We are one month into the 2024 season, and that means one month’s worth of data that we can now collectively use and say, “Ah, here’s what’s going on.” Admittedly, there are still some situations about which I have no idea what the hell is going on. I mean, come on, Sam Darnold has more passing yards and touchdowns and fewer interceptions than Patrick Mahomes to this point in the season. The 2024 season is drunk, which brings me to my most important trade advice: Don’t drink and trade. Now, let’s get into the Week 5 fantasy football trade targets!
Week 5 Fantasy Football Trade Targets (2024)
Trade For: Rome Odunze (WR, Chicago Bears)
The Chicago Bears won in Week 4, putting up 24 points against the Los Angeles Rams, but fantasy managers would probably be less than thrilled if they started anyone other than D’Andre Swift. Because, of course, Swift was remarkable after being terrible for three weeks.
However, the good news is that even with WR Keenan Allen back, teammate Rome Odunze ran a route on 89% of dropbacks. This follows a massive game in Week 3, where the rookie put up 112 yards on six catches and scored a touchdown.
With all of the Bears’ wide receivers putting up under 23 receiving yards this week, the Odunze manager may be frustrated at the lack of predictability. However, they may not be looking at the Bears’ upcoming schedule, which features matchups against the Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Commanders and Arizona Cardinals. These teams have varying defensive weaknesses, which should provide favorable conditions for Odunze’s performance.
Despite the potential for frustrating weeks as long as offensive coordinator Shane Waldron is calling plays for the Bears, Odunze (and even Caleb Williams) is on the brink of a breakout over the next month. This should excite fantasy football managers and encourage them to get Odunze on their squad before he takes off.
Trade Away: Michael Pittman Jr. (WR, Indianapolis Colts)
QB Anthony Richardson left the Week 4 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers multiple times, and with under four minutes remaining in the first quarter, he took another hit to his hip and was ruled out of the contest.
Enter 39-year-old Joe Flacco. The former Super Bowl MVP willed the Colts to 27 points and handed the Pittsburgh Steelers their first loss. With Flacco throwing the ball 26 times, Michael Pittman Jr. racked up six catches and 113 yards. The USC product had more yardage in this one game than he had combined in the first three weeks of the season.
Per NFL Network reporter Cameron Wolfe:
The belief is Colts QB Anthony Richardson suffered a hip pointer, per sources.
With hip pointer + 17-point lead, I’m told Colts decided to be safe with his health & rule him out. Richardson remains on sidelines interacting with his team.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) September 29, 2024
With Richardson likely to return in Week 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Pittman Jr.’s output is expected to revert to the levels of the first three weeks rather than the uptick he saw with Flacco at the helm. This should give managers the confidence to trade Pittman Jr. away while they still can.
Trade Radar: Courtland Sutton (WR, Denver Broncos)
Hi, I’m Matt, and I’m a recovering Courtland Sutton truther.
The veteran Denver reciever had 60 yards receiving in Week 4, which was exactly equal to quarterback Bo Nix‘s 60 total passing yards. Sutton’s teammates, collectively, netted nothing to this Broncos offense.
The Broncos are surviving this season on good defense and a conservative offensive strategy, which can be likened to the “get off my lawn” vibes from head coach Sean Payton. Even so, Sutton has drawn at least nine targets in three of the Broncos’ four games this season, indicating his potential fantasy football value.
I don’t think Sutton will be a league-winner for your fantasy team, but he could absolutely provide weekly flex appeal, as he’s the only wide receiver on this team who’s inspiring any sort of confidence for fantasy managers. If the volume holds, he’s a fantasy football trade target, and the cost shouldn’t be extravagant.
Bonus: The Cincinnati Bengals’ Tight End Room
The Cincinnati Bengals’ offense has scored at least 25 points in their last three games. Quarterback Joe Burrow has had multiple passing touchdowns in those three games. WRs Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins have been on the field together for the last two contests. While the Bengals are 1-2 over the previous three weeks, the offense seems to be finding their groove.
TE Mike Gesicki had been in on the offensive attack for the Bengals, making for an excellent streaming option for fantasy managers. In Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Gesicki had seven catches for 91 yards. Last week against the Washington Commanders, Gesicki saw five targets, turning them into four catches for 41 yards. That’s very respectable for the tight-end position at this juncture.
But in Week 4 against the Carolina Panthers, Gesicki turned into a pumpkin and had one lone catch for negative nine yards. Rookie Erick All had a 61% snap rate in Week 4, outsnapping Gesicki. While the Iowa product only ran nine routes, he earned targets on four of them, ending with four receptions for 28 yards. This was All’s second week in a row with four grabs.
All is hardly rostered – at all – across ESPN leagues; he is rostered in less than 1% of them. The tight end position has been a disaster thus far in 2024, with injuries and inconsistent performances from top players. If he continues this usage and happens to find the end zone, it could be a mad dash to the waiver wire to grab him and you could have been rostering him all along!
Check out all of our Week 5 fantasy football content:
- Week 5 In the Scope Targets (2024)
- Week 5 Shore Thing Sleepers (2024)
- Week 5 Fantasy Football Trade Targets (2024)
- Week 5 NFL DFS Picks & Lineup Advice (2024)
- Week 5 Fantasy Football Advice Mailbag (2024)
- NFL Week 5 PrizePicks Player Predictions (2024)
- Fantasy Football Whiplash! | Week 5 News & Notes (2024)
Thanks for reading my fantasy football trade targets for Week 5 of the 2024 NFL season. Find me on Twitter @ThatMattKelley for more fantasy football and entertainment content!
*Photo Credit: Gregory Fisher – USA TODAY Sports*
