FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast

Episode: 5 Moves You Need to Make Ahead of Week 5

Date: September 30, 2025
Hosts: Ryan Wormley and Tara Roberts

Episode Overview

Ryan Wormley and Tara Roberts break down the five essential fantasy football moves to make before Week 5 of the NFL season. This episode features actionable buy, sell, and drop candidates, analyzing player trends, injuries, and depth chart developments to help listeners optimize their fantasy rosters. The hosts use the latest data and rest-of-season rankings to guide trade and waiver wire decisions, combining analysis with practical advice.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Buy Candidates: Taking Advantage of Perception

a. Brock Bowers – Buy Now (Tight End, Raiders)

• Bowers is playing through a knee injury and hasn’t hit his usual snap counts (normally 90%+) but still offers a "solid floor play."
  • “While he's getting healthy, he's at least giving us a nice floor play. ...We're gonna see the regular Brock Bowers.” (01:18, Tara)
• Bowers led the team in receptions and yards last week and lacks significant target competition outside Jacoby Myers.
• Concern is more about his short-term health than role.
• Insight: You can start Bowers even while he’s hurt, and once healthy, his upside is on par with elite TEs.
• Rest-of-season view:
  • “It's definitely more tier one...maybe not the exact same upside... but still potential overall tight end one on a regular basis.” (03:53, Tara)

b. Travis Etienne – Buy Now (Running Back, Jaguars)

• Despite hype around rookie Baychial Tootin, ETN’s role and production remain secure:
  • “Despite his worst finish being literally RB21 in PPR, he is still not viewed as the most valued asset in that backfield.... averaging 6.1 yards per carry.” (05:02, Tara)
• Only concern is a lack of checkdowns from Trevor Lawrence, not job security.
• Strong buy given his consistent role and undervalued perception in fantasy trades.
• Rest-of-season ranking:
  • “Rest of season I still have him as a top 20 back. I trust it.” (06:28, Tara)

2. Sell Candidates: Move Before the Value Drops

a. DeAndre Swift – Sell Now (Running Back, Bears)

• The volume is there, but not the production or job security.
• “...not thriving at the goal line. Ultimately the problem here is that your job really isn't secure because anyone can take it and snatch it from you at any point.” (08:34, Tara)
• High-volume Bears offense not translating to reliable fantasy points for Swift.
• Potential RB carousel in Chicago makes long-term investment risky.
• Trade suggestion: Ryan asks if Swift should be traded for someone like Woody Marks, who is lower in the rankings but has higher perceived upside. Tara agrees:
  • “I do feel more comfortable with Marks because of that receiving upside that he offers.... It's just a better situation for a running back that can actually still take advantage of the opportunities that he has.” (09:50, Tara)

b. Tony Pollard – Sell Now (Running Back, Titans)

• Pollard has been “surviving off volume, not thriving off volume.” (10:56, Tara)
• Tajie Spears’ impending return will further eat into his already capped upside.
• With a struggling Titans offense, Pollard's touchdown chances and yardage are both limited:
  • “Pollard ceiling is legitimately 10 fantasy points here. So maybe trying to sell him before we get Tajie Spears out there and making the perception even worse.” (12:52, Tara)
• Action: Sell before Spears returns and Pollard’s value drops further.

3. Drop Candidate: Move On Now

Caleb Johnson – Drop (Running Back, Steelers)

• Still over 40% rostered in leagues, but has not carved out a meaningful role.
  • “Rostering him even as handcuff just isn't realistic because you are bypassing actual direct handcuffs.... This week's game was as definitive as you can possibly get.” (13:24, Tara)
• Kenneth Gainwell massively outsnapped and outproduced him; Johnson is now several injuries away from relevance in a committee-prone backfield.
• Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has a history of burying players in the "doghouse," making Johnson a non-option in redraft and a weak hold in dynasty leagues as well.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Bowers’ injury and buy-low status:

  • "You're buying Brock Bowers. You can play him right now and then once he gets fully healthy ... we're gonna see the regular Brock Bowers." (01:32, Tara)

• On ETN’s undervaling due to rookie hype:

  • "Perhaps he's just good. Perhaps maybe he's just turned things around. He's thriving in this offense and ... you can get him on the cheap here." (05:44, Tara)

• On Swift's shaky role:

  • “Your job really isn’t secure because anyone can take it and snatch it from you at any point.” (08:34, Tara)

• On Tony Pollard’s capped ceiling:

  • “Pollard ceiling is legitimately 10 fantasy points here. ... Offload him while you can.” (12:52, Tara)

• On Caleb Johnson’s situation:

  • "Rostering him even as handcuff just isn't realistic.... You've got to move on. It's not happening here." (13:29, Tara)
  • “When you get into the Steelers doghouse, you're in there and it's very difficult to get out of.” (15:54, Tara)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:35 – Episode Intro, Setup of “5 Moves” Format
• 01:05 – Buy Brock Bowers Analysis
• 03:03 – Rest-of-Season Bowers, Target Competition, Offense Discussion
• 04:44 – Buy Travis Etienne Analysis
• 06:28 – ETN Rest-of-Season Ranking
• 07:55 – Sell DeAndre Swift Analysis
• 09:50 – Would You Trade Swift for Woody Marks?
• 10:54 – Sell Tony Pollard Analysis
• 13:24 – Drop Caleb Johnson Analysis
• 15:54 – Dynasty Perspective on Caleb Johnson

Actionable Summary

Moves to Make Ahead of Week 5:

1. BUY Brock Bowers (TE, Raiders): Playable now, elite upside once healthy, minimal target competition.
2. BUY Travis Etienne (RB, Jaguars): Highly productive, undervalued due to rookie hype, safe RB2/low RB1 upside.
3. SELL DeAndre Swift (RB, Bears): Unimpressive production, risk of role loss, trade for upside.
4. SELL Tony Pollard (RB, Titans): Volume-based floor, Spears set to sap touches, Titans offense limits his ceiling.
5. DROP Caleb Johnson (RB, Steelers): No meaningful path to touches, stuck behind committee, not worth handcuff/lottery stash even in dynasty.

Overall Tone

The episode features sharp, practical advice with a focus on actionable fantasy football moves. Tara brings data-driven, clear explanations for her recommendations, and Ryan provides context and player valuation. The discussion is insightful, relatable, and geared toward helping listeners make savvy roster moves based on player performance, opportunity, and team context.

For comprehensive rankings and analysis, visit fantasypros.com/rankings.