The Week 5 matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Diego Chargers features two key pass catchers returning to the lineup after missing the season’s first four games due to suspensions. We’ve got the fantasy projections courtesy of numberFire.
Fantasy football projections, Week 5: Steelers-Chargers featuring Martavis Bryant, Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Gates
We break down the Week 5 matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Diego Chargers.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers boast one of the best offenses on paper in all of the NFL. The thing is the team hasn’t been able to dress all of its best players at the same time so far this season. This week, however, the team will get one step closer to doing so as wide receiver Martavis Bryant returns from suspension to make his season debut. He burst onto the scene last year, catching eight touchdown passes in just 10 games. Bryant is a big-time target in the red zone, so when quarterback Ben Roethlisberger returns from injury, Bryant will be a big-time contributor to the offense.
While Roethlisberger is out, running back Le’Veon Bell will likely be the team’s most steady point producer. Bell is especially valuable in PPR leagues. He doesn’t need to break 100 yards rushing or score a touchdown in order to put up top fantasy numbers. He should be able to dominate the Chargers on Monday Night Football, given San Diego has allowed the second-most points to fantasy running backs this season.
San Diego Chargers
Setting aside a lackluster performance in Week 2, wide receiver Keenan Allen has had a fantastic start to the season. In fact, he’s on pace for career numbers. He caught four passes for 72 yards and his third touchdown of the season last week against the Cleveland Browns and over the last two weeks combined has amassed 16 catches for 205 yards and three scores. Allen will no doubt get his share of looks against the Steelers and is obviously going to be one of the studs of the year in fantasy leagues.
The only thing that might possibly get in the way of Allen’s targets is the return of tight end Antonio Gates, who, like Martavis Bryant, will make his season debut on Monday. Ladarius Green did quite well in Gates’ absence so it remains to be seen how much the elder tight end gets worked into the lineup in his first game back. That said, fantasy owners should be pumped up for the return of one of the best tight ends of all time. Gates’ career will almost certainly be honored with a Hall Of Fame induction someday.
SB Nation presents: Week 5 sit/start fantasy football advice
