Fantasy football: 10 best Week 5 matchups to attack

Get ready for another big weekend of fantasy football by checking out these Week 5 matchups that should result in plenty of fantasy points. These are the top ten matchups to attack this week.

Oct 2, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard (24) runs with the ball during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

We’ve reached the quarter pole of the NFL season, and are headed into the stretch of the fantasy football season dominated by bye weeks. There are four teams taking this week off with two more each of the next two weeks before things get really crazy with six teams taking off week 8 and week 9. As a fantasy football owner, you have to manage around the bye weeks carefully. One thing to always keep in mind when making lineup choices is who your players are going up against. Check out the Week 5 matchups on the following slides to see the ten places I think have the potential to produce piles of fantasy riches.

As you try to make your tough lineup calls for the weekend, remember to check out each players’ matchups. While over-weighting matchups can result in leaving good starts on your bench, analyzing some of the best matchups to attack can help you get players in a place where they could have monster weeks. If you’ve played fantasy football for any length of time, you know just how huge matchups can be. Make sure you do your best to attack the best week 5 matchups to put your team in a place to produce a win for you this week.

After a big start to the week on Thursday Night Football for the Cardinals’ fantasy owners, some teams come into the weekend’s action ahead, behind, or yet to get their matchup underway. Whatever your situation, check out the best week 5 matchups you should try to target for a big Sunday and Monday. To help you with your lineup decisions for the week, my Week 5 rankings will be updated throughout the weekend. You can also use our cool new start/sit advice tool to see who I think you should have in your lineup and whether the full panel of experts at FantasyPros.com agrees or disagrees.

If you’re still uncertain based on your league’s quirks or other issues, you can always find me throughout the weekend on Twitter @FansidedFantasy to ask your specific question. It’s also a good idea to set a bookmark on our fantasy football hub to keep up with all our content this weekend and in the weeks to come. Check back on Sunday morning for last-minute sleepers to give you a late boost, and make sure to check back Monday for the leading scorers, biggest busts, and most pleasant surprises of Week 5.

To see my take on the top 10 fantasy football Week 5 matchups, check out the following slides starting with a QB with a point to prove.

Sep 17, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady looks on from the sideline in the first quarter of the game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Colorado Buffaloes at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Tom Brady @ Browns

The Tom Brady revenge tour of 2016 is schedule to start this week in Cleveland where the Red Sox-Indians and Celtics-Cavaliers are starting to get a Boston-Cleveland rivalry stirring. The Browns and Patriots will meet in Brady’s first game back after a four-game suspension, and the internet is full of posts talking about how mad Brady is about his unscheduled time off.

Brady may not have a full-strength Gronk, but he has plenty of weapons to attack the Browns. Cleveland has been beaten up by opposing QB’s all season and has allowed multiple passing touchdowns in each of their four season-opening losses.

Brady and Belichick will be ready to make a point after last week’s loss to Buffalo, and they should be able to pile up points whether you buy into the “motivation” stuff or not. Brady is a top-tier QB coming back in one of the best week 5 matchups, so enjoy getting him back in your lineup if you have held him through his suspension.

Oct 2, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) looks at the New Orleans Saints defense before the snap during the second half at Qualcomm Stadium. New Orleans won 35-34. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Phillip Rivers @ Raiders

While Brady will get all the attention in the early game, one of the later afternoon games on Sunday also promises to provide plenty of fantasy points. I really like Phillip Rivers as one of the best week 5 matchups as he takes on the porous Raiders secondary.

Rivers has put up good numbers despite some late-game struggles that have led to a 1-3 start for San Diego. He threw for 321 yards in last week’s loss to New Orleans, and has seven total touchdowns to go with just one interception. He is on pace for 4,440 yards this season which is amazing when you remember he lost his top two go-to options in Keenan Allen and Antonio Gates.

Gates may return this week, but with or without him I like Rivers to put up big numbers against the Raiders. Oakland has allowed the third-most fantasy points in the NFL to opposing QB’s. They let Joe Flacco throw for 298 yards last week and were gauged by Matt Ryan and Drew Brees to start the season. Their only good game came against Marcus Mariota, but they have given up over 20 fantasy points (standard scoring) in their other three contests.

Brady will get the attention and probably be the best play at QB this week, but if you’re looking for a less-popular option who could go off check out Rivers. He’s one of the best week 5 matchups but isn’t getting as much hype as Brady’s return.

