The first game of the NFL week on Thursday night is always tricky for fantasy football mangers who want to make sure they get off to a good start — either by starting the right players or avoiding certain players.
Week 5 brings us another heated division rivalry between two NFC South teams with the Atlanta Falcons hosting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime Video). Here's a start 'em and sit 'em breakdown of the potential low-scoring affair, including some DFS recommendations.
Start 'Em: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons regular plays
Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Robinson hasn't been a total bust, but as the consensus No. 2 or No. 3 overall pick, his RB21 start in half-point PPR after four games is disappointing. His usage got questionable in Week 4 with Tyler Allgeier getting more carries against the Saints, but his hamstring injury might have something to do with it. The Falcons may lessen the workload on Robinson, but he should sill get the key receiving and high-leverage opportunities.
WEEK 5 FANTASY RANKINGS
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Evans roller-coaster has begun. He had massive games in Weeks 1 and 4 and then two clunkers in Weeks 2 and 3. He should end up somewhere in between vs. the Falcons' revamped pass defense. The WR16 overall should do enough to be back in the top-12 over the season after TNF.
Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Godwin has been much more consistent in relation to Evans, and back in the slot, he's rolling again in Liam Coen's offense as the surprise WR6 overall after being drafted late as a WR3. He's catching TDs and getting strong intermediate love from Mayfield. Between Dee Alford inside and both A.J. Terrell and Mike Hughes outside, there are fine matchups across the board for him and Evans.
Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons
He was being hyped as a top-12 option going into the season but has been the WR22 on the board early as he tries to get settled with Cousins' passing downfield. Don't expect a big game from London, but he can put up at least WR3 numbers as long as he gets Tykee Smith in coverage a few times.
Younghoe Koo, K, Atlanta Falcons
What a game-winning boot by Koo vs. the Saints! That gave him a 20-point game in many formats, and he's back up to K8 on the season. Woo hoo Koo!
WEEK 5 FANTASY ROSTER MANAGEMENT ADVICE
Stock Watch | Trade Advice | Sleepers | Busts | Start/Sit | Usage Report
Start 'Em: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons strong plays
Baker Mayfield, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mayfield is the QB3 for the season after four games behind dynamic dual threat "cheat codes" Jayden Daniels and Lamar Jackson. He's had two elite games, one solid one, and the lone disaster vs. Denver. It's difficult to run on Atlanta, so Mayfield will need to put it up for at least 250 and 2.
Kirk Cousins, QB, Atlanta Falcons
Cousins is only at QB25 after four games for his new team while returning from his torn Achilles with the Vikings. He was fine in Week 2 winning in comeback mode vs. the Eagles but blah otherwise with the team getting more production from Koo and the running game. Cousins, however, keeps getting better as a prime-time QB, and with the Bucs boasting a strong run defense, he's positioned to produce well going back-and-forth with Mayfield.
Chase McLaughlin, K, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
McLaughlin has been the latest strong startable asset in field-goal duties for the Buccaneers. He's tied for K12 so far with the Bears' Cairo Santos.
WEEK 5 DFS ADVICE
Best Stacks | Sleepers & Values
Thursday Night Football sleepers
Bucky Irving, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Who knew Bucky's real first name is Mar'Keise? Our favorite running back who sounds like America's new favorite viral travel spot and justly plays for the Bucs should keep earning more carries with scoring potential over Rachaad White. He's a fine deep FLEX, even in a tough spot.
Darnell Mooney, WR, Atlanta Falcons
Mooney was a late pick to watch for WR3 return, and he's provided just that as WR36 so far after three games. He's taking advantage of big-play looks away from Drake London while Cousins has been more reluctant to connect with Kyle Pitts.
Cade Otton, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Otton is only TE24 on the season but with increased target volume the past two weeks, he's come in as the combined TE10. His 13 catches on 17 targets for 99 yards is pretty solid, and a TD would be nice now, too.
Sit 'Em: Thursday Night Football busts
Rachaad White, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
White is still their main receiving back but no longer can be trusted for reliable volume in a tougher matchup with Irving's role increasing.
Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons
We're calling for a reverse jinx here as Pitts has disappeared, down to TE17 after posting a zero on three targets last week against the Saints. He's not separating and getting open downfield as much as he should for his talent, so let's hope OC Zac Robinson does a better job scheming plays for him soon, or else Pitts may need to ride the pine for a while.
DraftKings mock Showdown lineup for Thursday night
- Captain (1.5x): Kirk Cousins, QB, Atlanta Falcons ($12,900)
- FLEX: Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($10,000)
- FLEX: Baker Mayfield, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($9,600)
- FLEX: Darnell Mooney, WR, Atlanta Falcons ($7,200)
- FLEX: Younghoe Koo, K, Atlanta Falcons ($5,400)
- FLEX: Cade Otton, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($4,000)
FanDuel mock single-game lineup for Thursday night
- MVP: (1.5x): Kirk Cousins, QB, Atlanta Falcons ($16,000)
- AnyFLEX: Baker Mayfield, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($13,500)
- AnyFLEX: Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($12,500)
- AnyFLEX: Younghoe Koo, K, Atlanta Falcons ($9,500)
- AnyFLEX: Darnell Mooney, WR, Atlanta Falcons ($8,000)
We're tying Cousins and Mayfield with their more affordable No. 2 receivers instead of Evans and London. Then comes Koo twice, plus the bonus of being able to add Otton to the mix in DraftKings.
