Here are my fantasy football rankings, tiers and outlook for notable players Week 5.
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Fantasy Football Rankings, Tiers & Start/Sit Lineup Advice: Week 5
Quarterbacks Rankings & Tiers
Fantasy Football Start/Sit Lineup Advice: Quarterbacks
Justin Fields is averaging 59.3 rushing yards per game, with three TD runs in three games. His passing numbers haven’t been terrible, and Fields has a fantastic matchup against a Dallas pass defense that has allowed a league-high 309.3 passing yards per game and 10 TD passes. Dallas is giving up a league-worst 9.2 yards per pass attempt. Fields is close to an auto-start this week.
Sam Darnold is QB21 in fantasy scoring this season, but over the last three weeks he’s QB14. Darnold has been playing well. He’s completed 70.0% of his passes and is averaging a league-high 9.1 yards per pass attempt. The only real problem with Darnold from a fantasy standpoint has been that the Seahawks are the second run-heaviest team in the league, running the ball on 53% of their offensive snaps. Darnold is averaging 25 pass attempts per game. On the bright side, Seattle’s run-heaviness bodes well for Darnold’s efficiency. When you run the ball well, it declaws the pass rush, and play-action passes are than much more effective because opponents have to honor the run. I have Darnold ranked QB14 this week against the Buccaneers.
Can Jaxson Dart‘s running make him a consistently fantasy-viable quarterback? He had 12 carries for 54 yards and a touchdown against the Chargers in his first NFL start. But Dart had 111 passing yards and one touchdown on 20 attempts. He’s a willing and able runner — almost too willing. He often looks to his first read, and if the receiver is covered, Dart takes off and runs. The rushing numbers are probably going to be more bankable than Dart’s passing numbers — especially now that Giants WR Malik Nabers is out for the year with a torn ACL. The Saints have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing QBs and have the NFL’s third-worst opponent passer rating, but is Dart ready to take advantage of a good passing matchup? I’m ranking Dart QB15.
Running Backs Rankings & Tiers
Fantasy Football Start/Sit Lineup Advice: Running Backs
Omarion Hampton has 198 rushing yards and two TD runs over his last two games, and he’s averaged 6.4 yards per carry over that stretch. We’ve also seen encouraging usage in the passing game: Hampton has 11 catches for 96 yards over the last two weeks. But the ankle injury to starting offensive tackle Joe Alt is a concern. The Chargers were already without starting tackle Rashawn Slater, who tore his patellar tendon in training camp. The Chargers are going to be undermanned on the offensive line against a Washington run defense that ranks fifth in DVOA. Still, Hampton is a no-brainer start and a midrange RB1 this week.
The absence of Lamar Jackson is worrisome for Derrick Henry‘s outlook. Jackson’s mobility helps loosen up defenses for Henry, but Jackson is going to miss at least one game with a knee injury. With backup QB Cooper Rush getting the start for Baltimore, Derrick Henry‘s TD outlook is diminished, and he’s probably going to see a lot of heavy boxes against the Texans, who are probably going to dare Rush to beat them through the air rather than let Henry beat them.
I’m nervous about having Javonte Williams ranked as a low-end RB1 when the Cowboys are down three starting offensive linemen. They were already without Cooper Beebe and first-round draft pick Tyler Booker, and now Tyler Guyton has a concussion and probably won’t play against the Jets this week. But Javonte’s investors have to be delighted with the return they’ve gotten thus far. Javonte has scored four touchdowns in four games and is averaging 5.0 yards per carry (5.4 yards per carry since Week 2). He’s also been heavily involved as a pass catcher, with 16 receptions. The only running backs with more receptions than Javonte are Christian McCaffrey, Jahmyr Gibbs, De’Von Achane, Bucky Irving and Bijan Robinson. Despite the depleted Dallas offensive line, Javonte is a must-start against the Jets.
Quinshon Judkins has 39 carries and six targets over the last two weeks. He’s gotten a carry or a target on 60% of his snaps over his last two games. The Browns’ passing game probably isn’t going to be pretty this week with rookie QB Dillon Gabriel making his first NFL start against the Vikings in London. But you just have to steer into the big workload with Judkins. The Browns are probably going to run Judkins hard to try to take the pressure off Gabriel. But if the Browns can’t pick up first downs, Judkins’ touch volume is going to be muted even if the Browns are force-feeding him. I’m regarding Judkins as a high-end or midrange RB2.
The Browns are giving up 2.9 yards per carry to running backs. If Jordan Mason can’t get it going on the ground against Cleveland, he’s probably not going to have a very good day, because he doesn’t add much as a pass catcher. Mason has just six catches for 30 yards so far. But Mason will continue to dominate carries for the Vikings while Aaron Jones is on injured reserve. So despite the tough matchup and lack of pass-catching upside, Mason profiles as a midrange RB2.
