Sean Tucker and More Week 5 Insurance Options

In today's Fantasy Life Newsletter, presented by Paramount+:

The injuries continue to pile up, so let’s discuss what moves you can make to shore up your roster.

Lamar Jackson (hamstring; likely to miss 2-3 weeks). This one really stings. Not only do we likely lose Lamar until after the team’s Week 7 bye, but there’s not a viable backup QB here to target like we previously did with the Commanders and the Jets. The switch to Cooper Rush is a downgrade for the entire offense. If you need a QB streamer for Week 5, John has you covered with two solid options.

Tyreek Hill (knee; done for the year). As feared, Tyreek is done for the year after dislocating his knee and tearing multiple ligaments vs. the Jets on MNF. Hopefully you stashed Malik Washington, but if not, Darren Waller should see his role increase in this offense. He had an impressive 40% targets per route run in his season debut (in addition to the two tuddies that Cooterdoodle foretold).

Braelon Allen (sprained MCL, likely headed to IR). Breece Hall is still the lead back, but don’t sleep on Isaiah Davis as the new RB2. He has nice burst and can catch the ball. I’d stash him in places where RB depth is needed.

Bucky Irving (MRI, no clue). We are still waiting for details on this injury, but Rachaad White and Sean Tucker should both be rostered everywhere just in case. When White missed last year (pre-Irving breakout), Tucker went absolutely nuts (14-136-1; 3-56-1).

For more waiver wire ideas, don’t miss Kendall’s comprehensive piece with a ton of great suggestions.

EARLY LOOK AT WEEK 5 RANKINGS: PUKA TO THE …

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Editors’ Picks

Week 5 is here. It’s time to get right (or stay right). Start by making sure you catch up on some of the latest and greatest content that you may have missed on FantasyLife.com.

Guillotine Leagues™ Rankings

Whether you’re a three-week survivor or a Week 5 drafter, Guillotine Leagues™ rankings have been updated. Sam Wallace highlights the biggest risers, fallers and sleepers in the rankings.

Rest-of-Season Rankings

Drake London is approaching top-five-WR status in the latest ROS rankings update. Geoff Ulrich highlights his rise and more changes in the rankings ahead of Week 5.

Week 5 Utilization Report

We had a wave of rookie running back production in Week 4, but will it continue? Dwain McFarland breaks down the outlook for Woody Marks, Ashton Jeanty and more.

Freedman’s Favorite RBs: Two Rookie Breakouts

Yes, the breakout is happening. This rookie is seeing a great bump in usage, raising all sorts of expectations. He’s even seeing work in the passing game. OK, but you’re only thinking that this is Woody Marks because right now it seems he’s the poster child for Week 5 RBs. Well, it’s not. Guess who we might be talking about.

Matthew Freedman is back with Freedman’s Favorites, and one of the stars of the feature is one that you’re going to ride—and won’t make your team die. See which are some of the other great plays this week. Also, he has these other position groups:

REPEAT PERFORMANCE FOR LAST WEEK’S RB1?

Updated Dynasty Values For The 2020-2022 Classes

Hindsight is 20/20, right? I mean, seriously, how dumb could you have been to draft Clyde Edwards-Helaire as the rookie 1.01?! Psh.

If only someone had a crystal ball back then. Instead, Jake Trowbridge brought out his crystal ball for now, while considering the context of what we’ve seen from the 2020-2022 classes to date …

2020 1.02 - Jonathan Taylor - Current Value RB4

If you drafted JT ahead of CEH, congrats on the ball knowing! Taylor is on his way to a top-five finish this season with Daniel “Please Stop Talking About That Time I Tripped Right Before the End Zone” Jones under center. At 26 years old, Taylor leads the NFL in rushing yards this season and has the second-most rushing yards per game of any running back since 2020. This man is as scheme-proof and QB-proof as you can get. Keep an eye out this offseason for any value dips that allow you to get the “aging RB discount.”

2021 1.02 - Kyle Pitts - Current Value TE11

Just when I thought I was out … he pulls me back in. After his record-chasing rookie season, Pitts drafters were sipping martinis and chortling on their yachts as they envisioned a full decade of elite tight end production. But after three straight seasons outside the top 10, his value crashed like his nickname was Crypto. Still, he’s young, absurdly athletic, and putting together a nice little season despite Michael Penix’s QB woes. At this value, I’m comfortable throwing a couple more chips in on him.

2022 1.03 - Kenneth Walker III - Current Value RB16

I’d like to say some comforting words to Kenneth Walker managers, but for some reason, my keyboard will only let me type “sorry about Zach Charbonnet, y’all.” Because in games where both are active, they completely gobble up each other’s fantasy ceilings. Barring injury, I don’t see a way out of this timeshare. That makes Walker someone to avoid and Charbonnet the much better value.

Full dynasty fantasy football valuations for the 2020, 2021 and 2022 classes … ⬇️

THE JAVONTE WILLIAMS BOOM IS REAL, Y’ALL

Around the Watercooler

The latest fantasy nuggets, silliness and NFL gossip from our merry band of football nerds.

📺 Ian and Dwain run through upgrades and downgrades after Week 4.

👬 Matthew Stafford has jokes. Lol.

🤔 This is probably a bad sign for Ricky Pearsall tomorrow. Take note.

😆 J.K. Dobbins post-game interview … in Spanish. Haha.

🏥 Tyreek has words for the fans … all love from Cheetah.

🤝 The Browns make the switch at QB. It’s the rookie’s time.