Melving Gordon’s return figures to cause the most Week 5 fantasy start ’em, sit ’em decisions, but we’re at the point in the season, be it because of injuries, breakouts/busts, or bye weeks, where virtually every fantasy football owner has some tough lineup calls. Fortunately, SN NFL writer Vinnie Iyer is here to help with expert advice on who to start and who to sit for season-long leagues and NFL DFS contests.
A few notes about Week 5: Detroit and Miami are on bye this week, and the Bears-Raiders game will be played in London.
WEEK 5 NON-PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
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Fantasy Football Week 5 Start ‘Em: Quarterbacks
Regular starts
Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs (vs. IND), Deshaun Watson, Texans (vs. ATL), Carson Wentz, Eagles (vs. NYJ), Russell Wilson, Seahawks (vs. LAR), Tom Brady, Patriots (at WAS), Lamar Jackson, Ravens (at PIT)
Stronger starts
Aaron Rodgers, Packers (at DAL). The Cowboys on paper have been tough on QBs, but they also haven’t faced any top ones. They will stop the run and force Rodgers into high volume again, and he can produce well even if Davante Adams is out.
Jameis Winston, Buccaneers (at NO). You can trust him more with his weapons after he lit up the Rams last week, and the Saints can’t cover his wideouts.
Jacoby Brissett, Colts (at KC). He’s been a solid QB1 and should be busy throwing often on the other side of Patrick Mahomes in a high-scoring game.
Jared Goff, Rams (at SEA). He can be tricky to trust on the road, but even with sloppiness he produced last week, there’s nothing scary about the back end of the Seahawks’ defense.
Andy Dalton, Bengals (vs. ARI). He will rebound as he throws often against a shaky defense in many areas.
Kyler Murray, Cardinals (at CIN). In the same game, Murray will rebound as he throws often against a shaky defense in many areas.
DFS bargains
Chase Daniel, Bears ($4,800 on DraftKings, $6,500 on FanDuel, at OAK). Our pursuit of value plays knows no bounds. He can easily give you 250 yards and two scores against a defense that’s worse against pass than run in London and allow you to load up with studs elsewhere.
Mason Rudolph, Steelers ($5,100 on DraftKings, $6,500 on FanDuel, vs. BAL). He’s gotten two scores in every outing, and the Ravens’ pass defense isn’t daunting any more, especially in Heinz Field. He should also see plenty of volume, too.
Deep streamers
Kirk Cousins, Vikings (at NYG), Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers (vs. CLE)
WEEK 5 PPR RANKINGS: Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end
Fantasy Football Week 5 Sit ‘Em: Quarterbacks
Weaker starts
Dak Prescott, Cowboys (vs. GB). You can still deploy him if needed in what may become a shootout, but you should keep in mind the Packers’ pass defense is very good with Jaire Alexander on Amari Cooper. Dallas can do a ton of damage running Zeke often this week.
Baker Mayfield, Browns (at SF). The 49ers’ pass defense is for real, and it can get after Cleveland’s offensive line and contain the downfield passing of Mayfield, especially having an extra week to prepare for him.
Philip Rivers, Chargers (vs. DEN). His receivers are hurting, and it’s hard to throw often on the Broncos, so this looks like a run-heavy ticket to winning with Melvin Gordon now in the mix.
Matt Ryan, Falcons (at HOU). He keeps getting to three hundy, but the Texans can thwart that part and also limit his TDs again with their pass rush against Atlanta’s line.
Daniel Jones, Giants (vs. MIN). The Vikings’ defense has a few cracks, but not enough for a rookie QB in his third start to exploit, even at home.
Deep traps
Gardner Minshew, Jaguars (at CAR), Josh Allen, Panthers (vs. JAX)
WEEK 5 DFS LINEUPS:
Y! cash | Y! GPP | FD cash | FD GPP | DK cash | DK GPP
Fantasy Football Week 5 Start ‘Em: Running backs
Regular starts
Alvin Kamara, Saints (vs. TB), Christian McCaffrey, Panthers (vs. JAX), Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys (vs. GB), David Johnson, Cardinals (at CIN), Le’Veon Bell, Jets (at PHI), Dalvin Cook, Vikings (at NYG), Todd Gurley, Rams (at SEA), Nick Chubb, Browns (at SF), Joe Mixon, Bengals (vs. ARI), Kerryon Johnson, Lions (bye), Leonard Fournette, Jaguars (at CAR), Derrick Henry, Titans (vs BUF), Mark Ingram, Ravens (at PIT), Chris Carson, Seahawks (vs. LAR), James Conner, Steelers (vs. BAL)
Stronger starts
Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler, Chargers (vs. DEN). They may ease in Gordon a little, but the touches are bound to even out as the Chargers help ease the burden of the passing gams. Plus, the Broncos just gave up big numbers to Leonard Fournette and Ryquell Armstead.
David Montgomery, Bears (at OAK). Here’s his chance against a shaky defense to prove he should have gone in the first round.
