Week 5 Love/Hate
Matthew, Michelle, and Mo covered Week 5 news (Bengals WR injuries, Washington hamstring concerns, OBJ to Vikings' practice squad) before running through their Love/Hate lists for pass catchers, running backs, and quarterbacks, plus TNF bets for Bucs-Cowboys. The central theme was chasing favorable matchups (Titans/Lions/Cardinals defenses are sieves) while fading banged-up or touchdown-dependent players.
This week's Love/Hate episode runs through Berry, Michelle Beadle, and Mo Hassan's weekly exercise in ranking start/sit plays by matchup, usage, and target share, with injury news up top shaping several of the calls. The central argument: banged-up receiver rooms in Cincinnati and Washington create streaming value down the roster, while volume and soft matchups (Lions-Cardinals, Titans, Saints run defense) should drive your Week 5 lineup decisions more than name recognition.
The arguments
Injury-driven backups deserve immediate pickups. With Ja'Marr Chase in concussion protocol and Tee Higgins banged up, Berry says Mike Gesicki becomes a top-12 tight end play and Dante Myers (93% route share, 7-82 on nine targets last week) becomes Cincinnati's de facto number-three receiver if either or both miss Sunday. Beadle confirmed she's already rostered Myers in multiple leagues.
Michael Wilson is a league-winning piece in the Cardinals' offense, not just a touchdown-dependent complement to Marvin Harrison. Berry admitted he underrated Wilson entering the season but now cites a 35% target share and nine red-zone targets over two games, plus a Lions defense allowing the second-most fantasy points to receivers. Beadle and Mo both backed him as a top-10 play, with Mo noting coach LaFleur's scheme mirrors the Puka Nacua role.
OBJ to the Vikings practice squad is fantasy-irrelevant. Berry was blunt that it would take multiple injuries for Beckham to matter, given Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jwan Jennings, and Hawkinson ahead of him, and noted the Giants' decision to play him sparingly undercuts any PR-driven storyline. He'd rather stash Tyreek Hill than chase Beckham's name value.
Chase Brown and Aaron Jones are buy-low windows closing fast. Berry pegs Brown as RB5 this week (22% target share when Chase/Higgins are out, plus a Dolphins defense allowing 29.6 PPG to backs) and calls this the last chance to acquire him below a top-10 price. Jones, freed by Jordan Mason's IR stint, is averaging 23 touches and an 18% target share over three games and lands as a top-eight play against a Saints run defense that's been gashed all year.
Jalen Warren should start over Rico Dowdle even if Dowdle returns. Mo and Berry agreed Warren's two-game stretch without Dowdle (20 touches/game, RB3 utilization score) earns him the bulk of the Pittsburgh backfield regardless, with Berry ranking him RB12 and Mo arguing he should go even higher.
Jalen Hurts and Tyler Shough are bench candidates against elite pressure/coverage. Berry moved Hurts to QB15 citing a depleted Eagles line (Lane Johnson retired, Juergens traded), missing weapons, and a London trip, while only Joe Burrow has topped 15 fantasy points against Jacksonville this year. Shough drew concern from both hosts facing Brian Flores' Vikings defense, which ranks second in pressure rate and limits completion percentage to 51%, the league's lowest.
Malik Washington is a volume-based hold despite no fantasy payoff yet. Mo argued he should be rostered in every league given a 27% target share and a Bengals slot matchup, while Berry and the Discord pushed back that Miami's offense is too inept to convert targets into production — prompting an on-air wager over whether Washington clears 12 points this week.
What it means for your roster
- Add now: Dante Myers and Mike Gesicki if Chase/Higgins sit (both sit in 76-80% of leagues still); stream value could extend multiple weeks if Chase's concussion lingers.
- Trade target: Chase Brown — Berry explicitly frames this as the last week to acquire him below top-10 RB price before the role expands further.
- Start with confidence: Michael Wilson (top-10 WR), Aaron Jones (top-8 RB), Jared Goff (QB2) and Matthew Stafford (QB3) in projected shootouts against weak Cardinals/Bills secondaries.
- Bench or downgrade: Jalen Hurts (mid-tier QB2 only), Tyler Shough (QB13, outside starts in shallow leagues), Jordan Addison (outside top 40 with Jefferson back and a run-heavy game script expected), Mark Andrews (TE17, touchdown-dependent with Huntley uncertainty).
