Weekly Matchups: Four Upside Stacks For Week Five

If you follow me on Twitter, you’ve probably noticed a series of tweets I share on a weekly basis regarding player and team defensive performances, all from a fantasy lens. I’m going to be sharing some of that same information with you here. I use this each week as I am making my own lineup and waiver wire decisions and thought you might find this valuable as well.

A popular strategy in seasonal best ball leagues and daily fantasy lineups is stacking, pairing a quarterback with one or more pass catchers. This method has become so common and widespread that dynasty managers have carried this over to their long-term leagues. The idea is pretty simple. Maximize explosive plays from some of the league’s top players and offenses. Thanks to some key matchups for both quarterbacks and receivers, there are a few underrated stacks that could pay off in Week Five.

Joe Flacco/Michael Pittman, IND

The Colts face off against division-rival Jacksonville and the duo of Flacco and Pittman will require monitoring as Sunday nears. The playing status of starter Anthony Richardson is undecided but the outlook for Pittman, Josh Downs, and the other pass-catchers dramatically changed when Flacco took over last week. The Jaguars have allowed the most QB1 games (4) and fantasy points per game (25.1) to opposing signal callers. Much like what we’ve seen the past two weeks with Carolina and Tennessee, I suddenly feel more confident thanks to the backup quarterback. As for Pittman (and Downs), the Jags have also allowed five top-24 fantasy performances to enemy wideouts, tied for second-most in the league.

Deshaun Watson/Amari Cooper, CLE

The Commanders have been touched up by opposing passing offenses for multiple seasons now, though they did hold Kyler Murray and company in check last week. That gives me a little pause about relying on Watson, Cooper, and the Browns, but the duo has been heating up despite Watson’s erratic play. In case you missed it, Cooper got free for an 80-yard touchdown last week that was eventually called back for a weak holding call. The box score for both could’ve been even better. Washington is allowing the most fantasy points to receivers, over 46 per game and they are one of four teams to surrender at least three QB1 performances.

Trevor Lawrence/Brian Thomas, JAX

Let’s get back to that AFC South matchup because the Jaguars’ defense is not the only one to target. The Colts are allowing 24.8 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks, second-most in the league. They’ve also already given up five top-24 receiver performances through four games. Lawrence has been slowly improving after a shaky start and his favorite target is easily the rookie Thomas, who has the look of a future dynasty WR1. Christian Kirk and maybe even Evan Engram, pending his status, would make fine options to pair with Lawrence, as well.

Matthew Stafford/Colby Parkinson, LAR

Okay, you’ve got to be a little desperate to chase this one, but given all of the early-season injuries and poor tight end play, you might be here. The Rams face off with the Packers, who have given up over 23 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. Green Bay is also one of four teams to allow three TE1 games this season. Parkinson The Packers have been even worse defending wide receivers, but it is difficult to choose a target there for the Rams as Tutu Atwell, Demarcus Robinson, Jordan Whittington, and even Tyler Johnson have shared snaps and targets in recent weeks.

Note: The scoring system used is always PPR with four points for passing touchdowns and all stats and info are provided by Fantasy Data.

Quarterbacks

Week 4 QB1s

Season-Long QB1s

Most QB1 Games Allowed

The Jaguars and Colts have allowed the most fantasy points per game to the quarterback position, making them the ideal targets as they match up in Week Five. The Buccaneers are another team struggling to stop the quarterback, giving up three QB1 games and over 21 fantasy points per contest. Perhaps this is a get-right spot for Kirk Cousins and the disappointing Falcons’ offense.

A six-pack of teams have yet to allow a QB1 game on the year and it’s no surprise that most of those are also among the teams allowing less than 15 fantasy points per game to enemy signal callers. The Bears (vs. Andy Dalton), Dolphins (vs. Jacoby Brissett), and Jets (vs. Sam Darnold) have been shutting down quarterbacks. The Browns are the fourth team holding quarterbacks under 15 fantasy points, which will make for an intriguing matchup against rookie Jayden Daniels. There’s no way to sit Daniels right now, but we could see this turn into the worst game of his young career.

Running Backs

Week 4 RB1s

Season-Long RB1s

Most RB1 Games Allowed

The Cardinals have allowed a league-high six top-24 performances to running backs through three games. Jordan Mason is ready to feast against the Arizona defense which is one of six teams allowing over 28 fantasy points per game to opposing backfields. The other five struggling squads include the Bills (vs. Joe Mixon?), Panthers (vs. D’Andre Swift), Cowboys (vs. Najee Harris), Dolphins (vs. Rhamondre Stevenson), and Rams (vs. Josh Jacobs).

Five teams have surrendered just one top-24 game to enemy running backs so far this year, emerging as defenses to avoid when looking for fantasy backs. Those teams include the Ravens (vs. Zack Moss/Chase Brown), Texans (vs. James Cook), Chiefs (vs. Alvin Kamara), Vikings (vs. Breece Hall), and Saints (vs. Kareem Hunt.) Expect below average box scores for each of these backs this week.

Wide Receivers

Week 4 WR1s

Season-Long WR1s

Most WR1 Games Allowed

The Packers have allowed six WR1/WR2 games already this season, though, as discussed earlier, it is tough to decide on a Rams wideout to use this week. There are five teams giving up more than 42 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, making for some obvious starters. This looks like a good week to use Garrett Wilson (vs. MIN) along with the players mentioned earlier, Pittman and Cooper.

The Falcons (vs. Mike Evans/Chris Godwin) and Panthers (vs. DJ Moore/Keenan Allen/Rome Odunze) are other teams to target, allowing five top-24 fantasy games this season.

The Titans have yet to allow a top-24 game and that won’t change this week as they are on bye, but three other teams have established themselves as avoids also, giving up just a lone top-24 game. The Bills (vs. Stefon Diggs/Nico Collins), Bears (vs. Diontae Johnson), and Seahawks (vs. Malik Nabers) have all been tough against foe wide receivers. Let’s be real though, there is no situation in which Collins or Nabers are getting benched, and Diggs in the ultimate revenge game is simply too intriguing to miss.

Tight Ends

Week 4 TE1s

Season-Long TE1s

Most TE1 Games Allowed

There has been little separation at the tight end position through the first three weeks, both in matchups and player performance. The Chiefs have allowed the most fantasy points per game, yet have surrendered two TE1 games. This week, they get the hot and cold Juwan Johnson of the Saints. The four teams that have allowed three TE1 games include the Ravens (vs. Mike Gesicki/Erick All), Bills (vs. Dalton Schultz), Packers (vs. Parkinson) and Rams (vs. Tucker Kraft.) With his team hurting at the receiver position, Kraft is easily my favorite of this group in Week Five.

There are now four teams that have yet to allow a TE1 game this season. The Cardinals (vs. George Kittle), Falcons (vs. Cade Otton), and Texans (vs. Dalton Kincaid) should make things tough again this week.

Finally, here is the chart summarizing how teams have fared against each position. I’ve also included the schedule for this week for reference.

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Ryan McDowell

Contributor at Dynasty League Football

In addition to his senior leadership role here at DLF, Ryan is also a husband, father of three and PE teacher. Ryan is the commissioner of multiple dynasty leagues, most notably the Kitchen Sink Dynasty Leagues. Here at DLF, Ryan’s focus is on identifying, monitoring and analyzing player value.

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