TAP FOR 6 MONTHS OF PREMIUM FREE 💰
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Week 5 Booms and Busts: Late Games

Last week was our first journey into the bye weeks, with the Pats and Titans getting some rest. But this week, we have four teams sitting out (Dolphins, Jets, Vikings, and Panthers).

This is causing some fantasy owners to dig a little deeper for start/bench decisions and plug and play options. I am here to try and steer you in the right direction, as I look at players that you may or may not be on your radar.

Below are my Week 4 lineup picks for players that can be booms and busts for fantasy football owners. Hopefully I can help you shape you optimal lineups to win this weekend. Onto the picks!

Editor's Note: The FFPC Playoff Challenge #2 is back with a massive $100,000 grand prize and $203,250 total prize pool, paying down to 100th place. Here's the deal: no salary cap, no draft, no pickups, no subs. Choose 8 players, and as NFL teams get knocked out so will your players, so choose your team wisely. The entries will sell out quickly, and registrations will close on Saturday January 17th at 4:30 pm ET . Don't wait - get your team now and end your fantasy football season with a shot at $100,000! Sign Up Now!

 

Week Five Booms

QB Philip Rivers, SD (vs. PIT): I placed Rivers in this very spot last week and he delivered, putting up 358 yards and three touchdowns against the Browns at home. The Chargers are again playing in San Diego this week, with Pittsburgh's sieve of a defense heading in. I don't think it is out of the realm of possibilities for Rivers to approach last week's numbers again in Week 5.

RB Dion Lewis, NE (at DAL): I hope you listened to me when I told you to pick up Dion Lewis back before Week 3. The Patriots RB has done nothing but impress since being given a shot against Pittsburgh back in the season opener, which led to Lewis and New England reaching a two-year contract extension. The Cowboys may be getting Greg Hardy and Rolando McClain back this week, but also may be without LB Sean Lee. Meanwhile, the Patriots are coming off of a bye week and have been installed as 10-point favorites in Vegas. I fully expect Lewis to be a force in the rushing and passing game for New England.

TE Owen Daniels, DEN (at OAK): Tight ends usually succeed when Peyton Manning is their quarterback, but the Broncos TEs have struggled so far this season. Luckily for Denver, they head to Oakland where tight ends have feasted on the Raiders defense. Oakland has allowed an average of 97 yards and 1.5 touchdowns per game to tight ends, good for the worst defense in football against the position. While Manning and Daniels have yet to consistently get on the same page, the QB has targeted the TE 14 times over the last two games, with Daniels reaching pay dirt in both contests. Look for Daniels to at least put up some quality yardage numbers on Sunday, with a decent chance that he reaches pay dirt.

DEF Giants (vs. SF): The Giants defense and the 49ers offense are two units that are headed in polar opposite directions. New York has overcome injuries and lack of talent to be respectable lately, while Colin Kaepernick seems to have regressed into a bad quarterback. San Francisco had trouble moving the ball all day at home against the Green Bay defense last week. and now have to try to fix things on the road during a Sunday Night Football game. I think Steve Spagnuolo will have the Giants D ready to make Kaepernick's life miserable, and they should be a decent defense if you are streaming for the week or are looking for a cheaper option in DFS.

 

Week Five Busts

QB Derek Carr, OAK (vs. DEN): Carr has shown that he can move an NFL offense so far this season, putting up 20+ fantasy points against the Browns and the Ravens. He has also shown that he can struggle immensely, as he failed to crack double digits against the Bengals and Bears. Carr gets the Broncos this week, which may be the best defense in the league. Even if Denver puts the game away early, I would look for DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller to pressure Carr all day as they look to pad their stat numbers.

RB Joseph Randle, DAL (vs. NE): Bill Belichick defenses have always thrived at taking away what teams love doing most. In this example, Randle and the Cowboys running the ball would be the strength that the Patriots will be look to neutralize on Sunday. Add in that Randle only received four carries following a near-fumble in the beginning of the second quarter during last week's game against the Saints. So being in Jason Garrett's doghouse will not help Randle's cause. If you have a better option than Randle on Sunday, I would go with it.

WR Michael Floyd, ARI (at DET): The Cardinals offense has impressed so far this season, but Floyd has not. The Cardinals WR has scuffled since injuring his hand during the preseason, as he has watched Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown clearly establish themselves as Carson Palmer's top two options. I would make Floyd prove to me that he will be able to make noise on this offense that has many mouths to feed. Pass on him until further notice.

 

NFL & Fantasy Football Chat Room

[iflychat_embed id="c-0" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Aaron Gordon

