Maybe Jameis Winston is a new quarterback under Bruce Arians. I doubted him early this year, hoping to see more evidence.
Well, Winston proved once again in week 4 that he is able to fit the ball into tight windows against a defense that previously was able to stymie the opposition. Arians is a proven quarterback whisperer, so it’s not shocking to see Winston improve. Can he keep it up? I’m starting to think he could be a consistent QB1.
Here’s the week 5 fantasy football quarterbacks start ’em, sit ’em guide.
Start
Jameis Winston vs. New Orleans Saints
Why not?
We’ll give Winston another shot at being a QB1 against a Saints defense that hasn’t always been primetime against opposing quarterbacks.
Don’t be fooled by week 4’s performance against Dak Prescott. The Saints defense has struggled for much of this season. New Orleans is giving up the most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season.
That should play into the Buccaneers hands, especially since Tampa Bay has already shown the ability to pass the ball last season. Winston has the weapons. That has never been the problem. This year, though, he’s staying away from the turnovers and being a more accurate passer in tight windows.
Winston should get the nod as a low-end QB1 going into week 5.
Carson Wentz vs. New York Jets
Don’t get too worried about the amount of fantasy points the Jets have allowed to quarterbacks. New York’s defense is bad and the Eagles rely on moving the ball through the air.
When healthy, the Eagles have one of the most dangerous rosters. Philadelphia caught the injury bug early, but rebounded in week 4 to beat Green Bay with a healthier roster. The Eagles have struggled to stay healthy in recent years, so it’s not guaranteed that Wentz and company will be healthy.
But for week 5, you’re getting a healthy Eagles team against a Jets defense that is a bottom-half defense in passing yards per attempt. Wentz should be considered a QB1 in week 5.
Tom Brady vs. Washington Redskins
Don’t fret too much in New England just yet.
Brady was not very Brady-like in week 4 against Buffalo, not finding receivers and looking very mortal. However, it’s early, and the Patriots are known to use September as a preseason. Despite knowing that, there should be some concern for the Patriots offense.
There are fewer weapons and if the running game is not there, Brady doesn’t have much going on through the air. However, I’m not going to panic just yet.
The Redskins own one of the worst defenses in the NFL. They’re giving up the fifth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks and they’re a bottom-10 defense in yards per pass attempt allowed. Brady should be considered a QB1 in week 5.
Sit
Jared Goff vs. Seattle Seahawks
This isn’t a knee-jerk reaction to Goff’s stinker in week 4 against Tampa Bay.
This has a lot to do with the Rams in general. The offense is built to be a running team that opens up big passing lanes for Goff. When that’s not available (and the offensive line, which concerned me last year, has finally shown some weakness), then the Rams are very beatable.
And Goff isn’t very good.
Goff isn’t an elite quarterback. He’s a good quarterback when he has support. That’s not too different than pretty much every quarterback in the NFL, minus a few of the top-tier options. The Seahawks are regularly a top-half defense, especially when they’re at home on a Thursday night.
Marcus Mariota vs. Buffalo Bills
Mariota finished with the fifth-most fantasy points among quarterbacks in week 4. That’s a nice number for a quarterback who has been so inconsistent this year that many wondered if he could keep his starting job.
There should still be those concerns, especially considering he’s only been good when the Titans can build a lead. Don’t expect that against a Bills defense that ranks among the top in the NFL in several categories. The Bills have limited every quarterback they’ve faced and that will continue with Mariota.
Mariota has to have an excellent running game to be effective and I’m not counting on that in week 5 against the Bills.
Kirk Cousins vs. New York Giants
It’s tempting to start Cousins in this circumstance. Cousins is usually good against terrible teams. And the Giants own a defense that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
However, Cousins just doesn’t have it this year, despite a plethora of weapons and a better offensive line.
There’s not much to like, especially since the Vikings are not hiding the fact that they don’t trust Cousins. Minnesota will establish the run and I don’t trust Cousins to do anything outside of that.
