This past Sunday the Detroit Lions just didn’t do the simple things needed to win. Is that same thing true for your fantasy football team?
Don’t tell me you decided to not play a top star and that player put up big points on your bench. Did you let an injured player sit on your roster too long and not replace them using your waiver wire privileges?
This past week we saw stars such as Tyreek Hill (WR Chiefs), Saquon Barkley (RB Giants), and Ezekiel Elliott (RB Cowboys) all put up those game-changing statistics you need to win in fantasy football. Please promise you did the basics and played those guys leading to fantasy success – right?
Lions at Vikings fantasy focus
One of the basic things the Lions didn’t do well was featuring their top offensive weapons. Their top fantasy targets, T.J. Hockenson and D’Andre Swift, didn’t see many targets. They will need to be the focal point this week in a rowdy dome in Minnesota when they face the Vikings.
Sleeper wide receiver options for the Lions appear to be Kalif Raymond and Quintez Cephus. Other than those options though, it will be tough for the Lions to be potent on offense from a fantasy football perspective.
The Minnesota Vikings got Dalvin Cook back on the field last week and he always gives the Lions issues when they face-off. Kirk Cousins the Vikings quarterback is another player that always plays well against Detroit.
With injuries across the board, the Lions are in a tough spot this week. They have to find a way to score points in a tough stadium to play in with offensive line issues at multiple spots. While doing all that, they also have to prevent the Vikings from stressing their young defense in a multitude of ways. Expect to play most of your Vikings fantasy players and sit many Lions in this one.
Start
- Matt Ryan (QB Falcons)
- Zach Moss (RB Bills)
- Allen Robinson (WR Bears)
- Jonnu Smith (TE Patriots)
Sit
- Ben Roethlisberger (QB Steelers)
- Darrell Henderson (RB Rams)
- Courtland Sutton (WR Broncos)
- Eric Ebron (TE Steelers)
Top 3 projected players by position
Quarterbacks
- Josh Allen (QB Bills)
- Tom Brady (QB Buccaneers)
- Kyler Murray (QB Cardinals)
Running Backs
- Dalvin Cook (RB Vikings)
- Derrick Henry (RB Titans)
- Alvin Kamara (RB Saints)
Wide Receivers
- Cooper Kupp (WR Rams)
- Davante Adams (WR Packers)
- DK Metcalf (WR Seahawks)
Tight Ends
- Travis Kelce (TE Chiefs)
- Darren Waller (TE Raiders)
- George Kittle (TE 49ers)
Team Defenses
- Raiders
- Patriots
- Buccaneers
Kickers
- Justin Tucker (K Ravens)
- Harrison Butker (K Chiefs)
- Daniel Carlson (K Raiders)
Waiver wire options
- Mac Jones (QB Bengals)
- Taylor Heineke (QB Washington)
- Jamaal Williams (RB Lions)
- Damien Williams (RB Bears)
- Josh Gordon (WR Chiefs)
- Donavon Peoples-Jones (WR Browns)
- Zach Ertz (TE Eagles)
- Anthony Firkser (TE Titans)
Intriguing games and players in Week 5
(Week 5 Bye Weeks: None)
LA Rams at Seattle, Thursday 8:20 PM, EST
- LAR: Matthew Stafford (QB), Robert Woods (WR)
- SEA: Russell Wilson (QB), Tyler Lockett (WR)
Detroit at Minnesota, Sunday 1:00 PM, EST
- DET: D’Andre Swift (RB), Trinity Benson (WR)
- MIN: Dalvin Cook (RB), Adam Thielen (WR)
Miami at Tampa Bay, Sunday 1:00 PM, EST
- MIA: Jaylen Waddle (WR), DeVante Parker (WR)
- TB: Mike Evans (WR), O.J. Howard (TE)
Denver at Pittsburgh, Sunday 1:00 PM, EST
- DEN: Melvin Gordon (RB), Noah Fant (TE)
- PIT: Ben Roethlisberger (QB), James Washington (WR)
New Orleans at Washington, Sunday 1:00 PM, EST
- NO: Alvin Kamara (RB), Adam Trautman (TE)
- WFT: Antonio Gibson (RB), Terry McLaurin (WR)
Cleveland at LA Chargers, Sunday 4:05 PM, EST
- CLE: Nick Chubb (RB), Baker Mayfield (QB)
- LAC: Mike Williams (WR), Kennan Allen (WR)
San Francisco at Arizona, Sunday 4:25 PM, EST
- SF: Trey Lance (QB), Brandon Aiyuk (WR)
- AZ: DeAndre Hopkins (WR), Christian Kirk (WR)
Buffalo at Kansas City, Sunday 8:20 PM, EST
- BUF: Josh Allen (QB), Stefon Diggs (WR)
- KC: Travis Kelce (TE), Mecole Hardman (WR)
Indianapolis at Baltimore, Monday 8:15 PM, EST
- IND: Michael Pittman Jr (WR), Johnathan Taylor (RB)
- BAL: Mark Andrews (TE), Rashad Bateman (WR)
Bottom Line
Don’t hurt yourself this week in fantasy football. Those mistakes of starting the wrong players, forgetting to substitute out an injured player, or playing a top player with a horrible matchup can cost you.
Often you hear NFL players say we have to focus on the fundamentals. Those basic essentials in fantasy football would be paying attention to the weekly projections, matchups, and managing injuries with timely waiver claims. Focus on the fundamentals and give your fantasy team the best chance to win in Week 5 of the National Football League.