C.J. Stroud threw for 347 yards and Jameson Williams finally hit the century mark in a 2026 game. Last week was arguably our most accurate fantasy football matchups column yet, and I expect the overall hit rate to improve each week as we gain more data and insights on team and player tendencies.
Every week, I’ll continue to identify and write up players that are not obviously starts or sits. Regardless of matchup, you’re starting someone like James Cook every week, so I try to go a few layers deeper than your early-round fantasy studs.
Note: Projections refer to player props in the betting and prediction markets, which are a valuable reference tool for anyone playing fantasy football.
START: Jared Goff, Lions at Cardinals
Jared Goff is positioned for another productive fantasy week against an Arizona defense that has struggled to contain opposing passing attacks. He’s a strong streaming option and a legitimate starter for managers deciding between quarterbacks outside the elite tier.
This isn’t a recommendation to automatically bench Jalen Hurts. It’s a warning to lower expectations, Philadelphia is dealing with major injuries around him, and Jacksonville has been one of the league’s tougher defenses.
Jaylen Warren’s workload is becoming impossible for fantasy managers to ignore. Against Indianapolis, that combination of volume and versatility in the passing game makes Warren a strong RB2 with legitimate RB1 upside.
(Charles LeClaire, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
SIT: Tony Pollard, Titans vs. Texans
Tony Pollard’s volume keeps him from being an automatic bench, but the matchup dramatically lowers his ceiling. Houston has been extremely difficult to run against and limited scoring opportunities. Managers with another quality RB2 or FLEX option should consider using it.
(Robert Deutsch, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
START: DK Metcalf, Steelers vs. Colts
DK Metcalf is beginning to look like the difference-making fantasy receiver managers expected. Indianapolis provides another matchup where Metcalf can turn a handful of opportunities into substantial production.
Rome Odunze remains a talented long-term fantasy asset, but Week 5 presents more uncertainty. Chicago’s passing game can spread opportunities around, and a divisional matchup against Green Bay isn’t enough to automatically chase Odunze’s upside. Managers with another dependable WR3 should at least consider the alternative.
T.J. Hockenson’s recent target volume is exactly what fantasy managers want from a tight end. He’s becoming a major part of Minnesota’s passing attack rather than relying exclusively on touchdowns for fantasy production. That type of involvement gives him both a solid floor and TE1 upside.
Kyle Pitts continues to carry more theoretical upside than dependable weekly production. Baltimore presents another matchup where relying on a handful of targets is dangerous. He’s still usable in deeper formats, but managers who have found a tight end receiving steadier volume can justify making the switch.
(Mark J. Rebilas, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
START: Texans D/ST at Titans
Houston has everything fantasy managers look for when streaming a defense: a strong unit, an offense on the other side that can struggle to sustain drives, and opportunities to create sacks and turnovers. The Texans should be one of Week 5’s safest defensive plays.
(Thomas Shea, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
SIT: Cardinals D/ST vs. Lions
This is a matchup to avoid. Detroit has too many ways to move the football and score, which significantly reduces Arizona’s margin for error. Even if the Cardinals generate a sack or turnover, the potential points and yardage allowed make them an unnecessary Week 5 gamble.
(Kevin R. WexlerNorthJersey.com)
1 / 10
Fantasy football Week 5 start ’em, sit ’em: Players to start and bench
START: Jared Goff, Lions at Cardinals
Jared Goff is positioned for another productive fantasy week against an Arizona defense that has struggled to contain opposing passing attacks. He’s a strong streaming option and a legitimate starter for managers deciding between quarterbacks outside the elite tier.
Fantasy football Week 5 start ’em, sit ’em: Players to start and bench
START: Jared Goff, Lions at Cardinals
Jared Goff is positioned for another productive fantasy week against an Arizona defense that has struggled to contain opposing passing attacks. He’s a strong streaming option and a legitimate starter for managers deciding between quarterbacks outside the elite tier.
Fantasy football Week 5 start ’em, sit ’em: Players to start and bench
SIT: Jalen Hurts, Eagles at Jaguars
This isn’t a recommendation to automatically bench Jalen Hurts. It’s a warning to lower expectations, Philadelphia is dealing with major injuries around him, and Jacksonville has been one of the league’s tougher defenses.
Fantasy football Week 5 start ’em, sit ’em: Players to start and bench
START: Jaylen Warren, Steelers vs. Colts
Jaylen Warren’s workload is becoming impossible for fantasy managers to ignore. Against Indianapolis, that combination of volume and versatility in the passing game makes Warren a strong RB2 with legitimate RB1 upside.
(Charles LeClaire, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
4 / 10
Fantasy football Week 5 start ’em, sit ’em: Players to start and bench
SIT: Tony Pollard, Titans vs. Texans
Tony Pollard’s volume keeps him from being an automatic bench, but the matchup dramatically lowers his ceiling. Houston has been extremely difficult to run against and limited scoring opportunities. Managers with another quality RB2 or FLEX option should consider using it.
