Week 5 Fantasy Rankings: Who should you start & sit this week? | Fantasy Focus

A.J. Brown is ineligible for another week and doesn't sound like he's going to play in week six either. His absence impacts Drake May's passing options this week.

A.J. Brown becomes a primary target for Jalen Hurts in the Eagles' London matchup against Jacksonville with multiple Eagles receivers potentially sidelined by injury (Devontae Smith, Dallas Goddard, Saquon Barkley), concentrating target share among remaining options.

Over last three games with Jordan Mason out, Aaron Jones has 37 carries and 14 targets across two weeks, running at approximately 80% snap share. This week he faces the Saints, who have allowed the most yards, touchdowns, and fantasy points to running backs this season: 25-plus points to three running backs (both Robinsons last week, DeAndre Swift earlier), 17 to Derek Henry, and 21.7 combined to the two Raiders running backs. Great volume and great matchup make this a chase-worthy week.

Aaron Jones is a sell-high candidate once Jordan Mason returns in the next week or two. Source values him as a fringe RB2 or flex play going forward. While he should be used this week, the wheels could fall off at any time once Mason returns, and his value will take a big hit.

Aaron Rodgers is ranked 17th among quarterbacks in Week 5 fantasy rankings.

Bo Nix is ranked 14th among quarterbacks in Week 5 fantasy rankings.

Bowers scored 28 points against New Orleans, demonstrating the Saints' vulnerability at tight end. This matchup result is cited as evidence that TJ Hawkinson and other tight ends should have strong performances against New Orleans in week 5.

Brock Purdy is tied for ninth among quarterbacks in Week 5 fantasy rankings.

CJ Stroud is ranked 19th among quarterbacks in Week 5 fantasy rankings.

Carnell Tate had a quiet, concerning start to the season but is trending up. After 6 for 58 on 9 targets against the Giants two weeks ago, he exploded with 9 for 145 on 12 targets against the Ravens. His target share is now just under 30% (9th in the entire NFL), though it was 43% in Week 4. Main concern is finding the end zone: he has zero touchdowns so far with only one end zone target and an expected touchdown total of just 0.8 despite high volume. The Titans receivers have the easiest remaining schedule. This week he faces Houston, who has allowed the most fantasy points to wide receivers (44.6 per game) and at least 18 fantasy points to a receiver in every game this season. Tate should be locked in this week.

Christian Watson is still in the source's consideration with target share in a third pass-heaviest Packers offense. However, source prefers Matthew Golden over Watson because Golden is peppered closer to the line of scrimmage with easier opportunities to use his athleticism.

Loveland is the preferred start over Jock Pederson this week due to Pederson's lack of target volume; the source notes that with Loveland, 'that's a passable day' and they'll take it, expecting bigger games once Caleb returns.

Loveland makes the top 10 tight end rankings for Week 5, indicating he is viewed as a viable starting option at the position this week.

Despite a slow start (2, 3, 4 targets in first three weeks), Loveland posted 9 targets last week (6 catches, 57 yards) and the source expects this elevated volume to be the new standard going forward. The source emphasizes Loveland's elite athleticism and talent at a position with few comparable athletes at the top level, and is rolling with him as a low-end TE1 despite the slow start, trusting the talent and hoping for continued involvement at the level shown in week 4.

DJ Moore is still awaiting word on his status for this week. He is dealing with a shoulder injury that has been aggravated this past week. He is ranked WR23 in Week 5 rankings.

Despite a declining box score (RB5 week one, RB16 week two, RB22 week three, RB37 week four; only one game over 12.9 fantasy points), DeAndre Swift remains the RB1 in the Eagles backfield. He is 8th in touches, 10th in scrimmage yards, and 4th among running backs with eight carries inside the five-yard line, securing goal line touches. The Packers have allowed eight total touchdowns to running backs (second most in NFL) and third most rushing yards, presenting a bounce-back opportunity. Swift will remain at least 50-50 in the backfield even if Kyle Menunga gets hot, as Swift is not going anywhere and will be involved in passing situations.

Dak Prescott is ranked eighth among quarterbacks in Week 5 fantasy rankings.

Debo Samuel has 15 or more fantasy points in three of his four games this year, which doesn't feel sustainable. He has had some weird games, including one with zero targets for eight yards. He is ranked WR30 in Week 5 rankings and is on the flex radar this week.

Deshaun Watson is ranked 16th among quarterbacks in Week 5 fantasy rankings.

Deshaun Watson's projection for the Jets matchup is elevated partly due to historical turnover tendency still factored into defensive projections; his efficiency projections are improving as the season progresses and sample size increases, but he retains some liability in turnover-prone areas given his mistakes early in the season.

Devontae Smith could be out for the Eagles' Week 5 matchup against the Jaguars in London, creating uncertainty around his availability and target share.

Drake May is tied for ninth among quarterbacks in Week 5 fantasy rankings; trending upward after strong performance last week where he was allowed to weaponize his elite rushing ability; fourth in the NFL in quarterback rushing yards and fifth in rushing attempts; posted over 50 rushing yards last week; faces the Raiders this week.

