Let’s take a look at notable salary changes as we head into Week 5 of the NFL season.
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Quarterbacks
Cam Newton (CAR): $7,800 @ DET (+$500)
Like the first three quarterbacks before him, Newton took advantage of a prime matchup against the Patriots. Now owners will be left with a dilemma in Week 5, as Newton hadn’t scored more than 14 FDP in his first three outings before his 34.04 FDP explosion in Week 4.
The Lions allowed 219 passing yards to the Vikings in Week 4, while not allowing a passing touchdown. It’s tough to tell if Detroit’s defense is for real or not, but I would be hesitant about chasing points with Newton, especially with his Week 4 outing likely a byproduct of a bad Patriots’ defense.
Jay Cutler (MIA): $6,700 vs. TEN (-$600)
Just think, Jay Cutler came out of retirement for this!
Things have obviously not gone as well as the Dolphins had hoped when they lured the veteran out of retirement, but with the division up for grabs early on, there’s still plenty left to play for. Cutler has two passing touchdowns as well as two interceptions on the season, while he’s not thrown for more than 230 yards in any game this season.
The good news is that he stands to cure what ails him in a big way this week, as the Titans will be traveling to Miami in Week 5. This is a chance for Cutler to get things back on track, as he will face a Tennessee defense which had allowed an average of 286 passing yards and 2.3 touchdowns before their Week 4 massacre at the hands of Deshaun Watson.
Watson threw for 283 yards and four touchdowns while adding a fifth on the ground, which punctuated an absolute demolition of this defense. If there were ever a time to take a discount and roll the dice on Cutler in tournaments, it’s Week 5.
Running Backs
Aaron Jones (GB): $5,900 @ DAL (+$1,400)
Jones saw the biggest jump among all running backs this week, as he could be thrust into a meaningful role for this week’s showdown against the Cowboys. While Ty Montgomery doesn’t care about your fantasy team, it does sound like his injury isn’t quite as serious as initially feared, but I don’t expect the Packers to push it. Jamaal Williams is also uncertain to play this week with a knee injury, so this sets up well for Jones to receive ample playing time.
The Cowboys were walloped by Todd Gurley in Week 4, as the star back produced 31 FDP, which underscored the absence of linebacker Sean Lee. Jones is a comparable option to Montgomery, except Jones was a running back to begin with, which means he won’t have quite the adjustment to make. He’s still just a rookie, but I think there’s some merit to utilizing Jones, especially if Montgomery is out or limited.
Jordan Howard (CHI): $6,700 vs. MIN (-$600)
In a contest that many expected Tarik Cohen to thrive, it was once again Howard who handled the work for the Bears, despite being beaten by three touchdowns by the Packers. He will now have an extra 10 days to rest his bothersome shoulder, but there’s certainly some concern over the matchup that awaits for Monday Night Football in Week 5.
The Vikings have been stout against the run in two games against the Saints and Buccaneers, while they’ve struggled in two against the Steelers and Lions, so there’s certainly some potential here. In tournaments, don’t be afraid to target a discounted Howard, especially given the notion that he will likely be low owned.
Wide Receivers
Mike Evans (TB): $8,900 vs. NE (+$1,000)
The Buccaneers squeaked out a Week 4 win over the Giants, with Evans hauling in five passes for 67 yards and a touchdown. He nearly had a second later in the contest, but he was stopped just short. With 32 targets through three games, Evans continues to dominate the looks in the passing attack.
While he’s not been overly efficient to this point, that could change in a big way this week. The Patriots were decimated yet again through the air last week, which has now emerged as a troublesome trend. Look for the Buccaneers to exploit this in a game that could very well turn into a shootout, with Evans likely to play a big role.
Odell Beckham (NYG): $8,900 vs. LAC (-$200)
Beckham’s price dipped back below $9,000 heading into Week 5, despite hauling in seven passes for 90 yards in Week 4’s loss against the Buccaneers. Beckham received a whopping 15 targets, and despite dealing with a couple of nagging injuries during the game, was able to produce 12.5 FDP. While we expect more at this kind of price, the volume is encouraging to see.
The Giants limp home still winless after four weeks, where they will face a Chargers’ defense that represents a neutral matchup for opposing passing attacks. Provided his ankle doesn’t cause any issues leading up to Week 5, Beckham is a strong GPP candidate this week at a slight discount.
Tight Ends
Austin Seferian-Jenkins (NYJ): $5,500 @ CLE (+$700)
I’ve been banging the drum for Seferian-Jenkins the last two weeks, as he should continue to be an integral piece of the Jets’ passing game. He hauled in all four targets in Week 4 for 46 yards, and he is second on the team in targets since returning from suspension in Week 3. The looks are encouraging, and one could surmise that the spike in price is due to a juicy matchup awaiting in Week 5.
The Browns have allowed four passing touchdowns to tight ends this season while allowing an average of 19.8 FDP per game to opposing tight ends. Look to Seferian-Jenkins as a solid tournament play in Week 5.
Rob Gronkowski (NE): $7,800 @ TB (-$700)
Gronkowski appears to be healthy, and despite coming off of a four catch, 80-yard game, his price dropped $700 heading into Week 5. In a contest that could feature a bunch of scoring, Gronkowski is worth targeting after a steep drop in price. The Buccaneers could be without the services of Lavonte David and Kwon Alexander, which is something that the Patriots likely will exploit over the middle of the field.
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Adam Sutton is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Adam, follow him @DraftStars_Adam. You can find more of Adam’s work at DraftStars.net