Oct 2, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard (24) has a pass broken up by Detroit Lions middle linebacker Tahir Whitehead (59) in the first quarter at Soldier Field. Pass interference was called on the play against Detroit. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Jordan Howard @ Colts

The Bears picked up a win over the Lions in Week 4 behind a monster game from rookie Jordan Howard. Howard was stepping in for an injured Jeremy Langford, but he continued to show more ability than Langford had showcased to this point in the season.

Howard finished last week with 111 yards rushing on 23 carries and hauled in three catches for 21 yards. He didn’t get into the end zone which would have capped his fantasy day, but he still showed a ton of upside going forward. Howard may eventually slide into a committee with Langford, but not this week.

This week, Howard will again have the backfield to himself as the Bears head to Indianapolis to take on the Colts who played last week in London. Indianapolis decided to not have their bye this week, so they’ll try to stop Howard and Chicago on Sunday.

The Colts run defense hasn’t done much stopping of anyone yet this season. They have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing RB and have allowed RB to run for 100 yards in three of their four contests. Howard should be able to get into the end zone this week and is a fringe RB1 in one of the tastiest week 5 matchups.

Sep 18, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos running back C.J. Anderson (22) runs the ball in the second quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

C.J. Anderson vs Falcons

One of the best week 5 matchups takes place in Denver this week where the Broncos’ defense will try and shut down the red-hot Falcons’ offense. Atlanta has come out of the gate firing and heads to the Mile High City 3-1 after dismantling the Panthers last week. While Julio Jones and Matt Ryan are risky plays due to the matchup, don’t miss a favorable play on the other side of the ball.

The Broncos may or may not have Trevor Siemian at QB, but either way they’ll likely rely heavily on their running game against an Atlanta defense that has struggled to slow down opposing RB. While the Falcons only allowed 19 rushing yards (and nine fantasy points) to the Panthers RB last week, they gave up at least 18 fantasy points (standard scoring) in each of their first three contests. The Raiders and Saints both ran successfully against them on the road, and the Broncos will try to find the same success with C.J. Anderson

Anderson is definitely a starting RB in almost all formats. I see him in the second tier just behind the David Johnson/LeVeon Bell grouping. Anderson hasn’t had huge yardage totals the last two weeks with 37 yards against the Bengals and 49 against the Bucs. Returning home should be good for C.J. since he had success in Denver earlier this season. He also has managed to find the end zone in three of his four games this season, so start him with confidence this week.

Sep 18, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders running back DeAndre Washington (33) runs the ball against the Atlanta Falcons in the second quarter at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Raiders RB vs Chargers

Heading into the weekend, it looks likely that the Raiders will be without Latavius Murray for their home game against San Diego. If Murray is sidelined by his turf toe, it opens up one of the best week 5 matchups against a very vulnerable Chargers’ run defense.

San Diego is allowing the third-most fantasy points to opposing RB’s so far this season and has allowed at least 22 fantasy points (standard scoring) to opposing RB’s in three of their four games. In the last two weeks, they surrendered five rushing TD’s to the Saints and Colts who aren’t necessarily known for being strong running teams.

The tricky part about targeting this matchup list hat there is plenty of question marks about who will carry the ball if Murray is out. Most of the beat reporters are saying it will be a pretty even split between DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard. Both are rookies loaded with potential who have flashed lots of fantasy upside already this season.

Washington will likely be the starter despite a fumble that almost proved costly last week. He has totaled 147 yards on his 23 carries (6.4 YPC) and added 37 yards on six catches. The rookie from Texas Tech hasn’t found the end zone yet, but that could change this week.

Sharing the load with Washington will be Jalen Richard who started the season with a splash rushing for a 75-yard touchdown in his NFL debut. He has been able to get 144 yards on his 17 carries (8.5 YPC) and added 39 yards on five catches. Depending on how the workload breaks down, both Richard and Washington could be sneaky good plays in one of my favorite under-the-radar week 5 matchups.

Oct 3, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard (87) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings cornerback Terence Newman (23) during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Sterling Shepard @ Packers

The Giants fell to 2-2 after their loss to the Vikings on Monday Night Football. They’ll turn around on a short week and play in another primetime game on the road as they take on the Packers on Sunday Night Football this week.

Green Bay is coming back off their bye week, but their secondary is still far from healthy. When we last saw the Packers pass defense, Marvin Jones was lighting up the Green Bay defense who sorely misses their top corner Sam Shields. Shields is still out this week, so the Giants should be able to move the ball through the air.