(Robert Deutsch, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
5 / 10
Fantasy football Week 5 start ’em, sit ’em: Players to start and bench
START: DK Metcalf, Steelers vs. Colts
DK Metcalf is beginning to look like the difference-making fantasy receiver managers expected. Indianapolis provides another matchup where Metcalf can turn a handful of opportunities into substantial production.
Fantasy football Week 5 start ’em, sit ’em: Players to start and bench
SIT: Rome Odunze, Bears at Packers
Rome Odunze remains a talented long-term fantasy asset, but Week 5 presents more uncertainty. Chicago’s passing game can spread opportunities around, and a divisional matchup against Green Bay isn’t enough to automatically chase Odunze’s upside. Managers with another dependable WR3 should at least consider the alternative.
Fantasy football Week 5 start ’em, sit ’em: Players to start and bench
START: T.J. Hockenson, Vikings at Saints
T.J. Hockenson’s recent target volume is exactly what fantasy managers want from a tight end. He’s becoming a major part of Minnesota’s passing attack rather than relying exclusively on touchdowns for fantasy production. That type of involvement gives him both a solid floor and TE1 upside.
Fantasy football Week 5 start ’em, sit ’em: Players to start and bench
SIT: Kyle Pitts, Falcons vs. Ravens
Kyle Pitts continues to carry more theoretical upside than dependable weekly production. Baltimore presents another matchup where relying on a handful of targets is dangerous. He’s still usable in deeper formats, but managers who have found a tight end receiving steadier volume can justify making the switch.
(Mark J. Rebilas, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
9 / 10
Fantasy football Week 5 start ’em, sit ’em: Players to start and bench
START: Texans D/ST at Titans
Houston has everything fantasy managers look for when streaming a defense: a strong unit, an offense on the other side that can struggle to sustain drives, and opportunities to create sacks and turnovers. The Texans should be one of Week 5’s safest defensive plays.
(Thomas Shea, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
10 / 10
Fantasy football Week 5 start ’em, sit ’em: Players to start and bench
SIT: Cardinals D/ST vs. Lions
This is a matchup to avoid. Detroit has too many ways to move the football and score, which significantly reduces Arizona’s margin for error. Even if the Cardinals generate a sack or turnover, the potential points and yardage allowed make them an unnecessary Week 5 gamble.
(Kevin R. WexlerNorthJersey.com)
Best Week 5 fantasy football matchups
Jacoby Brissett vs. the Lions
Quarterbacks are averaging 327 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, and 29 fantasy points per game against Detroit this season. Even when adjusting for opponents faced (Tyler Shough, Josh Allen, Geno Smith and Bryce Young), the Lions have still allowed more than six fantasy points per game to the position above expectation.
The game total in Cardinals-Lions is a hearty 54.5 points, the highest of Week 5. Brissett himself has attempted at least 35 passes in three of four games, and he’s averaging the eighth-most pass attempts per game (38) overall. Almost the entire Lions secondary is injured, as cornerback Rock Ya-Sin is set to miss Week 5, making him the fourth Lions starter to go down in their secondary.
Think of Brissett as a top-10 fantasy option this week, much like Stroud last week against the Cowboys.
D’Andre Swift at the Packers
Let’s address the elephant in the room. Yes, D’Andre Swift was benched last week after a bad fumble. Kyle Monangai looked like superman in relief, carrying 30 times for 146 yards and two scores. Monangai himself is now a little banged up, and I expect Week 5 to be the D’Andre Swift show once again.
Swift signed a lucrative three-year extension with the Bears before the season began, and Head Coach Ben Johnson appears to have already moved on from the fumble. In a presser post-game, Johnson stated:
“I think the [fumble] last week was egregious… and [Swift] knows that. He takes a lot of pride in [not fumbling], hence why it’s never been an issue over the course of his career… he’ll be just fine moving forward.”
The Bears head coach is ready to move on, and so are we. Green Bay has allowed 114 rushing yards and nearly two touchdowns per game to running backs on the ground this season. When adjusting for opponents faced, the Packers are sneakily the #1 matchup to target for our fantasy backs.
Vegas isn’t worried about Swift either, as sportsbooks have his total yards projected for 78.5, with roughly 50-50 odds to score.
Malik Nabers at the Commanders
The Commanders have been a unique case study in how pass defenses funnel production. Through four weeks, the Commanders have given up nearly eight times as many yards to receivers on the outside compared to the slot. This is by far the biggest ratio among any NFL defense this year.
Nabers himself has run 80% of his routes on the outside, and he’s coming off a big six-catch, 112-yard game with a touchdown.
The Commanders have also held two of their four opponents to under 40 rushing yards, and with Cam Skattebo (shoulder) limited in practice this week, there’s a decent chance the Giants are forced to work through the air to attack Washington’s defense.
Nabers continues to be a polarizing fantasy asset, but I’m giving you the green light to start him again in an excellent matchup.