Drake May deserves to be inside the top 10 of quarterbacks this week despite missing A.J. Brown (ineligible) and Mac Hollins. The Raiders are middle of the pack (16th in fantasy points per game allowed to opposing QBs), and May has shown improvement after struggling through brutal first three matchups. The source notes that after this week, May faces very notable matchups against the Jets and Bears, but the current schedule is more palatable than his opening slate. With A.J. Brown's eventual return and schedule normalization, May could become a consistent top-6 to top-8 QB option.

Emmanuel Wilson remains the lead running back for Seattle after the team did not sign Joe Mixon; ranked as a top 20 running back for Week 5 and the second most added player off waivers; positioned as low-end RB2/flex option for the short term.

Wilson is the third choice in a PPR league start-two decision behind Judkins and Love; despite the source being a Wilson apologist due to situation, they still lean toward the other two guys.

In a mailbag question asking to start two of Quinchan Judkins, Jeremiah Love, or Emmanuel Wilson in PPR this week, the source is an apologist for Wilson because of the situation but would still lean toward Judkins and Love. Wilson is ranked in the top 20 this week because of the volume he's getting.

George Pickens has had a bottom-five percentile outcome through four games despite strong underlying metrics: 9th in routes run, but only 24th in targets, 22nd in receptions, and 28th in receiving yards. He has only one end zone target, which needs to change given his size and talent. The Buccaneers have allowed a wide receiver to reach 20-plus fantasy points in two separate games this year (against Cleveland, Minnesota, and Green Bay), so this is not a scary matchup. Source believes Pickens' revenge tour begins Thursday night against Tampa Bay.

Pickens is projected to score three touchdowns in Dallas Cowboys' week 5 matchup against Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as part of a streaming defense recommendation for the Cowboys.

Jacoby Brissett breaks into the top 10 quarterback rankings for the first time this season at rank seven; he is a must-start this week against the Detroit Lions, a favorable matchup.

Jalen Hurts is ranked 13th among quarterbacks in Week 5, outside the top 12 for the third straight week; has scored under 16.5 fantasy points in back-to-back weeks; the source suggests his performance is unlikely to improve soon; recommendation is to bench him rather than start him this week.

Facing the Jaguars in London with significant offensive line injuries (Lane Johnson out) and potential absences of Devontae Smith, Dallas Goddard, and Saquon Barkley; forced to throw primarily to A.J. Brown, Zach Ertz, and DeVonta Smith, creating a challenging matchup despite the Eagles' demonstrated toughness and ability to stay competitive in difficult games.

Jared Goff is ranked fourth among quarterbacks in Week 5 fantasy rankings.

Jared Goff is receiving positive attention in week five, with Mike Clay (known as a perennial Goff skeptic) giving him flowers this week. The source notes that Goff is typically not a lineup lock except when streaming, but this week appears to be an exception where he's being recommended.

Jaden Daniels is ranked third among quarterbacks in Week 5 fantasy rankings.

Love is the second-ranked start in a PPR league start-two decision over Emmanuel Wilson this week; the source agrees he should be started alongside Judkins.

In a mailbag question asking to start two of Quinchan Judkins, Jeremiah Love, or Emmanuel Wilson in PPR this week, the source recommends Love as one of the two starts.

Joe Burrow is ranked second among quarterbacks in Week 5 fantasy rankings.

Joe Mixon's foot injury that cost him all of 2025 appears to still be a problem in 2026; the source suspects his professional football career could well be over, making his potential signing by Seattle unlikely.

Jordan Love is ranked 15th among quarterbacks in Week 5 fantasy rankings.

Josh Allen is ranked first among quarterbacks in Week 5 fantasy rankings.

Johnson is 5th among tight ends in routes run and targets, and 3rd in end zone targets, giving him consistent volume and red zone opportunity; he benefits from the Saints' pass-heavy offense (Tyler Shuck has 18 more passing attempts than any other QB in the league) and poor Saints defense that will likely continue to rely on passing.

Kyler Murray is ranked 12th among quarterbacks in Week 5 fantasy rankings.

Lamar Jackson has a slim chance to play Sunday night against the Falcons; reporting indicates this could be a multi-week absence, making the present week very unlikely to happen. Mike Clay has already removed Lamar from projections, showing a zero by design.

Mac Hollins, who was discussed as a potential Patriots wide receiver one or two, doesn't sound like he would be available this weekend. This further depletes Drake May's receiving options.

Andrews had at least 9.5 points against New Orleans, contributing to evidence of the Saints' vulnerability at tight end for week 5 matchups.

Matthew Golden has been great this year with 9th in targets and four straight games with six-plus targets. He has two weeks as a top-20 wide receiver, both with over 15.5 fantasy points. The Packers are the third pass-heaviest offense so far, and with running backs being weak, Jordan Love is forced to throw frequently. Source likes Matthew Golden more than Christian Watson because he is peppered closer to the line of scrimmage with easy stuff he can use with his athleticism. He is a flex consideration this week.

