of the snap. As lengthy because the Dolphins’ don’t magically repair their damaged offense and quarterback scenario by Sunday, Stevenson ought to see a ton of quantity in opposition to a smooth run protection. Over the final three weeks, James Cook (28.5), Zach Charbonnett (25.7) and Tony Pollard (18.8) have every scored over 18 fantasy factors of their matchup in opposition to Miami.
Sleeper RB of the Week: Kareem Hunt (vs. NO)
Last week was Kareem Hunt‘s first recreation again with the Kansas City Chiefs since 2018, however the group immediately trusted him to take the vast majority of snaps and carries within the backfield. Hunt was given a team-high 14 carries in Week 4 and in addition led the Chiefs working backs with two receptions for 16 receiving yards. I count on his workload will solely improve this weekend now that he has a recreation beneath his belt this season. I additionally count on him to be the Chiefs goal-line again shifting ahead, not Samaje Perine who stole a speeding landing in Week 4.
The New Orleans Saints have allowed 7.3 yards per carry to working backs during the last two weeks. Saquon Barkley destroyed them for 33.6 fantasy factors in Week 3, and Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allegeir mixed for 21.4 factors in opposition to them in Week 4.
Ice RB Start of the Week: De’Von Achane (at NE)
After an enormous first two weeks, the wheels have fallen off for De’Von Achane — he scored simply 8.8 and 5.9 fantasy factors in Weeks 3 and 4. Achane is averaging a measly 3.1 yards per carry this season after averaging an absurd 7.8 yards per carry in his 2023 rookie season.
The Patriots have allowed just one working again to place up greater than 55 speeding yards in opposition to them in a recreation this season. They have allowed 4 working backs to attain a speeding landing this season, however fantasy managers shouldn’t be banking on Achane discovering the tip zone in Week 5. For one, there is not going to be many scoring alternatives with how poorly the Dolphins offense is performing, after which additionally Achane has did not get into the endzone on all three of his aim line carries during the last two weeks.
Wide Receivers
Fire WR Start of the Week: Jayden Reed (vs. LAR)
Over his two video games performed with Jordan Love in 2024, he completed because the WR1 and WR2 total on the week — scoring over 27 fantasy factors in each Week 1 and Week 4. Dating again to final season, Reed has completed as a top-six fantasy extensive receiver in 4 of his final six weeks performed with Love. Reed’s manufacturing was restricted in Weeks 2-3 with Malik Willis beneath middle, but he nonetheless solely trails Nico Collins in scrimmage yards on the WR place this season. Reed is the one WR to have 400-plus yards and no less than three touchdowns this season.
Reed will get a juicy matchup in opposition to the Rams, who’ve allowed Jauan Jennings, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jameson Williams to every put up 120-plus receiving yards and no less than one landing of their matchup in opposition to them this season.
Sleeper WR Start of the Week: Courtland Sutton (vs. LV)
Courtland Sutton and Bo Nix haven’t fairly constructed a robust connection simply but, however Sutton is seeing a ton of targets — he has had no less than 9 targets in three of the 4 video games this season. Three extensive receivers have had 9 or extra targets of their matchup in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024: Diontae Johnson, Zay Flowers and Jerry Jeudy. Johnson and Flowers every scored over 22 fantasy factors in opposition to the Raiders, whereas Jeudy had a stable 13 level efficiency.
Over the final two weeks, Sutton has been a viable fantasy starter, scoring 13.8 factors in Week 3 and 15 factors final weekend. He is a top-30 WR possibility this week.
Ice WR Start of the Week: Garrett Wilson (at MIN)
Aaron Rodgers has not been Garrett Wilson’s savior like fantasy managers had been hoping for heading into this season. Wilson has but to report greater than 60 receiving yards or end increased than WR29 in any week this season. He is even being outproduced by teammate Allen Lazard, who’s main the New York Jets in receiving yards and touchdowns regardless of having 10 fewer targets than Wilson on the season.
The Jets offensive is struggling to maneuver the ball constantly and rating factors. I feel it’s time to admit that Wilson is what he’s … a viable, however not thrilling, WR2/flex possibility in fantasy lineups.
Tight Ends
Fire TE Start of the Week: David Njoku (vs. WAS)
There is optimism that David Njoku might be able to return from an ankle damage this Sunday that has stored him on the sidelines the final three weeks. If he’s certainly energetic, Njoku ought to be again in your fantasy lineups instantly.
The Cleveland Browns offense has been desperately lacking Njoku’s presence in the course of the sector and he ought to see heavy utilization as quickly as he’s again on the sector. Njoku maintain his ankle damage in Week 1 on the Browns first drive within the second half, and he nonetheless led the group with 44 yards on 4 receptions in that recreation.
