Introducing 4th and Inches, the Ram Sports Editors’ weekly guide for all things NFL. Like an offensive coordinator facing fourth-and-short, picking between winners and losers, or starts and sits, can feel like an impossible choice. Don’t know who to pick? Let us decide for you.
Week 5 Picks:
Games with an asterisk beside them represent our locks of the week
Buccaneers @ Falcons
Jonah (24-24): Buccaneers
Griffin (21-27): Buccaneers
Joe (24-24): Falcons
Dolphins @ Patriots
Jonah: Patriots
Griffin: Dolphins
Joe: Patriots
Jets @ Vikings
Jonah: Vikings
Griffin: Vikings
Joe: Vikings
Ravens @ Bengals
Jonah: Ravens
Griffin: Ravens
Joe: Ravens
Colts @ Jaguars
Jonah: Colts
Griffin: Jaguars
Joe: Jaguars
Browns @ Commanders
Jonah: Browns
Griffin: Commanders
Joe: Commanders
Bills @ Texans
Jonah: Bills
Griffin: Bills
Joe: Texans
Panthers @ Bears
Jonah: Bears
Griffin: Bears
Joe: Bears
Raiders @ Broncos
Jonah: Broncos
Griffin: Broncos
Joe: Raiders
Cardinals @ 49ers
Jonah: 49ers
Griffin: Cardinals
Joe: 49ers
Packers @ Rams
Jonah: Packers
Griffin: Packers
Joe: Packers
*** Giants @ Seahawks ***
Jonah: Seahawks
Griffin: Seahawks
Joe: Seahawks
Cowboys @ Steelers
Jonah: Cowboys
Griffin: Steelers
Joe: Cowboys
Saints @ Chiefs
Jonah: Chiefs
Griffin: Chiefs
Joe: Chiefs
Fantasy Football:
Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em:
QB
Jonah: Jacoby Brissett (Sit) – Brissett is set to play in the mid-off of the century against the Tua-less Dolphins. Neither the Patriots nor the Dolphins look like they can throw the ball with any consistency, so their matchup will be a slow, run-heavy slugfest that will result in poor statistical days for any quarterbacks involved.
Griffin: Lamar Jackson (Start) – Lamar is coming off a standout performance on Sunday night against Buffalo, and a division matchup will not be the moment he loses momentum.
Joe: Anthony Richardson (Sit) – Richardson is coming off an oblique injury but is likely to return for week five against an abysmal Jaguars team. With a midsection injury, expect him to display limited mobility, meaning less rushing yards for the QB that has relied on them to put up decent fantasy numbers.
RB
Jonah: Rhamondre Stevenson (Start) – Stevenson will likely see a rather large volume of touches against a Dolphins defense that has struggled greatly to stop the run this season, so starting him should really be a no-brainer.
Joe: Joe Mixon (Start) – Derrick Henry put up the RB performance of the young season against the Bills’ front last week. Mixon is coming off an ankle injury, causing many to be weary about starting him, but coach DeMeco Ryans called him “day to day” — the Texans will rely heavily on Mixon with an already Dameon Pierce-less running attack.
Griffin: Joe Mixon (Start) – What Joe Henry said.
WR
Jonah: Ja’Marr Chase (Sit) – Teams have seemingly resorted to doubling Chase on almost every snap, resulting in his target volume dipping a bit. Couple this reality with the fact that he’ll be guarded by a tough Ravens’ secondary this coming week, and Chase looks poised to have a tough week statistically.
Griffin: DK Metcalf – Metcalf has had three straight 100+ yard games and is showing no signs of slowing down against the Giants.
Joe: Courtland Sutton (Sit) – Sutton is the clear favorite target for Bo Nix and has put up good numbers in consecutive weeks. However, the lack of balance in the Broncos’ offense, Nix’s inconsistency and Raiders CB Jack Jones’ skill make it hard to trust Sutton as anything more than a TD-dependent flex play.
TE
Jonah: Kyle Pitts (Sit) – I swear this man has given me nightmares — he has so much potential, yet he never seems to actually live up to it in the slightest. His 0-point performance last week was my breaking point after years of sustained disappointment, so I can no longer recommend starting him in good faith.
Griffin: Mark Andrews (Sit) – This guy has been the bane of most fantasy owners’ existence to start the year. I wouldn’t count on his return coming this week against a formidable Bills defense.
Joe: Trey McBride (Start) – I recommended you start McBride last week and he was ruled out the next day. Assuming he is cleared from concussion protocol, foresee a breakout performance in a week four date with the Commanders.
DEF
Jonah: Bengals (Sit) – The interior of the Bengals’ defensive line has been decimated by recent injuries and departures, meaning they have been the worst unit against the run this season. Seeing as they are slated to face Derrick Henry, Lamar Jackson and one of the strongest rushing attacks in the NFL this coming week, I would recommend staying away from Cincinnati’s defense.
Griffin: Seahawks (Start) – Despite a poor performance on Monday from the Seahawks defense, they are due for a bounceback week at home against one of the worst starting quarterbacks in the league.
Joe: 49ers (Sit) – The Niners are usually a safe bet, and I can’t fault you if they qualify as a set-it-and-forget-it team in your fantasy league; that said, don’t expect them to match their performance against the Patriots last week against a now-healthy Cardinals offense that has put up strong performances against the Bills and Rams.
