Fantasy football success often hinges on identifying the right players at the right time, separating genuine opportunities from misleading matchups. Every week presents a puzzle of snap counts, game scripts, and defensive vulnerabilities that savvy managers must decode.
Some players emerge from unexpected situations with heavy workloads and favorable conditions, while others face deceptively challenging circumstances despite their name recognition. The difference between winning and losing your matchup frequently comes down to recognizing these nuanced situations before your opponents do.
Start ‘Em: Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals
Update: With Benson on IR, both Michael Carter and Emari Demercado are solid RB3s this week. One of them is gonna probably post RB2 numbers. Hopefully, we get some clarity on who that is by the weekend.
If you started Trey Benson last week, you should have come away from that game feeling both underwhelmed and excited. Benson only managed 13 touches, which he turned into 10.4 fantasy points. You certainly want more. But the usage was very encouraging.
Don’t let Benson’s 55% snap share fool you; he was the guy. The gap between him and Emari Demercado only shrank because the Arizona Cardinals were in catch-up mode the entire game. Specifically, late in the fourth quarter, Demercado was in the game with the Cardinals in clear passing situations.
This week, the Cardinals are at home against a Tennessee Titans team that is, at best, the second-worst team in the league.
The Titans are allowing the third-most fantasy points per game to running backs. Benson’s efficiency should improve against a team the Cardinals should handle easily. Additionally, the likely positive game script will likely result in higher volume. This is a smash spot for Benson.
Woody Marks, Houston Texans
The Woody Marks takeover is almost complete. Each week, his snap share has steadily increased, with it finally surpassing Nick Chubb’s in Week 4.
Marks played a season-high 56% of the snaps. He also handled 21 touches, which he turned into 119 yards and two touchdowns.
Chubb no longer has it. Between his age and the injuries, it is over for him. He’s still good enough to handle between-the-tackles work and short yardage stuff. He won’t completely go away. But Marks is the vastly superior player at this point in their respective careers.
In the future, the gap between Marks and Chubb is expected to continue growing. Assuming Lamar Jackson can play, this game should feature a significantly negative game script for the Houston Texans. Chubb does not play in those situations. We could be looking at a heavy dose of Marks, particularly in the passing game.
The Baltimore Ravens are decimated on the defensive side of the ball, and no team allows more fantasy points per game to the position than the Baltimore Ravens. Marks is a firm start this week.
Sit ‘Em: Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks
Kenneth Walker III is such a fascinating player. Evaluating him as a talent is truly a matter of perspective.
On the one hand, his explosiveness and considerable play ability are very apparent. He is liable to turn any carry into a chunk gain.
On the other hand, Walker seems to only care about splash plays. Some backs turn small losses into moderate gains. Walker is an expert at turning moderate gains into small losses.
Several times on Thursday night, Walker declined an easy 3-4 yards to chase a big play and wound up going backwards. It’s something that’s plagued him his entire career and is likely a significant reason we are seeing so much Zach Charbonnet.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a decidedly average run defense, ranking right in the middle of the pack in terms of fantasy points allowed to the position. Walker is a decidedly average fantasy back.
While it is noteworthy that he saw 21 opportunities against the Arizona Cardinals, none of them were near the goal line. Walker also only ran 12 routes. He needs splash plays on the ground to salvage his fantasy value.
Without the prospect of big receiving numbers or short touchdowns, how is Walker going to score his points? At best, he’s probably doing something similar to last week’s 110 scoreless yards, good for 12.0 fantasy points. What if he sees slightly less volume because the Bucs force the Seattle Seahawks into a little more passing? His only hope of scoring is breaking off a long run.
Walker is probably not someone you can afford to bench, but expectations need to be tempered this week.
Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings
Jordan Mason’s role without Aaron Jones Sr. active is genuinely fantastic. In the right matchups, he’s a clear fantasy RB1. The Cleveland Browns are not the right matchup.
Although the Browns are not a strong team with just one win through four games, they have an outstanding defense. Cleveland is allowing the third fewest fantasy points per game to running backs.
Last week, Jahmyr Gibbs could find room because he’s Jahmyr Gibbs. David Montgomery much more closely resembles the type of runner Mason is. Montgomery carried the ball nine times for 12 yards.
By no means should fantasy managers expect a similarly dismal performance. Mason will likely be able to volume his way to double digits. However, with Zavier Scott as the passing down back, unless Mason falls in the end zone, his stat line may look like last week’s 72 scoreless yards.
Good luck starting Trey Benson this week 👏