Matthew Stafford is ranked sixth among quarterbacks in Week 5 fantasy rankings.

Mayer scored against New Orleans, part of a pattern showing the Saints' defensive weakness at tight end in week 5.

Michael Wilson faces the Lions, who have given up six games of at least 19.9 fantasy points to a tight end or wide receiver so far this year. Wilson has 30 targets over the last two weeks (most in the NFL) and is fourth in the NFL in targets overall. The source ranks him as an easy top-10 play this week against the vulnerable Lions secondary.

Harris is receiving minimal goal-line carries in New York; the source describes him as 'the husk of Najee Harris' and notes that the Jets are not seeding goal-line carries to him, instead relying heavily on Scadaboo who is 10th in the NFL in carries.

Fant's return from injury (he was a scratch Monday night against Atlanta) could slightly reduce Juwan Johnson's target volume; his status for the upcoming weekend is uncertain.

Puka Nakua returned last week and looked good, delivering one of the best performances of the weekend. He is ranked WR1 in Week 5 rankings.

Judkins is the preferred start in a PPR league start-two decision over Jeremiah Love and Emmanuel Wilson this week; the source identifies him as the straightforward choice.

Romeo Dobbs got hurt and is unavailable, removing another receiving option from Drake May's arsenal.

Sam Darnold is ranked 18th among quarterbacks in Week 5 fantasy rankings.

LaPorte had at least 9.5 points against New Orleans, part of the pattern showing Saints' tight end defense weakness for week 5.

Saquon Barkley could be out for the Eagles' Week 5 matchup against the Jaguars in London due to injury, creating uncertainty around his availability and workload.

In the Eagles' first four games this season, the best an Eagles running back has done is 11.9 fantasy points (Tank Bigsby); Saquon Barkley had two nine-point games in his two healthy games, significantly underperforming compared to Bears running back production. The source expresses lack of faith in Eagles running backs this season.

Tank Bigsby has the best fantasy output among Eagles running backs so far this season with 11.9 fantasy points, which is significantly lower than Bears running back production (Kyle Monungay has topped 20 points twice in four games).

Tee Higgins is dealing with an adductor injury and is still day-to-day, but the source is feeling good about his status. He is ranked WR15 in Week 5 rankings.

Trevor Lawrence is ranked fifth among quarterbacks in Week 5 fantasy rankings.

McBride's historical target share with Kyler Murray is cited as precedent for Hawkinson's current volume: McBride averaged 27% target share in weeks 1–5 last season when healthy, and 30% for the full prior season, establishing a pattern of high tight end volume in Arizona's offense under Murray.

Trey McBride is positioned as an every-week starter for the Cardinals, indicating consistent high-volume usage and role security.

In 17 career games with 80%+ snap share, Huntley has posted 12 passing touchdowns and under 180 passing yards per game; while he adds value with his legs, the source notes that offensive projections for Baltimore scoring naturally decline going from Lamar Jackson to Huntley as the starter.

Tyler Huntley will take over as quarterback if Lamar Jackson is out. In 17 career games where he played at least 80% of snaps, Huntley has 17 total touchdowns (only 12 passing) and averages just under 180 passing yards per game. He can add value with his legs, but his passing production is limited.

Will Shipley is expected to get more opportunities and touch the ball more than Kyle Monungay; the source notes Shipley will likely have more touches and snaps, though exact snap share is uncertain (possibly 45–70%), but acknowledges Shipley will play more volume despite potential efficiency concerns.

Ertz's prior productivity with Kyler Murray is cited as historical evidence that Arizona's offense under Murray supports elite tight end production, establishing a pattern before Trey McBride's breakout.

Zach Ertz becomes a primary target for Jalen Hurts in the Eagles' London matchup against Jacksonville with multiple Eagles receivers potentially sidelined by injury (Devontae Smith, Dallas Goddard, Saquon Barkley), concentrating target share among remaining options.

Zay Flowers has been absolutely electric when playing, but Lamar Jackson's injury creates a discount on her value. The optimal version of Zay Flowers includes Lamar on the field; without him, there is a meaningful downgrade, though not enough to warrant removal from fantasy lineups entirely.

In two games with Tyler Huntley at quarterback last season, Zay Flowers averaged 13.6 fantasy points per game with one fine game, one pretty good game, and one average game; the source indicates Flowers should be fine despite the quarterback change.

Zay Flowers is ranked as a better play than Michael Wilson this week despite Lamar Jackson being unlikely to be available. Flowers is seventh in the NFL in run-after-catch per reception and fourth in the NFL in receiving yards. The source emphasizes getting the ball out quick to let Flowers do the heavy lifting, noting he has played hurt (45% of snaps in one game, missed second half of another) yet remains absolutely electric. The source advises not to be blinded by Wilson's trendy 30 targets over two weeks.