In the blink of an eye, we’re already in Week 5 of the season. As we get into the heart of the fantasy football campaign, this is when managers truly find ways to separate themselves.
As if making start/sit decisions wasn’t difficult enough, this is the first week introducing byes into the mix. Teams on a bye in Week 5 include the Los Angeles Chargers, Cleveland Browns, Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Doing start/sit articles can be a little challenging. The players featured on the list below should not be taken as “must starts” or “must sits.” Instead, these are more suggestions on what we believe managers should do with fringe players heading into the weekend. The choice is ultimately up to the manager.
Just because a player is listed as a “start” doesn’t mean he should be put in the lineup over the secure, bona fide studs. Vice versa for the “sits.” If there’s no better option on the waiver wire or the bench, a manager shouldn’t automatically sit the player. That’s why these can be tricky waters to navigate.
Feel free to ask any specific start/sit questions via X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11) or check out our player projections for Week 5:
Quarterback
Start ’em
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The veteran gunslinger has been living up to that moniker to begin this season. Even though he’s yet to record multiple touchdown passes in a game, he’s averaging 307.3 passing yards per game. It’s expected that Cooper Kupp will return from a hamstring injury this week, giving Stafford an elite weapon to target against an Eagles defense that has allowed the ninth-most fantasy points per game (20.1) to the position.
Joshua Dobbs, Arizona Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The fun aspect about fantasy football can sometimes be the surprises. Not all surprises are beneficial, but this one is. Dobbs has out-performed expectation with his new team, and he seems to only be getting more comfortable. Since Week 2, Dobbs is the QB7 in fantasy points scored, which includes some surprising usage with his legs. Regression is likely to hit at some point, but he finds himself as a strong spot-start option against a Bengals defense that’s allowed the 13th-most fantasy points per game (16.4) to the position.
Sit ’em
Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys
It always feels dangerous betting against Purdy within this 49ers offense, which has proven to be elite this season. The odds suggest he’s more likely to throw for 200 yards and two touchdowns than not. But this matchup against the Cowboys is likely to limit his upside. They’re allowing the second-fewest fantasy points per game (8.3) to quarterbacks. Granted, they haven’t faced many strong options, but there are higher upside plays this week.
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars at Buffalo Bills
This one is a bit tough because most managers who drafted Lawrence may have no choice but to start him. Yours truly would fit into that group. But we may need to temper expectations at the least. Since his strong outing in the opener, Lawrence hasn’t posted more than 16.5 fantasy points in a game. He’s thrown just two touchdown passes while averaging 234 passing yards per game during that span. To make matters worse, the Bills have been elite against opposing quarterbacks. They’ve allowed the fewest fantasy points per game (7.6) and have collected the most interceptions (eight) against the position. It’s probably best to pivot a different option if possible for this London matchup.
Running Back
Start ’em
Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers
Another one of our sleepers of the week, Edwards seems to be in a prime spot to provide a flex-worthy floor with some upside if he finds the end zone. Edwards led the backfield with a season-high 15 carries and 71% running back rush share in the 28-3 win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 4. On top of that, he posted a 17% target share, albeit on three looks. The Steelers provide a nice matchup considering they’ve allowed the second-most rushing yards (505), the 10th-most PPR points per game (23.2) and four weekly finishes inside the top-24.
Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions vs. Carolina Panthers
There was a lot of excitement for the rookie entering the season, but it’s been a slow development. Managers with Gibbs on their roster have felt the need to start him likely based on draft capital. There’s a chance it pays off this week. With Amon-Ra St. Brown questionable and dealing with an abdomen injury, Gibbs could see more work as the short-area target in the passing game. Meanwhile, the Panthers have been a friendly matchup for running backs, allowing the fourth-most PPR points per game (29.6) and third-most rushing yards (479) to the position.
Breece Hall, New York Jets at Denver Broncos
Most managers were likely starting Hall anyway, but this recent stretch of games hasn’t been so kind to the second-year back. Since his explosive outing in Week 1, Hall has struggled on a pitch count while working his way back from the ACL injury that prematurely ended his rookie campaign. Now, the Jets have officially come out to say that they’re no longer limiting Hall’s workload. The timing couldn’t be more perfect as Hall gets to take on a Broncos defense that ranks dead last in PPR points per game (43.5), rushing yards (613), rushing touchdowns (seven) and total touchdowns (11).
Sit ’em
Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans
Moss was a nice story for the three weeks that he was the starter, but it’s likely that will come to an end this week. It appears Jonathan Taylor is ready to make his debut, and even if he’s on a pitch count, the matchup against the Titans isn’t one we would be targeting anyway.
Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos vs. New York Jets
Williams is coming off of an injury that was first deemed a hip flexor but changed to a quad injury. Even though we listed Samaje Perine as a sleeper, that was with the assumption that Williams wouldn’t be active. If he is active, this could be a full-blown, three-back committee with Perine and Jaleel McLaughlin. The matchup is favorable, but it’s probably best to avoid the injured back who hasn’t yet shown enough upside to warrant the confidence to play him through those issues.
Miles Sanders, Carolina Panthers at Detroit Lions
Boasting a paltry 2.9 yards-per-carry mark, Sanders is in a tough situation this week. The Panthers offense isn’t showing much upside, especially with the ground attack. Sanders has been dealing with a groin injury, and this matchup against the Lions isn’t conducive for fantasy points. The Lions have allowed the fifth-fewest PPR points per game (14.4) and second-fewest rushing yards (181) while giving up just 2.87 yards per carry to opposing backs.
Wide Receiver
Start ’em
Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans
It was a pretty disappointing outing for Pittman in Week 4, but there’s a good chance he will bounce back in this divisional game. His 28.7% target share entering Week 5 is good for the 10th-best mark among wide receivers. The matchup is incredibly enticing. The Titans have allowed the sixth-most PPR points per game (44.0), third-most receptions (71), and seventh-most receiving yards (825) to the position this season.
Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers
Since breaking out in Week 1, Flowers hasn’t posted a weekly finish inside the top-36 wide receivers. However, there’s reason to expect a bounce-back game this week. The rookie is still seeing strong usage with a 28.4% target share, and the Steelers are allowing the fourth-most PPR points per game (46.8) to the position.
DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts
Hopkins hasn’t been very viable for fantasy purposes this season, so I won’t argue with anyone who wishes to keep him on the bench. With that said, there is a chance he provides some WR3/flex value. The Titans offense is extremely volatile, especially through the air, but Hopkins is still maintaining a stout 29% target share. Meanwhile, the Colts have allowed the eighth-most PPR points per game (43.1) and five weekly finishes inside the top-24 to the position.
Sit ’em
Drake London, Atlanta Falcons vs. Houston Texans
We simply cannot trust Atlanta’s passing attack right now. London may have two touchdown receptions on the season, but he also has three games in which he’s failed to reach four receptions. Meanwhile, the Texans defense has been surprisingly solid, allowing the fourth-fewest PPR points per game (25.8) to opposing wide receivers.
Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos vs. New York Jets
Since returning from a knee injury in Week 2, Jeudy has reached double-digit PPR points in a game just once. While his 19% target share isn’t terrible, the Jets defense has been solid against wideouts this season, allowing the third-fewest PPR points per game (25.5) to the position. Jeudy is startable because of his talent, but it’s hard to see him being more than a fringe flex play.
Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings vs. Kansas City Chiefs
I don’t blame any manager trying to get pieces of this matchup, and Addison is talented enough to make this suggestion look poorly in hindsight. But the rookie has been trending in the wrong direction after showing promise during the first two weeks. His snap counts dropped week over week in the last two games, and he’s been held to just nine targets while K.J. Osborn is clearly the No. 2 wide receiver, which is usually third in the pecking order. The Chiefs have been solid against wideouts, allowing the 10th-fewest PPR points per game (29.1) to the position.
Tight End
Start ’em
Zach Ertz, Arizona Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Whether we want to acknowledge it or not, Ertz’s usage makes him a startable asset. His 24.8% target share is tied for the most among tight ends with Travis Kelce. He has exactly six receptions in three games to begin the season, and the Bengals have allowed the sixth-most PPR points per game (15.3) to the position thus far.
Tyler Conklin, New York Jets at Denver Broncos
Conklin has had some intriguing usage in recent games. Over the last three weeks, he hasn’t seen lower than a 15% per-game target share. In two of those games, he’s recorded at least four receptions and 50 yards. The Broncos have allowed the seventh-most PPR points per game (15.2), fifth-most receiving yards (235), and tied for the second-most touchdowns (three) to the position.
Sit ’em
Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons vs. Houston Texans
Living in the timeline in which Pitts shouldn’t even be rostered in redraft leagues isn’t the timeline we want to live in. But here we are. Pitts is being outplayed and underutilized compared to teammate Jonnu Smith, and there’s a chance the former isn’t fully healthy. The Texans also have been strong against tight ends, allowing just 8.5 yards per reception to the position.
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots vs. New Orleans Saints
After starting the season on fire with weekly finishes of TE1 and TE2 during the first two weeks, respectively, Hunter has cooled off. While a 17.9% target share during the last two games is nothing to scoff at, he hasn’t scored more than 9.1 PPR points in that span. While the Patriots offense appears to be hitting some road bumps, the Saints have allowed the fourth-fewest PPR points per game (6.6), the second-fewest receptions (12) and the fewest receiving yards (82) to the position this season.
