Key Starters and Tough Calls - Week 5 Lineup Spotlights for Fantasy Football Include Antonio Gibson, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Patrick Mahomes

Scott Engel’s Lineup Spotlights on RotoBaller.com feature key players to consider starting every week during the 2024 fantasy football season. “The King” highlights preferred starting options when you are dealing with challenging lineup decisions.

The starting options included in this rundown are based on Scott’s Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings, available in the RotoBaller NFL Premium Pass. Enter the promo code KING at checkout for an additional discount and unlock his player rankings for all formats. Plus, you will get access to a deluxe menu of tools and analysis for in-season use.

When considering the players presented here for Week 5 lineup usage, also consult our staff fantasy football rankings to see if they are ranked higher or lower than your other possible starters. The skill position analysis is based on Scott’s Week 5 PPR rankings.

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Running Backs – Fantasy Football Week 5

Antonio Gibson, New England Patriots

The benching of Rhamondre Stevenson for Sunday’s game against the Dolphins would have been one of the most startling fantasy stories of the week had it involved a team with a better offense. Because the Patriots were in the headline, the news didn’t seem to hit too hard. Gibson is only rostered in 47% of Sleeper leagues despite taking over the starting RB role for Week 5.

Stevenson lost his grip on the starting job because of his obvious fumbling issues, yet the Patriots also need to find some semblance of an offensive spark without rushing rookie quarterback Drake Maye into an adverse situation. Gibson is averaging 5.3 yards per carry and brings proven versatility to the RB spot for New England.

This is a good matchup to see if the lineup change can generate a much-needed jolt. Miami ranks 29^th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to RBs. The Patriots will still likely respect the fact that the Dolphins have some potent playmakers and will attempt to win out on ball control.

Gibson provides a versatile option who can help move the ball as a runner and receiver, and New England doesn’t have enough of the latter right now. In a week when we have to deal with four teams on a bye and some key injuries, I rank Gibson as a back-end fantasy RB2.

Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants

Devin Singletary is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game at Seattle. This rookie RB should produce the best fantasy numbers at RB for the Giants in his place, even though Eric Gray will be in the mix, too. A converted WR, Tracy can contribute as both a runner and pass-catcher.

With Singletary listed as doubtful for Sundays game, it’s Tyrone Tracy’s time to shine. And I can’t wait.

As the self proclaimed president of the Tyrone Tracy hype club, it’s my duty to inform you that the broken tackle machine has arrived 🚂 #Giants #NFL pic.twitter.com/kW9mL9piTr

— The Giants Report (@giantsreport1) October 4, 2024

New York is going to be without two key offensive starters, and the absence of Malik Nabers is obviously more glaring. Seattle’s biggest defensive strength is their secondary. Without Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson will have to go against the stout Seahawks pass defense without enough help.

The Giants’ best chance to attack the defense is to run the ball, as the Seahawks are more vulnerable at linebacker. Leaning on the ground game will also possibly keep Seattle’s potent offense off the field as much as possible.

The Seahawks rank 20^th in FFPG allowed to RBs. Tracy should be an intergral part of the offense as a runner if the Giants stay in the game, and also as a pass-catcher when WRs are locked up downfield or the team is playing from behind. Tracy is another back-end RB2 type for Week 5.

Alexander Mattison, Las Vegas Raiders

Zamir White busted very quickly, and now he is out for Week 5 with a groin injury. Even before he was scratched, White appeared to be on the verge of losing significant work to Mattison.

The ex-Viking failed painfully when he was given the opportunity to claim a starting job in Minnesota, yet now he gets another chance to show he can operate as a lead RB.

Many fantasy players won’t forget how Mattison fizzled in Minnesota after showing many glimpses of promise in a lesser role. He may simply not be cut out to be a featured back, but Mattison has totaled three TDs from scrimmage in the first four games of the season while earning a longer look.

The Raiders must establish a run game against Denver because the passing attack won’t be able to challenge the formidable Broncos secondary without Davante Adams. Mattison should get enough touches to be considered in the RB3/ flex range.

