Last night, I found myself cleaning the living room rug while my better half stood behind me, cringing at my “technique.” I don’t keep a messy house, but any parent knows that kids bring endless chaos – crumbs in the cushions, toys under the couch, the works. My wife cleans with a “white glove mentality,” every corner spotless. I, on the other hand, am more of a “good enough to pass inspection” kind of person. Think Monica from Friends versus Joey.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized my cleaning style mirrors the state of some of my fantasy football teams. I’m doing just enough to stay afloat, but underneath the surface, I feel like frantic duck legs paddling, effort everywhere, results falling short of expectation, perhaps my team will drown.

If you’re like me and find yourself struggling in one or more leagues, you’re in good company. And even if everything feels peachy on your end, I’d bet you can still walk away with something useful here. Please think of this article as an open notebook; each week, I’ll be adding, adjusting, and scribbling down the thoughts running through my brain, well, the good ones anyway.

The primary focus will be IDP, since that’s what I love, but I won’t shy away from sprinkling in a few offensive players and takes. At the end of the day, fantasy football is messy, much like my living room, but my goal here is to help us all clean things up just enough to stay in the know, and of course, winning, because that’s the point. To win and rub it in your league mates’ faces.

Enough of the pleasantries, let’s get to the body and the sole purpose that you are here. “The numbers, Mason, what do they mean?!?” Here are some tidbits and data from this week that caught my eye. Stats are from ProFootballReference.com, and snap percentages come from the game summaries over at NFL.com (you can also see player played percentages on Sleeper.com underneath the game log tab in each player’s personal profile). I use Sportac.com when reviewing and discussing player contracts, and will primarily refer to the depth charts from Ourlads.com.

Streaky Good Players

Players who may have had a hot start to the season are more likely to be consistent, which increases their chances of getting a shout. I will conduct a brief analysis of the players and provide insight into why they are having success. The more times I write this weekly article, the longer I’ll make the list, keeping players on the consistent list if they stay consistent, and adding new faces in, so it doesn’t get too stale. FantasyPros scoring settings, which I reference in the player notes, can be found here. I apologize for the unorganized numbers mess. I’ll have tables in the future, so it looks much cleaner. 

  1. DL – Brian Burns, New York Giants: Dude has been amazing for fantasy through four weeks, and if you drafted the elite edge player this offseason in redraft, you probably got him anywhere from the second to fourth round, depending on your league. Thus far, he’s got 14 combined tackles and 5 sacks. He is three away from his 2024 total of eight sacks. FantasyPros has Burns scoring 13.3 points or higher every week in 2025. 
  2. LB – Jack Campbell, Detroit Lions: Last year, I was all in on the Campbell glow-up season, but it seems I was a year early. He started the first two weeks very nicely, posting scores of 11.3 and then 11.5. He backed those weeks up by scoring 22.5 in week 3 and 15.3 in week 4. 37 combined tackles, 2 tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery are what he’s brought to the table this season. Playing in 100% of defensive snaps in three out of four weeks is more than enough proof to show that Campbell isn’t playing around this year.
  3. DB – Nick Cross, Indianapolis Colts: Like he never left off from his breakout 2024 season, Cross has been a consistent option for managers all across IDP leagues.10.5 FPTS was his lowest weekly score back in week 2. Cross is being utilized as a blitzer and has 1.5 sacks to show for it, with 34 combined tackles as well. 

Honorable Mentions:

QB: Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

RB: J.K. Dobbins, Denver Broncos

WR: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks

TE: Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals (I know it’s a no-brainer, but there is no other tight end who is close to as consistent as McBride.)

DL: Leonard Williams, Seattle Seahawks

LB: Tyrel Dodson, Miami Dolphins

DB Tykee Smith, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Streaky Bad Players

The opposite of good streaks is that you must have the other. This section highlights some players who may be performing consistently, nonetheless, but in a way that is detrimental to your fantasy team. I dive into what’s going on with the player, why the struggles are occurring, and whether to pivot in your leagues.

