Fantasy football Week 5 buy-low trade targets: Caleb Williams, D’Andre Swift
· Yahoo Sports
Fantasy football managers hunting Week 5 buy-low trade targets should focus on three Chicago Bears and four other pass catchers whose roles look stronger than their recent box scores.
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Bears quarterback Caleb Williams will miss a third straight game with a hamstring strain, while running back D’Andre Swift lost work to backup Kyle Monangai, who is out this week, after a Week 4 fumble. Frustrated managers may sell both at a discount before Williams returns.
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Recap of last week’s buy-low trade target recommendations
Most of last week’s buy-low targets paid off for managers who traded for them. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye threw for 269 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 54 yards in a 29-26 upset of the Bills, and Ravens receiver Zay Flowers caught eight passes for 118 yards and a touchdown against the Titans. Packers quarterback Jordan Love threw two touchdowns in a 17-14 win at Tampa Bay, while Bengals running back Chase Brown caught all 11 of his targets for 71 yards.
Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten had two rushing touchdowns called back against Cincinnati, so his trade price should stay low. Panthers receiver Tetairoa McMillan closed his buy window with 14 catches, 192 yards and two touchdowns against Detroit. Cowboys receiver George Pickens followed with season highs of nine catches, 13 targets and 130 yards plus his first touchdown in Thursday’s 24-16 loss to the Buccaneers.
Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) signals to the team during the first half against the Minnesota Vikings | Matt Marton-Imagn Images- Last week: DNP (hamstring), 23-12 W Jets
- This week: at Packers, Sunday, Oct. 11, 1 p.m. ET (out)
Williams threw for 407 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two more scores before he strained his hamstring against the Vikings on Sept. 20. Bears head coach Ben Johnson said the former USC star won’t practice this week and remains week-to-week, so a Week 6 return at Atlanta isn’t guaranteed.
Chicago went 2-0 with backups Case Keenum and Tyson Bagent starting because it leads the NFL with 196 rushing yards per game. After their Week 10 bye, the Bears face the Saints, Lions, Jaguars and Dolphins. Hamstring trouble could limit his scrambling, so he fits best with a manager who already has a startable quarterback.
MORE: Week 5 fantasy football QB start-sit: Jalen Hurts, Tyler Shough in major danger
D’Andre Swift, RB, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears quarterback Tyson Bagent (17) hands the ball off to running back D’Andre Swift (4) against the New York Jets | Matt Marton-Imagn Images- Last week: 15 car., 58 yds; 2 rec., 16 yds, 1 FL, 23-12 W Jets
- This week: at Packers, Sunday, Oct. 11, 1 p.m. ET
Swift was stopped twice inside the 1-yard line on Chicago’s opening drive, then lost a fumble in the third quarter and watched Monangai finish with 30 carries, 146 yards and two touchdowns. Monangai now leads the team with 324 rushing yards, and Swift has 311.
Johnson said, “The one last week was egregious; we can’t have that,” before adding, “But he will be just fine.” Before Week 4, the former Georgia star played 64.1% of the offensive snaps and handled 14 of the team’s 20 running back carries in the red zone. Green Bay allows 139.3 rushing yards per game, and Monangai missed practice Wednesday and Thursday with thumb and toe injuries.
MORE: Week 5 fantasy football RB start-sit: Kyle Monangai, Aaron Jones, Cam Skattebo, Tony Pollard
Parker Washington, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11) celebrates on a touchdown that is called back with offensive tackle Anton Harrison (77) | Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union- Last week: 1 rec., 7 yds on 3 tar., 22-17 W Bengals
- This week: at Jaguars (London), Sunday, Oct. 11, 9:30 a.m. ET
Washington caught 15 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns through three weeks, but he drew just three of Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s 23 attempts in Cincinnati. Replay also wiped out a 39-yard gain when officials ruled he stepped out of bounds after seven yards.
Lawrence hasn’t thrown more than 29 passes in any game, so Week 4’s low volume squeezed every Jaguars receiver. The former Penn State star still leads Jacksonville with 17 catches, and Jaguars head coach Liam Coen has praised his physical style. “You look at Ja’Marr Chase’s lower half, it looks similar to Parker in a lot of ways,” Coen said.
Michael Wilson, WR, Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson (14) tries to take control of the ball in the fourth quarter | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)- Last week: 7 rec., 95 yds on 13 tar., 36-24 L Giants
- This week: Lions at Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 11, 4:25 p.m. ET
Wilson isn’t a classic buy-low candidate after drawing 30 targets over the past two games, but his trade price still trails his role. The fourth-year receiver has 44 targets through four games, and his target share climbed every week, from 18.9% in the opener to 37.1% against the Giants.
His production hasn’t caught up, with 25 catches for 258 yards and one touchdown. Detroit has allowed more receptions to wide receivers than any defense this season, and Panthers receiver Tetairoa McMillan caught 14 passes for 192 yards and two scores against the Lions in Week 4. A manager who views Wilson as a short-term hot streak may accept a WR3 for him.
One extra note: reports suggest Carson Beck could see more playing time soon. We’ll see how that affects Arizona’s offense if they bench Jacoby Brissett.
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Jalen Coker, WR, Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (18) makes a catch defended by Cleveland Browns cornerback Mekhi Blackmon (29) | Scott Galvin-Imagn Images- Last week: Did not play (quad), 32-26 W Lions
- This week: Bye
Coker left Week 3 against Cleveland with a quad strain and was inactive Sunday night when McMillan torched Detroit. McMillan was one of our Week 4 buy-low targets, and his breakout drew attention away from the Holy Cross product.
Coker drew nine targets in each of the first two games and has 18 catches for 222 yards and two touchdowns on 22 targets. The Panthers are hopeful he returns for an Oct. 18 game against the Eagles, which means his manager has to carry an injured receiver through a bye. Another setback with the quad remains the biggest risk.
MORE: NFC power rankings for NFL Week 5: Big changes in NFC South
Dalton Kincaid, TE, Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (86) makes a catch for a first down against Detroit Lions | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)- Last week: 1 rec., 7 yds on 2 tar., 29-26 L Patriots
- This week: Bills at Rams, Monday, Oct. 12, 8:15 p.m. ET
Kincaid caught 12 passes for 225 yards and a touchdown over the first two weeks, but he has three catches for 45 yards since. Buffalo used more three-receiver sets while trailing New England, and the former Utah star ran a route on only 42.9% of quarterback Josh Allen’s dropbacks.
Bills head coach Joe Brady said, “There’s no reason Dalton Kincaid should have two targets, especially with the flow of the game and how that goes.” He added, “Gotta find a way to get the ball in his hands and do a better job of that.” Kincaid leads tight ends with an 11.8-yard average depth of target, and receiver DJ Moore’s aggravated shoulder injury leaves his status uncertain for Monday.
MORE: Fantasy football Week 5 TE start-sit: Isaiah Likely, Dalton Kincaid
Colston Loveland, TE, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland (84) after a game against the Cincinnati Bengals | Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images- Last week: 6 rec., 57 yds on 9 tar., 23-12 W Jets
- This week: Bears at Packers, Sunday, Oct. 11, 1 p.m. ET
Loveland caught one pass for three yards over the first two weeks, then posted four catches for 31 yards against the Eagles and six for 57 against the Jets. His nine targets led the Bears in Week 4.
The former Michigan star has also had a touchdown called back and was tackled inside the 1-yard line on another catch. He has produced more with Keenum and Bagent than he did with Williams. Still, Loveland requires more projection than Washington because he has to prove he can hold a consistent weekly role.
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