LeSean McCoy and Darrel Williams, Chefs (vs. IND). The Chiefs keep letting these guys get the job done in scoring position, and there should be several punch-in chances against the Colts.
Sony Michel and James White, Patriots (at WAS). Michel should have his best game with New England powering to a big lead, while White can help them get there as the Redskins have also struggled with backs in the passing game.
Jordan Howard, Eagles (vs. NYJ). He proved he’s overall more reliable than rookie Miles Sanders in key situations against the Packers and will keep it going with albeit lesser production against the Jets.
Some Colts (at KC). If Marlon Mack can play through his latest injury, he should absolutely be in your lineup as an RB2. If not, the run defense of the Chiefs suggests some run for Jordan Wiklins and a negative game script later favors Nyheim Hines, making them both potential deep-league PPR flexes.
DFS bargains
Phillip Lindsay, Broncos ($4,900 on DraftKings, $6,700 on FanDuel, at LAC). He destroyed their run defense in one game last season, and his style will lead to another good day in LA.
Carlos Hyde, Texans ($4,300 on DraftKings, $5,600 on FanDuel, vs. ATL). The Falcons can be power-runned against, and Hyde should help the Texans put away a game.
MORE WEEK 5 DFS: Stacks | Values | Lineup builder
Fantasy Football Week 5 Sit ‘Em: Running backs
Weaker starts
Josh Jacobs, Raiders (vs. CHI). It’s hard to feel good about this matchup. You’ll be praying for a TD after this defense just shut down Dalvin Cook.
Aaron Jones, Packers (at DAL). He’s been a TD-dependent back, and the Cowboys stop the run well and tighten screws in the red zone.
Devonta Freeman, Falcons (at HOU). He’s been an RB2 bust so far, and that won’t change on the road in a tough spot.
Wayne Gallman, Giants (vs. MIN). The Vikings’ front is not the Redskins’ front.
Frank Gore, Bills (at TEN). The Titans can be mighty against the run, and there’s a chance rookie Devin Singletary returns to cut into the load.
Ronald Jones, Buccaneers (at NO). The Saints continue to be stout against the run and much more vulnerable to the pass.
Chris Thompson, Redskins (vs. NE). You can’t hope for much checkdown production in trail mode against this nasty D.
All 49ers (vs. CLE). The matchup vs. the Browns front is hard, and plus you have no idea how the production will be split up with Tevin Coleman (ankle) possibly returning.
Fantasy Football Week 5 Start ‘Em: Wide receivers
Regular starts
DeAndre Hopkins, Texans (vs. ATL), Davante Adams, Packers (but unlikely to play at DAL), Julio Jones, Falcons (at HOU), Michael Thomas, Saints (vs. TB), Odell Beckham Jr., Browns (at SF), Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, Buccaneers (at NO), JuJu Smith-Schuster, Steelers (vs. BAL), Amari Cooper, Cowboys (vs. GB), Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs, Vikings (at NYG), Julian Edelman, Patriots (at WAS), Keenan Allen, Chargers (vs. DEN), Tyler Lockett, Seahawks (vs. LAR), Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp, Rams (at SEA), Tyler Boyd, Bengals (vs. CIN), T.Y. Hilton, Colts (if he returns, at KC). Kenny Golladay, Lions (bye), Alshon Jeffery, Eagles (vs. NYJ)
Stronger starts
Josh Gordon, Patriots (at WAS). He finally gets to break free for a big game as Josh Norman and the Redskins’ corners aren’t all that.
Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals (at CIN). He might be very busy with Christian Kirk ailing, and the Bengals can be torched inside and outside.
Allen Robinson, Bears (at OAK). Daniel got him the ball fine last week, and he’s really the only consistent weapon in the passing game.
Sammy Watkins and DeMarcus Robinson, Chiefs (vs. IND). It’s been underwhelming of late when Mahomes doesn’t ball out, but you have to keep rolling with the big-game possibilities.
D.J. Moore, Panthers (vs. JAX). We’ll see about Jalen Ramsey playing, but Moore’s role catching intermediate passes all over the field can work well from him away from A.J. Bouye often.
Jarvis Landry, Browns (at SF). We’ll see about his concussion and whether he can go, but the 49ers are weaker in slot coverage than the outside.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Packers (at DAL). He gets a natural target bump if Adams is out, and MVS can get open underneath and deep on the Cowboys.
Marquise Brown, Ravens (at PIT). The Steelers can give up some home run passes, and Jackson can run around to buy him time for a succeessful long score.
Will Fuller, Texans (vs. ATL). He’s just missed on long-ball TDs and is overdue, plus a hurting Kenny Stills should allow him some key targets away from Desmond Trufant.
DFS Bargains
Geronimo Allison, Packers ($5,000 on DraftKings, $5,600 on FanDuel, at DAL). He will be busier if Adams is out and has a good chance to pop into the end zone on an inside route again.
