Fantasy Football Week 5 Start/Sit Advice: 14 Sleepers & Duds (2025)

“Darius Slayton will be a popular pickup with Malik Nabers done for the year, but rightfully so. He has years of experience as a deep threat, and this week he gets the beatable Saints defense – one that is tied for the third-most receiving TDs allowed in 2025.”
– Kevin Roberts (The DFS Build)

Mason Taylor (TE – NYJ)

“Last week, I called Mason Taylor an appealing waiver wire pickup and streaming option ahead of the matchup against the Miami Dolphins. The former LSU star didn’t fail me, ending Week 4 as the TE11, totaling 11.5 PPR fantasy points. The rookie had five receptions on seven targets for 65 receiving yards, ranking second on the team behind Garrett Wilson in every category. More importantly, Taylor has 13 targets over the past two weeks, the second-most behind Wilson (21). Meanwhile, the Jets face the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5. They have surrendered 11.1 fantasy points per game to tight ends this season, allowing 12 or more in all but one contest. Therefore, Taylor (TE24 and 138th overall) is an appealing streaming option again in Week 5 and has rest-of-season value.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)

“A sleeper start I like this week is Mason Taylor against a weak Cowboys defense. Taylor has led the Jets’ tight ends in snap share all season, and last week, he set a career high with seven targets. In Week 4 against Miami, it felt like the only pass catchers making plays were Mason Taylor and Garrett Wilson. We also nearly saw Tucker Kraft put up TE1 numbers if not for getting stopped twice at the 1-yard line, which shows how vulnerable this defense can be. If you need a bye-week replacement at tight end in Week 5, Taylor is in a great spot.”
– Brady Auer (BA Sports Podcast)

Kendre Miller (RB – NO)

“Kendre Miller as a flex play this week versus the Giants? Why not? Miller was surprisingly heavily involved last week versus the Bills, gathering 12 touches and a rushing score in the loss. Up next is the New York Giants, who have struggled mightily against running backs this year. The Giants have conceded at least one touchdown to opposing running backs in each of their first four outings, and after last week’s impressive outing, Miller could be in line for more work this week.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)

“Kendre Miller looked terrific against the Bills last week and might be a worthwhile flex play in a week where there are some good RBs on bye. It’s not as if Miller is mounting a siege against Alvin Kamara, but Miller has played 20 and 21 offensive snaps the last two weeks, and with 20 touches over that span, he’s been getting a touch on nearly half his snaps. It’s not a big enough role to provide consistent fantasy value, but Miller could provide flex value in the right matchup. He had 11-65-1 rushing last week against a leaky Bills run defense that’s giving up 6.0 yards per carry this season. Now, Miller gets a Week 5 matchup against a Giants run defense that ranks dead last in DVOA and is allowing 6.1 yards per carry.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)

Malik Washington (WR – MIA)

“Malik Washington is my sleeper of the week, primarily due to the season-ending injury to Tyreek Hill. While his recent stat lines have been modest (just the two catches for 13 yards in Week 4), Hill’s vacated target share immediately elevates Washington to a much bigger role alongside Jaylen Waddle. The Dolphins’ coaching staff has already shown snippets of getting him more involved via designed runs and special teams opportunities, giving him both a solid floor for touches and an explosive upside that makes him a great flex option this week, especially in deep leagues.”
– Luke Renton (The Franchise Tag UK)

Alec Pierce (WR – IND)

“Outside the Top 100? I’ll raise and go outside the Top 175. Alec Pierce has been flying under the radar on this red-hot Colts team. After missing last week with a concussion, Adonai Mitchell stepped in and had every opportunity to have a massive game. As we know, fumbling when running into the endzone is not ideal. That leaves Pierce to walk right back into the role, where he had back-to-back 4-reception 65+ yard games. He is a high-ceiling play that has a surprisingly solid floor against an exploitable Raiders defense.”
– Ellis Johnson (FantasyPros)

Isaiah Davis (RB – NYJ)

“This one is deep and is a top waiver wire pickup, but Isaiah Davis needs to be in your flex consideration. His role will change and increase with Braelon Allen out. We have seen him have a role in the passing game, and the matchup is pristine. They get the Dallas Cowboys this week, who are allowing over 30 points and 300 passing yards per game.”
– David Heilman (Sports Gambling Podcast Network)

Dalton Schultz (TE – HOU)

“My favorite streaming TE this week is Dalton Schultz against the Baltimore Ravens. They’ve been generous to opposing tight ends, allowing the fourth-most receiving yards and seventh-most fantasy points at the position. Schultz ranks in the top 12 among TEs in targets, receptions, and air yards, but he hasn’t scored a touchdown yet. With this favorable matchup, he could finally find the end zone and provide strong TE1 value.”
– Kyle Zeigler (Fantasy In Frames)

Isaiah Bond (WR – CLE)

“Isaiah Bond is a player that most fantasy owners didn’t know until last week (or even when looking at this week’s waiver wire order). He was Matthew Golden‘s running mate in college and put up similar numbers. He was guaranteed to be drafted in May’s NFL Draft until he faced legal challenges. Bond was eventually cleared and signed with the Browns. Last week, he finally showed up on the fantasy radar with six targets, three receptions, and 58 yards. While this is a modest number, it is sure to expand with Cedric Tillman being put on IR and Dillon Gabriel starting at quarterback, who could look to the rookie wide receiver often. Grab this speedy receiver, and he will definitely help you navigate the upcoming bye weeks and growing injuries.”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)

Duds

Which player inside the top 40 in the FantasyPros flex rankings is likely to disappoint fantasy managers this week?