David Montgomery hasn’t gotten more than 12 rushing attempts in any of Detroit’s first four games, but Monty is still a good matchup play against the Bengals. The Lions are 10.5-point favorites, so the game script figures to be run-friendly. The Bengals have given up the second-most rushing yards and the second-most rushing attempts to RBs.
Chase Brown is tied for RB32 in half-point PPR fantasy scoring, but he’s averaging 17 touches a game. The volume gives Brown a reasonable floor, even if the state of the Cincinnati offense gives Brown a basement rec room type of ceiling. Consider him a low-end RB2.
Is Woody Marks taking over the Texans’ backfield? Marks out-snapped Nick Chubb 40-30 and out-touched him 21-15 last week in Houston’s 26-0 win over Tennessee. I think Nick Chubb is still going to have a role. But your offensive line is as bad as Houston’s it’s good to have a creator at running back — someone who can make defenders miss. Marks has more make-you-miss ability than Chubb. It’s hard to be wildly optimistic about Marks’ overall outlook when the Texans’ offensive line is so bad. But Marks’ pass-catching ability raises his floor and gives him a second possible path to fantasy success. Marks had four catches for 50 yards and a touchdowns on five targets last week.
TreVeyon Henderson was out-snapped by Rhamondre Stevenson 28-15 last week in the Patriots’ 42-13 cakewalk victory over the Panthers, but the good news is that Henderson got nine touches on his limited snaps, finishing with 7-32-1 rushing and 2-14-0 receiving. Although he’s stuck in a committee, Henderson is still a viable flex option this week against a suspect Bills run defense that ranks 30th in DVOA and is allowing 5.4 yards per carry to RBs.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt‘s usage has been suboptimal. Last week, Croskey-Merritt played 20 snaps, Chris Rodriguez Jr. played 20 snaps, and Jeremy McNichols played 19 snaps. With a limited workload, it’s hard to feel good about starting “Bill” in a tough matchup in a Chargers defense that has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to RBs. But Croskey-Merritt ranks No. 1 among NFL running backs in rushing success rate, and PFF has JCM as their second-highest-graded RB. Keep JCM on ice this week and hope that the Commanders start giving him more substantial weekly workloads.
A lot of fantasy managers are tempted to start Bhayshul Tuten this week, but the Jaguars’ usage of him doesn’t justify it. The rookie has played 50 snaps this season and hasn’t played more than 18 snaps in any game.
Wide Receivers Rankings & Tiers
Fantasy Football Start/Sit Lineup Advice: Wide Receivers
After I posted my Week 5 rankings on Tuesday morning, someone on Twitter asked me why I was still ranking Chase as a top-10 receiver. This Twitter follower didn’t identify himself as a Ja’Marr Chase stakeholder, but it was pretty obvious that he was, and no doubt he was distraught by what he had seen from Jake Browning and the Cincinnati offense Monday night against the Broncos. I understand that some people might be thinking about benching Chase after he had five catches for 23 yards vs. Denver. I’m continuing to rank Chase as a top-10 receiver because he’s demonstrated that he’s insanely good at football. When Joe Burrow had a season-ending injury in 2023 and Browning had to make a bunch of starts, Chase had some good games, including an 11-149-1 performance against Jacksonville. On the other hand, Chase averaged 3.5 catches and 38.3 receiving yards over the last four games he played with Browning in 2023. I’m not trying to sugarcoat things for the Chase investors. The situation is bleak. But I don’t think it’s crazy to rank this undeniably great player as a low-end WR1 in a week where there are four teams on bye and a bunch of good receivers are hurt. I think the fantasy managers who have Chase should continue to start him.
I under-ranked George Pickens last week because I was worried that he would be miscast as an alpha receiver with CeeDee Lamb out. After all, Pickens had been miscast as a lead receiver in Pittsburgh. Well, Pickens made me look silly by finishing with 8-134-2 on 11 targets against the Packers, making him the fantasy WR2 for the week. I’m still a little nervous about ranking Pickens as a WR1 this week when he’s probably going to be seeing a lot of Jets CB Sauce Gardner. On the other hand, Pickens had 5-111-1 against Sauce and the Jets last season.
You’d have to imagine that Jaylen Waddle is going to get some additional targets with Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill out for the season. Things haven’t been great for Waddle this season. His single-game high in yardage this season is 68 yards, and he’s been under 50 yards in every other game. But I’m not ready to stop betting on a former top-10 draft pick who began his career with three straight 1,000-yard seasons. I’m slotting Waddle as a high-end WR2 in this week’s rankings.
Jakobi Meyers is only WR37 in fantasy scoring, but if you go beneath the surface stats, things look rosier. Meyers has a robust 26.8% target share. He ranks sixth among wide receivers in yards after the catch and 25th in air yards. And Meyers has a nice matchup against the Colts, who have allowed the second-most receptions and fifth-most receiving yards to wide receivers.
