With a mixture of hits and misses in last week’s starts and sits, a few things were for certain. Justin Fields would make up for his lackluster start to the season with a monster Week 4. He did that with four passing touchdowns. My best start was Nico Collins and my worst start was Roschon Johnson. Johnson saw his snap share increase in the first three weeks only for it to plummet and for him to have his worst outing so far.
My worst sit was Brian Robinson as he has become a legit RB1 with the Washington Commanders and is averaging 16.5 ppg (RB12). My best sit was James Conner. A weak Cardinals team facing the best team in the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers, it was a given to sit Conner. Let’s dive into my Week 5 starts and sits.
Week 5 Starts and Sits
Quarterback Sits
Jared Goff vs. Carolina Panthers
The Minnesota Vikings offense has the better weapons and the better quarterback and put up just 21 points against the Carolina Panthers. Despite the Panthers’ struggles on offense, their defense has been solid. They are allowing the seventh-fewest ppg to Quarterbacks and allowed just 11.6 fantasy points to Kirk Cousins in Week 4.
Furthermore, this will be another David Montgomery week. All in all, Goff is a sit this week. Add CJ Stroud or even Sam Howell and expect better results than the challenge Goff faces in Week 5.
Daniel Jones @ Miami Dolphins
First of all, teams that play in the cold do not have a fun time in Miami. Teams that are bad AND play in the cold have nightmares about playing in Miami. The New York Giants and Denver Broncos share one thing in common. They both will have been blown out by the Miami Dolphins this season.
Everyone has seen the clip of the offensive line for the New York Giants. The clip was so bad that Micah Parsons even commented on X and defended Jones. A player from the Giants’ rival is defending their quarterback, it is bad. It will get even worse against a Dolphins team that just got blown out by 20-plus points.
Daniel Jones is a sit and should be replaced with names I already previously mentioned. Matthew Stafford is also a great backup option. He is facing a Philadelphia Eagles defense allowing the third most ppg to Quarterbacks.
Running Back Sits
Rhamondre Stevenson vs. New Orleans Saints
The Patriots are 1-3 and Mac Jones might be in his last year as their starting quarterback. The poor offensive play has trickled down to Rhamondre Stevenson as well. Double-digit scoring in the first two weeks has fallen to 13.2 points combined in Weeks 3 and 4.
The Saints are giving up the fourth fewest ppg to running backs. Also, they have allowed zero touchdowns to the position and just 34 points in four games. Stevenson has not lived up to his RB11 ADP in the off-season and expectations should be lowered. I’d pivot this week and keep Stevenson on the bench in Week 5.
Alexander Mattison vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The Minnesota Vikings are on the verge of imploding and it can get a whole lot worse in Week 5. To beat the Kansas City Chiefs, a lot of points have to be scored or great defense. The Vikings do not have a great defense. They do not even have a good defense.
In summary, Patrick Mahomes and company will be putting up a lot of yards and a lot of points in Week 5. They also are giving up just the sixth fewest ppg to running backs. Alexander Mattison has been a disappointment in replacing Dalvin Cook and he is a sit for me in Week 5.
The Vikings and Kirk Cousins will have to be very pass-friendly against Mahomes. This in turn will lead to Mattison seeing a handful of touches but not enough for a start.
Najee Harris vs. Baltimore Ravens
Najee Harris is probably the worst third-round pick in recent memory for fantasy football. In the off-season, Harris was drafted as the RB9. After four weeks, Harris is averaging 7.1 ppg. At this point, Harris is not even an RB3 in fantasy football. The fantasy managers still holding on to hope, I am sorry.
After a Week 5 match-up against the Baltimore Ravens, Harris will be officially done for. The Ravens have always defended the run well and this season is no different. They are currently allowing the 11th fewest ppg to the position. Also, with Jaylen Warren in the backfield, Harris becomes the biggest sit in my starts and sits for the week. After this week, drop Harris with confidence as you should also be dropping Kyle Pitts. Harris and Pitts are on the same level of disappointment.