- Ignore the hype: Odell Beckham Jr.'s Vikings signing — no roster action needed barring multiple injuries ahead of him.
- Speculative stash: Jalen Warren over Rico Dowdle in Pittsburgh's backfield regardless of Dowdle's practice status; Malik Washington only if you believe in Miami's scheme over its current scoreboard output.
“Free Aaron Jones. Hashtag Aaron Jones is free.” — Matthew Berry
Players in this episode
→ Remains in concussion protocol, creating uncertainty for Bengals passing game.
↑ 22% target share when Chase/Higgins are out; ranked RB5 as a buy-low with a favorable upcoming schedule after the bye.
↑ Great matchup vs. Titans who allow a league-high catch rate to WRs; has seen 100% of Texans' end zone targets and 50% of red zone targets when active.
↓ Ranked just QB15/21 on points-per-game, hurt by injuries to weapons and O-line (Lane Johnson retired, Cam Jurgens traded), facing a tough Jaguars defense in London.
→ Did not practice Wednesday; status uncertain for Sunday, which would boost Mike Gesicki and Dante Myers.
↓ Only 3.1 YPC over last three weeks facing a strong Washington run defense; ranked RB20, lower expectations than usual.
↑ Ranked QB5 tonight vs. Tampa Bay's 31st-ranked pressure rate defense, with Tyler Smith back on the O-line.
↑ RB3 utilization score and 20 touches/game over last two weeks while Jaylen Warren/Rico Dowdle situation unclear; ranked RB12, expected to retain role even if Dowdle returns.
→ Dealing with hamstring injury, creating uncertainty for Washington's passing attack.
↑ 24% target share over past two weeks, including a 10-for-10 receiving game; viable PPR flex as Bo Nix leans on him in the passing game despite limited rushing efficiency.
↑ Ranked QB2 in a projected shootout vs. Arizona, which allows the highest touchdown-pass rate and yards per attempt in the NFL.
↓ Faces a tough Texans run defense (3.5 YPC allowed) with Titans having the lowest implied team total of the week and a banged-up foot; ranked RB28.
↑ Great matchup vs. Bears, who allow heavy yards/reception to WRs; strong red zone usage and good against zone coverage with improved O-line protecting Jordan Love.
→ Returned to practice but status uncertain for Sunday; even if active, hosts say Jaylen Warren should still be ranked higher.
↑ Ranked QB3 with Puka Nacua back, facing a Bills defense allowing the 4th-most fantasy points to QBs in a projected shootout.
↑ 35% target share and 9 red zone targets over last two games; plays the 'Puka role' in Brissett's offense and faces a Lions defense allowing huge WR production.
↑ 93% route participation and 7-82 on 9 targets last week; seen as the Bengals' No. 3 WR option if Chase/Higgins miss time.
↑ Averaging 23 touches and 18% target share since Jordan Mason went on IR; ranked RB8 against a Saints run defense that's struggled all season ('Free Aaron Jones').
↓ Ranked QB13, facing a tough Vikings defense under Brian Flores that ranks 2nd in pressure rate and allows the lowest completion percentage in the NFL.
↓ Touchdown-dependent TE2 with poor underlying yardage (one 50+ yard game since last season); downgraded further if Lamar Jackson can't play.
↓ Only 13% target share when Jefferson plays; dealing with a hamstring injury and facing a Saints defense allowing few yards to WRs; ranked outside top 40.
→ Missed practice with a hamstring issue; status uncertain for Washington's must-win game.
↑ 34% target share with Jameis Winston, huge red zone usage (72% of red zone snaps, 43% target share), facing a Commanders defense allowing the most TE touchdowns.
↓ Tough matchup vs. Jets, who allow the fewest yards per target to slot WRs; zero end zone targets and low red zone usage so far, making the TD breakout unlikely this week.
↑ Second on team in targets and route percentage last week; hosts expect a breakout game, especially if McLaurin/Diggs are out.
↑ 27% target share, argued he should be rostered in every league as Miami's de facto No. 1 option, especially with Tyreek Hill out; debated by hosts/chat.
↓ Signed to Vikings practice squad but deemed to have no realistic fantasy impact given crowded WR depth chart.
↑ Projected as a top-12 TE if Chase and/or Higgins are out; available in ~76% of leagues.