Quentin Johnston ranks WR4 in half-point PPR fantasy scoring. He’s third in receiving yardage, tied for third in touchdowns with four, tied for third in receptions of 20 yards or longer with seven, second in air yards. The breakout looks real. QJ was talented enough to be a first-round pick in 2023. He was drafted 21st overall and was the second wide receiver taken in that draft, with Jaxson Smith-Njigba going one spot earlier. Johnston looks supremely confident catching the ball now, and we’re seeing the version of QJ that the Chargers thought they were getting when they drafted him — a big, fast playmaker who’s an absolute monster after the catch and a physical mismatch for pretty much every defender who tries to cover him. I’m below consensus on Johnston simply because the Chargers have three good receivers, and I don’t think Ladd McConkey will continue to be so unproductive. But Johnston has earned must-start status.
Michael Pittman has had at least four catches in every game, and he has an appealing Week 5 matchup against a Raiders defense that has allowed the fourth-most receiving yards and the fourth most receptions to wide receivers. But I do think it’s fair to be wary of the touchdown output for Michael Pittman so far. He has three TD catches, but he’s had only one red-zone target this year.
I’m stubbornly ranking Ladd McConkey as a low-end WR2 even though he has 16-174-0 through four games and is currently tied for WR56 in half-point PPR fantasy scoring, just behind Luke McCaffrey, Hunter Renfrow and DeAndre Hopkins. McConkey’s 82-1,149-7 rookie season in 2024 was no mirage. Start him this week against the Commanders.
I wasn’t sure how much Addison was going to play in his first game back from suspension. He wound up playing 96.1% of the Vikings’ offensive snaps last week against the Steelers. He had 4-114-0 on eight targets. A big 81-yard catch late in the game made Addison’s day. Yes, Addison is the second banana behind Justin Jefferson. No, QB Carson Wentz doesn’t inspire confidence in the Minnesota passing game. But Addison is a terrific player whose usage in his first game back from suspension was very reassuring him.
Malik Washington should be prominently involved in the Miami passing attack in the weeks to come with Tyreek Hill out for the season. Washington’s average depth of target is 5.1 yards, according to Pro Football Reference, so it’s reasonable to expect good target and reception totals but not a lot of big plays. Washington will probably be more valuable in full-point PPR leagues than standard leagues. It’s worth remembering that Washington had 110 catches for 1,426 yards in his final college season at Virginia. And Washington adds some rushing value as well. He has eight carries for 60 yards this season.
I certainly didn’t expect Chris Godwin to have an 86% snap share, 10 targets and 146 air yards in his first game back from that gruesome ankle injury he sustained at midseason last year. Godwin only had three catches for 26 yards, but the usage was encouraging. Godwin profiles as a low-end WR3 or high-end WR4 in a tough matchup against the Seahawks, whose defense currently ranks No. 1 in DVOA.
With Malik Nabers out for the year with a torn ACL, Darius Slayton becomes fantasy-viable. That’s not to say he’s an especially attractive options. I suspect that Wan’Dale Robinson is going to be more heavily targeted than Slayton. The concern with Slayton is that the Giants are probably going to be run-heavy with Jaxson Dart at quarterback. Dart is also a one-read quarterback at the moment, and since Slayton tends to run deeper routes than Wan’Dale or TE Theo Johnson, I’m not sure how often Slayton is going to be the first read. I’m ranking Slayton as a high-end WR4 this week against the Saints.
Tight Ends Rankings & Tiers
Fantasy Football Start/Sit Lineup Advice: Tight Ends
Dallas Goedert has drawn 13 targets in three games and is averaging 9.6 yards per catch. But in a bleak TE landscape, touchdowns are gold, and Goedert has scored three touchdowns in three games. Goedert is a midrange TE1 this week.
Brenton Strange unexpectedly leads the Jaguars in receptions (19) and receiving yards (182). He’s had at least 45 receiving yards in three of the Jaguars’ first four games. But the Jaguars’ passing game looks pretty limited with Trevor Lawrence, and Strange is going up against a Chiefs defense that has allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends. Consider Strange a low-end TE1.
Darren Waller played only 16 snaps last week in his first game of the season but had two touchdowns against the Jets. Waller is expected to play more this week against the Panthers, who have allowed the second-most receptions and sixth-most fantasy points to TEs. With Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill out for the season, Waller suddenly becomes an important weapon in the Miami passing attack.
With Isaiah Likely back from injury last week, Mark Andrews‘ route participation dropped to just under 50%. But Andrews was still pretty busy, with 7-30-0 on eight targets. Andrews has had 13 receptions over his last two games. We can’t spin the absence of Lamar Jackson (knee) as a positive for Andrews this week, but maybe he’ll be a frequent safety valve for backup QB Cooper Rush this week vs. the Texans. I’m ranking Andrews as a high-end TE2.
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