Underdog Battle Royale Week 5 Rankings

October 2, 2024

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Steve Shoup

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Quarterbacks:

Josh Allen
Jordan Love
Lamar Jackson
C.J. Stroud
Jayden Daniels
Geno Smith

Sleepers: Brock Purdy, Joe Burrow, Kyler Murray, Trevor Lawrence, Caleb Williams, Andy Dalton, Joe Flacco (if playing)

This week at QB I am probably not going to get too cute and just try to land one of the top 6 options. Allen and Love really stick out, but Jackson and Stroud aren’t far behind. I want a strong mix of line-ups with all 4 of them this week. Daniels has been great to start the year, but he faces his toughest defensive challenge this week and I could see a letdown spot. Geno Smith is taking very well to this new offense, and he has a great match-up against the Giants. Even though there might be some pushback concerns, he can absolutely carve up this NY secondary.

When you get past the top 6, I have some interest in Purdy and Burrow given their match-ups and talent around them, but I won’t play too many line-ups with this group. Raw talent-wise, Murray, Lawrence and Williams are viable, but there is a lot of inconsistency in their offenses right now. If we do find out that Richardson is out and Flacco is starting I would want some line-ups with him, but we might not know that until Sunday morning.

Runningbacks:

Derrick Henry
Jordan Mason
Kenneth Walker III
Josh Jacobs
Kyren Williams
James Conner
Brian Robinson Jr.
James Cook
Chuba Hubbard
Joe Mixon (if Healthy)
Jonathan Taylor (if Healthy)
D’Andre Swift

Sleepers: De’Von Achane, Devin Singletary, Travis Etienne/Tank Bigsby (depending on health), Rhamondre Stevenson, Zack Moss/Chase Brown, Jerome Ford

Running back is more top heavy than I’d like, but there are 7 guys I really want to target. If I can land 2 of the top 7, I’m very happy with that start. Henry should be considered the top RB and the top pick in my book. He has a major role in this offense, and the Bengals are very weak up front right now. In likely a positive game script he could come close to matching his SNF performance from this past week. Mason, Walker and Jacobs all have great match-ups as well and should be clear priorities to headline your team.

After the top 4, there is a slight drop-off but then I think the next three (Williams thru Robinson Jr.) are strong plays given their likely volume and how their teams utilize them. The downside is the match-ups are tougher with this trio. Still all three have 100+ yards, with some passing game work and at least 1 TD upside.

It does thin out a bit after the top 7, with a lot dependent on the health of some guys like Mixon, Taylor and Etienne. If those three are healthy then I like the depth a bit more (though Bigsby is fine if Etienne is clearly ruled out), but if not I’m not as thrilled with guys like Akers and Sermon. Hubbard is a fine a play regardless, but I worry about the game script. Swift had a breakout game this past week, and faces a very easy run defense against the Panthers. Among the sleepers you can make a good case for Singletary with the match-up, and taking a shot at Achane betting on talent. I probably like Ford the best as he’s the ultimate sleeper, but faces maybe the worst run defense in the league. The Browns OL is getting healthier, so he could even have some support that way. To top it all off he simply won’t be owned this week.

Wide Receivers:

Nico Collins
DK Metcalf
Jayden Reed
Deebo Samuel
Ja’Marr Chase
Marvin Harrison Jr.
Stefon Diggs
Diontae Johnson
Amari Cooper
DJ Moore
Malik Nabers
Tyreek Hill
Dontayvion Wicks
Terry McLaurin
Brian Thomas
Tee Higgins
Zay Flowers
Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Sleepers: Brandon Aiyuk, Michael Pittman Jr. Khalil Shakir, Tyler Lockett, Christian Kirk, Davante Adams (check health or trade status), Jauan Jennings, Romeo Doubs, Courtland Sutton, Xavier Legette, Josh Downs, Wan’Dale Robinson, Rome Odunze

It’s interesting this week regarding receivers, as there is definitely an elite range to prioritize, but some guys in strong spots lower could break the slate. Ideally, I want one of the top 5 guys from this list, as I do think all 5 standout from their natural talent, the quality of QB play/offense, and good match-ups/game scripts. Collins, Metcalf, and Reed are very favorable given just how much their teams throw the ball.

After the top 5, I think it’s a bit of a mixed bag. You have some uber-talented receivers like Nabers and Hill in tougher match-ups with weak QB play, guys like Harrison Jr. in a tough match-up, and guys like Johnson, Cooper, Moore in good match-ups, but QB play is questionable. The top 12 gets messier, you can make a strong case for any of these guys, but also a case as you want to avoid. Moore in a revenge spot is intriguing, but I probably like Diggs or Cooper the best. Diggs will be a little dependent on if Tank Dell plays, but he’s a capable option regardless. Cooper has one of the best match-ups of the week, but the QB play of Watson has been awful.

If I can get a top 5 WR, I don’t mind waiting some for my 2nd WR. Wicks, Thomas, Higgins, JSN and McLaurin are all solid options, easily could outscore most if not all of the WR 7-12 range. Thomas is really showing himself to be the number 1 in Jacksonville, but right now the offense is scary to trust. Still the upside is huge, and would be my top target of this group if I’ve landed a top 5 option. Among the sleepers taking shots at a 49es or Packers receiver makes sense, I also don’t mind Tyler Lockett. Seattle has one of the best match-ups, and while Metcalf is the clear number 1, JSN and Lockett are basically both viable as the number 2, the volume is strong and Lockett is getting some RZ looks. He’s going to be far lower owned, so if he goes off you can be pretty unique.

Tight Ends:

George Kittle
Brock Bowers
David Njoku (check health)
Trey McBride
Dalton Kincaid
Tucker Kraft

Sleepers: Cole Kmet, Zach Ertz, Hunter Henry, Mark Andrews/Isaiah Likely, Noah Fant, Evan Engram

Tight end this week is of course much thinner with teams on bye and the London game. On the plus side we probably are getting Njoku, McBride and Engram back so that helps considerably. Njoku in particular could be a very good option vs a porous Washington Defense in likely a negative game script. Kittle is the top TE, but there are some concerns as he’s gotten banged up in the last two games he’s played. If the 49ers jump out to a strong lead, they could rest Kittle more and reduce his workload. Bowers and McBride are strong options as well, and I think the top 4 is definitely the target this week.

After the top 4 I think you can basically pick your match-up. I do love Kraft as the Packers offense could be in an explosion spot vs the Rams, but he will be highly inconsistent. He’s a great late stack option for Love and worth a look in some non-Love teams. After that though it really gets to be wide open, where you can make a case for just about anyone. Among the remaining TEs, Fant has the easiest match-up and is paired with the best QB/passing offense at the moment.