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Michael Florio's fantasy football sneaky starts, pivot plays, and post-waiver waiver pickups for Week 5 of 2024. Start 'em as under-the-radar fantasy sleepers.
It was nice of Week 3 to not steal some stars from us, but Week 4 was not as kind. Injuries and poor performances continue to pile up and for those teams sitting at 1-3 or worse, it is time to make some lineup changes. You cannot just go down with the ship.
I am not saying to overreact, but there are solid pivot options this week. These are ones you can plug in over a struggling player you drafted or as an injury replacement. But these plays are the ones that you can make to help you stay afloat.
We are in survival mode for a lot of teams. But this was a good waiver-wire week, meaning you can find solid options to plug into your lineup. Here are some of my favorite sneaky starts in Week 5.
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Sneaky Starts and Pivot Options
If you need a QB…
Justin Fields looks comfortable on the Steelers offense. He has run for over 50 yards twice and last week threw for 312 yards and scored 32 fantasy points. He was the QB1 on the week and has had a 90-plus passer rating in every game. He brings such a high ceiling every week due to his rushing ability. Fields is a great pivot option this week.
Geno Smith continues to ball out. He has sat between 289 and 395 passing yards in each of his last three games. He is even running a bit, with over 25 yards twice so far this season. The issue has been the touchdowns have been more on the ground than through the air. But regression is set to hit him, and when it hits, it tends to hit hard. Smith is a strong start this week.
Geno Smith leads through Week 4 🏈
(by @FedEx) pic.twitter.com/i6uKQdnKdQ
— NFL (@NFL) October 1, 2024
Sam Darnold leads the NFL in touchdowns after throwing multiple in every game this season. He has scored over 19 fantasy points in three straight games. I will be honest, I do not love Darnold against the Jets defense this week. I would try to sit him. But if you need a bye-week replacement or to fill in for an injured Anthony Richardson, Darnold is in play.
Deshaun Watson is a sleeper that I like this week. The Commanders have allowed the second-most fantasy PPG to QBs this season. They have allowed a top-7 fantasy QB three times -- one of which was Daniel Jones. Watson has been running, but this is a chance to get the passing game going, even if only for a week. Andy Dalton is another fallback option who has been putting up respectable numbers since taking over.
If you need an RB…
Kareem Hunt is the clear lead back for the Chiefs. In his first game back, he played 43 percent of the snaps while leading the Chiefs backfield in carries (14), routes (11), and targets (three). He went for 85 yards. He is more of a floor play than an upside shot, but you could do worse if you need an RB this week. Clyde Edwards-Helaire could return soon if you want to add him now.
Bucky Irving split carries with Rachaad White last week, but Irving saw the valuable goal-line touches. They also split routes and targets. This is bad for White, but a good thing for Irving, who continues to earn more and more of a role in this offense. Irving brings upside as a pivot option this week.
Trey Sermon is in play if Jonathan Taylor, who is dealing with a high ankle sprain, was to miss time. The Jaguars have allowed the seventh-most fantasy PPG to RBs. They are in the top four in catches and receiving yards allowed to the position. There are a lot of RB-needy teams out there, and if Sermon is the lead back for the Colts offense in this matchup, he is certainly in play.
Chase Brown split carries and targets with Zack Moss last week. Brown saw 15 carries and three targets and turned them into 92 yards. He also vultured goal-line work and turned that into two touchdowns. This is an extremely hard matchup, so the floor is low, but if you need a home-run swing, Brown is your guy.
Every Chase Brown carry from his 80 yard 2 touchdown performance pic.twitter.com/u7FkB4kxbz
— mike (@bengals_sans) September 30, 2024
Rico Dowdle is starting to take over as the lead back for the Cowboys. The issue is, they got fullback Hunter Luepke more involved in the passing game last week. Still, Dowdle is going to lead the Cowboys in carries and see some work as a pass-catcher. He is a volume pivot play for those in need.
Alexander Mattison watched the bulk of snaps and touches go to Zamir White last week and he still outproduced him. Mattison gets valuable fantasy touches as the pass-catching and goal-line back. That alone keeps him in play for those who are in a pinch.
If you need a WR…
Dontayvion Wicks and Romeo Doubs are as fantastic of a pivot option as you can have. Wicks put up 78 yards and two touchdowns, but his volume was elite in Week 4. He saw 13 targets, 210 air yards, and three end-zone targets. Doubs always leads the Packers receivers in snaps and routes and last week saw eight targets of his own. The Packers' passing attack is hot and you want exposure to it.
All-22 of Dontayvion Wicks' 13 targets against the Minnesota Vikings on Week 4.
The route participation rate leaders for the Packers on Week 4
Romeo Doubs 91.1%
Jayden Reed 80.4%
Dontayvion Wicks 80.4%Christian Watson got injured in this matchup
Wicks 13 targets led to a… pic.twitter.com/tlewFaGNPR
— Bruce Matson (@MetricScout) October 2, 2024
Xavier Legette saw 10 targets last week, catching six of them for 66 yards and a touchdown. He also carried the ball twice. He has separated himself as the No. 2 target behind Diontae Johnson now with Adam Thielen sidelined. There is an upside moving forward for the rookie on a team that will be trailing often and have to throw. Plus, he just may be the funniest guy in the NFL.
Josh Downs was the first read for Anthony Richardson on a third of his throws in his first game back. He followed that up with eight catches for 82 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. He is a better fit with Joe Flacco than Richardson, but if he is seeing volume like he has been, he is in play either way.
Wan'Dale Robinson worked out last week with 11 catches for 71 yards on 14 targets. He now has eight or more targets in three of four games this season. He brings a safe floor with some upside. That is more than most pivot options offer. You can certainly do worse this week.
Darnell Mooney is more and more involved in the Falcons offense. He has surpassed Kyle Pitts as the No. 2 target for Kirk Cousins. He has seen at least six targets and topped 50 yards in his last three games. He also is the deep threat in this offense.
Justin Watson and JuJu Smith-Schuster are deep fliers here. With Rashee Rice currently sidelined, the Chiefs will need someone else to step up. Neither one of these guys brings much of a floor, but Watson is the field stretcher and Smith-Schuster gets red-zone usage. They will consistently be on the field as well.
If you need a TE…
Tucker Kraft has surpassed Luke Musgrave on the Packers' depth chart. I get it, chasing tight-end points has not worked. But Kraft is consistently on the field on a good offense. It may just be a one-week blip, but if you need a tight end, you should take the upside shot on Kraft.
the Packers offense is so vertical that chip and release checkdowns and passes into the flats can make Tucker Kraft (who is sweet) a Top 8 TE pic.twitter.com/SdV8fr4KpT
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) October 1, 2024
Cade Otton has 17 targets in his last two games combined. He has reached double-figure fantasy points in both of those as well. As far as tight ends go, that is better than most can offer. If you are diving deep, volume is what you’re after and Otton brings that.
Zach Ertz does not get a ton of targets, but he has caught every pass but one that has gone his way. When you have the most accurate QB in NFL history, that tends to happen. There may not be a very high ceiling here, but the floor is safer than most tight ends, especially the streaming options.
Make sure to follow Michael on X, @MichaelFFlorio.
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