Odell Beckham is a great play, as always, but don’t overlook the rookie on the other side of the field who is also having a great start to the season. Shepard had either 100 yards or a touchdown the first three weeks of the season but dropped off last week against the elite Minnesota defense. Shepard only had four catches for 30 yards, but he should be ready to bounce back this week. Shepard is a solid WR3 or flex play on Sunday night against the Packers who are the second-wort team in the NFL at limiting opposing WR. It’s a much better matchup for Shepard, so get him in your lineup if you can week 5.

Sep 11, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jordan Matthews (81) celebrates his touchdown catch against the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Jordan Matthews & Zach Ertz @ Lions

Like the Packers, the Eagles are coming back off their early-season bye week, and they’ll look to continue their surprisingly successful start to the season as they visit the Motor City and take on the Lions. Rookie QB Carson Wentz has been excellent so far this year, and he has made some of his targets very solid fantasy options against Detroit in one of the best week 5 matchups.

The Eagles go-to receiver so far this season has been Jordan Matthews. Matthews had a big Week 1 with 114 yards on seven catches with a touchdown. He caught his score score of the season in the team’s Week 3 rout of the Steelers but only had two total catches for 19 yards since the game was dominated by the Eagles on the ground. Matthews is the team’s top target against the Lions this week who are allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing WR. Detroit has give up six WR touchdowns this year, and Matthews could have more reservations for six this week.

Another Philadelphia target to consider for your roster is tight end Zach Ertz. Ertz was dropped in some leagues since he was hurt before the bye, but he should be universally owned and started this week against Detroit. The Lions are giving up the second-most fantasy points in the NFL to opposing TE, and a TE has a touchdown against them every week this season. Ertz was targeted heavily in his one game this season and he hauled in six catches for 58 yards against the Browns. HE’s expected to be back and ready to pile up fantasy points this week.

Sep 25, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cameron Brate (84) catches the ball for a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Cameron Brate @ Panthers

The Buccaneers are still stinging from the ugly end to the Austin Sefarian-Jenkins experiment in Tampa Bay, but Cameron Brate is well on his way to contributing to the recovery. Brate has stepped up since the Bucs were forced to release ASJ, and he’s in one of the best week 5 matchups for TE.

Brate has taken advantage of his two games as the team’s main TE totaling 113 yards on ten catches and getting into the end zone twice. Jameis Winston trusts the third-year UDFA out of Harvard, and his six-foot-five frame makes him a nice red zone option.

This week, the Bucs play on Monday Night Football against their division-rivals from Carolina. The Panthers have one of the best fantasy TE options of their own with Greg Olsen, but they haven’t stopped their opposition’s TE options. The Panthers are allowing the fourth-most fantasy points in the NFL to opposing TE including four TE touchdowns in the last three weeks.

Oct 2, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward (97) celebrates his sack of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) during the second half at Heinz Field. The Steelers won the game, 43-14. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

Steelers D/ST vs Jets

The Steelers offense gets most of the attention, but their defense has held opponents under 20 points in three of their four games. The Steelers have forced multiple turnovers in three of their four games too with just their rout in Philadelphia as a bad game.

Last week, they pummeled the Chiefs and Alex Smith sacking him four times and coming close on multiple other occasions. They picked off Smith once and also forced a fumble by Spencer Ware. Vince Williams led the team with 16 tackles including one sack while Casey Heyward racked up his first three sacks of the season.

This week, the Steelers take on the turnover-factory-that-is-the-Jets. No team has been as generous to opposing defenses as the Jets, and the last two weeks they have turned the ball over 11 times. While the Steelers defense isn’t usually considered an elite unit, they can definitely be started this week since they’re in the best of all the week 5 matchups for D/ST.

Oct 2, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Derek Anderson (3) passes against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons defeated the Panthers 48-33. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Derek Anderson vs Buccaneers

If you’re desperate for QB help this week, don’t overlook the Panthers’ situation going into Monday Night Football. Heading into the weekend, it looks like Cam Newton will miss the game against the Bucs which means Derek Anderson could get a spot start against the Bucs.

Anderson threw for 172 yards and a pair of touchdowns while also throwing two picks after coming in for Newton. He is one of the more reliable backup plays in the league, and he has some solid weapons with Kelvin Benjamin and Greg Olsen.

The Bucs are also a pretty good matchup since they are allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing QB’s. In fact, the Bucs have allowed multiple passing touchdowns every week this season. While I wouldn’t start Anderson over more sure-fire options, he is a fringe option that you could use in emergencies or if bye weeks have left you searching for one of the week 5 matchups to attack.