5 Start, 5 Sit for Week 5 of the 2024 NFL Season
Week 5! We’re getting into the meat of the 2024 season now, and the cream of this year’s crop is starting to rise. Some players that we thought would be dynamite this year have turned out to be pop rocks, and some undrafted guys have emerged as potential league winners. I’m going to take you through five guys I think you should be starting this week and five that you should leave on your bench.
Start:
Jordan Love vs LAR – Start
I had Jordan Love marked as a sit last week and boy did he prove me wrong! After a shaky first half, Love lead his team back to within winning distance, although the Packers could not get it done. Love went 32/54 for 389 yards and 3 touchdowns; the only black mark on his day being 3 interceptions that were likely from being uncomfortable with his knee. Against, arguably, the best defense in football right now, Love put up the second-best passing day of the season by any quarterback. When he plays against the Los Angeles Rams this week, I’m expecting him to continue to shine.
James Conner vs SF – Start
James Conner has kind of flown under the radar as a bell cow running back for a while, but his production through 4 weeks is outstanding. He’s averaging just over 15 points per game (PPR) and barely has any work in the passing game. Even going up against the San Francisco Defense, I think Conner is a good play. When the Cardinals played them last year in week 16, Conner had 14 carries for 86 yards and a touchdown. I think this year’s Cardinals are a much better team and should give Conner even more chances to score points. Start him if you’ve got him!
Diontae Johnson vs CHI – Start
Week 5, and I’m going with another Panther! While he was in Pittsburgh, Diontae Johnson was one of the most targeted receivers in the game. If not for a lack of accurate passes, he might’ve turned out to be a top 5 receiver in fantasy. Since Andy Dalton has taken over in Carolina, it seems that Johnson’s days of garnering a 30% target share have returned. In two weeks, Johnson has 15 catches for 205 yards and 2 touchdowns and has had 20+ points in both games (PPR scoring). Going into Chicago this week, I think the Panthers will be heavily relying on Diontae as they have since week 3.
Pat Freiermuth vs DAL – Start
I was a little shaky on Pat Freiermuth early on this year due to the Steelers’ poor-on-paper offense. He has shown solid consistency through four weeks, however. He is currently sitting at the 5th ranked TE spot and only just scored his first touchdown last week. His target share has increased each week as has the overall efficacy of the Pittsburgh offence. I think that Dallas won’t provide much of an obstacle for the Steelers this week and Freiermuth will remain involved.
Terry McLaurin vs CLE – Start
Terry McLaurin is really the only notable target on his team, so I was expecting him to be performing like this much earlier in the year. The past two weeks, however, he has gotten more on the same page with his rookie quarterback and gotten into the end zone. I think it was just a matter of time before Jayden Daniels found some chemistry with McLaurin and now they’re off to the races. With injuries galore and bye weeks just beginning, I think McLaurin makes an excellent fill in this week against a very beatable Browns team.
Sit:
Dak Prescott vs PIT – Sit
Aside from a week 3 garbage time explosion, Dak’s year has been pretty underwhelming. the Cowboys are lacking in weapons and their defense isn’t doing them any favors. Playing the Steelers at home is a tough thing to do even when you do have a good offense. For the Cowboys, if CeeDee Lamb is double covered, there really isn’t anything else they are really good at doing. This week, I think Dak is likely to repeat his low scoring performance from Week 1 against the Browns. Except it won’t be because they’re up by 30 already, it’ll be because all they can do is punt.
De’Von Achane vs NE – Sit
The way I see it, Achane has three things working against him this week.
- 1. The Dolphins don’t have a quarterback who poses any sort of threat through the air. Tyler Huntley is getting the start again and he couldn’t even get 100 air yards against the Titans. Since Tua went down in week 2, Achane only has 87 total yards.
- 2. Raheem Mostert is likely to make his return this week which will cut into Achane’s touches.
- 3. The Patriots have one of the best run defenses in the league.
The combination of all three make me very unwilling to play him. He is without a doubt an explosive playmaker, but I don’t see him doing much this week.
Brandon Aiyuk vs ARI – Sit
This disappointment is a little shocking. After pouting all offseason for a contract, Brandon Aiyuk has yet to post 50+ yards in a game and has not scored. Even in games with Deebo Samuel and George Kittle injured, he ceded the spotlight to Jauan Jennings. He’s running plenty of routes, but he just isn’t getting open enough to warrant targets. Arizona’s defense isn’t especially lock-down, but neither were the Rams when Jauan Jennings went off. I’d like him to turn things around (because I have many shares of him), but until we get that breakout game, you’re best looking for other help.
Kyle Pitts vs TB – Sit
Kirk Cousins was supposed to save this man! What happened? Pitts has continued to be wildly disappointing this year even though he has the best quarterback situation of his career. If you watch his tape, he kind of looks sloppy. I’m not sure if the coaching is bad or whether he’s just being utilized in the wrong way, but whichever it is, I don’t like it. Through 4 weeks, Pitts only has 8 catches for 105 yards and 1 touchdown. If you remember from above, Diontae Johnson had twice that in just the last two weeks. Tampa Bay isn’t a particularly tough opponent, but with how Pitts is being utilized, I’m not sure that matters much.
Anthony Richardson vs JAX – Sit
This decision might get made for you if he ends up not playing, but I wanted to make this point regardless. Somehow, Richardson has gotten WORSE with each week. After an explosive 31 point start in week 1, he ended up with only 7.08 in week 3 and only 5.24 before exiting last week. The expectation was that Richardson was going to be Josh Allen + Lamar Jackson but he’s turning out to be Kyle Allen + Kareem Jackson. If Richardson does play against the Jags, I would feel very hesitant to expect anything more than a mediocre performance from him. the Colts have a lot to figure out on offense and until then, he’ll stay on my bench.
If you want more offensive start/sit advice, follow me on X @TFFGRobbie. If you need IDP start/sit advice, give @ThePPRShow a follow as well.