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DFS Advice: Week 5 fantasy football start or sit

By Matthew Catalano

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 08: Alshon Jeffery #17 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates after catching a third quarter touchdown pass against the Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 08, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 08: Alshon Jeffery #17 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates after catching a third quarter touchdown pass against the Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 08, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 22: Running back David Johnson #31 of the Arizona Cardinals carries the ball in the NFL game against the Carolina Panthers at State Farm Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Carolina Panthers won 38-20. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 22: Running back David Johnson #31 of the Arizona Cardinals carries the ball in the NFL game against the Carolina Panthers at State Farm Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Carolina Panthers won 38-20. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

Running Backs to Start

David Johnson (ARI) @ CIN

Johnson had been quiet in Week’s 2 and 3 after having a vintage 2016-like game during the first game of the season. In Week 4, we saw another vintage performance from that magical 2016 season as Johnson caught eight passes out of the backfield for 99 yards, while also rushing 11 times for 40 yards against the Seahawks. Arizona will now travel to the jungle in Cincinnati where the Bengals have had all sorts of issues with their team in 2019. Cincinnati has seriously had problems stopping running backs through the air, as they are currently fourth in most receiving yard allowed. Johnson specializes in catching passes giving him great versatility as a runner. With the Cardinals trying to prove themselves on offense this week, Johnson is in line for a big afternoon against an exhausted Bengals front.

Dalvin Cook (MIN) @ NYG

I wouldn’t be too concerned regarding how Cook struggled against the Bears this past week. Chicago has one of the best run defenses in the league to date and my expectations for Cook having a 100-yard rushing day were not very high. Yet, while he did not have an efficient day on the ground (2.5/carry), Cook still was able to put up 19.0 fantasy points in full PPR formats. I say that’s pretty impressive considering the competition he was facing in Week 4. He’s still garnering over 70.0% of Minnesota’s snap shares (71.1%) and is the only one on the team’s sputtering offense who has been able to consistently produce. His opponent gets much easier this time around as the Vikings will travel to New Jersey to take on the Giants at Met Life Stadium. The one thing to keep an eye on is Cook’s status with his elbow. He ended up injuring it in the fourth quarter last week but still managed to finish out the game. It is worth monitoring his condition as Sunday approaches but if he’s a full-go, then he’s a must-start in all lineups.

Melvin Gordon (LAC) vs. DEN

The wait for managers who had Melvin Gordon on their rosters is finally over! Luckily it was only four weeks, and if your team was able to win at least half their games in that span, you’re getting him back at the right time. Gordon is immediately an RB1 option and he has a great first match-up as he will square off against a Denver Broncos’ front that has surrendered the sixth-most rushing yards per game to tailbacks. Gordon is a no-brainer to start this week considering how valuable he has been for the Chargers the last several years. I am not worried at all about Austin Ekeler getting in the way with Gordon’s production for this week. Ekeler will be a change of pace back to help keep Gordon fresh but nothing more. Plug Gordon in your lineups if you have not done so already.

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