Many fantasy players and analysts are hoping that rookie Dylan Laube will start to surface this week. I wouldn’t use him anywhere but DFS until we see Ameer Abdullah clearly moved out of the picture.

Wide Receivers – Fantasy Football Week 5

Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos

Sutton was cut in some leagues as the Denver offense crawled out of the gates. He remains available in 28 percent of Sleeper leagues. Yet we saw some true progress from the Broncos passing game in Week 4 against a usually stifling Jets pass defense.

Bo Nix has started to cut down on turnovers and has been progressing in terms of displaying poise and confidence. Last week, he threw his first NFL TD pass, to Sutton. Denver’s No. 1 WR finished with 60 receiving yards, and has been targeted 20 times in the last two games.

The sideline view of Courtland Sutton's TD reception and his fancy footwork #Broncos pic.twitter.com/ghcNJBjeIF

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) September 30, 2024

After facing the Jets, the Raiders will obviously be a much more friendly matchup. Las Vegas has allowed six TD passes so far this season and Sutton can be started as a WR3/flex this week.

Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs

With Rashee Rice out, the Chiefs will need their exciting but inconsistent rookie to step forward. The matchup is exploitable against New Orleans’ 24^th-ranked pass defense. So far, Worthy has looked like a situational deep threat.

The 21-year-old hasn’t been targeted more than four times in a game. At 5-foot-11 and 165 pounds, Worthy is a Tank Dell type who should not ideally be on the field as a regular No. 2 WR. Necessity should push him into seeing additional targets starting this week, though. Consider Worthy for WR3/flex usage for some more possible upside than we have seen overall to this point.

Jerry Jeudy, Cleveland Browns

The new Browns WR is a sneaky quality streamer for Week 5 against the highly vulnerable Washington defense. Not only do the Commanders allow the second-most FFPG to WRs, Jeudy also has a very good matchup against the Washington cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus.

This week, Jeudy has the eighth-best WR/CB matchup grade of any player against the Commanders corners. The grade of 88.1 qualifies as “Excellent.” The Browns are desperate for a win to avoid starting 1-4 for the first time in 14 years. Expect Jeudy to contribute with some quality numbers.

Quarterback And Tight End – Fantasy Football Week 5

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

After four weeks, Mahomes is QB15, sandwiched between Derek Carr and Deshaun Watson on the fantasy scoring ladder. Many fantasy leaguers are not hesitating to bench him, and a few have even come close to or have actually released Mahomes.

I did point out the matchup against New Orleans with Worthy, though, and even though Mahomes is without Rice, he has performed well in the past with thinner WR crews. I am sticking to having faith in greatness and will recommend Mahomes for another week as my QB7.

Sometimes, while many trends point to benching a guy make sense, I still put heavy stock in special players and their potential to regain top form quickly. I like the matchup and the need for Mahomes to silence some doubts and whispers.

Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens

I have received questions from several fantasy players who roster both Likely and Mark Andrews. Those who are still having trouble deciding which one to start should lean to Likely. He is third in Target Rate among all TEs, according to PlayerProfiler.com.

We did see the upside of Likely in Week 1, while we have not seen the past version of Andrews at all this season. He is being lauded for his blocking prowess, while as a receiver, you have to wonder if last season’s ankle surgery is still affecting him. Expand the post below for more on the possible lingering effects.

Mark Andrews

He was involved in a motor vehicle accident on 8/14/24.

He suffered some unknown injuries that kept him out for over 2 weeks.

Hard to know what was bothering him without specifics.

Andrews suffered a severe left high-ankle sprain + fibula fracture on 11/16/23… https://t.co/WAiscjisux

— Jesse Morse, MD (@DrJesseMorse) September 3, 2024

Even if you don’t roster Andrews, consider taking a shot on Likely this week. Not every single Ravens game will feature the Derrick Henry show, and the team continues to lack a reliable receiving complement for Zay Flowers. Likely can still fill that role.

For Week 5, Likely has the seventh-best TE matchup advantage grade at his position on PFF.

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