We technically have our lightest main slate of the young season, as an early morning Sunday game will eliminate two teams from our consideration — although, seeing as how both of their offenses have struggled, that is probably for the best. Of the remaining matchups, we started to notice a trend where running backs appear to be dominating the list. In the coming articles, we will surely trim down said list, but it is an interesting note early in the process of creating our player pool.
Sporfolio’s NFL Daily Fantasy Sports game-by-game analysis columns are driven by expected game flow. Based on a combination of our Week 5 NFL picks against the spread and our expectations for a given game, we project the actions necessary to make these picks come to fruition. We aim to pinpoint players integral to our predicted game flow for each game of the week. We also include high-scoring and low-scoring matchups that can be used for either DFS plays or over-under picks in our new Top Games to Target column.
Please Note: Our ‘Must-Owns’ are either players around which we are building our entire roster or the top target we want, not considering salary restraints. Which means that some ‘must-owns’ will not make it into our final lineups.
Luke May is our resident NFL DFS expert, and Mario Mergola operates Sporfolio as our expert for NFL Picks Against the Spread.
Green Bay Packers at Cincinnati Bengals
Luke’s DFS Take
Storyline/Notes/Thoughts: When you get a quarterback matchup with names like Aaron Rodgers and Joe Burrow, people will be immediately drawn into this game. I can understand the temptation, but my exposure to this game will be limited. The Packers’ offense has been decent this year at putting up points, but their overall production has been disappointing. They rank 25th in total yards, 19th in net yards per pass attempt, and 28th in yards per rush attempt. Considering the Bengals have a top ten defense in all major metrics, I don’t love the Packers to suddenly have a total offensive outburst. The Bengals’ offense has had some bright moments and reasons for future excitement, but they still rank just 22nd in total yards and 20th in points this season. With the Packers’ defense allowing the sixth-fewest total yards this season, this game feels like a good one to temper your expectations around.
Targets: Aaron Jones, Davante Adams, Joe Mixon, and Tyler Boyd
Fades: Aaron Rodgers and Joe Burrow
Must-Owns: None
Mario’s DFS Take
Storyline/Notes/Thoughts: Last week, I wrote about the Green Bay Packers possibly seeing a little less offense because of their matchup with the Steeler’s excellent defense. While the Packers were not stopped outright, they were slowed down enough to the point that Green Bay couldn’t explode. I would expect a similar outcome against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, where Cincinnati has quietly developed into one of the better defenses in the league. The bad news for the Bengals? So has the Packers’ defense. Overall, I wouldn’t avoid either team’s players altogether, but I would absolutely limit myself.
Targets: Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, and Joe Mixon
Fades: None, but tread lightly with offense
Must-Owns: None
Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings
Luke’s DFS Take
Storyline/Notes/Thoughts: I mentioned last week that the Vikings were playing well, but I really didn’t like that matchup for them for many reasons. That hesitation proved fruitful as they lost a stinker of a game 14-7. I have the exact opposite inclination this week, as the Lions set up much better for the Vikings to take advantage of. The Lions’ offense is likely to have one or more turnovers in the game and give the Vikings’ offense plenty of possessions in a good position to score. On top of that, the Lions’ defense ranks outside the top twenty in both yards and points allowed while ranking 31st in the league in net passing yards per attempt. I think the Vikings come out and score at will, which will force the Lions into a pass-heavy game flow. Considering the struggles of the Vikings’ defense this season, the Lions may have some success playing from behind which quietly makes this a very appealing game to target.
Targets: Jared Goff, D’Andre Swift, Kaliff Raymond, Quintez Cephus, T.J. Hockenson, Kirk Cousins, Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, K.J. Osborne, and Tyler Conklin
Fades: Both Defenses
Must-Owns: Dalvin Cook
Mario’s DFS Take
Storyline/Notes/Thoughts: We keep waiting for the Minnesota Vikings to either thrive offensively or completely crumble, but there is no direction with the offense. Really, that’s nothing new for the team. It appears to always be teetering on the edge of either option, and it will randomly put together some of the best performances of the week. For that reason, we need to consider that Sunday’s home game against the winless Detroit Lions leads to a big day. The reality, however, is that Detroit has played well enough to not be considered an ‘automatic pushover.’ The Lions also have some potential offense that has made its mark when trailing late in games. The same is possible on Sunday.