Sleeper TE of the Week: Dalton Schultz (vs. BUF)
Dalton Schultz has but to attain greater than six fantasy factors in a recreation this season, however he’s on the sector working a whole lot of routes. Schultz has run 135 routes in 2024, which ranks second most amongst all tight ends.
This Bills zone-heavy protection, which is incredible at limiting large cross performs, ought to pressure C.J. Stroud to attemp shorter passes and discover the holes in the course of the zone. This matchup tasks to be very constructive for Schultz. He is a viable streaming possibility for Week 5.
Ice TE Start of the Week: Brock Bowers (at DEN)
After an amazing first two weeks of his NFL profession, Brock Bowers‘s manufacturing has drastically declined. Over Weeks 3 and 4 mixed, he has simply 5 receptions for 60 receiving yards. The Raiders offense is struggling to get something going, particularly with out Davante Adams on the sector and so they need to go face a troublesome Broncos protection that held each the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jets to fewer than 10 factors during the last two weeks .
The Broncos protection are permitting solely 34.3 receiving yards per recreation to the tight finish place in 2024, and have but to permit a beginning tight finish to attain a landing. Fantasy managers will possible have to begin Bowers this week, however I count on a 3rd straight disappointing week.
Fire & Ice Fantasy Football Plays
Here, I categorize each related fantasy participant into 5 completely different buckets: (1) hearth begins (greatest begins of the week); (2) thumbs up (good begins); (3) Risky gamers with upside (sleepers); (4) Ice begins (predicting unhealthy efficiency from good participant); (5) Stop (should sits).
Note: If a participant/protection isn’t listed, I’m not contemplating beginning them in Week 5. I didn’t embrace Falcons/Buccaneers gamers as they performed on Thursday night time.
Fire 🔥
- QB: Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Jayden Daniels, Jordan Love, Brock Purdy
- RB: Derrick Henry, Alvin Kamara, Jordan Mason, Kyren Williams, Kenneth Walker, Rhamondre Stevenson
- WR: CeeDee Lamb, Jayden Reed, DK Metcalf, Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, Malik Nabers (if he performs)
- TE: George Kittle, Travis Kelce, David Njoku (if he performs)
- DEF: Broncos, Seahawks, Patriots, Bears
Thumbs Up 👍
- QB: Kyler Murray, Justin Fields, Patrick Mahomes, Dak Prescott, Joe Burrow
- RB: Breece Hall, Bijan Robinson, James Cook, Aaron Jones, Travis Etienne, Josh Jacobs, James Conner, Brian Robinson Jr., Chuba Hubbard, Joe Mixon, Zack Moss, Kareem Hunt, Trey Sermon (if Jonathan Taylor DNP)
- WR: Marvin Harrison Jr. , Chris Olave, Nico Collins, Diontae Johnson, Deebo Samuel, Brian Thomas Jr., Amari Cooper, Tee Higgins, George Pickens, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Michael Pittman Jr., DJ Moore, Zay Flowers, Terry McLaurin
- TE: Trey McBride, Jake Ferguson , Dalton Kincaid, Pat Freiermuth, Evan Engram, Mark Andrews
- DEF: Vikings, Jets, Dolphins, Bears, Packers, Chiefs
Upside 📈
- QB: Geno Smith, Deshaun Watson, Trevor Lawrence, Anthony Richardson/Joe Flacco
- RB: Devin Singletary, Jerome Ford, D’Andre Swift, Zach Charbonnet, Najee Harris, Javonte Williams
- WR: Xavier Worthy, Jauan Jennings, Khalil Shakir, Josh Downs, Courtland Sutton, Rashid Shaheed, Dontayvion Wicks, Wan’Dale Robinson, Tutu Atwell, Jordan Whittington, Jalen Tolbert, Xavier Legette, Jerry Jeudy
- TE: Dalton Schultz, Cole Kmet, Tucker Kraft, Erick All Jr.
- DEF: Steelers, Raiders, Panthers, Commanders, Bills
Ice 🥶
- QB: C.J. Stroud, Sam Darnold, Derek Carr, Matthew Stafford, Aaron Rodgers
- RB: De’Von Achane, Austin Ekeler, Chase Brown, Antonio Gibson
- WR: Tyreek Hill, Garrett Wilson, Jordan Addison, Christian Kirk, Tank Dell, Jaylen Waddle, Rome Odunze, Keenan Allen
- TE: Brock Bowers, Mike Gesicki, Tyler Conklin, Isaiah Likely
- DEF: Cowboys. Saints, Browns, Ravens
Stop 🚫
- QB: Caleb Williams, Andy Dalton, Bo Nix
- RB: Rico Dowdle, Zamir White, Tank Bigsby, Samaje Perine
- WR: Jakobi Meyers, Demarcus Robinson, Keon Coleman, Gabe Davis
- TE: Colby Parkinson, Taysom Hill, Zach Ertz, Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith
- DEF: Texans, Bengals, Giants