CJ Stroud (QB - HOU) vs the Baltimore Ravens
Patrick Mahomes just torched this defense last week, and although it was Patrick Mahomes, CJ Stroud had his own resurgence against the Titans, going for 233 yards and two touchdowns. Baltimore is 30th against QBs.
Bryce Young (QB - CAR) vs the Miami Dolphins
Justin Fields torched Miami and scored 32 fantasy points in Week 4. Bryce Young has also toned down his turnovers in his last two games and might have to show out to keep his job against Andy Dalton.
Dak Prescott (QB - DAL) vs the New York Jets
Dak has shown out even without his star wide receiver, CeeDee Lamb. He has a great matchup against the New York Jets, which allows the 9th most points to QBs this season. Prescott’s turnover rate has also plummeted since last season. He’s averaging 21 points this season as well.
Jaxson Dart (QB - NYG) vs the New Orleans Saints
One of my favorite waiver wire targets gets a juicy matchup against the Saints. They’re ranked at the bottom of the barrel and have allowed over 200 yards per game in the air and over 118 yards on the ground. Dart is elite with his legs, so expect another big game.
Baker Mayfield (QB - TB) vs the Seattle Seahawks
Baker seems to be matchup proof against a Seattle Seahawks defense that’s middle of the pack. Start him as he’s averaging above 20 points every single game.
Sit 'Em
Geno Smith (QB - LVR) vs the Indianapolis Colts
You probably started Smith with the hope that the Bears matchup would bode well for you, but he ended up with three interceptions. He appears to be volatile and inconsistent, even in a favorable matchup against the Colts.
Tua Tagovailoa (QB - MIA) vs the Carolina Panthers
This is another great matchup, but I just can’t trust Tua. Even in a better game against the Jets, he underperforms in fantasy, and worse still, he loses Tyreek Hill for the rest of the season.
Jake Browning (QB - CIN) vs the Detroit Lions
Detroit has a top-end defense with a premier secondary. Browning hasn’t gotten on the same page as Chase and hasn’t passed over 200 yards since Week 2. Browning did not surpass six fantasy points in Week 3 or 4.
Trevor Lawrence (QB - JAX) vs the Kansas City Chiefs
Lawrence has been a constant sit for me based on the fact that the Jaguars have a terrible passing offense, but a strong rushing game from Travis Etienne. He goes against the 6th-best defense in the Chiefs, which shut down Lamar Jackson. Until things get better, Lawrence is a sit.
Brock Purdy/Mac Jones (QB - SF) vs the Los Angeles Rams
The Rams defense has been underrated, and this turf toe injury has reaggravated for Purdy. His turnovers are also a concern, with a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 1:1.
By Alex Percey
Start 'Em
Quinshon Judkins (RB - CLE) vs the Minnesota Vikings
Judkins is the leader of the Browns' backfield, and there’s no doubt about it. He now faces the Vikings, who allowed 99 yards and two touchdowns to Kenneth Gainwell last week. Judkins has a clear path to putting up similar numbers, with the Browns likely leaning on him to take pressure off Dillon Gabriel.
Woody Marks (RB - HOU) vs the Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens have allowed the most fantasy points to running backs this year. Last week, Marks finally overtook Chubb as the snap leader of the Texans' backfield and had a breakout performance. I think it was a passing of the torch moment, and Marks will lead the Houston rushing attack until Mixon’s eventual return.
David Montgomery (RB - DET) vs the Cincinnati Bengals
From 29 points to two, Montgomery had the biggest RB point dropoff of week four. However, there’s no better get right game in the NFL right now than against Cincinnati. He should bounce back strong.
Emari Demercado (RB - ARI) vs the Tennessee Titans
Emari is making his first start for the Cardinals this week with the absence of both Trey Benson and James Connor. He faces one of the worst run-stopping units in the league and should be in every lineup in week five.
Breece Hall (RB - NYJ) vs the Dallas Cowboys
Hall has been inconsistent to start the year, but there’s no doubt that he will play a big role against the weak Dallas defense. Jacobs had his best game of the season by far against the Cowboys, and I think Breece will do the same. He’s an RB1 this week.
Sit 'Em
Nick Chubb (RB - HOU) vs the Baltimore Ravens
I know, I just talked about how the Ravens are the worst-run defensive unit in the league. However, Chubb just isn’t his old self and has been eclipsed in his own backfield. Honestly, I’d drop him from your roster in favor of Woody Marks, if he’s available, or Kendre Miller if he’s not.
