Is it possible to go overboard with weekly fantasy football projections and rankings? Maybe, but...nah. The more expert opinions, analysis, and stats you can take in, the more it will sharpen your Week 5 start ‘em, sit ‘em decisions.
To prove we're disciples of 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 rankings and projections. We'll also highlight players at each position who stand out in our rankings compared to theirs. 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: Carson Wentz, Commanders vs. Titans (SN Ranking: 21 | DS Ranking: 11)
Wentz has been bad the past two weeks against solid defenses (Philadelphia and Dallas), posting just 381 yards and one TD while taking 11 sacks and turning it over three times. The Titans defense is right in the middle of the Jags and Lions, against whom Wentz posted big numbers in Weeks 1 and 2, and the Eagles and Cowboys, so Wentz having a middling 225-yard, one- or two-TD performance seems most likely this week. Given his turnover potential, we're skewing low, but Draft Sharks is clearly playing the numbers more.
SN's WEEK 5 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 5 fantasy RB projections, rankings
Spotlight Player: Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots vs. Lions (SN PPR Ranking: 20 | DS Ranking: 13)
The SN and Draft Sharks' RB PPR rankings didn't have many big differences, but Stevenson stood out for his borderline-RB1 ranking on Draft Sharks. We still like Stevenson, but his lack of short TD chances is why we have him more in the RB2/flex territory. Given the matchup, it's easy to see why Draft Sharks ranks him so highly, but Damien Harris (16 on Draft Sharks, 23 on SN) still seems to be the guy around the goal line.
SN's WEEK 5 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 5 fantasy WR projections, rankings
Spotlight Player: Tyler Lockett, Seahawks @ Saints (SN PPR Ranking: 34 | DS Ranking: 20)
Draft Sharks has consistently been higher on Seattle wide receivers than we have, and it's likely due to volume. Lockett has seen 30 targets the past three weeks, so even though he's yet to score, it's not for lack of opportunities. There are plenty of reasons to like him more in PPR leagues and view him as a safe WR2, but we're still a little leery of Geno Smith and the Seahawks' offense against a decent defense. Atlanta and Detroit, Seattle's past two opponents, are among the worst in the NFL, so a step up will likely limit the 'Hawks as it did earlier in the year.
Spotlight Player: Gabriel Davis, Bills vs. Steelers (SN PPR Ranking: 22 | DS Ranking: 32)
UPDATE: With Davis looking healthier and Isaiah McKenzie (concussion) listed as "questionable," Draft Sharks has moved up Davis nine spots.
Davis hasn't looked the same since suffering an ankle injury ahead of Week 2, posting just four catches for 40 yards over two games, so clearly, Draft Sharks is continuing to discount him. We expect a bounce-back in short order, especially if the Bills can avoid extreme heat or windy/rainy conditions like they've played in the past two weeks. Unless Davis is actually hurt, we still think he's a safe WR2 in a favorable matchup like this one.
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Week 5 fantasy TE projections, rankings
Spotlight Player: Evan Engram, Jaguars vs. Texans (SN PPR Ranking: 26 | DS Ranking: 12)
Maybe it's because we took the bait after Week 2 when Engram had been targeted 12 times on the season, but after posting two catches for 25 yards on just four targets the past two weeks, we're extremely hesitant to trust him. He does have a favorable matchup and is still playing the vast majority of TE snaps for Jacksonville, so Draft Sharks must be factoring in those variables more than we are. Still, we don't see a reason to rank Engram as a borderline starter right now. Draft Sharks is being more analytical, which is usually the smart move.
Week 5 fantasy defense projections, rankings
Spotlight Player: Los Angeles Rams vs. Cowboys (SN Ranking: 5 | DS Ranking: 15)
Draft Sharks is doing a better job reacting to what's actually occurred over the first four weeks -- namely, Cooper Rush has been better than expected and the Rams' D/ST has been mediocre, at best. We still think Rush is vulnerable against a good defense, and clearly, we still think the Rams are a good defense despite major secondary issues. L.A. posted multiple sacks and at least three takeaways in Weeks 1 and 2, so Rush, who's mostly faced bad or mediocre defenses, could have his worst game of the year. Even with that said, the Rams should probably be ranked somewhere in the middle of SN's and Draft Sharks' rankings.
