NFL Fantasy Stud or Dud — Week 5

We're less than 24 hours from the start of Week 5 and all I can think about is how important this week is; in terms of fantasy football at least. Whether your team's 4-0 or 0-4, it's not too late to turn it around.

This won't be a place I tell you start guys like Ja'Marr Chase or Jahmyr Gibbs; it'll be a place where we can talk about more under the radar guys. Guys that have favorable matchups to exploit and even guys that could end up laying an egg in our lineups.

We're going to discuss can't miss matchups and possible grenades to avoid. I love fantasy football and my hope is to help you (and me) win the week.

Let's jump right into this week's Fantasy Football: Stud or Dud.

For additional information on picks, props, moneylines, and more on today's slate, take a look at our NFL Picks Page or our NFL Odds Page.

That's My Quarterback

Jacoby Brissett (ARI) — Stud

Brissett and the Cardinals will host the Detroit Lions this week at State Farm Stadium and this might be the best matchup on the board this week.

The Lions rank 30th in points allowed, 31st in opponent redzone efficiency, 32nd in pass yards allowed, 32nd in opponent third down conversion rate and 32nd in first downs allowed. It's all been bad in Detroit and now they face a pass happy Cardinals team.

Detroit ranks dead last in fantasy points (FP) allowed to the QB position, allowing an average of 28.9 FP/game. The defense is giving up an average of 327.0 pass yards per game to opposing QBs, allowing a near 70% completion rate and they've given up 13 total touchdowns to the position.

Brissett is currently 18th in FP/game at the QB position, but 7th in 'expected' FP/game. Brissett and this entire Cardinals offense has looked good, but they've also matched up with some pretty stout defenses. The Cardinals put up 26 points in Week 1 against the Chargers but managed just 7 against Seattle.

They followed that up with 30 points against the 49ers and then 24 against the Giants. This week's matchup is by far the best of the bunch and I think Brissett and this entire Cardinals offense comes alive because of it.

Jordan Love (GB) — Stud

Clear skies in Green Bay for tomorrow afternoon Packers/Bears rivalry game. This is just the second time the Packers will take the field here at Lambeau this season, playing 3 of their first 4 games on the road.

The Packers got back to .500 last week and by no means were they dominant. They snuck out with a win, but no one on the offense looked spectacular. Love has thrown 2 passing touchdowns in every game this year and despite playing behind the worst OL in football, he's been good.

Love's averaging 260.3 pass yards per game this year, he's coming off his first game sub-200 and he's thrown 8 touchdowns to just 3 interceptions. He's 14th in FP/game this year and I can't emphasize enough how bad the OL has been.

However, this week the Packers go up against a Chicago Bears team that has a bottom 1o pass rush and run a man-heavy defensive scheme. Since he became a starter in 2023, Love's recorded a passer rating of 104.1 against man, he's got 46 touchdown passes and just 6 interceptions.

He's second among all QBs in touchdown passes versus man since 2023 and he's absolutely balled out against the Bears. In game he doesn't leave with injury, Love's averaging 275.8 pass yards per game, he's thrown 13 touchdowns, 2 intereceptions, and he's got a passer rating of 117.6.

Tyler Shough (NO) — Dud

The Minnesota Vikings are the toughest matchup for fantasy QBs this year and it's all because of one man, Brian Flores. Flores is blitzing on over 70% of his defensive plays and almost 30% higher than the 2nd most blitzing DC in the NFL.

He's built a defense that can blitz at a high rate, get pressure at a high rate, disguise their coverages better than anyone else and get back in coverage like no other unit.

The Vikings are giving up just 12.0 FP/game to QBs and they allow just 12.8 points per game. Shough's struggled against pressure this year and even if he didn't; this defense is different.

Going back to last year, Shough's completing just 49% of his passes when under pressure, he's got 5 touchdown passes and 4 interceptions.

Superflex Desperation Starts: Jameis Winston, Aaron Rodgers

Run the Rock