Week 5 Fantasy Football Start 'Em-Sit 'Em
- Zak Drapeau
- 3 days ago
- 7 min read
by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen 10/1/2025 Sportz Nation
Start 'Em (Matt Hylen)
Quarterbacks
Justin Fields vs DAL
Sometimes, Fantasy success and Real-life team success do not correlate, which is the case for Justin Fields. Justin Fields has been great in the games he has played. In the two full games that he has played (Weeks 1 and 4), Fields put together a 218 passing yard, 48 rushing yard, and 3 total TD performance in Week 1 and a 226 passing yard, 81 rushing yard, and 2 total TD performance in Week 4. On top of this, Fields matches up against the worst defense in the NFL in the Dallas Cowboys, in almost every facet. Fields is a must-start until his production in Fantasy goes down.
C.J. Stroud at BAL
C.J. Stroud is coming off his best fantasy performance of 2025 thus far, throwing for 233 yards and 2 TDs. He also added 11 yards on the ground. Houston's offense has been severely underwhelming so far, but most of that has not been the fault of Stroud. He has also gotten some pretty bad matchups to start the year. I think Stroud can bounce back this week, as he faces an incredibly beat-up Ravens defense (allows the 3rd most fantasy points to QBs) that is bottom-tier even when healthy.
Jaxson Dart at NO
In his first career start, Jaxson Dart was extremely impressive against a good Chargers defense. His numbers were a bit modest (111 passing yards, 54 rushing yards, 2 total TDs), but he was mistake-free and showed his dual-threat ability. With Dart matching up against a much more favorable Saints defense that allows the 5th most Fantasy points a game to QBs, Dart should improve those already solid numbers in Week 5.
Running Backs
Woody Marks at BAL
Woody Marks broke onto the scene in Week 4 for the Texans, solidifying himself as a big part of the Texans' offense. Finishing with 17 carries for 69 yards, 4 catches for 50 receiving yards, and 2 total TDs, Marks is a hybrid-style running back that the Texans need in order to succeed offensively. Though Nick Chubb may still be the short-yardage back, look for Marks to get even more involved against a horrific and beat-up Ravens defense.
David Montgomery at CIN
It was tough sledding for David Montgomery in Week 4, but his 9 rush attempts and red zone usage are still promising. We saw what Montgomery can really be in Week 4, which is a style of offense the Lions would prefer to run. Montgomery has a great opportunity to get back on track this week against the Bengals, who allow the 2nd most points a game to RBs. Look for Monty to get fed this week.
Rashaad White at SEA
With Bucky Irving likely out of this game due to a foot injury, Rashaad White will have the starting role all to himself in Week 5. He has been effective in the opportunities he has gotten thus far this season, so I expect that increase in usage to match the production he has had this year. Baker Mayfield will need to get him going against a good Seahawks defense, so look for White to be involved in the run and pass game this week in a big way.
Wide Receivers
Jakobi Meyers at IND
Jakobi Meyers has been getting the targets he needs to produce, but is also a victim of bad QB play. Geno Smith has missed Meyers when he has been open on multiple occasions the past couple of weeks, resulting in some average performances from the Raiders' WR1. With that said, I think Meyers will have plenty more opportunities and produce against a Colts defense that allows the 3rd most fantasy points per game to WRs.
Khalil Shakir vs NE
Shakir is coming off another solid performance in Week 4, scoring his 2nd touchdown of the year. He also connected with QB Josh Allen on a deep ball that resulted in that touchdown. Regardless of how the Bills have been a run-first team so far, Shakir should get plenty of targets against a Patriots defense that struggles against slot receivers and allows the 9th most fantasy points per game to WRs.
Quentin Johnston vs WAS
Until people start marking him as a legitimate league winner, Quentin Johnston will still be a huge sleeper. He has been remarkable for the Chargers, leading the receiver room in Yards, Targets, TDs, and Yards per reception. He has been the undisputed WR1 for Justin Herbert thus far, and needs to be in your lineup until that is proven otherwise.
Tight Ends
Dalton Kincaid vs NE
Dalton Kincaid has been very solid this season, scoring another touchdown in Week 4. Though it was his only catch of the day, Kincaid's usage and route-running percentage have been good enough for him to be a trustworthy TE1 every week. Kincaid faces a Patriots defense that allows the 8th most fantasy points per game to TEs.
Darren Waller at CAR
In his first game since returning, Darren Waller produced a solid 3 catch, 27-yard, and 2 TD performance. Though his snap count was limited, it was also expected due to the injury he sustained in the offseason. Miami has already said that Waller's snaps will increase in Week 5, making him an even bigger threat to produce. Waller plays a Panthers defense that allows the 7th most fantasy points per game to TEs.
