Time To Mess Around And Find Out
In Week 5, we have some opportunities for fantasy football managers to take advantage of. The question is, which situation do you choose to spend the FAAB you currently have? Do you go after the Broncos running back position, or maybe you prefer the Falcons? If you are struggling at wide receiver, does Green Bay or New York hold more appeal to you? We are at the point where these decisions can make or break your year, so let us dive into the slate of potential free agents. 5182423710
Running Back
Rachaad White Rostered in 11.3% of ESPN Fantasy Football Leagues (20% of FAAB)
In Week 4, we saw Rachaad White take his first step towards fantasy relevance; evenly splitting the early down work with Leonard Fournette. Yet, with the struggles we have seen from Fournette, we could see White carve out an even more significant role as the season progresses. The RB1 role in Tampa is one of the most valuable in fantasy football. If White cuts into Fournette’s receiving role, we will be cooking with gas. Therefore, going big on White while he is still available is worth the gamble. You don’t want to see the breakout happen on your friends’ roster.
Rachaad White should be a much higher priority in waivers this week than any Bronco or Falcon back
— Sigmund Bloom (@SigmundBloom) October 3, 2022
Tyler Allgeier Rostered in 16.8% of ESPN Fantasy Football Leagues (15% of FAAB)
Tyler Allgeier is a must-add, yet will likely not be the top target in fantasy leagues, with the Javonte Williams injury forcing managers to chase the uncertainty of the Denver backfield. However, with Cordarrelle Patterson going on the IR, Allgeier led the Falcons backfield in snaps, routes run, targets, and carries in Week 4. With Allgeier competing with unknowns and cast-offs, he has the best shot to take control and hold onto the lead role; even when Patterson returns in Week 9. The Denver situation is not as appealing. Melvin Gordon should still being the lead dog.
Brian Robinson Rostered in 37.4% of ESPN Fantasy Football Leagues (10% of FAAB)
Brian Robinson may not be activated this week, but he is progressing nicely and should be with the Commanders sooner rather than later. Antonio Gibson has seen his role decrease weekly. There is no guarantee he will hold off Robinson when he returns. Remember, reports from Commanders camp were that Robinson would be named the starting RB in Week 1. So get out in front of the news and stash Robinson on the IR spot.
Latavius Murray Rostered in 0.2% of ESPN Fantasy Football Leagues (3% of FAAB)
Mike Boone is the hot name in Denver with the season-ending injury to Javonte Williams; but let’s be clear, Melvin Gordon is the big dog in Denver. In his 5-year career, Boone has only seen two games with a 50%+ snap share. He is just a guy, who will not push Gordon for the RB1 job. Denver claimed Murray off of the Saints’ practice squad. I believe Murray is a bigger threat to take the RB2 job than Boone, as he has proven to be a productive player throughout his career. Let others spend 20%+ FAAB on Boone and get Murray for pennies on the dollar.
Wide Receiver
Romeo Doubs Rostered in 46.1% of ESPN Fantasy Football Leagues (15% of FAAB)
Romeo Doubs led the Packers in Snaps and Targets for the second consecutive week, and was second in routes run. Doubs is a WR you can pick up and play in your Week 5 lineup. The usage is as good as you can get for a rookie WR on a team desperate for offensive talent. In the last two weeks, Doubs has averaged 8 targets, 6 receptions, 60 yards, and a touchdown. It looks like the rookie is taking over for the Packers.
Kadarius Toney Rostered in 48.3% of ESPN Fantasy Football Leagues (8% of FAAB)
The Giants currently have Saquon Barkley carrying them on his back. In addition, Sterling Shepard is now out for the year. They are desperate for any WR who can make an impact. Kenny Golladay is dust, and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see Toney is the most talented WR on the Giants roster. Everyone saw that talent jump off the screen in bursts as a rookie last year. All it takes is for the Giants to allow it to happen.
