The first quarter — or so? — of the season is over and we are now entering bye week season. Finding players to start and sit becomes all the more crucial.
Here’s a look at players to start and sit at each position to help you with your toughest lineup decisions for Week 5.
Start ‘em
Quarterbacks
Justin Fields (New York Jets): Fields is a strong start this week due to his dual-threat ability, which provides a high floor via rushing production, and his path to high-end QB1 numbers against a Cowboys pass defense ranked last in the league.
Daniel Jones (Indianapolis Colts): Despite a disappointing Week 4, Jones remains a top-10 fantasy quarterback for the year, and his combination of efficient passing and red-zone rushing attempts makes him poised for a strong performance against a softer-than-average secondary.
Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys): Prescott has been playing well, posting two top-five weekly finishes recently, and he is set up for a productive day against a struggling secondary that has allowed a high rate of passing touchdowns and gives him a clean-pocket environment to work from.
Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers): Herbert had a dominant Week 1 with a QB1-range finish, but his past three weeks put him right back into QB2 range. He has a favorable matchup this week where he could be forced to throw in what could be a shootout with the Commanders.
Jared Goff (Detroit Lions): Goff is in a prime spot for a ceiling game, as the Lions face a defense ranked 30th in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game, which should allow the efficient quarterback to deliver another high-scoring performance.
Running Backs
Cam Skattebo (New York Giants): Skattebo has carved out a significant role since Tyrone Tracy suffered an injury and he gained this past week, making him a viable fantasy start even with a challenging matchup.
Breece Hall (New York Jets): Hall is projected as a high-end fantasy running back this week and should see great volume against a defense that has struggled against the run and has allowed a high number of rushing touchdowns.
Rachaad White (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): Although the matchup is against a top-tier run defense, White is a strong consideration due to his expected full-time workload and the reliable floor he provides through his consistent and integral involvement in the passing game.
Quinshon Judkins (Cleveland Browns): Judkins has completely taken over the Browns backfield, handling a massive share of the rushing attempts and is set up for a strong performance against a defense that is most vulnerable against the run.
Alvin Kamara (New Orleans Saints): Kamara is a strong start with a great chance for a season-best performance in rushing volume and production as he goes up against one of the league’s worst-ranked run defenses.
Wide Receivers
Xavier Worthy (Kansas City Chiefs): Worthy appears to be the Chiefs’ WR1 and is coming off a productive game where he saw high targets and rushing work, making him a high-upside start against a secondary that has struggled against opposing wide receivers.
Nico Collins (Houston Texans): Collins has a significant matchup advantage against a defense that is currently ranked 31st in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game, which sets up the wide receiver to potentially have a breakout week.
Marvin Harrison Jr. (Arizona Cardinals): With two top-15 weekly finishes and a consistent target share, Harrison Jr. gets a favorable matchup against a defense that has allowed a high number of PPR points to perimeter wide receivers.
Jaylen Waddle (Miami Dolphins): Waddle steps into the role of the Dolphins’ new No. 1 wide receiver, and despite a tough defensive opponent, his anticipated major increase in target volume and history of thriving in high-usage games makes him a reliable WR2 start.
Quentin Johnston (Los Angeles Chargers): Johnston is part of a Chargers passing attack that is poised for a big day, as his team faces one of the league’s lowest-ranked pass defenses, giving the receiver significant fantasy upside this week.
Tight Ends
Jake Ferguson (Dallas Cowboys): Ferguson has demonstrated incredibly high volume, with 33 targets over the last three weeks, and is a red-zone favorite, making him a strong TE1 start even against a decent defense.
Sam LaPorta (Detroit Lions): After a slight dip in production, LaPorta is in a fantastic bounce-back spot for a touchdown-scoring opportunity against a defense ranked 30th against the pass.
Hunter Henry (New England Patriots): Henry’s fantasy value is elevated by his consistent red-zone usage, as he has scored three touchdowns in his last two games, making him a viable option despite a tough defensive matchup.