Targets: Jared Goff, D’Andre Swift, Quintez Cephus, T.J. Hockenson, Kirk Cousins, Dalvin Cook, Justin Jefferson, and Adam Theilen
Fades: None
Must-Owns: None
Denver Broncos at Pittsburgh Steelers
Luke’s DFS Take
Storyline/Notes/Thoughts: At the risk of being too obvious, this is a game I will be ignoring almost entirely. You have two very good defenses taking aim at two very bad offenses, both of whom are dealing with injuries to their quarterbacks and other key players as well. There is a chance that the defenses create turnovers and some short field opportunities for their offenses, but I can’t count on that to drive enough production. If any individual player manages to have a big game in this set up, then good for them, but I will not be rolling those dice in this matchup.
Targets: Najee Harris and Both Defenses
Fades: All other offensive players
Must-Owns: None
Mario’s DFS Take
Storyline/Notes/Thoughts: I like to approach each game with the possibility of being ‘contrarian,’ but it’s hard to think of anything but defense when we look at the Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers. This isn’t just because of how solid both defenses are, but also because of the ineptitude of the offenses. If I’m playing a smaller slate — or even the one-game Showdown that DraftKings now offers for all matchups on Sundays — then I’ll definitely take a chance with a balanced split of skill position players. Otherwise, it’s both defenses for me.
Targets: Najee Harris, both defenses, and Diontae Johnson in a Showdown
Fades: Everyone else
Must-Owns: None
Miami Dolphins at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Luke’s DFS Take
Storyline/Notes/Thoughts: Despite what I have said about the Dolphins ahead of many of their games this season, I find myself intrigued by this game. The Dolphins’ defense is not nearly as stout as people want to give them credit for — they rank 24th in total yards, 25th in points allowed, 15th in net yards per pass attempt, and 16th in yards per rush attempt. Based on that, it is fair to say they are an average defense that gets put in a bad position by their offense regularly. With that, average is not going to cut it against Tom Brady and a Buccaneers offense that is due to explode after two consecutive down games by their standards. I expect the Buccaneers to have a big game in this one, which is going to put the pressure on Jacoby Brissett to make plays with his arm as he tries to play keep up. Normally I would not have much faith in that situation, but the Buccaneers’ defense is tremendously banged up and seems to continue to lose members of their secondary. This may be a rare chance for the Dolphins’ offense to turn in a big game of their own as they surprisingly keep pace in a high-scoring game in Tampa Bay.
Targets: Jacoby Brissett, DeVante Parker, Jaylen Waddle, Mike Gesicki, Tom Brady, Leonard Fournette, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin,, and Antonio Brown
Fades: Both Defenses
Must-Owns: Cameron Brate
Mario’s DFS Take
Storyline/Notes/Thoughts: While the two teams may reside in different conferences the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins have a connection. That is, Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady spent nearly his entire career facing off with Miami. This familiarity will work both ways, but it’s an interesting note to remember. Regardless, I won’t be avoiding anyone from the Buccaneers. The bigger storyline, however, is that there is one clear path to offense for Miami: throw the ball. The Dolphins simply cannot get anything going in the ground game, and Tampa Bay’s run defense is elite. The attack will have to take place through the air. Even if we haven’t seen success in that regard, we need to lean on the additional volume for the Dolphins’ pass catchers and quarterback Jacoby Brissett.
Targets: Jacoby Brissett, DeVante Parker, Jaylen Waddle, Tom Brady, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Antonio Brown
Fades: Running backs and defenses
Must-Owns: None
New Orleans Saints at Washington Football Team
Luke’s DFS Take
Storyline/Notes/Thoughts: I said that last week was going to be the last time I supported this Washington defense unless they turned things around, and all they did was give up 374 yards of offense and 30 points to the Atlanta Falcons. They now sit 29th in the league in yards allowed and 30th in the league in points allowed. I am done making excuses for them, and I think against a Saints team that is simply better all around, they get beat up on both sides of the ball. People are generally going to overreact to the Saints’ loss to the Giants, but the Saints have the advantage just about everywhere on the field in this game, and I think that shows on Sunday.