Michael Gallup Rostered in 46.5% of ESPN Fantasy Football Leagues (7% of FAAB)
Michael Gallup is another WR returning from an injury showing he is a talented player. It’s clear with how CeeDee Lamb has played that he is the Alpha in Big D, but very little stands in Gallup’s way of grabbing the WR2 option in this offense. Noah Brown has been a solid fill-in, but cannot hold a candle to Gallup’s talent; and rookie Jalen Tolbert has struggled to make the active roster. In Gallup’s first week back, he was second on the team in routes ran. His role will only grow in this offense. With Dak Prescott scheduled to return in a few weeks, the two should be back at it again in no time.
Tight End
Tyler Conklin Rostered in 38.8% of ESPN Fantasy Football Leagues (3% of FAAB)
We are going back to the well again in Week 5. Tyler Conklin continues to get the work of a top 12 fantasy TE. Just another game with 80% snap share, no big deal. He may not be the sexy pick, but you can pick him up and play him if you struggle to find a trustworthy tight end. Miami, the Jets’ Week 5 opponent, has given up the 6th most points to the TE position.
Cade Otton Rostered in 0.1% of ESPN Fantasy Football Leagues (1% of FAAB)
More of a dart throw, but it just speaks to how bad the tight end position is. Cameron Brate suffered a concussion in the Week 4 matchup versus Kansas City. The rookie from the University of Washington took over as the receiving TE for the rest of the game. If Brate does miss Week 5, Otton has a juicy matchup versus Atlanta, a team that is 28th in fantasy points allowed to tight ends.
Quarterback
Jared Goff Rostered in 44.1% of ESPN Fantasy Football Leagues (5% of FAAB)
The top 5 scoring QB through week 4: (Stafford or Jimmy G are so far behind it doesn’t matter)
Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, and Jared Goff pic.twitter.com/BspaUXmNGZ
— Jesse Moeller (@JMoeller05) October 3, 2022
The 2022 season has been a wild one through four weeks, but nothing is more surprising than Jared Goff being the QB5 on the year! Goff torched the Seattle Seahawks defense even without Amon-Ra St. Brown and D’Andre Swift. In addition, Goff convinced Josh Reynolds to give his best ARSB impression. This season, he has been a different quarterback. Pushing the ball down the field, Goff is top 10 in yards/attempt, yards/completion, and QBR. Having one of the best lines in the NFL is paying massive dividends. Goff gets the Patriots, one of the more blitz-happy groups in the NFL, and yet cannot pressure the quarterback. With Amon-Ra set to return in Week 5, Goff should be in for another big day.
Geno Smith Rostered in 15.1% of ESPN Fantasy Football Leagues (4% of FAAB)
Russell Wilson through 4 games this season: 80-of-131 (61.1%), 980 passing yards, 4 TD, 1 INT.
Geno Smith through 4 games this season: 102-of-132 (77.3%), 1,037 yards, 6 TD, 2 INT.
Credit to Geno. He's been excellent.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 2, 2022
Is it me, or has Geno Smith been superb this season? I was one of the bigger naysayers on the Russell Wilson trade this off-season. I believed the Seahawks would be stuck searching for a quarterback; and as the saying goes, if you do not have a quarterback, you have nothing. Nevertheless, Geno has been lights out this year. While it is still early, it’s hard to argue with the results. Up next for Seattle is a defense in New Orleans that has been awful at pressuring the quarterback. Not only that, they do not want to blitz, either. With Seattle’s weapons, Geno Smith should have plenty of time to sit in the pocket, letting Metcalf and Lockett pick apart the Saints defense.
Jesse Moeller
Jesse Moeller is a fascinating character. By day, he's a restaurant manager, but during his free time, he transforms into a fantasy football analyst. He's been playing fantasy football since 1999, which means he's been around the block a few times. But his passion for the game has never waned. Jesse is a devoted husband to his wife Andrea, whom he's been married to for five years. They have a lovely daughter Cecilia, who is now four years old. Jesse's journey into content creation began with The League Winners in 2021, and he hasn't looked back since. Dynasty is his passion, and his love for the game is infectious. Jesse is a true degenerate who loves the fantasy football and the community that supports it.