Jared Goff is your projected QB1 for Week 5, and if that headline shocked you, you haven’t been paying close enough attention. He’s already QB5 on a per-game basis this season, so maybe it’s not the huge surprise some folks think.
Goff’s Rise Is Built on Arizona’s Woes
Look, we’re four weeks deep into the season, and while injuries are absolutely wreaking havoc on star players like Lamar Jackson, Ja’Marr Chase, and Saquon Barkley, we know a ton more now than we did a month ago. And what we know is that Goff is cooking. The Lions have an implied total of 29 points this weekend, the biggest number on the slate, even if it’s a hair below their season average. Why? Because the Cardinals defense has been absolutely shredded, giving up the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. You could honestly argue they’ve been the worst pass defense in the entire league. If they haven’t, then maybe it’s Goff’s own Lions holding that title, which makes his QB5 status even more wild. With Josh Allen on the road and missing DJ Moore, it clears a path for Goff to absolutely feast.
Bounce Backs and Bye Week Blues
It’s not just Goff making moves. Drake Maye, who we might have given up on after a few quiet weeks, is officially a Week 4 rebounder and now projects as a QB1 himself. The Patriots are 3.5-point favorites at home against the Raiders, and it looks like Maye and that pass game finally found their rhythm last week. While he’s not in the *overall* QB1 conversation we might’ve dreamed of earlier, he’s definitely a starter you can trust over most streaming options this week. Oh, and get this: Maye is second *only* to Lamar Jackson in quarterback rushing yards this season. That’s a huge weapon.
Then you’ve got Will Shipley. This guy is one of the biggest risers, and it’s all about opportunity. As of Monday night, Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby aren’t projected to play for the Eagles in Week 5. That’s a massive opening for Shipley to step up and deliver.
We’re also hitting the first bye weeks of the season, and even though it’s only two teams, it’s brutal. We’re missing two top 12 quarterbacks, two top 12 running backs, a top 12 receiver, and a top 12 tight end. This makes finding those risers like Shipley and Maye even more critical.
These projections are gonna keep shifting all week as we get more info, but with so many stars out injured or on bye, you gotta be ready to adapt. Keep an eye on those updates, because Week 5 is shaping up to be a wild one for fantasy managers, and these guys could absolutely swing your matchups.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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