NFL Week 5 FTN Staff Bets
FTN Staff
As the fantasy football season rolls on, situations change quickly week to week. Whether injuries, totals, game scripts, etc. the NFL landscape is constantly evolving. To help diagnose those changes weekly for fantasy football, I’ll highlight them using our amazing NFL Splits tool. Let’s get to the top five for Week 3.
Golden Tate, WR, New York Giants
Tate is going to see all the targets he can handle versus the 49ers. With Sterling Shepard sidelined for at least three weeks, Tate will battle Evan Engram and Darius Slayton for the lead in targets weekly. Last year with Shepard out, Tate averaged 7.9 more DraftKings points per game. K'Waun Williams is not a pushover in the slot for San Francisco, but Tate can overcome it, and with the volume infusion, he’ll have ample opportunity to prove it.
Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions
The over/under for the Detroit Lions and Arizona Cardinals game sits at a hefty 55.5 points. Since 2018 in expected shootouts, Stafford has excelled. Stafford averages 280.5 passing yards and two passing scores per game in games with over/unders of 49 or higher. Stafford also gets his partner in crime, Kenny Golladay, back this week from injury. Stafford and the Lions will face off against a pass defense that allowed the most passing yards in the NFL (4,785) and second-most passing touchdowns (38) last season. Detroit’s downfield passing attack begins its comeback this week.
Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks
The banged-up Dallas Cowboys secondary head to Seattle and hope to keep pace with Lockett and company. The over/under has shot through the roof and is currently 55.5. In high-scoring affairs, Russell Wilson has leaned on Lockett’s big game prowess. Lockett’s receiving yards increased by nearly 27 yards per game. Seattle has loosened the stranglehold on Russell Wilson’s passing volume, and it looks like the “let Russ cook” movement rolls on for the third week.
Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers
The Saints defensive line is a tough draw, but if Davante Adams misses this week due to injury, Jones’ pass game role will lead to a productive game. Since 2017 in the five games that Adams has missed, Jones has seen his receiving numbers climb across the board. Jones. While the Saints have been stingy on the ground to opposing backs, they have been more pliant through the air. Last season, New Orleans allowed the sixth-most receptions (95) and eighth-most receiving touchdowns (4) to opposing running backs.
Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons
If Julio Jones misses this game, there will be an obvious concern for Ryan facing the Bears. Looking back to 2015, in the small three-game sample that Jones has missed, that concern on Ryan could be overblown. Ryan's numbers have not seen a sharp decline without Jones on the field. The way to attack the Bears' defense is deep. Chicago ranks 22nd and 24th against deep passing over the last two seasons. Ryan is currently third in deep pass attempts (12), and Calvin Ridley has been his favorite weapon of choice attacking deep. Ridley has garnered 50% of Ryan's deep targets this season. Between Ridley, Hayden Hurst and Russell Gage, Ryan has plenty of skill players to attack this Bears' defense.
