Welcome to Week 5 of our weekly fantasy football “start em sit em” lineup article to help you with critical decisions on a week-to-week basis in the world of fantasy football. A number of key injuries have thrown a wrench into a lot of our teams during Week 4, but all it takes are a few smart decisions in order to get your team back on top!
Each week, we will bring you a list of must starts, other starting plays and players we’re fading by each position. In addition, each week we will look back on the previous week to determine pick accuracy. The cutoff for hits/misses are as follows:
QB: 14 ½ points
RB & WR: 10 ½ points
TE: 8 ½ points
D/ST: 7 ½ points
All rankings are assuming ½ points per receptions and 4-point passing touchdowns. Good luck this year and make sure to follow us on Twitter in order to stay up-to-date through the season! Feel free to DM or @ us with any questions you have!
Fantasy Analytics Hit Rates
| Week 4 | Season-to-Date | |
| Quarterbacks | 13/15 (87%) | 46/60 (77%) |
| Running Backs | 14/21 (67%) | 57/90 (63%) |
| Wide Receivers | 19/28 (68%) | 77/116 (66%) |
| Tight Ends | 10/15 (67%) | 40/60 (67%) |
| D/ST | 9/16 (56%) | 37/64 (58%) |
Fantasy Football Week 5 Start Em Sits Em: Quarterbacks
Must starts
- Josh Allen, Bills (vs. PIT)
- Jalen Hurts, Eagles (at ARI)
- Kyler Murray, Cardinals (vs. PHI)
- Justin Herbert, Chargers (at CLE)
- Lamar Jackson, Ravens (vs. CIN)
- Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs (vs. LV)
Strong Starts
Joe Burrow, Bengals (at BAL) – Burrow has been the definition of consistent so far, averaging 20 points per game and never straying too far from that number. I’ll continue to trust burrow as a reliable mid to low-end QB1 regardless of matchup.
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars (vs. HOU) – After a shaky loss against the Chargers where Lawrence posted a dud with 5 total turnovers, it’s hard to trust him. But against a shaky Houston defense that looks primed for the first overall pick, I expect Lawrence and the Jaguars offense as a whole to have a bounce back performance.
Kirk Cousins, Vikings (vs. CHI) – As long as Kirk isn’t playing in Primetime games, I’m more than comfortable starting him in a plus matchup against Chicago. His production from last game wasn’t amazing, but a handoff to Jefferson could have just as easily been a touch pass. I’m going to trust Kirk and the Vikings offense to open up against a struggling Bears team.
Derek Carr, Raiders (at KC) – While last week wasn’t amazing for Carr production wise, what I loved to see was 40 rushing yards for Carr. In a game where the Raiders are likely to be trailing for a majority, Carr should be forced to throw a lot – ideally with Hunter Renfrow back in the lineup.
Sit ‘Em’s
Marcus Mariota, Falcons (at TB)
Matt Ryan, Colts (at DEN)
Justin Fields, Bears (at MIN)
Daniel Jones, Giants (at GB)
Jacoby Brissett, Browns (vs. LAC)
Fantasy Football Week 5 Start Em Sits Em: Running Backs
Must starts
- Christian McCaffrey, Panthers (vs. SF)
- Austin Ekeler, Chargers (at CLE)
- Dalvin Cook, Vikings (vs. CHI)*
- Saquon Barkley, Giants (at GB)
- Derrick Henry, Titans (at WAS)
- Joe Mixon, Bengals (at BAL)
- Aaron Jones, Packers (vs. NYG)
- Nick Chubb, Browns (vs. LAC)
- D’Andre Swift, Lions (at NE)*
- Najee Harris, Steelers (at BUF)
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs (vs. LV)
Strong Starts
Dameon Pierce, Texans (at JAX) – Pierce has his big breakout game last week, again being trusted with nearly all the Texans’ carries and producing fantasy points with the opportunity. The big play came on a 75 yard touchdown run, perfectly displaying his big-play ability and exactly why everyone was all over him pre-draft. The Jaguars have had 2 game in a row where opposing RBs were in the top 6, and I expect that to repeat this week.
Breece Hall, Jets (vs. MIA) – Hall has produced 4 weeks of consistent fantasy production, even while splitting the backfield with Michael Carter. He has started to outpace Carter in terms of usage, a trend that we expect to continue in the coming weeks. Hall is getting close to an every week must-start for me, however what holds me back now is WRs with way more boom potential in FLEX spots.
James Robinson, Jaguars (vs. HOU) – Through the first 3 weeks, Robinson is the RB3 in fantasy football, even while ceding some of his role to Travis Etienne. Last week he posted a dud against a strong Eagles defense, and was really hurt by Trevor Lawrence and his 5 turnovers. I’m expecting a bounceback game against a Houston defense ranked 32nd in fantasy points to opposing RBs.
James Connor, Cardinals (vs. PHI) – Connor and the Cardinals have not started the season how they expected, and this game against the undefeated Eagles will be a huge test to see how good this team actually is. The biggest thing holding Connor back from top end RB fantasy production has been the lack of touchdown production, and we’re hoping it doesn’t continue into this week.
Jeff Wilson Jr, 49ers (at CAR) – Jeff Wilson has proven to be a productive back, just like literally any RB Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers play. Last week was the 3rd time in a row Wilson posted a RB2 finish, every week that Elijah Mitchell has been out of the lineup. Against a weak Carolina team with a bad defense and unproductive offense, expect a positive game script and a lot of run for Jeff Wilson in the 2nd half.
