Brain games: Mining the Week 5 matchups for Chiefs receivers, Sam Howell and more

The Athletic has live fantasy football advice for NFL Week 5.

It’s not every week that we get an influx of new faces in our fantasy game. Sure, there are unexpected performances by players we know and some we may have forgotten (oh, hello, Cole Kmet!), but at this early-midpoint of the season we feel like we know the rosters pretty well. Since players who were on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) or IR lists are eligible to return for Week 5, and others are coming back or have returned from suspension, there are some new names to turn over. Guys like Alvin Kamara, Jonathan Taylor and Cooper Kupp are certainly rostered in all leagues, but could Jeff Wilson Jr., Tyquan Thornton, Kyle Phillips or Jameson Williams help you through some bye weeks? All are eligible to return (at least to practice) this week.

While the idea of finding new life for a struggling roster or fear of missing out on the next big thing may send you to the waiver wire with your FAAB wallet bursting to be spent, it’s necessary to consider the risk/reward for each. Wilson would join a crowded Miami backfield that hasn’t missed him in the slightest. It would seem foolish for the Dolphins to mess with the good thing they have going with Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane. Wilson is nice depth for the team, but I can’t see him benefiting fantasy squads unless there is an injury.

The receivers are more interesting. New England needs help. As well as Mac Jones started the season, a series of tough matchups have this team spiraling. Veterans JuJu Smith-Schuster and DeVante Parker combined for three catches on nine targets in the Week 4 loss to Dallas. Kendrick Bourne had the team’s two WR touchdowns in Week 1 but hasn’t been a factor in fantasy since. No one has. Thornton is fast and fresh (returning from a shoulder injury) and could be the spark Jones needs to get this team back in the end zone. He’s worth stashing if you have room.

Williams is back from suspension but is expected to be eased into the Lions’ game plan to start. Detroit is 3-1 with nice depth at all the skill positions. He should be the WR4, at best, barring injury to one of the top three of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Josh Reynolds and Kalif Raymond.

Phillips could be interesting if he gets on the field and if Treylon Burks’ injury lingers, or if the Titans commit to expanding the second-year slot receiver’s role. Tennessee’s pass offense is atrocious, attempting the second-fewest passes per game and completing a league-low 17 per game. I’m taking a wait-and-see approach with Phillips, who could be a PPR boon for needy fantasy teams — but until I see the team commit to involving him, it’s impossible to trust Phillips.

Now let’s check in with our usual conundrums as far as players you’re worried about trusting in Week 5, and those you might want to use to spice up a perfectly good, but bland lineup.

Don’t Overthink:

Breece Hall, RB, NYJ; Garrett Wilson, WR, NYJ — The Denver Broncos are fantasy’s cure for unproductivity. They made the players from the Raiders, Commanders, Dolphins and Bears fantasy heroes, and I believe it will be the same for the Jets. Wilson and Hall were drafted in the second round of most fantasy drafts, so their lack of fantasy points so far is not helping your lineups. Facing four (or at least three – sorry NE, it’s not happening) of the league’s best defenses hasn’t been fun for NY, but that’s about to end. Trust both of these superstars in all leagues this weekend.

Brock Purdy, QB, SF — This weekend’s matchup vs. Dallas is going to be Purdy’s biggest test yet. He’s passed them all with flying colors, failing to account for at least two touchdowns just once in his brief career (Week 2 in LA). This 49ers team is operating flawlessly, making good decisions on the sideline, and executing on the field. The level of talent they have to work with makes it look easy, but this is a smart and hard-working team that takes nothing for granted. Dallas is allowing opponents the fewest points of any team in the league (yet somehow lost to Arizona; I’m bitter about my Survivor pool) and is the second-worst overall matchup for fantasy. I’m still starting Purdy without question.

Tinker With:

Rashee Rice, WR, KC — If your fantasy team is winning with ease and you’re bored, the Kansas City wide receiver room is a fun place to roll some dice. We know the offense is going to score, we know Travis Kelce and Isaiah Pacheco are must-starts, but after that it’s been murky at best since Tyreek Hill left town. Rice is my favorite to hit fantasy gold this week. He owns two of the team’s three best WR performances this season (half-PPR scoring), though to be honest neither is really fantastic. He leads the group in targets and fantasy points, and with Minnesota on tap, I’m feeling optimistic. If you need a bye-week filler, this game boasts the highest total of the week (52.5 points), with the Chiefs 5.5-point road favorites. Look for Rice to join Mike Evans, DeVonta Smith and Terrace Marshall as speedy downfield threats to take advantage of the Vikings secondary.

Skyy Moore, WR, KC — With some of the same reasoning as Rice, Moore could join the likes of Keenan Allen and Adam Thielen, who both had above average performances when facing the Vikings. Just beware that the middle of the field is typically Kelce’s domain, and Moore is coming off a zero-target showing vs. the Jets. The Chiefs relied heavily on Pacheco, and Moore did have a couple of rushing plays for positive yardage in that game, but there is still a lot of risk here.

Sam Howell, QB, WAS — In 2QB or SuperFlex leagues, bye weeks can be rougher than usual. Even in one quarterback leagues you might be without Justin Herbert or Deshaun Watson. Howell was one of our favorite sleeper QBs this summer as we thought he would be making the leap in his second year, with healthy receivers and a full-strength Brian Robinson Jr. Though Howell struggled against Buffalo, he’s been more than serviceable as a fantasy starter in three of four weeks so far, but a meeting with the Chicago Bears could vault him into fantasy’s Top 12 (currently QB17). The Bears give up the second-most fantasy points to opposing QBs and fourth-most overall. Howell’s four touchdowns to five interceptions ratio looks bad, but four of those picks came against Buffalo. Aside from that disaster, he’s been sharp and accurate, even racking up 82 rushing yards and a score on his feet. It’s really the matchup and potential bye week situation that pushes Howell into must-start territory for those in deep or 2QB leagues this week.

(Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports)