Every Thursday during the 2022 NFL season, Matt Bowen will break down players' fantasy football value through the lens of a former NFL safety. And he'll mix it up, too. The matchups to play (or avoid), scheme trends, tape study and more.
After watching the tape, let's talk about the Week 5 fantasy matchups. My upgrades, downgrades and a couple of wide receivers we need to monitor. Plus, I'll open up my notebook from the film room. Geno Smith, Miles Sanders, George Kittle and more in there.
So, let's start things off with a rookie wide receiver who is seeing consistent pass-game volume from quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the Green Bay route tree.
Week 5 upgrades
Romeo Doubs, WR, Green Bay Packers
Let's go with the rookie this week. Doubs has logged 13 receptions in his past two games (on 16 targets). He's seeing consistent volume -- and opportunity -- in this Packers offense. Doubs is finding the end zone, too, as he has posted a touchdown reception in each of the past two games versus the Bucs and Patriots. And we really have to look at his usage in the route tree. The receiver is seeing targets at all three levels of the field. Put him in your lineup as a WR3 for the matchup against the Giants' defense in London.
Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
Burrow, my QB6 this week, has posted back-to-back games with 20 or more fantasy points, throwing for multiple touchdowns in each game. And I like this matchup versus a Ravens defense allowing an average of 315.3 passing yards per game (most in the NFL). Burrow will see a mix of man and zone coverage in this one, and I believe the Bengals will have pass-game answers for the Ravens' split-safety schemes. Carve out those coverage voids for Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins on second- and third-level throws.