Jordan Mason (RB – MIN)

“Is the Jordan Mason Hype Train off the rails already? Perhaps. I think he’s still a good start, but the matchup with Cleveland (No. 2 against RBs) is bad on paper. He doesn’t catch passes, either, so he absolutely has to find the end-zone or get a ton of volume to pay off.”
– Kevin Roberts (The DFS Build)

“I’m worried about Jordan Mason this week because the Cleveland run defense is no joke. With Minnesota’s offensive line banged up, that only adds to the concern. The Browns are allowing a league-low 70.3 rushing yards per game and just 12.9 half-PPR points per game to running backs. The only back who hasn’t struggled against them is Jahmyr Gibbs (17.7 pts), while Chase Brown, Derrick Henry, and Josh Jacobs were all held under 2.1 yards per carry.”
– Brady Auer (BA Sports Podcast)

Ja’Marr Chase (WR – CIN)

“Unfortunately, fantasy players can’t have any trust in starting Ja’Marr Chase anytime soon. The superstar is the WR18 for the year, averaging 14.3 PPR fantasy points per game. However, he had 45.7% of his targets (16) scored 63.7% of his fantasy production (36.5) in the Week 2 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. By comparison, Chase has averaged 6.3 targets and 6.9 fantasy points per game in the other three contests this season, totaling eight and 8.9 or less in every outing. The former LSU star has 10 receptions on 14 targets for 73 receiving yards and 16.2 fantasy points in the two games Jake Browning has started. More importantly, the Bengals face a Detroit Lions defense in Week 5 that has shut down opposing No. 1 wide receivers this year, surrendering only 5.3 targets and 8.2 fantasy points per game. Therefore, Chase (WR9 and 26th overall) is vastly overvalued in the Week 5 rankings.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)

“I mean, we have to mention Ja’Marr Chase as a potential Week 5 disappointment, don’t we? When backup Bengals QB Jake Browning had to make a bunch of starts in place of the injured Joe Burrow down the stretch in 2023, Chase had 15-230-1 in the first two of those games but averaged 3.5 catches and 38.3 receiving yards over his last four games with Browning. In two Browning starts this season, Chase has 10-73-0 receiving. It’s possible Chase could smash this week simply by virtue of being Ja’Marr Freaking Chase. But Bengals head coach Zac Taylor and his staff are having trouble jump-starting the Cincinnati offense with Browning at the helm, and the Bengals have a tough Week 5 matchup against a Detroit defense that’s tied for second in the league in sacks and isn’t going to let Browning feel cozy in the pocket.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)

“Call me officially worried about Ja’Marr Chase. In the last two weeks, he has 73 receiving yards, TOTAL! The Bengals look lost without Joe Burrow. Chase is still ranked as the WR10 for the week and will surely disappoint owners again as the Bengals are playing the Detroit Lions, who are only allowing 199 passing yards per game this year. If you have Chase, you have to play him, but the woes are bound to continue throughout this year.”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)

Zay Flowers (WR – BAL)

“After exploding to start the season in Week 1, Zay Flowers is now on three-straight weeks without a score. This is the Zay Flowers experience, after all. Flowers gets a solid matchup this week versus the Texans at home, and while he has had seven catches in three of his first four contests, touchdowns are what help fantasy managers out, and Flowers is no lock to get one. Also factor in the major question marks at QB, with Lamar Jackson currently nursing a hamstring injury and his status currently unknown. If Cooper Rush starts for Baltimore, this leaves Flowers in a spot of no floor and a ceiling of who knows. That risk is alarming, which is enough to temper expectations for him this week.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)

Courtland Sutton (WR – DEN)

“Courtland Sutton is the player most likely to disappoint this week. The main issue is a difficult matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, a game in which he is likely to be shadowed by elite cornerback Darius Slay, which will limit his receiving upside. Sutton’s fantasy value is highly reliant on redzone targets and touchdowns so far, making him vulnerable to a sub-par contribution in fantasy, especially with the low-volume and run-heavy game plan of the Broncos.”
– Luke Renton (The Franchise Tag UK)

Kenneth Walker III (RB – SEA)

“Kenneth Walker III has three straight games with double-digit fantasy points and two of four weeks finishing as a top 10 RB. Although consistent, he is in a 50-50 time share with Charbonnet, who happened to get the goalline score last week. Although committees aren’t terrible, this week they face a Bucs team that is fantastic against the run. Vita Vea is an absolute beast on their line, and the entire unit has held RBs to 54 rushing yards per game this season. Oh, and they have played both Bijan Robinson and Saquon Barkley this year. Unless he gets it done in the receiving game, a split backfield in this matchup is primed to underwhelm.”
– Ellis Johnson (FantasyPros)

“It’s a nightmare matchup for Kenneth Walker III against Tampa Bay, who just held Saquon Barkley to 43 yards on 2.3 YPC. Seattle’s backfield remains cloudy, with Zach Charbonnet holding a marginally higher snap share than Walker through four games. It’s even worse near the goal line, where Charbonnet has outcarried Walker 7-to-3 this season. With limited goal-line work and a tough matchup, Walker is a risky start this week.”
– Kyle Zeigler (Fantasy In Frames)

AJ Brown (WR – PHI)

“AJ Brown has three bust weeks and one solid week. His bad weeks are not just bad; they are finishing as WR82, WR102, and WR106. He is currently ranked as the 40th player in the ECR flex rankings. At this point, he is a boom/bust player and a headache for your lineup. You are probably starting him, but I will be behind ECR’s WR16 ranking.”
– David Heilman (Sports Gambling Podcast Network)

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