Kenyon Sadiq vs. the Browns
The rookie broke out in Week 3 with seven catches, 105 yards and a touchdown. And then Week 4 was radio silence (kind of).
For those hurt by Sadiq’s Week 4 donut, it’s time to get back on the horse once again. While Sadiq failed to bring in any of his four targets, Geno Smith only attempted 15 passes last week. So, Sadiq’s four targets actually tied with Garrett Wilson for a team-leading 27% target share.
Diving deeper, Sadiq only ran 12 routes, so he was being targeted on an unreal 1 in 3 routes. Many are saying (okay, maybe just me) that this was the quietest force-feeding of targets for any player through four weeks.
Turning to the matchup, the Browns have allowed a 27% target share to tight ends this year, a top-10 mark. It becomes even more favorable when you look at the mixed bag of opponents the Browns have faced (Brenton Strange, Cade Otton, Darren Waller, Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington).
Take the plunge with me and trust Sadiq as an upside play in Week 5 given the matchup.
1. LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers (2006) – 481.1 points
(Matthew Emmons, US PRESSWIRE)
2. Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers (2019) – 471.2 points
(Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports)
3. Priest Holmes, Kansas City Chiefs (2003) – 445 points
(Peter Brouillet, USA TODAY Sports)
4. LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers (2003) – 443.8 points
(Andrew T. Malana, US PRESSWIRE)
5. Priest Holmes, Kansas City Chiefs (2002) – 442.7 points
(Peter Brouillet, USA TODAY Sports)
6. Marshall Faulk, St. Louis Rams (2001) – 423.7 points
(Peter Brouillet, USA TODAY Sports)
7. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers (2025) – 416.6 points
(Sergio Estrada, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
8. Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams (2006) – 415.4 points
(Scott Rovak, US PRESSWIRE)
9. David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals (2016) – 407.8 points
(Bruce Kluckhohn, USA TODAY Sports)
10. Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans (2009) – 392.9 points
(Sanford Myers, The Tennessean)
11. Arian Foster, Houston Texans (2010) – 392 points
(Brett Davis, US PRESSWIRE)
12. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers (2023) – 391.3 points
(Cary Edmondson, USA TODAY Sports)
13. Saquon Barkley, New York Giants (2018) – 385.8 points
(Mykal McEldowney, IndyStar)
14. Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers (2018) – 385.5 points
(Jeremy Brevard, USA TODAY Sports)
15. Ahman Green, Green Bay Packers (2003) – 385 points
(Dale Guldan, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
16. Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams (2017) – 383.3 points
(Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODAY Sports)
17. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs (2013) – 378 points
(Brad Mills, USA TODAY Sports)
18. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints (2020) – 377.8 points
The Falcons pressured Shough on nearly half his dropbacks last week, and it ended up being his worst fantasy output by far of the young 2026 campaign. This week, Shough faces the Vikings, who are undefeated almost entirely due to their defense.
No team has pressured quarterbacks at a higher rate than the Vikings, and they’ve held opposing quarterbacks to just 12.5 fantasy points per game. It’s also a short week for the Saints after their Monday night trouncing at the hands of Atlanta.
Shough should be treated like a fringe top-12 option in fantasy, where the aforementioned Brissett is a better Week 5 option.
Tony Pollard vs. the Texans
Tony Pollard has put together a nice string of fantasy performances, with 13 fantasy points in back-to-back weeks. Unfortunately, that likely ends this week against Houston.
The Texans are holding running backs to just 3.55 yards per carry, despite facing Jonathan Taylor and James Cook already. Both those star backs were held to under 70 rushing yards. Overall, the Texans are the third-worst matchup for fantasy backs when adjusting each defense for opponents faced.
There is also a massive discrepancy between the Texans defensive line (Will Anderson, Danielle Hunter) and a downright bad Titans offensive line. Betting and prediction markets peg Pollard’s touchdown odds at less than 29%, an impressively low number for a starting NFL running back.
Park Pollard on your fantasy bench this week.
Every Eagles Player at the Jaguars (London game)
It’s been about as bad of a four-game runout as anyone could possibly imagine for the Eagles.
Superstar guard Landon Dickerson is on injured reserve
Saquon Barkley should miss this game due to a hamstring injury
DeVonta Smith should miss this game due to a hamstring injury
Tank Bigsby is now on Injured Reserve for core muscle surgery
Dallas Goedert is hoping to return from a sprained MCL in Week 2
When the bullet points emerge, you know it’s bad news, but the hits keep coming. This week, the Eagles face a Jaguars team that has allowed the fewest rushing yards per game to running backs (48). Jacksonville has also allowed just three passing touchdowns on the season, the lowest mark through four games.
Jalen Hurts’ pass yards prop is under 190, it’s just a complete mess. The Eagles are more than touchdown underdogs in a low 41.5 point game total.
It’s also a London game, which is really just another home game for the Jaguars, who have played more than twice as many games there as any other NFL franchise. Like Tampa Bay last week, this is not a week to fire up any Eagles in fantasy football.
