NFL Weekly Preview Week 5 2024: Key Injuries, Difference Makers & Projected Upsets

We are headed into the fifth week of the season. Here are the key injuries, fantasy stars and projected upsets.

Key Injuries

Three notable wide receivers are banged up heading into week five. We already briefly discussed the knee issue pertaining to Rashee Rice of the Kansas City Chiefs in the week four storylines (still waiting to hear more information about the magnitude of Rice’s knee injury). Meanwhile, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks of Stockton, California and Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson of Phoenix, Arizona are also out for week four. Cooks won’t play against the Pittsburgh Steelers in primetime with a knee injury, and Watson won’t play against the Los Angeles Rams because of an ankle injury.

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Fantasy Stars

The top quarterback of the week is Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills. The native of Firebaugh, California is slated to get 240 yards passing, and 33 yards rushing along with three touchdowns against the Houston Texans. The top wide receiver of the week is Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings. The native of Saint Rose, Louisiana is projected to get six catches for 86 receiving yards and one touchdown against the New York Jets on Sunday in London. The top running back of the week is Jordan Mason of the San Francisco 49ers. Mason, who is subbing in again for the injured Christian McCaffrey, is projected to get 98 total yards and one touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals.

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Projected Upsets

I like six underdogs this week. The teams I think have a genuine chance to win that are not expected to are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Giants, Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins.

We have seen great performances from Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield all season. Meanwhile, the Cowboys, Giants and Texans have a scheduling advantage because they have had more time to prepare than their opponents. I also believe the Giants and Dolphins defenses are underrated. The Giants have given up one fewer point this season than the Seahawks. The Giants have given up 84 points, while the Seahawks have given up 85 points. The Dolphins secondary has been very respectable all season long despite the issues on offense, and the Chiefs offense is banged off big time, as not only Rice, but running back Isiah Pacheco is injured too.

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