Jake Ferguson at NYJ
The Jake Ferguson hype train rolled through Week 4 as he put together a 7 catch (7 targets), 40-yard, 1 TD performance against the Packers. Similar to last week, Ferguson will be the 2nd receiving option for a pass-heavy Dallas offense while CeeDee Lamb is out. He provides elite TE upside no matter who he faces with Lamb stuck on the sidelines.
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Sit 'Em (Zak Drapeau)
Quarterbacks
Lamar Jackson vs HOU
There are few people in this league that are guaranteed starts no matter the matchup, and Lamar is one of them. But as of right now, he looks set to miss his first NFL game due to injury in 3 years. Jackson is nursing a hamstring injury and has even been rumored to be out 2-3 weeks because of it.
Baker Mayfield at SEA
Traveling all the way to Seattle from Tampa is literally the farthest road trip possible in the NFL, and Baker Mayfield will be doing so now without his top two receiving targets. Yes, Egbuka has risen to become an elite rookie, but still, Mayfield will have to be Superman again to even make this game close. I'm not ruling it out entirely, but if you have any other QB, I would keep Baker on the bench.
Drake Maye at BUF
Ask any Patriots fan and they’ll tell you that Drake Maye has been a breath of fresh air this season, but this just isn’t his week, man. Buffalo’s defense may only be ranked 21st against QBs this year, but in a divisional game against the Pats, look for the Bills to make this one ugly for Maye.
Running Backs
Ashton Jeanty @ IND
Jeanty finally had a breakout game last week against the Bears, but going from Chicago’s D-line to Indy’s is night and day. The biggest problem is Vegas’ O-line, which has been mediocre all year. If the Raiders get down early in this game, they will once again turn to the pass by the second half and put a real limit on Jeanty’s potential.
Jordan Mason @ CLE
Mason will be the bell cow in Minnesota for as long as Aaron Jones is out and maybe even longer, but against Cleveland’s defense in London, I can really see him having a bad day. With Carson Wentz starting, it makes a lot of sense for them to try to force the ground game, but just as much sense for this game to be a tough, defensive battle that Mason’s fantasy value could suffer from.
Kenneth Walker vs TB
Walker has been up and down all year, but he will be facing a Top-5 rushing defense this year against Tampa. Add that to Zach Charbonnet’s big-ish week last week and Seattle looking more toward the backup in the red zone, and Walker just isn’t a threat to put up points unless he breaks a huge run somehow.
Wide Receivers
Ja'Marr Chase vs DET
Damn, you really hate to see it, but I have to put Chase in the “Bench” column until Burrow comes back. Jake Browning is doing his best, but his ascension to starting QB in Cincinnati really shows just how important Burrow was. Chase may be the biggest victim of this, but he is a HARD FLEX-ceiling player, and fantasy owners should really try to trade him.
Brian Thomas Jr. vs KC
I’m waiting for BTJ to have his breakout game, but it looks like Liam Coen and Trevor Lawrence are all about spreading the ball around this year. Thomas Jr.’s appeal last year was the deep ball and TDs, and he has yet to get even one so far this season. “Believe it when I see it” is the tier right above “Benched,” and BTJ is firmly in the former.
Emeka Egbuka @ SEA
Seattle’s secondary is quite possibly the best in the league currently, and their entire game plan will be to stop this rookie. Egbuka has been phenomenal this season and will likely see 10 targets in this lengthy road trip, but I truly believe he will be fighting for his life for every little reception and any extra yards. A FLEX option maybe, but look elsewhere before you turn to him.
Tight Ends
Hunter Henry @ BUF
Don’t look now, but Hunter Henry is in his 2nd week as TE1 in fantasy football. The TD-threat every game and Drake Maye’s favorite target will be facing the Bills this week, who are 3rd against TEs in fantasy this year. Henry’s run of dominance will come to an end this week, and at his absolute highest ceiling, he will get less than 10 points this week.
Mark Andrews vs HOU
After a HUGE week 3, Andrews came back to Earth against the Chiefs last week, and to make matters worse, Lamar will be out for possibly multiple weeks. Time will tell if this change could be good for him, as Tyler Huntley has looked his way before, but for now, Baltimore will be too unpredictable to start Andrews at all.
TJ Hockenson @ CLE
Hockenson is also dealing with his team changing QBs but has been even more disappointing than Andrews this season. Hockenson has fallen off my Top-15 TE power ranking this week, and the way it’s looking, TJ might be heading for the “Benched” tier sooner rather than later.
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-Z.D. (@ZakDrapeau)
-Matt Hylen (@matthylen_)
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