Wide Receiver Sits
Jerry Jeudy/Courtland Sutton vs. New York Jets
The Jets might not have Aaron Rodgers, but they still have a top-tier defense in the NFL. The Jets are currently allowing the SECOND fewest ppg to wide receivers in 2023. With less than 12 catches allowed and under 120 ypg allowed to the position, Broncos receivers are a big sit in Week 5.,
Courtland Sutton has seen double-digit points in the first month but has not faced a defense like the Jets. Jerry Jeudy has not been himself since returning from injury and needs a fresh start in his career. The only hope I have is for Marvin Mims because of his big play ability and how hard it will be for the Broncos to move the ball.
Jakobi Meyers vs. Green Bay Packers
This is pretty simple math. Davante Adams goes nuclear in primetime games. He also gets to face his former team for the first time since being traded. Look at the last game Adams had in primetime. He had over 170 yards with two touchdowns. The same can be said for the Raiders Week 5 match-up against the Green Bay Packers.
Meyers is a fade as it is still not known if Jimmy Garoppolo will miss yet again. Meyers did not produce well with the backup delivering just 5.3 points after double digit outings in his other two games.
Tight End Sits
Kyle Pitts vs. Houston Texans
Just like Najee Harris, Kyle Pitts is sadly droppable in all redraft formats. There is no use to roster him when he is getting outplayed by Jonnu Smith. I blame Desmond Ridder and Arthur Smith. As of now, you hold Pitts in dynasty, but in redraft, there are a plethora of better options.
You would think in Week 4 against the Lions, allowing the sixth most ppg the position, Pitts would have a good game. That was wrong as he had his points this season, but still could not produce a top 12 finish at the position. Pitts has become a roster clog at this point. If you want to hold onto Pitts, that is fine. Just let him a nice sit on your bench for the rest of the fantasy season.
Hunter Henry vs. New Orleans Saints
Hunter Henry has had just 12.8 total points in the past two weeks. This is after having 16 or more points in each of the first two games of the season. With the Patriots’ offense struggling, this has led to the disappointing play from Hunter Henry.
The Saints are top six in the fewest ppg allowed to the position and just gave up over 20 plus points for the first time since last season. Look for the Saints to put on a masterclass performance on the defensive side of the ball. Henry produces with a touchdown and I do not trust it against the Saints who have given up just one to the position.
Quarterback Starts
CJ Stroud @ Atlanta Falcons
Yes, interceptions will happen to CJ Stroud, but as of now, wow. CJ Stroud is on pace to shatter the passing yard record by a rookie quarterback and has brought life to the Houston Texans franchise. It can even be debated that he has already made more of an impact than when Deshaun Watson was there.
Stroud is currently the QB11 in ppg and has two passing touchdowns in three consecutive games. Currently top five in YPA (yards per attempt), passing attempt and passing yards, Stroud is a great option for Daniel Jones and Joe Burrow managers. Even with he Falcons being a good defense, CJ Stroud is good enough to continue his marvelous rookie season against the dumpster-fire Atlanta Falcons.
Zach Wilson @ Denver Broncos
Zach Wilson completed over 70% of his passes for just the second time in his career in Week 4. Wilson has a great shot to build on his performance with a Week 5 match-up against the Denver Broncos. The same Broncos team giving up the most ppg to the position.
Justin Fields had a down three weeks until playing the Broncos. That’s where Fields had four touchdowns and 335 passing yards. It is very risky to put Wilson in starts and sits, but with such an amazing match-up, this is his prime moment to make up for the fumble against the Chiefs and get the Jets a much needed win.
Running Back Starts
Breece Hall @ Denver Broncos
Breece Hall just had six carries for 56 yards on 9.33 YPC (yards per carry). The great news is that Robert Saleh has come out and said that Hall will not be on a snap count. This is fantastic news as it comes out the week Hall faces a bottom-five team. The Broncos have allowed the most fantasy points, touchdowns, and second-most receiving yards to the position.
Hall is set for an RB1 week with him being on a snap count no longer in effect. Fire Breece Hall up and your patience with him is about to pay off in a big way.
