Week 5 Sits

Here are 5 players you should really consider sitting in fantasy this week … in two minutes or less.

QB: Bo Nix (DEN) @ PHI

Nix is coming off his best fantasy outing of the season, piling up 326 yards and three total touchdowns against the Bengals, but that came in a soft matchup where everything went right. Now he heads on the road to face the Eagles, an undefeated squad powered by one of the league’s most dominant offensive lines and a defense that has already taken down the Cowboys, Chiefs, Rams, and Bucs. Nix has flashed dual-threat upside, so it’s tempting to chase last week’s ceiling, but this week’s spot against Philadelphia’s talent and pass rush is one where you’re better off keeping him on the bench.

RB: Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WAS) @ LAC

“Bill” has flashed efficiency in small spurts, but he’s still locked in a committee that caps his volume, and this week he runs straight into a brick wall. The Chargers have quietly been one of the league’s toughest defenses against running backs, giving up the 4th-fewest fantasy points to the position through four weeks. Croskey-Merritt may pop on a per-carry basis, but without consistent touches and with Washington leaning heavily on multiple backs, there just isn’t enough opportunity to trust him here, so he belongs on your bench.

WR: DeVonta Smith (PHI) vs. DEN

Smith is always capable of splash plays, but his Week 4 line tells a tough story: just two catches for 29 yards, another reminder of how volatile his role can be in this run-heavy offense. Now he gets Denver, and that’s a problem, because the Broncos just suffocated Cincinnati while piling up 3 sacks and forcing 8 punts. Smith’s usage has been steady, yet his production dips sharply in low-volume game scripts, so with the matchup pointing toward another tough, grind-it-out battle, he’s best left on your bench in Week 5.

WR: Khalil Shakir (BUF) vs. NE

Shakir has found the end zone in back-to-back weeks, but his usage remains shaky. He played a season-low 29 snaps in Week 4 despite his highlight 43-yard score. The Bills’ offense spreads the ball around and runs at one of the slowest paces in the league, so volume is always a concern. And while Shakir thrives on efficiency, the Patriots’ defense has tightened up lately, holding opponents down for long stretches across their last two games. So even with recent touchdowns, the combination of volatile workload and a disciplined New England secondary makes Shakir a Week 5 bench candidate.

TE: T.J. Hockenson (MIN) @ CLE

T.J. Hockenson may look like a safe name, but he has a poor situation. He’s coming off a game where he wasn’t even targeted until late and finished with just 39 yards, and that came as Jordan Addison returned to reclaim his role as the clear No. 2 option. The Vikings now travel to London to face the Browns, a defense that just held Joe Flacco to 142 passing yards in a win and has been smothering passing games outside of one Lamar Jackson eruption. So while Hockenson still draws looks, the combination of Addison cutting into his share and Cleveland’s ability to limit production makes him a risky start.

So that’s the list. 5 players you shouldn’t rely on in Week 5… as promised, in 2 minutes or less.

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See you tomorrow,

-Joe