Welcome into Week 5 of the 2022 season, and the latest in our Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em series.
As always, if you are struggling with a decision you can checkout our rankings for each Week. Or, if you want a more personal touch, reach out on social media. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or jump into our Discord server.
Start’Em
Tom Brady v ATL
Brady was a start last week, and had his best week of the season. Throwing for 385 yards and 3 TDs has put him back on track after a tough start to the season. Next up is a Falcons defense that isn’t good, and one that Brady has carved up in recent seasons. With his receiving weapons returning, he should be able to have a good game here.
Jared Goff @NE
It’s strange to put Goff as a start for a few reasons. I can’t remember having Goff as a start this often when was on a better offense with the Rams. I also can’t believe I’d see the level of performance he managed last week without his main receivers. You just can’t discount him this season it seems. You almost need to start him each week, as he is forced to air the ball to keep up with the defense allowing points.
Zach Wilson v MIA
Wilson made his season debut against the Steelers, and finished with 252 yards and a TD through the air, with 2 INTs. The Jets offense has been pass happy, and there is little reason to think that will change against the Dolphins defense that has struggled to limit production to the position all season.
Sit’Em
Aaron Rodgers v NYG
I’ll stay with the theme of sitting a QB playing in the early games in London. Rodgers isn’t the same player without Davante Adams, with his passing numbers suffering and him relying on the ground game. As a result, Rodgers doesn’t run the ball either. Strange things happen in the UK, but I can’t play Rodgers outside of deep leagues or SF formats.
Geno Smith @NO
I know what you are thinking. Last week Smith dominated for fantasy, let’s chase it. You can, but I really wouldn’t recommend it. The Saints defense is legit and kept their offense in the game against the Vikings last week. I wouldn’t bet against another good performance this week.
Start ‘Em
James Robinson v HOU
Robinson didn’t do too well last week, but then again the Eagles didn’t allow for a lot of play from the Jaguars. You probably don’t need me to tell you start him, but incase you were nervous you shouldn’t be. The Texans struggle to defend the RB position, and Robinson should see plenty of work here.
Rhamondre Stevenson v DET
Stevenson has been working as part of a committee with Damien Harris, with some ok fantasy performances but nothing great. This week that is likely to change with the Patriots offense matching up against a weak defensive front and onto a third-string QB. The offense already ran the ball a lot, and they are likely to lean into that gameplan in this one.
Alvin Kamara ( & Mark Ingram) v SEA
Kamara was a name literally being talked about all around the stadium last week in London. Moments before many entered the stadium, he was confirmed to miss the game. That led to many people rushing to set lineups, but that late notice miss gives me confidence he plays this week. The Saints offense was screaming for a playmaker, and to make the decision so close to kickoff he must be near health. The Seahawks defense have struggled to defend RBs all season, so start Kamara this week. In deeper leagues, I’m fine starting Ingram if needed in this one.
Sit ‘Em
Ezekiel Elliott @LAR
Elliott has seen volume, but has struggled to do anything with it. I can’t see that changing in a tough matchup with the best run defense in the league. With Tony Pollard taking the targets out of the backfield, there isn’t the previous safe floor that made him a safe RB2 option (at least) every week.
Tyler Allgeier @TB
Now, I get that you might not have an option here. Everyone is injured on your roster, and you picked up the rookie to fill a gap. The thing is this matchup isn’t the one- even if we knew that Allgeier was going to get all the play out of the backfield. When you then mix in Caleb Huntley’s involvement it’s not a play to rely on.
Start ‘Em
Robert Woods @WAS
Woods seems like he might be getting back to how he used to perform for the Rams. He isn’t getting the same targets, but he is moving the ball when he needs to. With the Titans now without Treylon Burks, Woods should see an uptick in targets. Against a poor Washington secondary that has given up on average more points to the WR position that any other, he is a decent play.
Curtis Samuel v TEN
Samuel didn’t have a good Week 4, but then the whole offense struggled against the Dallas defense. Despite the struggles, he is the lead receiver for the offense. The Titans defense has struggled to stop WRs from scoring against them, so Samuel should be fine here.
