Your Bye Week Streamers Are Here! And Week 5 Preview

A month into the season, we have a good idea of who everyone is: that goes for players and teams. Injuries will keep bringing new names to light, young players will get more opportunities, and losing teams will start phasing out older players, so it's important to keep an eye on everything that's changing week to week.

Week 5 is the first with byes, so I am going to highlight some streaming options for owners missing key pieces. Teams on bye Week 5 are: Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Chargers, Seattle Seahawks, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Most players not listed below fall somewhere in the middle: they are players to consider for your lineup who are usually facing middle-of-the-road defenses against their position. Others are not fantasy-relevant most weeks or players I don't see as options. Use tools such as the Fantasy Nerds "Who Should I Start?" system to help decide between close calls, and always check the rankings.

No Explanation Needed

These are weekly starters who are expected to do their thing, even against tough matchups.

QB

• Richardson played full games in Weeks 1 and 4 and finished fourth and second, respectively, in QB fantasy scoring. He missed over half the game in Week 2 and was only five points from the top 10. Richardson is for real as a fantasy quarterback and a weekly starter.

RB

• Montgomery went for 141 total yards and three touchdowns Week 4. I'm done doubting him: I believed in Jahmyr Gibbs as the guy to own, but Montgomery has routinely been a top back when healthy.
• Pollard and McCaffrey have tough matchups against each other's respective defenses, but you can't bench either.

WR

• Olave caught just one pass for four yards in Week 4 as Derek Carr seemed compromised by a shoulder injury. The returning Alvin Kamara had 13 catches, and over 65% Carr's 23 completions went to backs. This is a real concern if Carr continues to deal with the injury and can't air it out.
• Cooper Kupp is close to his return, and the hottest debate in fantasy football is how Nacua will be affected. Kupp will surely suck up plenty of targets, but Nacua has been too good for Matthew Stafford to ignore. Kupp is a must-start if he plays, along with Nacua.

TE

• LaPorta might not be quite to the level of the other four, but he is third among tight ends in receptions and leads the position in yards. He is a legit weekly starter.

Start-Worthy and Streaming Options

These are mid-to-low level players who are worth looking at this week due to their matchup.

QB

• Tannehill is rated low, and there are better options (like Joshua Dobbs or C.J. Stroud: pick these guys up if you're short at QB), but there might not be a better streaming matchup this week at quarterback.
• Same story for Jones against a Dolphins team that loves shoot-outs and gives up yards and points. Jones has looked horrible at times, but he was the top-scoring QB in Week 2.
• Are we really doing this? Wilson was sooooo bad coming into Week 4, but he threw for 245 yards and two touchdowns. He plays the worst pass defense in the league Sunday. I am NOT recommending him, but there are worse options if you're desperate for a streamer.

RB

• Saquon Barkley may return (still unsure), and that causes Breida's projection to fall. If Barkley plays, Breida shouldn't be in your lineup. If Barkley is out, Breida is a RB2/flex option.
• Mostert and Achane are both top-five backs in fantasy through four weeks, but my concern with touch-share keeps me from listing them as must-starts by just a sliver. They have a good matchup and are both RB2s this week at worst.
• Jones and Hall both had a big Week 1 but haven't been fantasy-relevant since: Jones missed Weeks 2 and 3 before 14 total yards in Week 4, and Hall had 147 total yards in Week 1 but has just 105 over the ensuing three games. They have good matchups and a chance for a productive Week 5. Hall is off his "pitch count" and will go 100% for the first time since his knee injury last season.

WR

• The three Kansas City receivers are essentially equal to me, but I'd order them Moore, Rice, then Toney. Any of the trio could have a big game against a giving Vikings' defense, but any of them could also have a zero-catch day. They are among the best wide receiver streaming options and can be considered for your WR3/flex spots.
• Flowers has 17 targets, 14 receptions, and 138 yards MORE than any other wide receiver in Baltimore.
• Atwell probably isn't a realistic option if Kupp is back, though he will get a few opportunities.
• If Zach Wilson is competent, his receiver Garrett is a fantasy starter. There's always the chance of implosion, though.

TE

• Hurst has had just one good game (five catches for 41 yards and a touchdown in Week 1), but I believe in him Week 5. He has been facing tough defenses against tight ends, and Detroit has been much more giving to the position. Hurst is a deep streaming option that could pay off if you're desperate.
• Ertz has the second-most targets and fourth-most receptions among tight ends in 2023.
• I don't love Kincaid or Higbee, but the matchup is right if you need a streamer.

Think Twice

These players have tough matchups, lack of volume, or something else holding them back this week.

QB

• Lawrence is just 19th in QB scoring and has struggled; I don't see him finding it against a brutal Buffalo defense, and I'm sitting his wide receivers also (Calvin Ridley and Christian Kirk).
• Cousins had his first bad game of the season in Week 4. The Chiefs have been tough on defense, but this could also be a shootout. Cousins is a borderline starter in Week 5.

RB

• On top of a tough matchup, Jonathan Taylor is nearing his return, which would torpedo Moss' value. He's been good, but this might be the end of fantasy relevancy for Moss.
• Williams was hurt in Week 4, but it looks like he will play after a hip contusion. He's been great in fantasy, but the Eagles' D-line is so tough. It could be a long day, especially if he's hampered. It's hard to bench Williams right now, but it's worth looking to see if you have that option.

WR

• Joe Burrow is seriously compromised, and his receivers have joined in his struggles. Chase has been better the last two games with 19 catches and 214 yards, and he will be in your starting lineup. Tee Higgins may miss the game after a rib injury.
• I was all over Williams as a preseason sleeper; I still feel that way, but Atlanta has been good against the pass, and Williams is returning two weeks earlier than expected from suspension. Get Williams on your roster if you can, but sit him until he has a chance to get integrated.
• Samuel had a big Week 3 with Aiyuk out but followed it up with zero targets in Week 4, with three carries for six yards. Aiyuk has been by far the better receiver this season; I'm sitting Samuel.

TE

• I love Engram and see him as a weekly option, but Week 5 is likely to be among his worst games of the season. Most owners won't have a better option, and that's fine.
• Kittle had seven catches for 90 yards in Week 3. He has seven catches for 58 yards in the other three games combined. I'm not counting on him against Dallas.

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