Welcome back for Belly Up Start Em, Sit Em: Week 5! We’re already kicking off the 2nd quarter of the season, a wild one at that. The impact of Covid on the NFL season is starting to impact player’s fantasy availability, a curveball that not even the most experienced fantasy owners have faced. We’ll continue to dive a bit deeper into players that are worth plugging into your lineups, and guys that pose more of a risk based on their weekly matchups.

Start Em: QBs

Daniel Jones @ DAL

The Giants QB is coming off 3 straight games against teams in the top 11 against the pass. This week he gets a matchup against a division rival that’s allowing the 6th most fantasy points to QBs, and the most points allowed in the NFL. A date with the Cowboys is a sure shoot-out in 2020, defense will be optional in Dallas this Sunday. Look for Daniel Jones to fill in nicely if you’re in the market for a QB in Week 5.

Teddy Bridgewater @ ATL

I probably owe Teddy Bridgewater an apology for how low I was on him entering the season. He enters Week 5 as the league’s 6th leading passer and has completed 73% of his passes, 3rd best in the NFL. The Falcons have allowed the most points, 2nd most passing yards, and the most fantasy points to QBs through the 1st quarter of the season. WR Robby Anderson has given Teddy a top-10 target and should have a field day against this secondary. Did you see his TD run vs the Cardinals? Don’t sleep on Teddy.

Start Em: RBs

Todd Gurley vs CAR

Gurley has reached pay-dirt in back to back games and is facing the Panthers defense that has allowed the 2nd most rushing TDs in the league. The Panthers have also allowed opposing RBs to rush for an average of 5.1 yards per carry, 3rd most. Coming into Week 5, Gurley has the most redzone carries in the NFL. The former Georgia Bulldog has RB1 upside, play him with confidence. If he’s on your roster, do not leave him on your bench with the Panthers coming to town for a divisional showdown.

David Johnson vs JAX

The addition of RB David Johnson hasn’t paid off yet for the Texans, as they’ve been playing from behind since they traded WR DeAndre Hopkins, basically. With the firing of HC Bill O’Brien, I expect the Texans to get back to the basics. With the Jaguars having allowed the 8th most fantasy points to RBs, David will be in for a large workload with a favorable matchup. It’s TD correction week for the former Northern Iowa Panther.

Start Em: WRs

Justin Jefferson @ SEA

Justin Jefferson is coming off back to back 100 yard performances, averaging over 25 yards per reception over that span. This week the Vikings travel to Seattle and play the leagues worst defense against the pass. The not-so-Seahawks Defense allows the most fantasy points to WRs by far, and are particularly poor against the slot, where Jefferson is a technician. The break-out is real, this matchup is as favorable as it gets. Don’t let us down Kirk.

Darius Slayton @ DAL

Darius Slayton has been a victim of the Giants schedule thus far. Slayton owners, welcome this week’s matchup with the Dallas Cowboys who are allowing the 2nd most fantasy points to WRs through 4 games. I look for Slayton to score this week as the Cowboys have allowed 12 passing TDs to opposing offenses already, and Darius has the 3rd most redzone targets among WRs. Slayton is a fantastic flex option in this matchup. With Dallas allowing 5 WRs to go over 100 yards and/or score 2 TDs, Slayton has WR1 upside in Week 5.

Start Em: TEs

Hunter Henry @ NO

The New Orleans Saints enter the week as the 2nd worst against the TE position from a fantasy points allowed standpoint. Henry has tallied double-digit fantasy points in 3 of 4 games, yet hasn’t scored a TD yet. He will this week, hell maybe 2! The Chargers TE is the 8th most targeted TE in the league, he is in for a day visiting the Saints.

Tyler Higbee @ WFT

Higbee has only scored double-digit fantasy points once this season! That was a 3 TD performance against the Eagles in Week 2. This week he faces Washington, who allows the 4th most points to opposing TEs. The Washington Football Team doesn’t allow much production to opposing WRs, this is the week Higbee puts it all together. He’s even a decent flex option if you’re thin with injuries or if your roster has been hit by Covid. Start Tyler Higbee this week.

