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Craig Rondinone analyzes the best pivot plays and post-waiver pickups for fantasy football managers heading into Week 5 of NFL action.
We are one month into the fantasy football season. I sure hope your fantasy team’s season is not over already.
Fantasy football general managers now have four weeks/games under their belts. They know what their teams’ strengths and weaknesses are. What they don’t know is which of their players with “questionable” tags are going to suit up on Sunday. This is where I come in.
Without further ado, here are my pivot plays and post-waiver pickups for Week 5– and the questionable superstars who you might need to replace at the last-minute in your fantasy lineup:
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Sneaky Pickups and Starts for Week 5
If Cincinnati’s Joe Mixon (ankle) cannot limp onto the field for Sunday’s game, you could pick up and play….
Samaje Perine, Cincinnati Bengals (RB) at GB
Opportunity equals fantasy football value sometimes. If Mixon cannot tape up his ankle tight enough to go Sunday afternoon, the opportunity to be Joe Burrow’s top tailback is all Perine’s. Mixon’s understudy averaged 4.8 yards per carry last season when his number was called on rushing plays.
Perine’s numbers do not blow a fantasy manager’s mind. The guy has scored a not-so-grand total of five touchdowns in 42 career contests. He also has 3.8 yards per carry and 7.3 yards per catch averages over his professional life. The fact is if you have Mixon and he is ruled out later this week, Perine is going to be one of the top options on your league’s waiver wire. Picking him up and using him against Green Bay’s 12th-ranked run defense is not the worst plan in the world.
If Pittsburgh’s Chase Claypool (hamstring) is ruled out before Sunday’s kickoff, you could pick up and play….
Jamison Crowder, New York Jets (WR) at ATL
Two-thirds of leagues had fantasy managers either not draft or draft and drop Crowder up to this juncture. New York’s veteran slot receiver and possession pass catcher has been the team’s best wideout since signing with the Jets two years ago, but his preseason groin injury and a bout with COVID made fantasy footballers stay away from him like he was a backup long snapper.
Crowder is 100 percent healthy and coming off a game where he hauled in seven passes for 61 yards and a touchdown. His only competition for targets and receptions is Corey Davis, and Crowder led the team in targets in Week 4. Rookie quarterback Zach Wilson likes throwing short and to his slot men (ask Braxton Berrios), so that bodes very well for Crowder as he runs routes this weekend against Atlanta’s 21st-ranked pass defense. He should pile up the points in PPR leagues if you spot start him.
If Denver’s Teddy Bridgewater (concussion) cannot clear his head in time for Sunday, you could pick up and play…
Jacoby Brissett, Miami Dolphins (QB) at TB
This is all about matchup and Tampa Bay’s porous pass defense. Signing Richard Sherman off the scrap heap did not make the Buccaneers defense better last Sunday night. New England rookie signal caller Mac Jones passed through most Bucs blitzes and played the best game of his four-week career. The Patriots pass offense is below-average, yet Jones was still able to throw for 281 yards when Tampa Bay knew right away the Pats had no interest in attempting running plays.
Brissett looked sharp as he tossed two touchdown passes last weekend versus Indianapolis. He is getting on the same page as No. 1 WR DeVante Parker and tight end Mike Gesicki and should be even more comfortable with them and the offense with another week of practice behind him. The game script should call for Brissett to be passing a lot in the second half against the worst pass defense in the NFL, so do not be shocked if he racks up 250 passing yards and two touchdowns by the time Tom Brady is being interviewed about Tampa’s latest victory.
If Tennessee’s Julio Jones (hamstring) misses his second straight Sunday, you could pick up and play….
Josh Reynolds, Tennessee Titans (WR) at JAX
Please forgive me, fantasy folks. I was wrong about Nick Westbrook-Ikhine last week. He turned eight targets into 29 yards against a Jets secondary that was without its best player, Marcus Maye. Meanwhile, former L.A. Ram Reynolds took his nine targets and transformed them into a half-dozen receptions for 59 yards. While Westbrook-Ikhine has more upside and could end up being the better receiver by season’s end, Reynolds is the safer, sturdier option among Titans receivers not named Julio Jones or A.J. Brown.
Both Jones and Brown still have hamstrings that are giving their fantasy managers ulcers. If Jones and/or Brown do not play this week, Reynolds should be Ryan Tannehill’s top target in a game against a Jacksonville team that plays little defense and is in turmoil since its head honcho would rather dance than coach. Pick up Reynolds and 75 yards and a TD is not out of the question if the questionable Jones takes another week to recoup.
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