Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 5
Bye weeks have arrived to complicate matter for fantasy managers. Additionally, Week 4 brought the latest crop of injuries in what is shaping up to be a disastrous season. Our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 5 will help you determine which players make good fill-ins, and which ones to avoid.
Subsequently, our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 5 will help you navigate that turbulence to pick a winning lineup this week. Additionally, FullTime Fantasy has some of the top tools of the trade and accurate rankings.
Quarterbacks
Start ‘Em
Justin Fields (Chicago Bears) vs. Carolina Panthers
Justin Fields delivered a massive 32 fantasy points in his last game, the highest for any quarterback this season. He ranks seventh among his peers with a strong 78.1 PFF passing grade. This week, Fields is up against the Dallas Cowboys, which may not be the most favorable matchup, but his recent performances have solidified him as a must-start QB in fantasy lineups moving forward.
Deshaun Watson (Cleveland Browns) at Washington Commanders
The Commanders have been a goldmine for opposing quarterbacks, allowing the most fantasy points to the position. Watson has underwhelmed in three of his four outings this year, failing to surpass 15.4 fantasy points in those contests, including a low 14.2 points against Las Vegas in Week 4. However, Week 5 presents a juicy opportunity against Washington, where quarterbacks are averaging 25.8 fantasy points per game. If the Browns can keep Watson upright—he’s been sacked 19 times already—he could be a sneaky starter in one-QB leagues.
Sit ‘Em
Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) vs. New Orleans Saints
Mahomes has been struggling from a fantasy perspective, surpassing 20 points just once in his last nine regular-season games. You’d have to go back to Week 7 of last season to find the last time he hit 25 fantasy points. Now, with Rashee Rice out, his top receiver, it’s hard to trust Mahomes in one-QB leagues. Despite his incredible talent, he seems more focused on winning than padding stats, and the Saints have been tough on opposing QBs, allowing no more than 15.2 fantasy points in a game this season.
Aaron Rodgers (New York Jets) at Minnesota Vikings
What year is this that I am recommending to sit Mahomes AND Rodgers? Rodgers has only posted one top-10 fantasy finish in the past three seasons. This week, he faces a Vikings’ defense that ranks sixth in the NFL, allowing just 4.4 adjusted net yards per pass attempt. On top of that, Rodgers is dealing with a knee injury and was limited in practice. It’s hard to recommend starting him in this tough matchup.
Running Backs
Start ‘Em
Najee Harris (Pittsburgh Steelers) vs. Dallas Cowboys
Harris disappointed last week, managing 73 scoreless yards in a loss to the Colts. But don’t overlook his high usage rates. He logged a season-high 69% snap rate, ran routes on 62% of passing plays, claimed 65% of the team’s RB carries, and secured a 17.6% target share—also a season high. With Jaylen Warren and Cordarrelle Patterson potentially sidelined for Week 5, Harris is primed for another heavy workload against a Cowboys defense that had been vulnerable to the run before facing the Giants last week.
Jerome Ford (Cleveland Browns) at Washington Commanders
Jerome Ford has quietly tied Alvin Kamara for third-most targets among running backs, making him a reliable fantasy option. He’s posted double-digit fantasy points in all but one game, twice surpassing the 15-point mark. This week, Ford faces a Commanders’ defense that has allowed explosive runs (10+ yards) on 22% of opposing rushes, the highest in the league. With such a favorable matchup, Ford has the potential to put up a huge game.
Sit ‘Em
Zack Moss (Cincinnati Bengals) vs. Baltimore Ravens
Moss came through for fantasy managers last week, but there are red flags. He split carries with Chase Brown and even saw Brown take over goal-line duties. To make matters worse, the Bengals face the Ravens in Week 5, a defense that’s been stellar against the run. Baltimore has allowed the fewest rushing yards to RBs this season and hasn’t given up an explosive run in four games. Avoid Moss if you can.
Rico Dowdle (Dallas Cowboys) at Pittsburgh Steelers
Dowdle had his best performance of the year in Week 4, putting up 13.1 PPR points. While he should be rostered, especially if he takes over more of the Cowboys’ backfield, Week 5 isn’t the time to start him. The Steelers have been stingy against running backs, allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to the position and only one touchdown to RBs all season. Subsequently, Dowdle is a risky flex option at best.
Wide Receivers
Start ‘Em
Dontayvion Wicks (Green Bay Packers) at Los Angeles Rams
I’ve been high on Wicks since the offseason, and he’s delivered on a per-route basis in his first 2 NFL seasons. With Christian Watson out, Wicks is set to see a significant increase in snaps. The Packers face the Rams this week, whose defense ranks 27th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to wide receivers. Wicks will be running most of their routes on the outside, where the Rams have struggled the most.
Terry McLaurin (Washington Commanders) vs. Cleveland Browns
McLaurin has amassed 50.1 fantasy points this season, placing him 25th among wide receivers. The Browns, McLaurin’s Week 5 opponents, have the eighth-lowest team coverage grade this season, even though they’ve been solid in coverage for much of 2023. Therefore, McLaurin could exploit this weakness if the game script favors Washington’s passing attack.
Sit ‘Em
Jaylen Waddle (Miami Dolphins) at New England Patriots
Waddle has been nearly invisible in the Dolphins’ offense since Tua Tagovailoa went down with an injury. Over the past two weeks, he’s managed just 8 catches for 62 yards. With Miami likely to lean on their running game against the Patriots’ shaky run defense, Waddle could see another low-target day. Therefore, he’s not a must-start this week.
Keenan Allen (Chicago Bears) vs. Carolina Panthers
Allen returned from a heel injury last week but was a non-factor with only three targets and 7 air yards, resulting in fewer than five fantasy points. However, the Bears have a crowded offense, and the passing game has struggled. Allen’s injury adds even more risk to his already limited role. If you need to start someone from the Bears’ passing attack, look for a big-play threat like Rome Odunze over the volume-dependent Allen.
Tight Ends
Start ‘Em
Tucker Kraft (Green Bay Packers) at Los Angeles Rams
Coming off a solid 6-catch, 53-yard, one-touchdown performance in Week 4 against the Vikings, Kraft benefited from Jordan Love’s 54 pass attempts. Kraft posted a 17% target share and a season-high 86% route rate. With those kinds of numbers, he could emerge as a weekly TE1. In Week 5, with Luke Musgrave nursing an ankle injury and the Packers projected for 26 points against the Rams, Kraft makes for a solid streaming option.
Sit ‘Em
Mark Andrews (Baltimore Ravens) at Cincinnati Bengals
Andrews has run just 16 routes in the past two games and is seeing less field time in Baltimore’s run-heavy sets, particularly in 21 and 22 personnel. The Bengals, his Week 5 opponents, have been tough against tight ends, holding Travis Kelce to just one catch. With the Ravens favored, expect them to run the ball a lot, limiting Andrews’ opportunities once again.
Tyler Conklin (New York Jets) at Minnesota Vikings
