Just in case injuries, unpredictable usage patterns, and favorable/unfavorable matchups weren't enough to complicate your lineup decisions, Week 5 brings the bye weeks -- the annual bane of fantasy football owners' existences. Now more than ever, the more expert analysis, opinions, and projections you can take in, the better it will make your start 'em, sit 'em choices.
To prove we believe in the "more is better" approach to fantasy football research, we’re pleased to offer SN Fantasy readers an exclusive look at Draft Sharks’ award-winning weekly projections and rankings. We'll also highlight players at each position who stand out in our rankings compared to theirs so you get multiple perspectives on a few of the biggest start-or-sit headaches. To see Draft Sharks' exclusive Week 5 3D floor-to-ceiling projections, become a Draft Sharks member today at the link below!
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Week 5 Fantasy Football Projections, Rankings from Draft Sharks
Week 5 fantasy QB projections, rankings
Spotlight Player: Matthew Stafford, Rams vs. Eagles (SN Ranking: 9 | DS Ranking: 14)
Stafford leads the league in pass attempts and has three 300-yard games already. He also might be getting Cooper Kupp (hamstring) back. Perhaps even more notable is that Philadelphia has the No. 27 pass defense. When you put it all together, we see Stafford as a safe starter, but Draft Sharks is likely expecting Philadelphia's fierce pass rush to limit him like Cincinnati's did in Week 3.
SN's WEEK 5 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 5 fantasy RB projections, rankings
Spotlight Player: Kyren Williams, Rams vs. Eagles (SN PPR Ranking: 19 | DS Ranking: 11)
You could argue that Williams is a "must-start" no matter what, so it doesn't really matter if you view him as an RB1 like Draft Sharks does or an RB2 like we do, but in shallow leagues, he's no sure thing. Philadelphia sports the No. 2 run defense, and Williams has been somewhat dependent on TDs and volume for his immense early-season value. He's shown in the past he can rack up catches against good defenses (six catches in Week 2 vs. San Francisco), so it's possible he does that again, but we're less enthused about his prospects in a brutal matchup.
Spotlight Player: Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs @ Vikings (SN PPR Ranking: 32 | DS Ranking: 46)
McKinnon has been virtually non-existent for the Chiefs (and fantasy owners) through four weeks (13 touches, 67 total yards), but he's still seeing the field on around 30 percent of snaps. It's only a matter of time before he gets in the end zone or breaks a big play. Draft Sharks isn't convinced it will be this week, but we have a little more hope against a mediocre Vikings' defense.
SN's WEEK 5 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 5 fantasy WR projections, rankings
Spotlight Player: Gabriel Davis, Bills vs. Jaguars (SN PPR Ranking: 24 | DS Ranking: 34)
Davis has scored in three straight games, catching 10 passes for 188 yards in that span. Draft Sharks clearly sees him as a relatively risky, TD-dependent receiver, but we think he has more upside this week against the Jags' No. 22 pass defense. Davis will always be a bit boom or bust, but he's clearly trending upward.
Spotlight Player: Rashee Rice, Chiefs @ Vikings (SN PPR Ranking: 72 | DS Ranking: 53)
Rice quietly led Chiefs WRs in targets the past two weeks, and he was two yards away from scoring two TDs in Week 3. The talented rookie seems on the verge of a breakout, and Draft Sharks thinks it might be coming this week. We're not quite as optimistic given the unpredictability of Kansas City's passing game, but if you need a deep-league flex, you could do worse than banking on one of Patrick Mahomes' receivers.
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Week 5 fantasy TE projections, rankings
Spotlight Player: Jake Ferguson, Cowboys @ 49ers (SN PPR Ranking: 15 | DS Ranking: 8)
Ferguson has received seven targets in three-of-four games this year, and Draft Sharks is clearly weighting that heavily. The production has been spotty, though, and a matchup against San Francisco's No. 9 TE defense has us worried. We also like a few matchup-based streamers a little more this week (Zach Ertz, Luke Musgrave), which is why Ferguson is lower in our rankings.
Week 5 fantasy defense projections, rankings
Spotlight Player: Buffalo Bills vs. Jaguars in London (SN Ranking: 10 | DS Ranking: 17)
The Bills have at least two takeaways in each of the past three games, and even more impressive, they're averaging four sacks per outing for the season. Jacksonville is allowing the ninth-most fantasy points to D/STs, so unless you really think the London factor is going to hurt Buffalo and help Jacksonville, who will be playing its second game in a row overseas, Buffalo should pay off as a starter.
