Fantasy Football Projections Spotlight For Week 5: Emanuel Wilson Projects As A Top-15 RB

We’ve officially made it to Week 5, which means we’ll have to deal with bye weeks for the first time. Fortunately, just two teams are on bye this week: the Panthers and Chiefs. Unfortunately, those are two squads that have a handful of reliable fantasy contributors to start the year. Teams that have relied on guys like Kenneth Walker, Chuba Hubbard, and Tetairoa McMillan will have to look elsewhere for production.

Our Projections tool could be a source of help. We project the fantasy production for each player on the slate, and the results can often include some surprises. By comparing our fantasy football projections to our Week 5 fantasy football rankings, we can identify a few potential guys who could be flying under the radar. It can also help identify a few players to be skeptical of.

Let’s dive into four such options for NFL Week 5.

Week 5 Projections Standouts For Fantasy Football

Jacoby Brissett, QB, ARI

Projection: 17.1
Rank: QB9

Brissett is a fringe QB starter most weeks, but he moves into the bottom of the top 10 for Week 5. The absences of Bryce Young and Patrick Mahomes certainly help, but the matchup against the Lions is the biggest reason. The Lions have been a fantasy goldmine so far this season. They have an elite offense and an awful defense, which has resulted in four high-scoring affairs through the first four weeks. Each of their games has hit at least 55 total points, and this week’s contest has a 54.5-point total.

Ultimately, the Lions have allowed 30.7 fantasy points per game to opposing QBs so far this season. That’s the worst mark in the league by a comfortable margin. The Commanders have allowed the second-most fantasy points per game, and they’re at just 24.8. Ultimately, the gap between the Lions and Commanders is the same as the gap between the Commanders and 12th-ranked Chargers.

Our rankers have Brissett ranked at the top of Tier 3 at quarterback this week, but I worry that’s still too low. I’d personally have him higher, and I have zero qualms about firing him up in this matchup.

Emanuel Wilson, RB, SEA

Projection: 11.9
Rank: RB14

The Seahawks were without rookie RB Jadarian Price last week, and he was surprisingly placed on IR on Saturday. That means he’ll miss at least three more games, while Zach Charbonnet is not quite ready to return. He returned to practice recently, but Mike Macdonald has already stated that he won’t be in the lineup in Week 5.

That leaves Wilson and George Holani to handle the RB responsibilities in the interim. While Holani will have a role (especially on passing downs), Wilson was the team’s clear RB1 last week. He handled 70% of the team’s rushing attempts, and he also had a 21% target share. The result was an 88 Utilization Score, and he responded with 25.5 fantasy points.

Wilson’s matchup vs. the 49ers this week will be a bit tougher, but there’s no reason he shouldn’t be in your starting lineup. He checks in at RB14 in our projections, while he dips just slightly to RB17 in our rankings.

Keon Coleman, WR, BUF

Projection: 8.1
Rank: WR40

Is the Coleman breakout finally going to happen? He’s coming off an excellent game in Week 4, finishing with six catches, 116 receiving yards, and a touchdown. He benefited from the injury to DJ Moore, with Coleman jumping up to a season-high 78% route participation. He responded with a 23% target share and 36% air yards share, and he had 100% of the team’s end zone targets in that contest.

Moore’s status for Week 5 is currently up in the air. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that his shoulder injury isn’t considered long-term, but it’s possible that he is forced to miss a game or two.

The Bills’ offense has been prolific this season, and their matchup vs. the Rams in Week 5 could have plenty of offensive fireworks. The total currently sits at 54.5 points, so the thought of getting Coleman sans Moore in that spot is pretty appealing.

That said, our projections are pretty bearish on Coleman. He checks in at just WR40 for the week, making him more of a low-end flex or WR3 option than a slam-dunk starter. I still think he has some upside – and should definitely be scooped up off the waiver wire – but you probably have stronger options available.

Colston Loveland, TE, CHI

Projection: 6.9
Rank: TE15

Loveland has been an all-time whiff at tight end to start the season. He was drafted just a round or two later than guys like Brock Bowers and Trey McBride, but he has provided almost none of the same production. He’s merely TE36 through the first four weeks, so he’s barely the TE1 on his own team.

With that in mind, it’s hard to get excited about the prospect of starting Loveland at this point. However, he did take a step in the right direction last week. He posted a 30% target share and was targeted on 35% of his routes run with Tyson Bagent under center, who will make the start once again in Week 5. He also draws a matchup vs. the Packers, who haven’t exactly been stout defensively to start the year.

Ultimately, I understand if you’re skeptical of Loveland after how he’s started the year. Our projections and rankers have him somewhere between TE11 and TE15, so he’s much more of a low-end TE1 than a high-end option. Still, I’m willing to give him another shot. He’s still a high-end talent at the position, and his role appears to be on the rise.