The first four weeks of the fantasy football season have been quite surprising, to say the least. Player injuries, rising stars, and players coming back from the relevancy-grave have forced fantasy managers to think about every possible outcome before setting their lineups this year. To keep you covered week in and week out, The League Winners are here to help you with any start or sit questions you have. Spending the week agonizing over who to start in your flex? Put your mind to rest and rely on us week in, and week out. If you missed last week’s picks, you can see them here.
Start
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR – Kansas City Chiefs (Thomas Christopher)
JuJu Smith-Schuster has disappointed fantasy football managers this season, but it’s not for a lack of targets. He has had 8 targets in three of the first four games of the season. JuJu’s solidified himself as the Chiefs WR1. The only thing yet to happen are the touchdowns, which should come sooner than later. In fact, I predict JuJu scores his first touchdown of the season against the Raiders, whose defense has been susceptible to WRs this season. In what could be a shootout of a game, I expect JuJu to have a good game.
Mike Williams, WR – Los Angeles Chargers (Harry Prskalo)
I have to run it back with Mike Williams this week as my start of the week. Last week he went off for 19 points, and he did not even score a touchdown. He is playing against the Cleveland Browns this week, which have held their own against receivers. That said, Williams is still on the field at an excellent clip, and is the most targeted on the team. I think that the opportunity he has this week with no Keenan Allen, and being Herbert’s main guy, is simply too much to pass up on. Mike Williams should be in everyone’s lineups and you should expect a huge week.
Bailey Zappe, QB – New England Patriots (Aaron St. Denis)
With Brian Hoyer – and Mac Jones – already ruled out after suffering a concussion in Week 4, Bailey Zappe gets the nod at quarterback for New England. This week the Patriots face a Lions team that’s been in plenty of shootouts this season. The Lions defense ranks 32nd overall allowing a whopping 35.3 points per game against. They have allowed a Top 12 QB finish to all 4 opponents they face. Start Zappe with confidence as a QB1.
Gabriel Davis, WR – Buffalo Bills (Jeremy Shulman)
Robert Woods, WR – Tennessee Titans (Sheldon Hand)
Robert Woods has a great matchup against the Commanders secondary. They have allowed a top 10 scoring WR in each of the last three weeks. Even in Week 1, Christian Kirk scored 14.7 points without a TD. Woods is no spring chicken, but him being ranked as WR39 on FantasyPros for this week is awful. No Treylon Burks, Austin Hooper has done nothing, and Kyle Philips is just getting back from an injury. Woods will be the guy and he should be in your lineups this week. He is locked in as a WR2, with WR1 upside when he finds the end zone!
Sit
DJ Moore, WR – Carolina Panthers (Thomas Christopher)
After a Week 4 matchup that saw DJ Moore targeted 11 times, I think he comes back down to earth against a tough San Francisco 49ers defense in Week 5. DJM and new QB Baker Mayfield have had struggles getting on the same page. While I think Moore could once again be peppered with targets in this one, I don’t think it’s enough to be worth starting in your fantasy football lineups. If you have better options, start them over Moore.
Cam Akers, RB – Los Angeles Rams (Harry Prskalo)
The fantasy football darling of the offseason has come back down to earth in a drastic way. Akers currently sits as the RB53 in PPR leagues. He’s had one game with over 3 YPC. Up to this point, Darrell Henderson has looked like the much better back in LA. I expect this trend to continue this week against the Dallas Cowboys. I’m benching Akers, and you should too.
