Week 5 Fantasy Picks: Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Chargers vs Browns

Two teams lookin to get above the .500 mark meet head-to-head in Week 5 as the Cleveland Browns host the Los Angeles Chargers. FanDuel Sportsbook's NFL odds list the Chargers as 3-point road favorites in a game that could come down to a few plays in the fourth quarter.

If you need some help with your fantasy lineups, here's our start 'em, sit 'em advice for this Week 5 AFC showdown.

Keenan Allen Fantasy

Start Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers: Of course, this start recommendation comes down to health. Keenan Allen has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury, but has been practicing in a limited fashion with the team. Head coach Brandon Staley also said the team is being "cautious" in their approach, which means Allen may not even be a snap count when he returns to the field. The Browns are allowing 15.4 yards per reception to opposing WRs and have given up a touchdown to the position four times this season. Allen finished as the WR11 in fantasy football in 2021, so if he is active, start him.

Kareem Hunt Fantasy

Start Kareem Hunt, RB, Cleveland Browns: Kareem Hunt has a chance to stuff the stat sheet on Sunday. This isn't saying that Nick Chubb isn't the clear-cut workhorse in this backfield. It's rather saying that the Chargers are susceptible to giving up big games to pass-catching backs. LA has allowed opposing RBs to rack up 181 yards and 3 touchdowns on 29 receptions across four games this season. Meanwhile, Hunt enters this game with 17 career receiving touchdowns, including a Week 1 score. Any carries the Pro Bowl talent gets on top of his targets could go for big yards, too, considering the Chargers are giving up 5.4 yards per rushing attempt (No. 31 in NFL).

Gerald Everett Fantasy

Sit Gerald Everett, TE, Los Angeles Chargers: This is a tough one because Gerald Everett has been a productive tight end in fantasy football, especially for managers that waited at the position during drafts. The 28-year-old simply draws a horrible matchup in Week 5. The Browns are giving up the sixth-fewest PPR fantasy points to opposing TEs and has yet to allow someone at the position to reach the end zone. Allen's impending return is surely going to cut into Everett's role as a TD threat as well. The veteran wideout saw a whopping 26 targets in the red zone last year. It'd be best to bench Everett this week and opt to start a streaming TE with a higher ceiling.

Jacoby Brissett Fantasy

Sit Jacoby Brissett, QB, Cleveland Browns: Browns fans have to be satisfied with what quarterback Jacoby Brissett has brought to the table so far this season. He has led his squad to a pair of wins and has turned the ball over only twice. When it comes down to it, he still leads a run-heavy offense, though. Cleveland has posted the fourth-highest rushing play percentage in the NFL (53.0%) and it limits any upside Brissett has from a fantasy football perspective. The seventh-year pro is averaging 207.5 passing yards per game and has thrown for more than 1 touchdown only once this year. With a spread set at just 3 points in this game, look for Chubb and Hunt to carry the load.

New users earn an instant FREE entry when you sign up for FanDuel DFS! Sign Up Now!

Larry Rupp is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Larry Rupp also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username phillyfan424. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel. 

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.