Gus Edwards @ Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are giving up the sixth most fantasy points to running backs. Lamar Jackson and Gus Edwards are set up to have multiple rushing touchdowns against this Steelers’ defense. The Ravens offense started to truly click against a very good Browns defense in Week 4.
Now, Edwards and the Ravens face a softer Steelers defense in a Week 5 division showdown. Expect the Ravens to be near the goaline a handful of times in Week 5 and Edwards to punch it in once or twice.
Jaylen Warren vs. Baltimore Ravens
As I stated in the sits section of starts and sits, Najee Harris will be droppable after this week. If you want to drop him now, go for it. He is slowly losing his job to this man, Jaylen Warren. Warren has stolen all the passes out of the backfield. He currently sits as the RB31 in ppg and Harris is the RB45.
Warren has the fourth-most receiving yards and the second-most receptions among all running backs. The backfield is changing in Pittsburgh and starting Warren over Harris in your starts and sits will be the best decision you make in Week 5.
Wide Receiver Starts
Rashee Rice @ Minnesota Vikings
Listen, the Kansas City Chiefs weapons besides Travis Kelce is a guessing game. Rashee Rice has the second-most targets and second-most catches on the team behind Kelce. Now, he gets to face the team allowing the third most ppg to the position.
Travis Kelce is the obvious answer in the Chiefs offense, but someone has to step up and that has been Rice. With bye weeks underway and four teams on one, flex plays are needed and Rashee Rice is the perfect one to deliver a top 24 finish in Week 5.
Romeo Doubs @ Las Vegas Raiders
As I wrote on Week 5’s sleepers and streamers, Romeo Doubs has taken strides in becoming the Packers WR1. With the fifth most air yards and 13 targets in Week 4, Doubs is my favorite start in starts and sits. It has become clear that Christian Watson is the touchdown play in Green Bay and Doubs will be Love’s go to target to move the chains.
Doubs now has a WR13, WR17, and a WR10 finish to start his sophomore season. Currently, the WR18 in ppg, Doubs is quickly establishing himself as the guy in Green Bay and has become Jordan Love’s favorite target. The Raiders are a bottom-12 team in defending receivers and Doubs should be started as a top-24 receiver with top-15 upside in Week 5.
Michael Pittman Jr.
Yes, why is Michael Pittaman on here? To remind the readers there is no need to panic. Pittman had double-digit targets in the first three weeks of the season. Then, he had a bad game in Week 5 with one catch on five targets and 15 yards. He is still the WR12 on a ppg basis and think of last week as a fluke.
In Week 5, the Colts face the Tennessee Titans. This a team that allows fantasy points and yards to receivers for fun. Michael Pittman should be started with not a single doubt about last week in your mind. Pittman will smash and is my biggest lock in starts and sits for Week 5.
Tight end starts
Zach Ertz vs Cincinatti Bengals
The Arizona Cardinals are targeting the tight end position at a 31.4% rate which is second highest. He has become the safety blanket for Josh Dobbs and he has become a perfect tight end to replace Kyle Pitts and Darren Waller. Those two tight ends were hyped up and with good reason.
A month into the season, it just has not panned out well and there are much better options that went undrafted in fantasy drafts. Ertz is one of them facing a Bengals team giving up the fourth most points to the position. The Cardinals are giving up the seventh most and the Bengals the ninth most ypg (yards per game) to teams in general.
I expect a nice amount of points to be scored between these teams with Ertz finding himself in the end-zone and having a double-digit performance in Week 5 for starts and sits.
Tyler Conklin @ Denver Broncos
Three New York Jets players made the starts and sits for Week 5 and with good reasoning. The Denver Broncos are a very bad football team and probably the most disappointing team in the past two years. They have given up the fifth most total yards to the position and the second-most total fantasy points.
This is for those fantasy managers searching for light in the position. If it is not Travis Kelce, Mark Andrews, or Sam LaPorta, you are streaming a tight end and Tyler Conklin is the perfect fit for that in Week 5.
Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End | Half-PPR by Position | Flex Rankings | Positional Ranks w/ K & DST | Dynasty | Superflex Dynasty