Targets: Jameis Winston, Alvin Kamara, Marquez Callaway, Saints Defense, and Terry McLaurin
Fades: The rest of the Washington Football Team
Must-Owns: None
Mario’s DFS Take
Storyline/Notes/Thoughts: Sometimes the best opportunity to buy an asset is when it appears to be completely devoid of any value. That would be the case with the Washington Football Team’s defense. Unfortunately, I can’t condone it in this matchup with a New Orleans Saints team that dropped to 2-2, but still has plenty of talent on offense. It will be popular, but I am leaning on Alvin Kamara for Week 5, and I might include Jameis Winston in a lineup as well. For Washington, it’s refreshing to see a quarterback commit to a top-flight receiver as Taylor Heinicke has done with Terry McLaurin, but New Orleans’ defense is still one of the better groups in the league, so I would be careful before trusting any offensive player from the Football Team.
Targets: Jameis Winston, Marquez Callaway, Taylor Heinicke, and Terry McLaurin
Fades: Washington’s running backs
Must-Owns: Alvin Kamara
Philadelphia Eagles at Carolina Panthers
Luke’s DFS Take
Storyline/Notes/Thoughts: After two strong weeks to start the season, the Eagles’ defense has struggled mightily in consecutive games against better offenses. The Panthers may not be the most dynamic offense in the league, but they rank 13th in yards, points and net yards per pass attempt. That all gives me plenty of confidence to think that the reborn Sam Darnold can continue his breakout season. The big question for this game is going to be whether or not this Eagles offense can keep up against what is one of the best defenses they have played yet. I think we see a game similar to their matchup with the 49ers where they moved the ball decently well, but ultimately fail to produce a lot on the scoreboard.
Targets: Jalen Hurts, Kenneth Gainwell, DeVonta Smith, Sam Darnold, and D.J. Moore
Fades: Miles Sanders and Robby Anderson
Must-Owns: Chubba Hubbard
Mario’s DFS Take
Storyline/Notes/Thoughts: Two major storylines lead the way for the matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Carolina Panthers, and at least one can be used for fantasy purposes. That is, backup-turned-starting running back Chuba Hubbard has been thoroughly unimpressive while stepping in for the injured Christian McCaffrey. There’s only so long that fantasy managers will stick with Hubbard, and I suspect we see much lower popularity for him after he felt like an automatic plug-and-play last week. That’s perfect, as I will be buying back into him. There is a rumor that McCaffrey might play and, if that happens, he’s automatically in my lineup as people tend to expect a lighter workload for a player returning from injury and that doesn’t always happen. The other storyline is simply that Philadelphia has regressed massively after a solid start to the year while the Panthers suffered their own loss that knocked them down the power rankings. There is a rebound potential for both teams, so I am fine looking to any of the key players.
Targets: Jalen Hurts, Miles Sanders, DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, Sam Darnold, and D.J. Moore
Fades: Both defenses
Must-Owns: Chuba Hubbard — unless Christian McCaffrey plays, in which he becomes the ‘must-start’
Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars
Luke’s DFS Take
Storyline/Notes/Thoughts: We spent a great deal of time last week discussing the Titans’ issues and why that set up well for Zach Wilson and Jets. Fast forward to this week, and the Titans proved us very correct, and now sit in a position to give the same opportunity for success to another rookie quarterback in need of their first victory. While I’m not 100% sold on the Jaguars winning, I don’t see how the Jaguars offense doesn’t put forward a good game, especially after the decent showing they had on Thursday night against a very solid Bengals defense. No matter the status of their star wide receivers, the Titans’ plan of attack is going to be Derrick Henry. Henry is averaging over 30 carries per game in the last three games, and despite being the strength of the Jaguars’ defense, the Titans are going to be willing to put their strength up against the Jaguars’.
Targets: Derrick Henry, Jeremy McNichols — primarily if Julio Jones and A.J. Brown are out again — James Robinson and Laviska Shenault Jr.
Fades: None
Must-Owns: Trevor Lawrence and Marvin Jones Jr.
