Week 5 Game Picks (and How They Affect Your Fantasy Team)

Here's something new for you - who I think is going to win each game this weekend, and who I think are going to be the best fantasy players in each matchup.

... That's it, actually. Here we go.

Atlanta Falcons @ New York Giants

Pick: Giants
Falcons Fantasy Leader – Julio Jones, WR
Giants Fantasy Leader – Eli Manning, QB

Eli’s offense is in a groove, and I think he finds his receivers for a few scores. This is going to be a huge shootout, but I can see Julio exploding for oodles of yardage. I mean, what else are the Falcons gonna do – run it?

Chicago Bears @ Carolina Panthers

Pick: Bears
Bears Fantasy Leader – Matt Forte, RB
Panthers Fantasy Leader – Kelvin Benjamin, WR

The Panthers defense is atrocious, and the Bears will move the ball how and when they want. Marshall, Cutler, and Jeffery will all do well, but I think Forte blows up. For the Panthers – Benjamin has been a reliable fantasy asset, and they can’t run the ball.

Cleveland Browns @ Tennessee Titans

Pick: Browns
Browns Fantasy Leader – Jordan Cameron, TE
Titans Fantasy Leader – Delanie Walker, TE

This outcome is a toss-up, but the best fantasy options for both teams are clear-cut. You can’t trust Hoyer, Tate, Crowell, or Hawkins to be consistent. You can’t trust Locker, Wright, Hunter, or Sankey to be consistent. But these tight ends? They’re studs.

St. Louis Rams @ Philadelphia Eagles

Pick: Eagles
Rams Fantasy Leader – Brian Quick, WR
Eagles Fantasy Leader – LeSean McCoy, RB

The Eagles are going to destroy the Rams, and it’s not going to be close. McCoy gets the most points because he’s frustrated from the last two weeks and he gets a lot of clock-control time. Play Brian Quick for the Rams, because he’s the only consistent receiver they have.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints

Pick: Saints
Buccaneers Fantasy Leader – Vincent Jackson, WR
Saints Fantasy Leader – Drew Brees, QB

The Saints, at home, coming off an embarrassing loss to the Cowboys? Brees is going to air it out. I also think Jimmy Graham and Brandin Cooks have great days here. On the other side of the ball, the Bucs will exploit the most overrated defense in football, and Vincent Jackson will be the beneficiary.

Houston Texans @ Dallas Cowboys

Pick: Texans
Texans Fantasy Leader – DeAndre Hopkins, WR
Cowboys Fantasy Leader – DeMarco Murray, RB

If I had any balls, I’d pick J.J. Watt to be the Texans leader. But unless you’re in an IDP league, you can’t start him. So take DeAndre Hopkins and run with him, because he’s got talent and volume of targets. DeMarco Murray will be fed – fast and frequently. The Cowboys are now a running team.

Buffalo Bills @ Detroit Lions

Pick: Lions
Bills Fantasy Leader – Sammy Watkins, WR
Lions Fantasy Leader – Reggie Bush, RB

Both of these teams have great run defenses, meaning that they’ll have to lean on their passing game. However, while I expect this to benefit Watkins on the Bills’ side, Bush will be the biggest beneficiary for the Lions. Calvin Johnson had a dud last week and may be limited this game, and Tate is dealing with hamstring issues. Bush has soft hands, and has proven in years past that he can produce when he receives 20+ touches.

Baltimore Ravens @ Indianapolis Colts

Pick: Colts
Ravens Fantasy Leader – Steve Smith Sr., WR
Colts Fantasy Leader – Andrew Luck, QB

This will also be a shootout. However, I expect Flacco to focus in on Smith Sr., because the guy is on a hot streak. Luck will pass the ball around to all his receiving threats, and may even run one in here. Oh, and did I mention the Raven’s D/ST has only 1 pick and 4 sacks this year? Go get Luck-y.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Pick: Steelers
Steelers Fantasy Leader – Antonio Brown, WR
Jaguars Fantasy Leader – Allen Hurns, WR

The only analysis needed for this pick is why I chose Brown over Le’Veon Bell. It’s because I expect the Steelers to get up quickly and sit Bell by the fourth to avoid freak injuries. Brown will rack up the yardage and TD’s in the time before the Steelers put in the second string.

Arizona Cardinals @ Denver Broncos

Pick: Broncos
Cardinals Fantasy Leader – Andre Ellington, RB
Broncos Fantasy Leader – Julius Thomas, TE

This is going to be a great game. Ellington will find some open ground to move and catch, while Thomas will find the endzone for at least a pair of scores. Really, the only players I don’t like in this matchup are Montee Ball (Cardinal’s run defense is pretty good) and Larry Fitzgerald (big name, bad production this year).

Kansas City Chiefs @ San Francisco 49ers

Pick: Chiefs
Chiefs Fantasy Leader – Jamaal Charles, RB
49ers Fantasy Leader – Colin Kaepernick, QB

I’m going against the popular consensus by picking the Chiefs and Charles here, but I think he stays hot and gets it done against a good 49ers defense. I also think Kaepernick runs for a touchdown, but the Chiefs pull out a close one.

New York Jets @ San Diego Chargers

Pick: Chargers
Jets Fantasy Leader – Bishop Sankey, RB
Chargers Fantasy Leader – Eddie Royal, WR

Geno Smith will turn it over a few times in this game, and the Jets will have to go to Sankey just to keep drives going (he’s going to be hot here). And… I guess I’m all in on Eddie Royal this week. Watch that blow up in my face.

Cincinnati Bengals @ New England Patriots

Pick: Bengals
Bengals Fantasy Leader – Giovani Bernard, RB
Patriots Fantasy Leader – Julian Edelman, WR

The Pats were embarrassed last week, so coming home they’ll get the ball moving by hitting their best wide receiver frequently. On the Bengal’s side of the ball – they go to their strong ground attack to keep the Patriot’s defense on the field and to wear down the Pats by the 4^th quarter.

Seattle Seahawks @ Washington Redskins

Pick: Seahawks
Seahawks Fantasy Leader – Percy Harvin, WR
Redskins Fantasy Leader – Kai Forbath, K

Ok, so I don’t really expect Forbath to be the highest fantasy scoring Redskin. I think it will be whoever starts at TE (Niles Paul or Jordan Reed). But because we have no idea who is going to start between them, I picked the only guy I expect to score for Washington. Also – I think Harvin returns one for a touchdown here.


Photo Credit