Sit Em: QBs

Baker Mayfield vs IND

Browns HC Kevin Stefanski has stayed true to his colors in Cleveland. The new look Browns have scored 34+ points in 3 straight contests, but it was dominated by their running game. Baker is yet to surpass 220 yards passing in a game, and the Colts are surrendering a league low 159.3 passing yards per game. Indianapolis is only allowing 11.2 points per game to opposing QBs, and Mayfield hasn’t had a Top-15 fantasy performance this year despite playing some of his best football since entering the NFL. Steer away from Baker in your starting lineups in Week 5.

Matt Ryan @ CAR

Matty Ice hit the ground running in 2020, throwing 6 TDs over the first 2 weeks. However, he’s only thrown 1 TD since, and had no TD passes in last week’s loss to the Packers. Julio’s status is in question with a hamstring injury, and Ridley’s hamstring has him less than 100% as well. The Panthers are allowing the 3rd fewest points to QBs and 7th fewest to opposing WRs. The Falcons will need to run the ball to control time of possession if they want to notch their 1st W of 2020, Ryan is in for a stinker.

Sit Em: RBs

David Montgomery vs TB

The Buccaneers come into Week 5 2nd in the NFL in run defense, allowing under 65 yards per game. Montgomery has 1 receiving TD and 0 rushing TDs through 4 games, I don’t expect him to get it going against one of the league’s stingiest against the run. Game script will likely be an issue with the Tom Brady led Bucs visiting Soldier Field. Pass on starting David Montgomery if at all possible.

Myles Gaskin @ SF

Myles Gaskin and the Miami Dolphins travel west to visit the beat-up 49ers who are allowing the 2nd fewest points to opposing RBs this season. Gaskin’s rushing stats haven’t been too exciting, toting it 10+ times only once, yet he is 4th in receptions among RBs. With the Dolphins likely struggling to move the ball, find any other option for your lineup.

Sit Em: WRs

Robert Woods @ WFT

Robert Woods has been a low end WR2 over the last 3 weeks since his 105 yard day in Week 1. Woods has only scored 1 TD and faces a Washington team allowing the 2nd fewest fantasy points to the WR position and has only allowed 6 TDs through the air total thus far. Winning weeks is about eliminating risk, Bobby Trees has a low floor in his Week 5 matchup in D.C. Avoid this risk!

Odell Beckham Jr. vs IND

Beckham looked like himself last week the Cleveland’s win over the Cowboys. He tallied 5 receptions for 81 yards and 2TDs through the air and had a 50 yard rushing TD made for a highlight reel. It was awesome! However, nearly half of that receiving production was from fellow WR Jarvis Landry throwing a dart on a reverse pass. That’s still a concern for me. This week he faces the Indianapolis Colts defense who is #1 against the pass, allowed the fewest points scored, and has allowed the 9th fewest points to WRs. Last week was exciting, but temper your expectations for Odell in Indy.

Sit Em: TEs

Mike Gesicki @ SF

The Dolphins TE and Belly Up darling, Mike Gesicki, has back to back games with 1 reception for 15 yards since his Week 2 Top 5 performance. Not only did Gesicki only catch 2 passes, he was only targeted 3 times in each game over the last 2 weeks. The 49ers host Miami this week, they allow the 3rd fewest points to the TE position. The depth of the floor for Gesicki in the matchup has me starting almost anyone over him. Next week though…

Dalton Schultz vs NYG

Dalton Schultz is in the midst of a break-out season, no doubt! This week he has a not-so-favorable matchup as the Giants visit the Cowboys. The speed of the New York Giants linebackers allows them to cover the TE position pretty well. They allow the 9th fewest fantasy points to TEs, and they’re yet to allow a TD to a TE through 4 games. With the ceiling being so low, I’m sitting Schultz in Week 5 if at all possible.

Thanks for checkin’ out Belly Up Start Em, Sit Em: Week 5. If you want to see how I’ve done in previous weeks, check out my other Start Em, Sit Em’s. You can follow me on Twitter @bwhitt24, and the rest of the fantasy crew @bellyupfantasy. Join us live on Twitter and Facebook Wednesday evenings at 7:30pm CST for Belly Up Fantasy Live! The crew will be breaking down the upcoming week’s fantasy outlook, and as always answering your questions in the comments! Enjoy 20% off of your www.manscaped.com purchase by using our promo code BELLYUPFANTASY. You’re Welcome!