Mario’s DFS Take
Storyline/Notes/Thoughts: There is simply no way around considering — if not using — Derrick Henry in a lineup on Sunday, so let’s start and end the conversation there. His popularity will be through-the-roof against a Jacksonville Jaguars team that he has singlehandedly tortured in the past, so fade him at your own risk. Elsewhere, the key remains the Tennessee Titans’ putrid defense, where the Jaguars’ offense should have plenty of success, whether it’s in ‘garbage time’ while trailing late or early as Jacksonville comes out of the gate on the attack. Either way, there is tremendous fantasy potential in this divisional matchup.
Targets: All offensive players from both teams
Fades: None
Must-Owns: Derrick Henry is a ‘must-consider’ and, if he can fit into a lineup, then he’s a ‘must-own’
New England Patriots at Houston Texans
Luke’s DFS Take
Storyline/Notes/Thoughts: Normally, seeing a team score nine points and then zero points would make me want to jump on them, but even I am not crazy enough to recommend the Houston offense. Since Davis Mills has become the starting quarterback, the Texans have just over 300 yards of total offense in two games. Now they have to face off with what is probably the best defense they have faced in Mills’ three games. The Texans likely score more than zero points this week, but not nearly enough to make me want anything to do with their offense. After two straight weeks of really poor matchups, and negative game scripts, I fully expect the Patriots to get back to their run-heavy game plan. Damien Harris should be plenty rested after seeing just ten carries in the last two weeks.
Targets: Mac Jones, Brandon Bolden, Jakobi Meyers, and Patriots Defense
Fades: The Houston Texans
Must-Owns: Damien Harris
Mario’s DFS Take
Storyline/Notes/Thoughts: I will lead with the most important storyline because of the weight that it holds: the Houston Texans are returning to action following a shutout, and they are statistically likely to perform comparatively well. I will be targeting them for some offense. That, in itself, is going to be ‘contrarian,’ and it is admittedly risky. Still, the trend is outstanding, and it suggests that we see at least two scoring drives from Houston. Otherwise, I will look for players from the New England Patriots who will find success against Houston — especially late, with a lead.
Targets: Mac Jones, Damien Harris, Jakobi Meyers, Davis Mills, and Brandin Cooks
Fades: Much of the rest of the Texans’ offense
Must-Owns: None
Chicago Bears at Las Vegas Raiders
Luke’s DFS Take
Storyline/Notes/Thoughts: Despite the major steps in the right direction last week, my expectations for the Bears’ offense this week is fairly low. They have lost the most important player to their offense in David Montgomery, and with Damien Williams also banged up, their running game is looking suspect at best. Add in the matchup with a Raiders defense that ranks 5th in the league in net yards per pass attempt, thanks to a talented group of pass rushers, and I can’t see this game going very well for the Bears offensively. With that said, this Bears defense is still plenty solid in their own right, so I expect them to keep this game close. The Raiders’ offense showed last night that they are far from perfect, and if you can get pressure on them, you can slow them down. Given their struggles on the offensive line, I think this game could be an overall disappointing fantasy game across the board.
Targets: Damien Williams, Bears Defense, Darren Waller, and Raiders Defense
Fades: All other offensive players
Must-Owns: None
Mario’s DFS Take
Storyline/Notes/Thoughts: We’re certainly going to see some carryover from last week’s games when the Chicago Bears and Las Vegas Raiders meet on Sunday. The Bears erased one of the worst offensive performances in years with a home win last week, while the Raiders finally suffered their first loss. The irony is that neither team played to its common path, where Chicago suddenly found offense, and the Raiders lost theirs. I expect some regression to the mean where Las Vegas’ offense will throw more — and have more success — than it did in Week 4, while the Bears run into somewhat of a roadblock. The loss of David Montgomery also hurts as it means either backup-turned-starter Damien Williams will need to step up and perform or rookie quarterback Justin Fields will need to take over the game. It’s difficult to land on either option as the answer.
Targets: Derek Carr, Hunter Renfrow, Darren Waller, Justin Fields, and Allen Robinson II
Fades: Everyone else on offense
Must-Owns: None
Cleveland Browns at Los Angeles Chargers
Luke’s DFS Take
Storyline/Notes/Thoughts: The Cleveland Browns are not a perfect football team, but what they have proved to us in the early going of this season is that they are simply a hard team to play against. The way they run their offense — leading the league in rush attempts and yards while averaging the second longest drive time in the league — make it hard for opposing offenses to get into a rhythm. Then, after standing on the sidelines for an extended period of time, an offense has to come out and get chased down by the elite pass rush of the Browns led by Miles Garrett. As if that doesn’t make things tough enough for opponents in general, the Chargers happen to boast a defense that ranks 30th in the league in yards allowed per rush attempt. I love the Chargers’ offense enough to think they compete, but this is not a great matchup for them at all.