Won't Suit up on Sunday
Moussa Diabaté

Moussa Diabate Available to Play on Sunday
Jalen Green

Holds Questionable Tag for Monday
Tyler Herro

Not Traveling with Team
Jaxson Hayes

Returning on Sunday
Deandre Ayton

Active on Sunday
Patrick Williams

Won't Face the Nets
Tari Eason

to Miss Fifth Straight Game
Josh Giddey

Ruled Out on Sunday
Darius Garland

Diagnosed With Big-Toe Sprain
Carson Soucy

Expected Back on Monday
Teuvo Teravainen

to Remain Out Monday
Matthew Tkachuk

"Close" to Season Debut
Rodrigo Abols

Flyers Place Rodrigo Abols on Injured Reserve
Alex Lyon

Practices on Sunday
Rhamondre Stevenson

Returns in Sunday's AFC Divisional Round Game
Josh Norris

Out Week-to-Week
Dylan Holloway

Set to Return Sunday
Ha-Seong Kim

has Finger Surgery, Out 4-5 Months
Rhamondre Stevenson

Questionable to Return on Sunday With Eye Injury
Woody Marks

Returns Following Brief Exit on Sunday
Dalton Schultz

Won't Return in Sunday's AFC Divisional Round Game
Aaron Rodgers

Steelers Open to Aaron Rodgers Returning in 2026?
Kawhi Leonard

to Miss Final Two Games of Road Trip
Jarrett Stidham

to Start AFC Championship Game
Zach Charbonnet

Questionable to Return Against 49ers
Atlanta Falcons

Falcons Hiring Kevin Stefanski as Head Coach
Jalen Williams

Ruled Out for Remainder of Meeting with Miami
Naz Reid

Won't Return on Saturday Night
Bo Nix

Suffers Broken Bone in Ankle, Done for Playoffs
Jalen Suggs

Out on Sunday Against Grizzlies
Santi Aldama

Questionable for Sunday's Matchup
Ja Morant

Listed as Probable for Sunday
Tari Eason

Listed as Questionable for Sunday
Herbert Jones

Ruled Out for Sunday
Rudy Gobert

Won't Play Saturday
Paul Reed

Available Saturday
Stephon Castle

is Available on Saturday
Green Bay Packers

Packers Sign Head Coach Matt LaFleur to Multi-Year Extension
Ricky Pearsall

Active for Divisional Round
Sam Darnold

Officially Active for Saturday's Divisional Round Game vs. 49ers
William Carrier

Misses Fourth Consecutive Game
Shayne Gostisbehere

Remains Out Saturday
Jake Evans

Available Saturday
Teuvo Teravainen

Misses Second Straight Game
William Nylander

Out Against Jets
Pat Bryant

Won't Return on Saturday, Ruled Out with a Concussion
Tom Wilson

Could Be an Option Saturday
Leo Carlsson

Out for 3-5 Weeks After Thigh Procedure
Leon Draisaitl

Takes Leave of Absence
New York Giants

John Harbaugh, Giants Finalize Five-Year Deal
Aaron Rodgers

Not Expected to Return to Steelers in 2026
Atlanta Falcons

Kevin Stefanski the Favorite for Falcons Head-Coaching Job
Matt Boldy

Placed on Injured Reserve
Ross Colton

Good to Go Friday
Will Smith

Returns Against Red Wings
Shayne Gostisbehere

Out Friday
Brad Marchand

Remains Out Friday
Joel Armia

Returns From Five-Game Absence
CFB

Darian Mensah Entering Transfer Portal
Sam Darnold

Seahawks "Optimistic" That Sam Darnold Will Play on Saturday
Nico Collins

Officially Ruled Out for Divisional Round
Rome Odunze

Questionable for Divisional Round
J.T. Realmuto

Signs Three-Year Deal to Return to Phillies
Bo Bichette

Agrees to Three-Year Contract With Mets
CFB

Weber State Signs former Ohio State, Cal Quarterback Devin Brown
Bo Bichette

Phillies the "Overwhelming" Favorite to Sign Bo Bichette
Josh Lowe

Angels Acquire Josh Lowe in Three-Team Trade
Kyle Tucker

Signs Four-Year Contract With Dodgers
Ricky Pearsall

Questionable to Play on Saturday Night
Sam Darnold

Questionable With Oblique Injury, Expected to Play
Clayton Kershaw

to Pitch for Team USA in World Baseball Classic
CFB

Auburn, Ohio State the Lead Suitors for Kyle Parker
CFB

Oregon QB Transfer Bryson Beaver Linked to Georgia, Kentucky
CFB

Jake Merklinger Commits to UConn
Ben Griffin

Looks To Stay Hot In 2026
Ranger Suárez

Ranger Suarez Agrees to Five-Year Deal With Red Sox
CFB

Dante Moore Not Entering 2026 NFL Draft, Will Return to Oregon
CFB

FBS Coaches Unanimously Vote to Expand Redshirt Eligibility to Nine Games
CFB

Ohio State Transfer Mylan Graham Signs with Notre Dame
CFB

Caden Durham Withdraws from Transfer Portal, Will Stay at LSU
Jordan Spieth

Perhaps the Most Intriguing Player at Sony Open
Aaron Rai

Looking For Putting Confidence at Waialae Country Club
Collin Morikawa

Isn't The Safe Play He Used to Be Ahead of Sony Open
Kurt Kitayama

Needs His Putting to Turn Around For Success at Year's First Event
Ryan Weathers

Yankees Add Rotation Depth, Acquire Ryan Weathers in Four-Player Deal
CFB

Georgia Tech the Favorite to Land Justice Haynes?
Nolan Arenado

Cardinals Trade Nolan Arenado to Diamondbacks
Tom Kim

Desperately Needs a Solid Week at Sony Open
Billy Horschel

Hoping For a Fast Start to New Season at Sony Open
Corey Conners

Looks to Have a Return to Form in 2026
PGA

Chris Gotterup a Decent Play at Sony Open
Gary Woodland

Could Prosper at the Sony Open
Keith Mitchell

Unlikely to Contend at Sony Open
Robert MacIntyre

Looking for a Good Performance at the Sony Open
Michael Kim

Hopes to Start Sony Open Better This Week
Tom Hoge

Tries to Erase Poor 2025 Second Half in Hawaii
Brian Harman

Seeks Fresh Start in Hawaii
Eric Cole

Looks to Last Year for Success at Sony Open
Daniel Berger

Starts Off 2026 at Sony Open

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP