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The Week 5 matchup between Washington and the Baltimore Ravens features two teams scoring points consistently through the air. We've got the fantasy projections courtesy of numberFire.
Washington
Kirk Cousins’ stats over the last three weeks make him a serviceable option in most fantasy formats. Despite throwing for only 189 yards against the Cleveland Browns in Week 4, Cousins ended the afternoon with three touchdown passes. He has two multi-touchdown games and two 300-yard passing games on his game log this season. The Ravens are fairly good at defending opposing quarterbacks, but it appears that Cousins has earned the right to start on your team, particularly if you need a bye week fill-in.
Of the three touchdown passes he tossed last week, Cousins found tight end Jordan Reed for two of them. Reed was impressive in the win over Cleveland, catching all but one of his 10 targets in the game for 73 yards. He’s a reliable target, but it should be noted 73 yards represents his highest receiving yard total of the year and his two scores were also his first the season. Baltimore ranks six in the league at defending tight ends. Despite that, fantasy owners playing in PPR formats would still be wise to start him.
Baltimore Ravens
Rookie running back Kenneth Dixon is expected to make his season debut in Week 5. For now, the team’s backfield belongs to Terrance West. West broke out for 113 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries against the Oakland Raiders. Prior to his outburst, West’s season high for rushing yards was just 45. Only two teams concede more fantasy points to running backs than Washington at the moment. West is a good bet to top his projections this week and represents a solid starting option, particularly in deep leagues where workhorse backs are a scarce commodity.
West is going to need help to top Washington even if he has a great game on Sunday. Hopefully Joe Flacco can connect with Mike Wallace on a few long bombs. Wallace has always been a boom-or-bust fantasy option. The fact he’s scored three touchdowns in his first two games and none since is no surprise. The good news is, Wallace did find the end zone on a two-point conversion in Week 4 and he was targeted 10 times. Steve Smith rose from the ashes against Oakland, but Wallace is still probably the better bet to perform week to week.