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Fantasy owners have much to factor into their decisions for Week 5, whether it is four teams on bye weeks, or Hurricane Matthew’s winds potentially whipping around in football stadiums along the East Coast. In the meantime, fantasy owners can have some clarity in setting lineups by looking at Week 5’s matchups, one at a time.
San Diego Chargers
Start ‘em
It could be a shootout in Oakland, a scenario that Philip Rivers’ fantasy owners have to be thrilled about. He, Travis Benjamin, and Hunter Henry can be considered start-worthy at their respective positions.
Melvin Gordon, with the backfield all to himself, leads the NFL with six rushing touchdowns after going all of 2015 without finding pay dirt once. As long as the scoring continues, he can be considered a RB1 as usual. Against a Raiders defense that has surrendered 34, 35, 10, and 27 points in four games, there should be opportunities for Gordon to cross the goal line.
Start ‘em?
Dontrelle Inman had gotten plenty of snaps, but those snaps had not crystallized into fantasy points until Week 5, when Inman hung a 7-120-1 line on the New Orleans Saints. Inman can be started in all formats as an upside flex with such a good matchup at hand, but fantasy owners have to be aware of his downside, as well. Tyrell Williams is in a similar boat , as he leads the Chargers receivers with eight red zone targets.
Sit ‘em
Dexter McCluster was acquired to mitigate the loss of Danny Woodhead, but hasn’t gotten meaningful snaps. He can remain on benches.
Oakland Raiders
Start ‘em
Fresh off a three touchdown performance, Michael Crabtree has a favorable matchup against a secondary that lost its best cornerback, Jason Verrett, for the rest of the season. Crabtree and Amari Cooper are must-starts, as is their quarterback Derek Carr, who is quietly fantasy football’s No. 3 quarterback at the quarter point of the season.
Start ‘em?
With Latavius Murray out, DeAndre Washington, and Jalen Richard will share the backfield. Each has flashed at various points in the season, but it is difficult to get excited about either when so much uncertainty regarding distribution exists. Each can be considered flex options, with Washington expected to have more value in PPR formats than Richard.
Sit ‘em
Clive Walford, Seth Roberts, and Jamize Olawale remain afterthoughts and can safely be benched.