Sit ‘Ems
Cam Akers, Rams (vs. DAL)
Tyler Allgeier, Falcons (at TB)
Darrell Henderson Jr, Rams (vs. DAL)
Michael Carter, Jets (vs. MIA)
Ezekiel Elliot, Cowboys (at LAR)
Chase Edmonds, Dolphins (at NYJ)
Fantasy Football Week 5 Start Em Sit Em: Wide Receivers
Must Starts
- Cooper Kupp, Rams (vs. DAL)
- Justin Jefferson, Vikings (vs. CHI)
- Stefon Diggs, Bills (vs. PIT)
- Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals (at BAL)
- A.J. Brown, Eagles (at ARI)
- Davante Adams, Raiders (at KC)
- Deebo Samuel, 49ers (at CAR)
- Mike Williams, Chargers (at CLE)
- Courtland Sutton, Broncos (vs. IND)
- Christian Kirk, Jags (vs. HOU)
- Tee Higgins, Bengals (at BAL)
- Tyreek Hill, Dolphins (at NYJ)
- Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins (at NYJ)
- Amon-Ra St Brown, Lions (at NE)*
- Marquise Brown, Cardinals (vs. PHI)
- Michael Pittman Jr., Colts (at DEN)
- Keenan Allen, Chargers (at CLE)*
Strong Starts
Mike Evans, Buccaneers (vs. ATL) – Coming off a 1-game suspension, Tom Brady needed all the help he can get with a banged up receiving corps. Evans was able to step up and finish as the WR3 in Week 3, and one more good week will return him to the must start list. In an easy matchup against the Falcons at home, start Evans everywhere.
Amari Cooper, Browns (vs. LAC) – Jacoby Brissett and the Browns offense as a whole struggled in Week 2, throwing no touchdowns and one interception. Against a strong Chargers offense, the game script should favor throwing the ball. Against a weak Chargers defense, those extra opportunities should result in a bounceback performance for Cooper.
Chris Olave, Saints (vs. SEA) – Olave had an amazing past 3 weeks, gathering 18 catches on 33 targets for 294 yards and a touchdown. With Michael Thomas possibly missing another game in Week 5, Olave should be a focal point in this offense and continue to get lots of targets, regardless of who is at QB.
Drake London, Falcons (at TB) – London has been the focal point of this offense, and although he had a rough Week 4, so did the entire Atlanta Falcons offense. He has still yet to receive less than 6 targets in a game and easily has seen the most of any Atlanta WR. Without Patterson and against a strong Tampa team, game script should allow a lot of opportunity for London regardless of a tough matchup.
Tyler Lockett, Seattle (at NO) – Lockett has quietly had an extremely productive season thus far with Geno Smith, averaging just under 14 fantasy points and doing so quite consistently. During the past three week he has received 30 targets, and if that target share continues he will continue to produce week over week.
Romeo Doubs, Packers (vs. NYG) – Doubs was just inches away from having another breakout fantasy performance, but he couldn’t quite haul in his second touchdown pass late in the 4th quarter. In the past 2 weeks, Doubs has seen a target share of over 25%. Any time a receiver is seeing that kind of work from Aaron Rodgers, he’s at least a FLEX play for me.
Sit ‘ems:
Tyler Boyd, Bengals (at BAL)
Chase Claypool, Steelers (at BUF)
Darnell Mooney, Bears (at MIN)
Allen Robinson, Rams (vs. DAL)
Rashod Bateman, Ravens (vs. CIN)
Russel Gage, Bucs (vs. ATL)
Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers (at CAR)
Fantasy Football Week 5 Start Em Sit Em: Tight Ends
Must Starts
- Travis Kelce, Chiefs (vs. LV)
- Mark Andrews, Ravens (vs. CIN)
- Darren Waller, Raiders (at KC)
- T.J. Hockenson, Lions (at NE)
- Dallas Goedert, Eagles (at ARI)
- Pat Freiermuth, Steelers (at BUF)
- Zach Ertz, Cardinals (vs. PHI)
Strong Starts:
Gerald Everett, Chargers (at CLE) – I’m still amazed that Everett was available in a majority of fantasy leagues to begin the season. The TE attached to Justin Herbert has produced consistently through 4 weeks, and more importantly has seen a consistent target share which is the best indicator of TE1s.
Tyler Conklin, Jets (vs. MIA) – Through the first three weeks, Conklin has averaged 8 targets per game, and has been efficient with his touches by producing respectable TE numbers on a weekly basis, even with only one touchdown. He was still a top target for Zach Wilson in his first week back, and I expect Wilson and the Jets offense to become more productive as the season progresses.
Tyler Higbee, Rams (vs. DAL) – Higbee saw a season high in targets last week with 14, mostly helped by a very negative game script. As I mentioned before, targets are the best indicator of a TE1 and Higbee continues to be the most targeted behind Kelce. The Tight End for Matt Stafford continues to get solid work week over week, and I’m more than comfortable starting him regardless of matchup if the targets continue.
Sit ‘Ems:
Mike Gesicki, Dolphins (at NYJ)
Dawson Knox, BUF (vs. PIT)
Austin Hooper, Titans (at WAS)
Cole Kmet, Bears (at MIN)
Evan Engram, JAC (vs. HOU)
Fantasy Football Week 5 Start Em Sit Em: D/ST
Start ‘Em:
- Packers (vs. NYG)
- Bills (vs. PIT)
- 49ers (at CAR)
- Vikings (vs. CHI)
- Jaguars (vs. HOU)
- Buccaneers (vs. ATL)
- Broncos (vs. IND)
- Saints (vs. SEA)
Sit ‘Em:
- Steelers (at BUF)
- Giants (at GB)
- Commanders (vs. TEN)
- Texans (at JAX)
- Chiefs (vs. LV)
- Cowboys (at LAR)
- Chargers (at CLE)
- Patriots (vs. DET)
