Well friends, life got the best of me last week so I wasn’t able to get this article out. I’m back for Week 5 to help you navigate the COVID and bye week waters. This is when streaming becomes the key to success. The weeks your studs are on bye and you have to try to make up for their absence. The players and teams listed are available in at least 60 percent of Yahoo! leagues. So, let’s dive in.
QB: Daniel Jones vs Dallas Cowboys. (34 percent rostered). Now, I’ve admittedly been low on Danny Dimes so far this year, but that Cowboys defense is Swiss cheese. They’re currently ranked 29th against opposing quarterbacks and have allowed three touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks the last three weeks to Ryan, Wilson and a Baker Mayfield/Jarvis Landry tandem. Jones hasn’t thrown a touchdown since Week 1, but there’s a possibility of a shoot out this weekend and I hope to see Daniel Jones right the ship with a few passes to the end zone.
DEF/ST: Cleveland Browns vs Indianapolis Colts. (17 percent rostered). While the Browns defense is average, at best, and the Colts offensive line is considered strong – it’s the guy behind the line that makes this play an option. The Browns currently sit at the top in the league for quarterback hurries at 30 so far, and if you’ve ever watched Philip Rivers you’ve likely noticed that “hurrying” isn’t his strong suit. On top of that, the Browns rank 8th against the run game, allowing 3.9 yards per attempt and we’ve yet to see the Jonathan Taylor we all hoped we would coming into this year. Meanwhile, T.Y. Hilton looks nothing like his old self, having yet to eclipse 87 yards since the sudden retirement of Andrew Luck. If the Colts attempt to win this one on the ground, the Browns should fair well in Week 5.
Kicker: Sam Sloman vs The Washington Football Team. (5 percent rostered). The Rams were pretty much held in check by an abysmal Giants defense in Week 4, but I’m not ready to give up on this call just yet. The Los Angeles Rams have the offensive pieces to exploit a weak Washington secondary. If Jared Goff and Co. can get moving on Sunday, I expect Sloman to see plenty of opportunities to boot it through the uprights. While Sam has missed here and there, it’s the length he can kick it that keeps me coming back. So if you’ve rostered Mason Crosby up until now and you need a replacement kicker for Week 5, you’re almost guaranteed to find the rookie available on the waiver wire. Pick him up, scoot to the edge of your seat, and enjoy the ride.
