• Rico Dowdle set to start in Week 5: Carolina Panthers starting running back Chuba Hubbard has already been ruled out due to a calf injury for Week 5, so Dowdle is the next man up. Three of the four starting running backs that faced the Miami Dolphins this season have scored at least 16 fantasy points.
• Isaiah Bond’s target share is trending up: Bond’s targets have increased each week, and he saw a career-high six targets for 58 yards in Week 4. With the Cleveland Browns‘ No. 2 receiver, Cedric Tillman, placed on injured reserve this week, Bond’s opportunity should continue to increase going into Week 5.
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Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

It won’t feel comfortable plugging Young into your starting fantasy lineups; his play has been atrocious this season. However, the matchup is too good to overlook, as the Miami Dolphins have allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season. Daniel Jones (29.5 points), Justin Fields (27.1), Drake Maye (26.3) and Josh Allen (23.0) all had big fantasy performances in their matchup against the Dolphins in 2025. Young has just one good fantasy performance under his belt this year, but there is no reason his second one doesn’t come this week. Plus, if Young can avoid disappointment in Week 5, he gets the Dallas Cowboys at home in Week 6, and they have allowed the most passing yards per game and fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. 

Available in 83% of ESPN leagues and 81% of Yahoo! Leagues.

Dowdle has been splitting the Panthers’ backfield snaps and touches, but with teammate Chuba Hubbard already ruled out due to a calf injury for Week 5, he is set to get the start. He should see his workload increase significantly this Sunday, and he gets a juicy matchup. Rhamondre Stevenson (21.2), James Cook (20.8) and Breece Hall (16.1) have all scored at least 16 fantasy points in their game against the Dolphins over the last three weeks. 

In the nine games that Dowdle saw more than 15 touches in 2024 with the Cowboys, he averaged 15.3 fantasy points per game. Plus, if Hubbard misses extended time, Dowdle will get a revenge game against the Cowboys in Week 6.

Available in 65% of ESPN leagues and 65% of Yahoo! Leagues.

The Cardinals’ top-two running backs, James Conner and Trey Benson, are both on injured reserve (IR) as we head into Week 5. Many fantasy managers ran to grab Emari Demercado off waivers, but I would not be surprised if Carter leads the backfield in touches this week. Demercado is a solid change of pace back, but Carter has the better profile to carry a larger workload. In Week 18 last season, Carter’s lone start with the Cardinals, he led the team with 21 touches and scored 15.9 fantasy points in the game. 

The Tennessee Titans have allowed the fourth most fantasy points to the running back position this season, while allowing a league-high six rushing touchdowns to the position. Over the last two weeks, the Titans allowed Jonathan Taylor to score 32.8 points and Woody Marks to score 27.9 points against them. 

Available in 62.5% of ESPN leagues and 65% of Yahoo! Leagues.

Bond has played on 60% of the Browns’ offensive snaps over the last two weeks, while seeing a career-high six targets for 58 yards in Week 4. His targets have increased each week through his first four career games, and with the Browns’ No. 2 receiver Cedric Tillman placed on IR this week, Bond has the perfect opportunity to continue to increase his production going into Week 5. Bond showcased his 4.39 speed with a couple of big plays last Sunday and could come down with at least one huge play against the Minnesota Vikings defense, like DK Metcalf did when he torched them for an 80-yard touchdown last Sunday in Ireland.

The Browns are also turning the starting quarterback role over to rookie Dillon Gabriel after Joe Flacco struggled to move the offense through the first four weeks of the season. This could give the Browns offense the spark they desperately need heading into Week 5. 

Available in 95.6% of ESPN leagues and 94% of Yahoo! Leagues.

Taylor has emerged as a reliable passing option for the Jets in the last couple of games. Over the last two weeks, he has had the second-most targets and receiving yards on the Jets, behind only Garrett Wilson in each metric. He had career-highs with seven targets, five receptions and 65 receiving yards in Week 4. He has yet to catch a touchdown in the NFL, but that could come this week against the Cowboys, who are allowing the most passing yards per game and second-most points per game in the NFL this season. With his targets slowly ticking upwards each week, Taylor is a solid tight end option in Week 5 if you are in a pickle. 

Available in 94.5% of ESPN leagues and 91% of Yahoo! Leagues.