Now that the NFL season rolls into Week 5, there are a number of player performances sure to steer the fantasy football landscape. We think A.J. Brown is going to have a bad week this week. In other debut news, Dillon Gabriel will get his first NFL start for the Cleveland Browns in London, filling in for veteran Joe Flacco. Additionally, Saquon Barkley aims to continue his impressive run as a top fantasy running back, having rushed for over 2,000 yards last season.
A.J. Brown’s Challenges This Week
A.J. Brown, the Philadelphia Eagles’ star wide receiver, has obstacles this week that will conspire against him. Some analysts have cited the issues with the Philadelphia offensive line and poor playcalling as key causes of Brown’s lackluster production.
“I don’t think that will happen again, because the Philadelphia offensive line has struggled this season and the playcalling has been a tad odd, but Barkley should be among the top 10 fantasy RBs again. Let’s go with 1,350 rushing yards for the season, which would still be the second-best total of his career.” – Eric Karabell
In spite of these challenges, Brown is on pace to go over 1,000 receiving yards this year, proving he’ll overcome any odds through effort and ability. Nevertheless, fantasy managers need to be on alert for a possible downturn in his output this week.
Quarterback Changes and Impact
The Cleveland Browns have named Dillon Gabriel their week 6 starter at quarterback in London. He will be taking over for Joe Flacco in this crucial battle. This move continues a strategy pivot to reenergize an underperforming team offense during a challenging time. Gabriel’s performance could significantly impact the team’s dynamics as they face off against rivals overseas.
Continuing on in Baltimore, Cooper Rush is coming off the bench to replace the injured Lamar Jackson as quarterback for the Ravens. The decision to start Rush against the Houston Texans reflects the team’s confidence in his ability to manage the game effectively despite Jackson’s absence. Moving from backup to starter, this transition leads into the second question of how well under pressure Rush can keep leading the Ravens to victory.
Running Backs Making Waves
Either way, Saquon Barkley is still the most interesting character for fantasy football players. After a record-breaking 2022 season—yes, it literally broke records—he rushed for 2,005 yards over a six-game period. From Week 5 to Week 16 of last season his play was astonishing, putting up 1,523 yards in that stretch. Now on the verge of another season, Barkley is once again projected to finish inside the top ten fantasy running backs.
James Cook has created a name as a powerful player in his own right, averaging 22.8 points per game. On pace right now for 319 carries, 1,704 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. His level of production is insane. On top of that, Cook pulled in a career-high 51 receptions, helping his case for being one of the best values across both standard leagues and PPR leagues. While that’s a very impressive number, it still left him short of seven other running backs as far as total fantasy points last season—even with 16 touchdowns!
Justice Hill was added in 35% of leagues this week, which caught the eye of many fantasy managers. They are anxious to add to their rosters. Teams are getting ready for a full week of competition. Paying attention to what the running backs are doing will be key to fantasy football glory!
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