Dalton Kincaid (Buffalo Bills): Kincaid has established a reliable catch floor and is a great start this week against a struggling pass defense, giving him a good chance for a high-scoring day in a game with a projected high total.
Darren Waller (Miami Dolphins): Waller is an elite streamer option after a breakout performance in his Dolphins debut, and he projects as the team’s top red-zone target in an ideal matchup.
Sit ‘em
Quarterbacks
Jake Browning (Cincinnati Bengals): Facing the Detroit Lions’ 11th-ranked pass defense, Browning’s recent struggles with low yardage and poor efficiency make him a risky play.
Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars): A challenging matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs’ eighth-ranked pass defense severely limits Lawrence’s fantasy ceiling for Week 5.
Geno Smith (Las Vegas Raiders): Given the Raiders’ low-scoring offense and his personal inconsistency, Smith’s upside is capped even against a middling matchup.
C.J. Stroud (Houston Texans): The Baltimore Ravens’ 31st-ranked pass defense presents an opportunity for Stroud, but his struggles this year combined with a tough road matchup make him a risky play.
Carson Wentz (Minnesota Vikings): Uncertainty surrounds Wentz’s status heading into this week. Despite back-to-back weeks of low-end QB1, high-end QB2 production, Wentz will face a tough Browns opponent on the road.
Running Backs
Chase Brown (Cincinnati Bengals): A brutal matchup awaits Brown against the Detroit Lions’ eighth-ranked run defense, a unit that gives up a meager 94 rushing yards per game.
Ashton Jeanty (Las Vegas Raiders): After his breakout game last week, everyone has itchy Jeanty trigger fingers. But Jeanty will have a tough time getting going on the ground as he faces the Indianapolis Colts’ tenth-ranked run defense, which has been stout against the rush and stingy with rushing touchdowns.
Jordan Mason (Minnesota Vikings): Fantasy managers should steer clear of Mason this week due to the nightmare scenario of running into the Cleveland Browns’ top-ranked run defense, which allows only 70.3 yards per contest.
J.K. Dobbins (Denver Broncos): Dobbins draws a less than ideal matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense on the road, with R.J. Harvey also breathing down his back demanding more touches.
Woody Marks (Houston Texans): Despite a strong Week 4 performance, Marks is a risky option as he faces a Baltimore defense that has historically been tough and inconsistent backfield usage in Houston may limit his touches.
Wide Receivers
Deebo Samuel (Washington Commanders): His Week 5 prospects are grim, with Samuel going up against the tough secondary of the Los Angeles Chargers, who boast the fifth-ranked passing defense.
Zay Flowers (Baltimore Ravens): Without Lamar Jackson, Flowers has a difficult matchup this week against the sixth-ranked passing defense in the NFL.
Chris Godwin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): Godwin saw 10 targets in his return to action last week but only caught three of them. This week’s matchup on the road against Seattle is not ideal.
Jerry Jeudy (Cleveland Browns): Jeudy faces one of the toughest challenges in the league against the Minnesota Vikings’ third-ranked pass defense, which has been excellent at stifling receiving production.
DeVonta Smith (Philadelphia Eagles): It’s best to fade Smith this week because he is matched up against the Denver Broncos’ eighth-ranked pass defense, a top unit at limiting aerial scores.
Tight Ends
David Njoku (Cleveland Browns): Njoku is a poor option against the Minnesota Vikings’ third-ranked passing defense, a unit that has been excellent against the tight end position.
Zach Ertz (Washington Commanders): Ertz draws one of the most difficult matchups for a tight end, going against the Los Angeles Chargers’ fifth-ranked passing defense.
Brenton Strange (Jacksonville Jaguars): He gets a good amount of targets — securing 14 over the last two weeks — but he faces a less than ideal start against the Chiefs’ seventh-ranked pass defense.
Dallas Goedert (Philadelphia Eagles): Goedert has a challenging outlook as he faces the Denver Broncos’ eighth-ranked passing defense.
T.J. Hockenson (Minnesota Vikings): Given his inconsistent output this season, Hockenson is a poor start, having to contend with the stout Cleveland Browns’ fourth-ranked pass defense.
