The Washington Football Team had one of the league’s top defenses last season, ranking among the top five in points allowed and yards allowed. However, the 2021 season hasn’t been kind to Washington, which now ranks in the bottom five in both categories. With the WFT hosting New Orleans this week, several Saints are shooting up the Week 5 Fantasy football rankings against a suddenly leaky defense. While Alvin Kamara is already locked into Week 5 Fantasy football lineups, others such as Jameis Winston, Marquez Callaway and even Taysom Hill could deserve consideration.
After allowing three TDs to a dual-threat player like Cordarrelle Patterson last week, could the equally versatile Hill take advantage of Washington this week? Will Callaway finally break out as one of the top Week 5 Fantasy football picks as he continues to fill in for Michael Thomas? Before you lock in your lineups, be sure to check out the Week 5 Fantasy football rankings from the advanced computer model at SportsLine.
When it comes to ranking players, SportsLine’s model beat human experts in Fantasy football for the past several seasons especially when there were big differences in ranking. Over the course of a season, that could literally be the difference between winning your league or going home emptyhanded.
Last week, the model was extremely high on Panthers wide receiver D.J. Moore, saying he’d finish as a top-10 player at his position. The result: Moore hauled in eight receptions for 113 yards and two touchdowns against the Cowboys. Anybody who had him in their lineup was well on their way to a huge week.
Now, the model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, has revealed its Fantasy football rankings for Week 5 of the 2021 NFL season. Head to SportsLine now to see them.
Top Week 5 Fantasy football picks
One player the model is extremely high on this week: Jaguars running back James Robinson. The Jaguars have finally recognized that playing Robinson more gives them their best chance at ending their lengthy losing streak. After playing 64 percent of snaps through the first three weeks, Robinson played 95 percent in Week 4 and responded with 78 rushing yards and two scores.
He should be in line for another week of high volume as the Jags host the Titans. In two games last year, Robinson averaged 101.5 scrimmage yards and scored one touchdown. That came despite him playing just 53 percent of snaps under the previous Jags’ coaching staff.
SportsLine’s model lists Robinson sixth in the Week 5 Fantasy football RB rankings. That makes him just as much an RB1 as the running back on the other sideline, Derrick Henry.
And a massive shocker: Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, who’s thrown for over 500 yards and seven touchdowns in his last two outings, stumbles big-time and doesn’t even crack the top 15 at his position. Herbert is coming off a strong performance against the Raiders on Monday night, completing 25-of-38 passes for 222 yards and three touchdowns.
Herbert has already racked up 1,178 passing yards this season, but now he’ll face-off against one of the NFL’s stingiest defenses. The Browns are giving up just 250.3 yards per game on average to opposing offenses, which ranks second in the league. Cleveland is also tied for first with 14 sacks, with Myles Garrett leading the charge with six. With such a tough matchup on Sunday, Herbert is a player to consider putting on the bench in Week 5.
How to set your Week 5 Fantasy football rankings
The model is also calling for a surprising quarterback you aren’t even thinking about to finish in the top 10 of its Fantasy football rankings. This pick could be the difference between winning big and going home with nothing. You can only see who it is here.
So who should you start and sit this week? And which surprising quarterback could lead you to victory? Visit SportsLine now to get Week 5 Fantasy football rankings for every position, plus see which QB is going to come out of nowhere to crack the top 10, all from the model that has out-performed experts big-time.