Targets: Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, Odell Beckham Jr., Austin Hooper, Austin Ekeler and Keenan Allen
Fades: Baker Mayfield and Justin Herbert
Must-Owns: None — the Browns backfield feels like a must, but deciding between Chubb and Hunt is borderline impossible any given week
Mario’s DFS Take
Storyline/Notes/Thoughts: If we are looking for a mismatch in terms of on-field, head-to-head opportunities, then we find it easily with the Cleveland Browns’ running game against the Los Angeles Chargers’ run defense. Simply put, this is an ideal setup for Cleveland, who wants to run the ball and has one of the best matchups we’ve seen all year. It is also possible that the Browns’ pass defense — which is good — pairs nicely with the team’s run game to limit what the Chargers’ pass offense could do — by leaving quarterback Justin Herbert off the field. I am generally not a fan of ignoring Herbert in a given week, but he likely won’t be in any of my lineups on Sunday.
Targets: Kareem Hunt, Odell Beckham, Jr., and Keenan Allen
Fades: None, but I doubt I will use either quarterback
Must-Owns: Nick Chubb
New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys
Luke’s DFS Take
Storyline/Notes/Thoughts: The Cowboys have been one of the most intriguing teams to me this season because of their supposedly improved defense. Their offense has produced exactly how it should, but their defense has held their own far more this year. That has been a prevailing theme at least, but I can’t quite buy into it just yet. The Cowboys’ defense ranks 26th in the league in yards allowed, and while that can at times be a result of playing in high-scoring games with a big lead, their efficiency rankings don’t paint a better picture — they rank 24th in net yards allowed per pass attempt and 26th in the league in yards allowed per rush attempt. It is the ten turnovers they have forced in just four games that make them appear better, but I can’t count on them to sustain that pace — especially not when the Giants only have three team turnovers this year including a halftime hail mary attempt by Daniel Jones. I fully expect the Giants’ offense to put forth another solid effort this week and make this game much more competitive than many people may expect.
Targets: Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley, Evan Engram, Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Dalton Schultz, and whichever wide receivers wind up active for either team
Fades: Cowboys Defense
Must-Owns: CeeDee Lamb
Mario’s DFS Take
Storyline/Notes/Thoughts: I hate changing a season-long expectation because of a few specific outcomes, but it might be time for me to stop picking on the Dallas Cowboys’ defense. It has been incredible at creating turnovers, and the New York Giants, in the past, have struggled to protect the football. This could be a bad matchup for New York in that regard. Otherwise, the Giants finally found some offense and a victory in their last game, and the divisional familiarity should point to both teams leaning on their preferred gameplans in a straightforward attack.
Targets: Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley, Evan Engram, Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper, and CeeDee Lamb
Fades: Both defenses
Must-Owns: None
San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals
Luke’s DFS Take
Storyline/Notes/Thoughts: The Cardinals made a major statement as they completely dominated a Rams team that we would’ve argued was the best team in football going into last week. That is going to lead to many people expecting a similar performance against another NFC West rival, but that feels too easy. Looking closer at the 49ers’ season, no matter who they have played, and no matter which of their players have been healthy, they have managed to play a one-possession game in all four weeks of the season. I want to be aggressive and say the 49ers find a way to win this game, but my main conviction there is that I just feel like the NFC West needs to remain compact all season, and if the Cardinals win, they have a chance to separate themselves too early in the year. I am counting on the 49ers to exploit the matchup against a Cardinals defense that ranks 31st in the league in yards allowed per rush attempt.
Targets: Trey Lance, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle — assuming he is active — Kyler Murray, and DeAndre Hopkins
Fades: Chase Edmonds and James Conner
Must-Owns: Trey Sermon — only if Elijah Mitchell remains out
Mario’s DFS Take
Storyline/Notes/Thoughts: It was recently announced that San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will miss Sunday’s game, and his appearance on the field on Sunday — or lack thereof — has more of an impact on backup Trey Lance than anyone else. With Garoppolo out, I actually do want some exposure to Lance, as his rushing ability gives him some added paths to a solid fantasy day. On the other side of the game, it’s difficult to expect the Arizona Cardinals and an offense that ranks first in yards and points to simply stop producing, but the 49ers are allowing the tenth-fewest yards in the league. I won’t avoid Arizona completely, but I will not be building my lineup around the Cardinals.