Diontae Johnson, Steelers ($4,400 on DraftKings, $5,000 on FanDuel, vs. BAL). He’s the pro version of James Washington for Rudolph, and the Ravens’ secondary isn’t good away from Marlon Humphrey.
Phillip Dorsett, Patriots ($4,900 on DrafKings, $5,400 on FanDuel, at WAS). He’s a tournament dart throw because he has proved to have multiple-TD juice, a la Taylor Gabriel, and the attention on Josh Gordon and Julian Edelman could open things up nicely for a sizeable score.
WEEK 5:
Top waiver pickups | FAAB planner | Trade values | Snap counts
Fantasy Football Week 5 Sit ‘Em: Wide receivers
Weaker starts
Calvin Ridley, Falcons (at HOU). He started hot with the TDs again but has been a blip with Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu seeing more love.
John Brown, Bills (at TEN). This secondary can erase him and likely no Josh Allen hurts him a lot downfield.
Curtis Samuel, Panthers (vs. JAX). It’s hard to pull off deep balls on the Jaguars’ defense.
D.J. Chark, Jaguars (at CAR). James Bradberry and Donte Jackson are starting to feel it as a great corner duo.
Sterling Shepard, Giants (vs. MIN). He may see a lot more routes outside with Golden Tate returning, and Xavier Rhodes can contain him.
Emmanuel Sanders and Courtland Sutton, Broncos (at LAC). The way to attack the Chargers is with the running game and tight ends, not their mostly solid cornerback play.
Terry McLaurin, Redskins (vs. NE). He may return from his hamstring, but there may be yet another QB change and Stephon Gilmore awaits.
Tyrell Williams, Raiders (vs. CHI). There’s been one receiver doing work on the Bears’ defense every week, and he’s always a threat to score, but it’s hard to trust Derek Carr to get it to him.
Corey Davis and A.J. Brown, Titans (vs. BUF). Don’t go chasing their random big games with the Bills’ secondary on tap.
Fantasy Football Week 5 Start ‘Em: Tight ends
Regular starts
Travis Kelce, Chiefs (vs. IND), George Kittle, 49ers (vs. CLE), Zach Ertz, Eagles (vs. NYJ), Evan Engram, Giants (vs. MIN)
Stronger starts
Mark Andrews, Ravens (at PIT). He got back into the end zone last week, and the Steelers can struggle to cover the position.
Will Dissly, Seahawks (vs. LAR). All Dissly does is score TDs, and this is a high-scoring game.
Greg Olsen, Panthers (vs. JAX). He’ll rebound at home with a good chance to score.
Eric Ebron and Jack Doyle, Colts (at KC). They both scored last week and the Chiefs don’t cover the tight end well, so if HIlton is out again, you should think about deploying either if you need them.
Jimmy Graham, Packers (at DAL). He saw a ton of end-zone targets last week when Adams exited, and the Cowboys can’t cover the position.
Dawson Knox, Bills (at TEN). The Titans are weak in coverage against tight ends by default of having good corners, and he could make a few down-the-seam plays.
DFS Bargain
Tyler Eifert, Bengals ($3,300 on DraftKings, $4,600 on FanDuel, vs. ARI). The Cardinals have given up six tight end TDs in four weeks. He just missed on a red zone score against the Steelers. It’s lining up to play off pretty nicely to give you much flexibility with other positions.
Fantasy Football Week 5 Sit ‘Em: Tight ends
Weaker starts
Darren Waller, Raiders (vs. CHI). Waller has been solid, but the Bears have the defenders at linebacker and safety to quiet him.
Jared Cook, Saints (vs. TB). The matchup is in theory good, but it’s very hard to trust this player with Josh Hill also seeing targets.
O.J. Howard, Buccaneers (at NO). He’s borderline droppable should this continue — him spectating while Evans, Godwin and Cameron Brate produce.
Austin Hooper, Falcons (at HOU). The Texans have been very good at covering the position and erased Olsen last week.
Delanie Walker, Titans (vs. BUF). Don’t invest in Buffalo’s passing game against this pass defense.
Jason Witten, Cowboys (vs. GB). He won’t do much here, and Blake Jarwin is getting enough run to keep his ceiling very low.
Fantasy Football Week 5 Start ‘Em: Defenses
Regular starts
Bears (at OAK), Patriots (at WAS)
Stronger starts
Eagles (vs. NYJ), Vikings (at NYG), Texans (vs. ATL), Panthers (vs. JAX), 49ers (vs. CLE), Bills (at TEN), Chargers (vs. DEN)
DFS Bargains
Panthers ($2,600 on DraftKings, $4,400 on FanDuel, vs JAX), Titans ($3,000 on DraftKings, $4,800 on FanDuel, vs BUF)
Fantasy Football Week 5 Sit ‘Em: Defenses
Weaker starts
Rams (at SEA), Ravens (at PIT), Saints (vs. TB), Bengals (vs. ARI), Jaguars (at CAR), Cowboys (vs. GB), Packers (at DAL)