DK Metcalf @NO
Metcalf didn’t start the season well, but he seems to have found some rapport with QB Geno Smith in recent weeks. The offense overall hasn’t taken as a large of a step back that was expected after the QB change, and the Saints secondary have given up plays to the position this season
Sit ’em
Diontae Johnson @BUF
I thought the Steelers offense would struggle this season, as tried to find its new QB. I didn’t think it would struggle quite the amount it has. As a result of those struggles, Johnson has fallen massively in rankings and almost feels like a matchup dependent play. Which reminds me, this matchup isn’t one to target.
DJ Moore v SF
Moore is suffering from the play of Baker Mayfield at QB. The Panthers haven’t been able to keep him standing, giving up 11 sacks already, which is then made worse with the turnovers that Mayfield has given up (3 INTs & 6 Fumbles). I just can’t start Moore until I see some life from this offense. Against a TOUGH 49ers unit that has given up the sixth-fewest fantasy points to the position.
Start ‘Em
David Njoku v LAC
Njoku broke out in Week 3, and was then picked up by many for Week 4 where he was a start. The Browns offense doesn’t have many reliable receiving targets, and Njoku has been earning targets in this offense. The Chargers defense has been good against the position this season, but Njoku is starting to become a volume TE.
Tyler Conklin v MIA
Conklin has had a good start to the season, firstly with Joe Flacco but then having a good outing with Zach Wilson too. The Jets offense is pass-heavy, and faces a Dolphins defense that has allowed teams to pass on them. As a result, Conklin is a fine play in this one.
Sit ’em
Dalton Schultz @LAR
Schultz was a TE I wasn’t in on to start the season. Injury has helped me on that take, both to Schultz and QB Dak Prescott, but his opening schedule was tough. It doesn’t get easier this week against a Rams defense that hasn’t allowed 100 yards in total to the position yet.
Irv Smith Jr. v CHI
I was there last week watching the game and it didn’t look great for Smith. After being involved in an early drive he was then overlooked in favor of Justin Jefferson, who took back his command of targets, and Adam Thielen who had a decent outing. Against a Bears defense that has defended the position well so far this season? I have to believe you have better options this week.
Start ‘Em
Tennessee Titans @WAS
The Titans defense are a decent streaming option this week as they matchup against the Commanders. Carson Wentz has been sacked 17 times in 4 games. The defense might be missing playmakers, but they can perform if given the opportunity.
Minnesota Vikings v CHI
If you picked the Vikings last week, then part of the season would have been the double week option. The Vikings are set to play against one of the worst offenses in the league, slow and turnover-prone. Exactly what you want for fantasy.
Sit ‘Em
New England v DET
The Patriots have felt like a safe fantasy DST for many seasons, and the Detroit offense one to target. This season both of those have been flipped on their head. With alot of uncertainty over the offense, I don’t want to put out a defense that has struggled to be fantasy viable.
Seattle Seahawks @NO
The Seahawks are going to be included in some people’s starts this week. The effect of travelling from the UK, and the injuries the offense has are certainly signs to be positive about the play, but I’m not confident in the Seahawks side here. And if those starters do play- well, it’s not looking good. There are better options.
Start ‘Em
Matt Gay v DAL
Gay is one of those kickers that you can likely start most weeks and he isn’t going to let you down. The way the Rams play on offense he should see plenty of PATs, as well as FGs should the offense stall. This week is one of the weeks where he has a boom game, against a tough Cowboys defense that could cause more of the stalls on offense.
Will Lutz v SEA
Lutz tried to convert a long-range effort to force overtime in the UK last week, but it didn’t happen. I literally saw some people drop him from rosters on the spot, so he might be available in some of your leagues. He has only had one double-digit game this season, but should be able to do well against this Seahawks defense.
Sit ‘Em
Nick Folk v DET
Folk has a history of being fantasy viable, and it’s tempting to start him in this one thinking that drives stall for the Patriots. The truth of the matter is that the team should be able to move the chains and punch it in on the floor like the other teams before them. The team being down to their third-string QB makes the range of outcomes too great.
Well that’s it for our Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em for Week 5 of the 2022 season. Remember, you can check out rankings for each Week. Reach out on social media, you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or jump into our Discord server.
Image Credit: Kirby Lee – USA TODAY Sports
Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em 2022 Week 5
Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em 2022 Week 5