Targets: Trey Lance, Trey Sermon, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Kyler Murray
Fades: None, but I will be careful using players from Arizona
Must-Owns: None
Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs
Luke’s DFS Take
Storyline/Notes/Thoughts: To put it simply, there is no over-under that could be set that would scare me away from picking the ‘over’ in this game. The Bills technically have the best defense in the league at this time, but to say their matchups have been favorable would be beyond generous to the opposing offenses they have faced off with this year. Given those matchups, the Bills have won their last three games by a combined 97 points including two shutout victories. That type of streak is not a fair testament to the Bills in general, and after those matchups, they cannot possibly be prepared for what they are going to face against the Chiefs. I will not be surprised at all if the Chiefs score a touchdown on every single drive in this game because the Bills’ defense has not faced off with a real offense this entire season. The only reason I can’t say that the Chiefs blow them out is that the Chiefs also have arguably the worst defense in the NFL. They rank 31st in both yards and points allowed while ranking 30th in net yards allowed per pass attempt and 32nd in yards allowed per rush attempt. This game may boil down to which team gets more possessions because I don’t see how either defense makes a stop all game.
Targets: Every offensive regular for both teams
Fades: Bills Defense
Must-Owns: None, but after his first quiet game of the season, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Travis Kelce have a massive game
Mario’s DFS Take
Storyline/Notes/Thoughts: I write about this often, but I like to approach the two-night games differently than the rest. If we are building for a two-game Primetime slate, then I am probably looking to Patrick Mahomes as my lone starting quarterback. If I’m making a one-game Showdown, however, Josh Allen is a must because of his rushing ability. Overall, it’s hard to think that people won’t buy into the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense because of the Buffalo Bills’ defensive numbers, but it won’t dissuade me in the least. The Bills have had weak competition to date, and the Chiefs clearly feature the most potent offense that Buffalo has seen. Kansas City’s defense is a liability, though, and I’d be fine with adding some pass-catchers from the Bills to the bulk of my lineups.
Targets: Everyone from both offenses
Fades: Both defenses
Must-Owns: Travis Kelce
Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens
Luke’s DFS Take
Storyline/Notes/Thoughts: Despite it being somewhat obvious to us last week, the convincing victory for the Colts over the Dolphins was a surprising sight to many. The Colts have undoubtedly been a disappointment this season, but it is also fair to say they have had a beyond brutal schedule to start the season. Every team they have faced this year had 10 or more victories last season, and that trend continues this week against the Ravens. The difference this week is that the Colts carry some momentum after their first victory of the year, and with the Titans’ loss to the Jets, the Colts are still just one game back in the division at 1-3. The strength of the Colts’ defense is stopping the run, and I think they are going to force Lamar Jackson to win this game with his arm. The Ravens have overcome a lot in the early goings of this season, but they feel prime for a letdown game after a few very emotional wins, and the Colts are the perfect team to deliver that upset.
Targets: Jonathan Taylor, Nyheim Hines, Michael Pittman Jr., Zach Pascal, Lamar Jackson, Marquise Brown, and Mark Andrews
Fades: Ravens Running Backs
Must-Owns: None
Mario’s DFS Take
Storyline/Notes/Thoughts: I feel like I am writing the same comments about both the Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens on a weekly basis, but why stop now? The Colts will play solid defense, and the Ravens will look to run the ball behind quarterback Lamar Jackson. Like Josh Allen in the Sunday Night Football blurb, Jackson’s legs make him a ‘must-start’ in a Showdown. Even though I continue to focus on the Colts’ defensive numbers, they have a sneaky matchup against a Ravens team that ranks 18th in yards allowed on the season.
Targets: Carson Wentz, Jonathan Taylor, Nyheim Hines, Michael Pittman, Jr., Zach Pascal, Lamar Jackson, and Mark Andrews
Fades: Ravens running backs
Must-Owns: None