Bill Croskey-Merritt (RB - WAS) vs the Los Angeles Chargers
Now I love Bill as much as the next guy, but this won’t be his breakout week. He’s been receiving less than 10 touches a game, and faces the second-toughest defense against fantasy running backs.
Jordan Mason (RB - MIN) vs the Cleveland Browns
This will likely be Mason’s worst week as a starter. The Browns swallow up running backs, and Mason’s receiving upside is now capped with Xavier Scott playing a bigger role in the offense. Leave Jordan on the bench.
Isiah Pacheco (RB - KC) vs the Jacksonville Jaguars
Pacheco had his best game yet last week, but it was carried by a reception touchdown. The truth is, he isn’t even in command of the backfield. The Jaguars are above-average against the run and have kept games close all year. It’ll be a pass-heavy day for Kansas City this week.
Chase Brown (RB - CIN) vs the Detroit Lions
Chase Brown might be on this list every week until the Bengals trade for a better quarterback. There’s no passing attack, and therefore, the defenses have been selling out to stop Brown. He has totaled only SEVEN yards before contact all year, not quite a recipe for success.
By Alex Percey
Start 'Em
Chris Olave (WR - NO) vs the New York Giants
Though he sits at the fantasy WR25, Chris Olave is second in the league in targets. The opportunities have been there each week, and he has yet to have a performance under 10 PPR points. This week, he faces the Giants, who can’t stop any receivers this season.
Michael Pittman Jr. (WR - IND) vs the Las Vegas Raiders
Vegas has been a vacation for receivers so far this season, allowing the third-most points to the position. Pittman has put up solid performances three out of four weeks this year, and had 10 targets in a loss last week. This could be a huge game for him.
Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR - ARI) vs the Tennessee Titans
I saw something from Marvin Harrison Jr. in the last few minutes of that game against Seattle. It looked like he settled into the offense and finally had a natural connection with Kyler Murray. He has a chance to build on it against the Tennessee Titans, who can’t hold onto the ball to save their lives.
Jameson Williams (WR - DET) vs the Cincinnati Bengals
It’s a simple rule: Start EVERYONE against the Bengals. They have allowed 27 or more points each of the last three weeks, and Bo Nix passed for over 320 yards against them. Jamo should go off this week.
Rashid Shaheed (WR - NO) vs the New York Giants
Another solid Saints wideout benefiting from an easy matchup. Is it crazy to have both him and Olave here? Maybe, but I have actually been impressed with Rattler, who is above league average in Completion Percentage Over Expected. This is a chance for the Saints' offense to get rolling.
Sit 'Em
Jerry Jeudy (WR - CLE) vs the Minnesota Vikings
Outside of the one huge D.K. Metcalf catch and run, the Vikings only allowed 120 pass yards against the Steelers. All year long, they’ve held receivers to below their expected fantasy output, and Jeudy won’t be the one to break that trend, especially with a QB making his first start.
Ladd McConkey (WR - LAC) vs the Washington Commanders
Seriously, what is going on with McConkey? ONE catch last week against the awful Giants, and no top-20 finishes. He’s had fewer receptions each week than the last, and until we see some upward trend, he should ride the bench.
Tee Higgins (WR - CIN) vs the Detroit Lions
The same goes for Tee Higgins, who had been hurt more than anybody by Joe Burrow’s absence. Jake Browning couldn’t throw a back-shoulder fade if his career depended on it, and that’s Tee’s specialty. He’s not startable.
A.J. Brown (WR - PHI) vs the Denver Broncos
I’m still an A.J. Brown fantasy believer, but not this week. Patrick Surtain II will shadow him for most of the game, which doesn’t spell success for the struggling receiver.
Cooper Kupp (WR - SEA) vs the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Over the last two weeks, Kupp has looked like a virtual non-factor for the Seattle Offense. Only 57 yards in two games? That’s rough. They face the Buccaneers, who have been surprisingly good against wideouts, only allowing 20.6 points per game to the position.
By Logan Lazarczyk
Start 'Em
Jake Ferguson (TE - DAL) vs the New York Jets
Ferguson has secured at least five catches in Dallas’ first four games, providing a safe floor for fantasy managers. The 26-year-old tight end faces a Jets’ defense in Week 5 that allowed two touchdowns to Darren Waller, who made his first start of the 2025 NFL season following a brief retirement stint. Ferguson is in line for a potential TE1 overall finish this week in a favorable matchup against New York.
Darren Waller (TE - MIA) vs the Carolina Panthers
Speaking of Waller, the 33-year-old tight end is a sneaky start this week against the Panthers. Against the New England Patriots in Week 4, Carolina allowed three receptions for 63 yards and one touchdown to Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper. Additionally, Tyreek Hill’s unfortunate season-ending knee injury will create more opportunities for Waller to take advantage of as the top red zone target.
