QUARTERBACK

START: MATTHEW STAFFORD VS. PACKERS

Here we go! It’s your Week 5 Start, Bust Alerts & Sleepers! Matthew Stafford has been lighting it up the last few games after a horrendous Week one performance against the Jets. There aren’t many teams with a more talented wide receiver corps than the Lions. Golden Tate, Marvin Jones, and Kenny Golladay in a potential shootout/high scoring game is a giddy up situation for me this week with Stafford.

BUST ALERT: BAKER MAYFIELD VS. RAVENS

Say what you want about Flacco, but the Ravens defense is solid. This week they get back Jimmy Smith at corner, and in a divisional game, Baker Mayfield may struggle to rack up points for your fantasy team. I love Baker Mayfield, just not this week against Baltimore.

Sleepers: Blake Bortles @ Chiefs & Andy Dalton vs. Dolphins

#Lions QB Matthew Stafford now has an adjusted completion percentage of 50% on passes that travel 20+ yards downfield. He was at 45.7% last year.

For comparison, Patrick Mahomes is at 51.9% this season. pic.twitter.com/O5uvK3gdmE

— Logan Lamorandier (@LLamorandier) October 2, 2018

RUNNING BACK

START: AARON JONES @ LIONS

You’ve had to stash him on your bench for a few weeks and may have been hesitant to start him this past week; I’m right there with ya. Despite the Packers running backs being in a timeshare, Aaron Jones has the best path to provide fantasy goodness. The Lions have given up some big games to opposing running backs. I like Jones being an RB or flex play this week.

BUST ALERT: DALVIN COOK @ EAGLES

For those who gambled playing Dalvin Cook last week, I send my condolences. I love Cook, love his skill and potential, but right now he’s not 100% healthy, and that’s a concern for me. Eagles have been solid against the run all year, and Cook is no more than a low-end flex play this week.

Sleepers: Nyheim Hines @ Patriots & Chris Thompson @ New Orleans

Aaron Rodgers wants Aaron Jones on the field… pic.twitter.com/cFHehxver0

— Jake (@SeedsofJake) September 27, 2018

WIDE RECEIVER

START: JULIAN EDELMAN VS. COLTS

The Patriots have been waiting for Julian Edelman’s return just as much as I’ve been waiting for Chris Hogan to give me any sort of production this year. Patriots receiving core has been a little odd this year, but PPR monster and Tom Brady’s BFF is back! Colts started off looking suspect, but lately have been low key pretty good. Moreover, if slot CB Kenny Moore misses this game, Edelman’s debut can be even better.

BUST: QUINCY ENUNWA VS. BRONCOS

After a hot start in week’s one and two, Quincy Enunwa has settled down the last two games and will be facing a tough Broncos secondary. The Broncos should be able to apply tons of pressure on Sam Darnold this game as well. Because of his target share, Enunwa is always in consideration of being a plug-n-play, but if I could, I’d avoid starting him this week.

Sleepers: Keke Coutee vs. Cowboys & Dede Westbrook @ Chiefs

Julian Edelman is back (and much smaller than Trent Brown). pic.twitter.com/vUWPYtnTnV

— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) October 2, 2018

TIGHT END

START: ERIC EBRON @ PATRIOTS

T.Y. Hilton, Jack Doyle, and Marlon Mack are out. This leaves a lot of target opportunities for Colts receivers, and Eric Ebron should be the main red zone weapon in this game. Ebron, like nearly every tight end, has been up and down this season, but he’s in a nice matchup this week.

BUST ALERT: CHARLES CLAY VS. TITANS

The Bills offense has been painful to watch, and at the tight end position, it’s just as bad. Charles Clay hasn’t scored a touch down this year, and 40 yards is the most he’s had in a game. Fade or drop him. Whatever ya do, don’t play Clay this week.

Sleepers: Nick Vannett vs. Rams & Austin Seferian-Jenkins @ Chiefs

Eric Ebron.

Another touchdown. pic.twitter.com/NicuGNMXJM

— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) September 30, 2018

DEFENSE

Start: TITANS VS. BILLS

Simply put, the Titans are playing the Bills. It’s as easy as that for a plugin defense.

BUST ALERT: SEAHAWKS VS. RAMS

The Seahawks were a hot streaming defense last week, but things came crashing down quickly thereafter. They face one of the best, if not the best, offenses in the league in an away game, and they just lost Earl Thomas for the year.

Sleepers: Patriots vs. Colts & Ravens vs. Browns

That Titans Defense! 👀 #TitanUp pic.twitter.com/HWDgN4gTE9

— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) September 30, 2018

KICKER

START: MASON CROSBY @ LIONS

Always look for high scoring games indoors when trying to choose your kicker for the week. The Lions have been lighting it up offensively lately and will face Aaron Rodgers, so this could be a high scoring game. Mason Crosby has hit double-digit scoring twice in four games.

BUST ALERT: SEBASTIAN JANIKOWSKI VS. RAMS

There’s a good chance of very little offensive production for the Seahawks, meaning fewer opportunities for Sebastian Janikowski. There are plenty of other kickers with whom to take a flier this week.

Sleepers: Josh Lambo @ Chiefs & Adam Vinateri @ Patriots 

MASON CROSBY got me more points than Drew Brees this week. pic.twitter.com/CcDbTBvnCt

— El Presidenté (@FiendBanksy) October 1, 2018

Be sure to check with us each week where we will discuss not only start, bust alerts, and sleepers for that particular week, but also who you should be adding to your roster and who you should be dropping.

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