  1. DL – Tuli Tuipulotu, Los Angeles Chargers: I’ve received a lot of direct messages on Twitter about Tuipulotu this week. Yes, he had a killer week last week with four sacks and ten tackles, but unfortunately, the bulk of his points on the season (DL5 in Fantasy Points vis FantasyPros) come from that game. He finished with less than a point in week 1 and then only 2.3 in week 3. I would still play Tuipulotu as a DL2/3, but to drop a linebacker for him in your flex position could be a death wish on your chances of winning this week. He’s not having a bad season by any stretch, but he’s not having much of a consistent one either.
  2. LB – Robert Spillane, New England Patriots: Spillane started his first two weeks out fairly rough for IDP managers, tripping out of the gate with only 14.5 FPTS in his first two games. Since he has posted games with 27 and 10.5 points, but has become one of the most inconsistent linebackers with the green dot. Spillane will still be the main linebacker in New England, so don’t abandon ship just yet. Stick out the storm and watch your wires for other guys in case the inconsistencies continue. 

Waiver Wire Additions

Yes, it is Thursday, but some of these guys may still be hanging around, so keep a keen eye out, and remember not every fantasy application’s projections are the final say. Conduct thorough research to ensure you have the most comprehensive knowledge to make the most informed decision possible when setting your lineups. Don’t flex out on Thursday; keep those players who have a short week game in their actual position, so you have more flexibility for your team on Sunday.

Offensive Players:

  1. QB Mac Jones, San Francisco 49ers: If you’re starting Jones, it’s hopefully in a Superflex league because you have no other options. The 49ers’ offensive line is weak and hurt, as well as their wide receiver corps, so I wouldn’t expect any superhuman heroics from Jones this week. Play at your own risk, but he could get you floor points from your QB2 roster spot.
  2. RB Emari Demercado / Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals: Someone has to be the RB1 in Arizona, and unfortunately, the only options for the Cardinals this week are these two. Demercado did get a touchdown in week 3 through the air. Carter is the assumed RB2, but anything could happen, so keep your eyes peeled. Both are worth a roster spot as Conner and Benson are now both on the injured reserve list. Benson has a chance to return later in the year, so don’t drop him, just place him on your roster’s injured reserve if you have one.
  3. RB Rachaad White / Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: White is the assumed RB1 with Bucky Irving on the sidelines, but in deeper leagues, Tucker is with a roster spot if you have the space. Tucker is more likely to take ground carries as opposed to gaining fantasy points from the passing game. Probably going to be a timeshare between the two, so start at your own risk.
  4. WR Demarcus Robinson, San Francisco 49ers: This is a deep, deep, deep play. The 49ers are out of options at wide receiver, and you should play Robinson in hopes of a Thursday night miracle in what is a revenge game for Robinson against his former team in Los Angeles.

Defensive Players:

  1. LB Dee Winters, San Francisco 49ers
  2. LB Teddye Buchanan, Baltimore Ravens (Injuries are hitting the Ravens pretty bad, but Buchanan has been a bright light for IDP managers who scoop him off the waiver wire.)
  3. LB Demetrius Knight, Cincinnati Bengals
  4. DL Abdul Carter, New York Giants
  5. DL Kobie Turner, Los Angeles Rams (Yes, he was on the waiver wire of a league I was in, so don’t judge me for dropping his name here.)
  6. DB Kevin Byard, Chicago Bears
  7. DB Josh Jobe, Seattle Seahawks

Games I Will Watch:

In this section, I’ll give some background to a few games and then list who I believe to be fantasy relevant on both sides of the ball in the game.

San Francisco 49ers @ Los Angeles Rams

The Thursday Night Football matchup features two 3-1 teams that are on opposite ends of the spectrum. One has an injury list as long as a CVS receipt, whereas the other has been developing into quite the problem on both offense and defense for opposing teams. Nevertheless, the 49ers will seem to have another home game at the fan-proclaimed “San Francisco South Stadium” during a short week, while coming off a loss. To my dismay, I expect the Rams to steamroll the 49ers and win by nine.

SF / LAR Fantasy Relevant Players

Washington Commanders vs Los Angeles Chargers

The Commanders started the year off strong but have failed to gain much momentum or team cohesion with injuries to star players like Terry McClaurin and sophomore quarterback Jayden Daniels. The Chargers have shown glimpses of greatness as coach Harbaugh and the boys look to intensify their heat on the AFC West with another win early in the season at home.

WAS / LAC Fantasy Relevant Players

That’s all I have for this week. Stay like water; don’t use your Flex spot on Thursday. Always watch your waiver wires and league transactions. Best of luck in week 5, my fellow IDPer’s and fantasy friends.

@Caliking49er17