Mason Taylor (TE - NYJ) vs the Dallas Cowboys
Taylor emerged as the second pass-catching option for Justin Fields on Monday night, securing five receptions for 65 yards. The Cowboys are scoring 28.5 points per game, but are giving up 33 points per game on the other side of the ball. New York will have to throw to keep up with Dallas, and Taylor should benefit from a high-scoring affair.
Tyler Warren (TE - IND) vs the Las Vegas Raiders
The rookie tight end has surpassed 70 receiving yards in all but one game this season, and he is a good bet to hit paydirt in Week 5. The Raiders have allowed the 28th fewest points to tight ends this season, but Las Vegas has not faced a tight end of Warren’s caliber. The Penn State product has an extremely high floor and could produce a monster performance against a leaky secondary.
Sam LaPorta (TE - DET) vs the Cincinnati Bengals
It has been a disappointing start to the season for LaPorta, who hasn’t tallied 40 yards or been targeted more than four times in a game since Week 1, but this could be a get-right game for the third-year tight end. The Bengals are reeling right now, and that defense is a reason the season has no hopes of turning around in Cincinnati. The Bengals are allowing the ninth-most points to tight ends this season.
Sit 'Em
Dallas Goedert (TE - PHI) vs the Denver Broncos
Goedert is coming off a two-touchdown performance in Week 4, but this week is an entirely different animal against Denver’s defense. This game is primed to be a slugfest, and the Eagles’ offense is too up-and-down to trust against lockdown defense like the Broncos. Goedert has caught five passes for 70 yards and three touchdowns over the past two weeks. If he does not score a touchdown, his floor is extremely low.
Mark Andrews (TE - BAL) vs the Houston Texans
Many variables are working against Andrews in Week 5. Lamar Jackson is unlikely to play due to a hamstring injury, and the Texans' defense is an elite unit, allowing the 26th fewest points to opposing tight ends. Other than a six-reception, 91-yard, two-touchdown performance in Week 3, Andrews has posted pedestrian numbers in his other three outings.
Zach Ertz (TE - WAS) vs the Los Angeles Chargers
Without Jayden Daniels under center, Ertz has not been as effective, with only five catches for 59 yards across the last two weeks. With the quarterback situation still unknown and the Chargers’ irritating defense, the 34-year-old tight end is difficult to trust in Week 5.
Brock Bowers (TE - LV) vs the Indianapolis Colts
Bowers’ usage over the past few weeks has been frustrating, as the second-year tight end has caught 13 passes for 122 yards during that span. The Colts are middle of the pack against opposing tight ends, but Bowers is tough to trust with his knee injury, paired with Geno Smith turning over the ball as often as he does.
David Njoku (TE - CLE) vs the Minnesota Vikings
Njoku’s ceiling has been capped by Harold Fannin Jr.'s presence and the Browns’ inept offense with Joe Flacco under center. Rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel is expected to make his first career start on Sunday, which does not improve the circumstances. In addition, the Vikings are the eighth-ranked defense in fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends. The 29-year-old tight end has yet to surpass 40 yards in any game this season.
By Dominic Orrico
Start 'Em
Spencer Shrader (K - IND) vs the Las Vegas Raiders
This is a game where the Colts will be in the Raiders' end zone frequently. He’s 13/14 on FG and 12/12 on extra points this year. He’s the number one-ranked kicker for a reason. Start him.
Jason Myers (K - SEA) vs the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This is going to be a game, and Myers is ranked 3rd overall among kickers. He’s a solid start, having scored over 13 points in both games.
Sit 'Em
Joey Slye (K - TEN) vs the Arizona Cardinals
He started fantastically with 15 and 17 points in Weeks 1-2, but has fallen off a cliff, and with the Titans' struggles, there’s no reason he should be started in any format.
Andre Smzyt (K - CLE) vs the Minnesota Vikings
Cleveland has been a terrible team offensively, and the rookie kicker doesn’t have opportunities. He was 50% last week with FGs: no reason to start him as there are better options and matchups.
By Logan Lazarczyk
Start 'Em
Detroit Lions D/ST vs the Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns D/ST vs the Minnesota Vikings
New York Giants D/ST vs the New Orleans Saints
Arizona Cardinals D/ST vs the Tennessee Titans
Minnesota Vikings D/ST vs the Cleveland Browns
Sit 'Em
Jacksonville Jaguars D/ST vs the Kansas City Chiefs
