Fantasy Football Matchups We Love - Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Picks for Week 5 Include Josh Allen, Ja'Marr Chase, Najee Harris, Jayden Reed, more

We are approximately a quarter of the way through the 2024 NFL season and there has been no shortage of highs and lows in fantasy.

Whether you are 4-0 or 0-4, anything can happen with so much of the regular season ahead of us. As the season wears on, new players will start to emerge as huge fantasy contributors and they will find themselves on this list.

Week 5 may be filled with fireworks as some seriously high-octane offenses are set to clash across the league. Enough chit-chat, let's dive into the fantasy football matchups we love and hate this weekend.

• Quarterback fantasy football rankings
• Running back fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
• Tight end fantasy football rankings
• Kicker fantasy football rankings
• FLEX fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• Superflex fantasy football rankings
• IDP fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Fantasy Football Quarterback Matchups We Love

Josh Allen - Buffalo Bills
Opponent: at HOU
Opponent Rank vs. QB: 26th

Allen had a tough go at it in Week 4. The Baltimore Ravens were a desperate team playing with their backs against the wall. They shut Allen down to the tune of 7.3 fantasy points.

Never fear, Allen is back on this list as he draws a Houston Texans defense that has been torched all season by middling quarterbacks. In Week 4, Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars managed to push Houston to the brink. It took a late touchdown pass to put Houston over the top. Allen should feast in this one.

JOSH ALLEN MAGIC.

📺: @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/iPg4JHp2RI

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) September 30, 2024

Brock Purdy - San Francisco 49ers
Opponent: ARI
Opponent Rank vs. QB: 29th

Purdy has been quietly putting up solid numbers once again in 2024. He has not been a world-beater, but he has had a couple of start-worthy fantasy outings this season.

The Arizona Cardinals have been abysmal against mobile opposing quarterbacks in 2024. Both Josh Allen and Jayden Daniels have had huge days against this team this season. Purdy may not be the runner those two players are, but he can scoot. If you need a spot-start, you could do a lot worse than Purdy in Week 5.

Fantasy Football Quarterback Matchup to Temper Expectations

Andy Dalton- Carolina Panthers
Opponent: at CHI
Opponent Rank vs. QB: 1st

There are many of you out there who went and picked up Andy Dalton after his explosion in Week 3. Don't be shy about it. However, his Week 4 output was modest and his Week 5 opponent is a trap.

The Chicago Bears defense has been awesome in 2024. You just do not throw on this team. The Panthers have experienced a fun jolt since Dalton entered the lineup, but that should end in Week 5. Temper your expectations for Dalton and subsequently all the Panthers skill players.

Fantasy Football Running Back Matchups We Love

D'Andre Swift - Chicago Bears
Opponent: CAR
Opponent Rank vs. RB: 31st

Could it be that Swift finally remembered how to play running back in the NFL? Swift had a monster Week 4 with 16 carries for 93 yards and a touchdown. He also caught seven passes for 72 yards. This was the player we know and love and he was seemingly playing for his job with Roschon Johnson waiting in the wings.

Swift draws one of the league's worst defenses in general in Week 5 when the Bears face the Panthers. He can be deployed as a high-end flex play or low-end RB2 in Week 5.

Najee Harris- Pittsburgh Steelers
Opponent: DAL
Opponent Rank vs. RB: 30th

Harris found himself on this list in Week 4 but he did not have a huge game. His 10.3 fantasy points did not hurt you but it feels like there was a lot left on the table. In Week 4, Harris drew a Colts defense that seems to have figured it out up front. The jury is still out on Dallas.

The Steelers defense is good enough to make this a very competitive game. Harris is still short on competition in this backfield and the Steelers O-line should be able to move the weak Cowboys D-line. Look for Harris to have a solid day in Week 5.

Fantasy Football Running Back Matchups to Temper Expectations

Alvin Kamara - New Orleans Saints
Opponent: at KC
Opponent Rank vs. RB: 1st

Alvin Kamara has been a whole lot of fun in 2024. He has scored in three of four games and has never finished with less than 15.7 fantasy points. That may change in Week 5 when he encounters possibly his first real challenge of the season.

The Chiefs defense has been excellent in 2024. This team is only allowing 18 points per game, which is allowing it to win so many games despite limited offensive output. Kamara could struggle to find lanes in Week 5, so he may not deliver the high-end RB1 numbers fantasy managers have become accustomed to.

Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Matchups We Love

Jayden Reed - Green Bay Packers
Opponent: at LAR
Opponent Rank vs. WR: 22nd

Jayden Reed has been nothing short of excellent once again in 2024. With Jordan Love back, Reed should only continue to produce for fantasy. Although Love had a tough day in Week 4, Reed still caught seven of eight targets for 139 yards and a touchdown.

The Rams have not fixed their defense in 2024. This feels like a get-right game for Love. With Christian Watson battling injuries, Reed has a chance to have serious success in Week 5. Fire him up and enjoy the returns.

Jayden Reed’s statistics in his two games with Jordan Love behind center:

Week 1: 4-138-1 receiving, 1-33-1 rushing
Week 4: 7-139-1 receiving

It is officially War Daddy SZN

pic.twitter.com/fdtf2NTcA0

— TheOGfantasyfootball (@TheOGfantasy) September 29, 2024

Ja'Marr Chase - Cincinnati Bengals
Opponent: BAL
Opponent Rank vs. WR: 24th

Whatever was slowing Chase down in Weeks 1 and 2 seems to have gone away the past two weeks. Chase now has back-to-back weeks with 17.5 or more fantasy points. He has scored in both outings as well.

The Ravens defense has been better the past two weeks but it has struggled against the pass in 2024. This is going to be a hard-fought AFC North showdown in Week 5. If both offenses show up, then Chase has an overall WR1 upside in this one.

Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Matchups to Temper Expectations

Diontae Johnson - Carolina Panthers
Opponent: at CHI
Opponent Rank vs. WR: 7th

Johnson has surged back into the starting ranks thanks to competent quarterback play from Andy Dalton. However, much like his quarterback, Johnson could be tough to trust in Week 5. The Bears have been excellent against opposing wide receivers in 2024, allowing only 20.3 total fantasy points per game.

This is a classic case of an offense that is galvanized by the presence of a new starting quarterback. However, NFL defensive coordinators are very good at their jobs and it feels like this success could be short-lived.

Fantasy Football Tight End Matchups We Love

Travis Kelce - Kansas City Chiefs
Opponent: NO
Opponent Rank vs. TE: 13th

Kelce finally had a solid day in Week 4. His nine targets, seven receptions, and 89 yards were all season highs by a mile. With wide receiver Rashee Rice expected to miss the rest of the season, Kelce should resume his usual role as Patrick Mahomes' go-to target.

The Saints are middle-of-the-road against opposing tight ends, so this matchup should not scare you. Mahomes has no choice but to look Kelce's way, so expect a barrage of targets in this one.

Rashee Rice done for the season
Hollywood Brown done for the year
Isiah Pacheco on IR
Travis Kelce washed

The Chiefs next week: pic.twitter.com/4RjW4nBvTB

— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) September 30, 2024

Fantasy Football Tight End Matchups to Temper Expectations

Brock Bowers - Las Vegas Raiders
Opponent: at DEN
Opponent Rank vs. TE: 16th

Bowers has cooled off after a great start to the season. He has not cleared 7.1 fantasy points in either of his last two outings.

Although the Broncos are middle-of-the-road against tight ends, the defense as a whole projects to shut down the Raiders offense. If the Raiders struggle to do much through the air or on the ground, then Bowers may not have many opportunities to score fantasy points.

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