It's already Week 5, which means we're over a third of the way through the fantasy football regular season. While the sample size is still fairly small, we're getting a much better understanding of how certain players and teams will perform in various matchups, strengthening our overall rankings. Our Week 5 fantasy QB rankings are here to serve as a guide to making crucial start 'em, sit 'em decisions in the final week before the byes start.
This week, the top of our QB rankings look a bit different than Week 4, as Patrick Mahomes (vs. Raiders in Week 5) and Tom Brady (vs. Falcons) make their way into the top five thanks to highly favorable matchups. Entering Week 4, the Raiders had allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to QBs, and it won't get easier facing Mahomes. Atlanta wasn't too far behind, allowing the 10th-most fantasy points to QBs, and Brady's familiarity torching the Falcons could result in a big fantasy performance. Aaron Rodgers (vs. Giants) and Derek Carr (@ Chiefs), also see their rankings improve from Week 4 in better matchups, but neither are sure things.
We hopefully won't have to worry as much about the impact weather will have on this week's slate. As we saw in Week 4, the weather certainly had an impact on Jalen Hurts', Josh Allen's, Lamar Jackson's, and Trevor Lawrence's performances, but given their Week 5 matchups should take place in better conditions, bounce-back performances seem likely.
WEEK 5 PPR RANKINGS:
RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
The whole nation saw Tua Tagovailoa go down with a scary head injury last Thursday night, and with Tagovailoa unlikely to be cleared ahead of Week 5, backup QB Teddy Bridgewater (@ Jets) would get the starting nod. Bridgewater sits right in the middle of the pack, and while he's certainly a downgrade from Tagovailoa, Miami has enough talent around Bridgewater to give him some streaming value. We still like veterans Russell Wilson (vs. Colts), Kirk Cousins (vs. Bears), and Matthew Stafford (vs. Cowboys) over Bridgewater despite varying degrees of more difficult matchups, but there isn't a huge chasm between these guys.
WEEK 5 STANDARD RANKINGS:
RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Also on the injury front, Bailey Zappe (vs. Lions) seems likely to start in place of Mac Jones (ankle) and Brian Hoyer (concussion), and Jameis Winston's (vs. Seahawks) status is also worth monitoring. He's a legit sleeper if he returns from his back injury, but if he doesn't, Andy Dalton doesn't inspire much confidence despite the favorable matchup. The same is true for Pittsburgh's new QB Kenny Pickett (@ Bills), who has plenty of long-term upside...just not against Buffalo.
WEEK 5 DFS LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings
Some of the bigger mid-tier fallers in Week 5 include Geno Smith (@ Saints), Carson Wentz (vs. Titans), Marcus Mariota (@ Buccaneers), and Jimmy Garoppolo (@ Panthers). All but Wentz draw tough matchups, and Wentz and Mariota struggled mightily last week. Smith has only really performed well in highly favorable matchups this year, so you can't fully trust him. Jared Goff (@ Patriots) looks like he has a decent matchup on paper, but we're also dropping him given Detroit's injury issues and the fact New England's numbers are inflated after getting roasted by Lamar Jackson in Week 3.
WEEK 5 DFS: Best stacks | Best values
If you need a streaming option in deeper leagues, Ryan Tannehill (@ Commanders), Zach Wilson (vs. Dolphins), and the aforementioned Bridgewater (@ Jets) are solid options. Washington's defense has been one of the most disappointing units this season, so Tannehill should put up a solid fantasy stat line. Wilson is playing just his second game coming back from his knee injury and has a low roster percentage, but the upside is there against Miami's porous pass defense.
WEEK 5 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
Note: We'll be updating these QB rankings as needed throughout the week, so check back for the latest changes.
Week 5 fantasy QB Rankings
These rankings are based on four-point passing TD scoring
| Rank | Player |
| 1 | Josh Allen, Bills vs. Steelers |
| 2 | Jalen Hurts, Eagles @ Cardinals |
| 3 | Lamar Jackson, Ravens vs. Bengals |
| 4 | Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs vs. Raiders |
| 5 | Tom Brady, Buccaneers vs. Falcons |
| 6 | Joe Burrow, Bengals @ Ravens |
| 7 | Justin Herbert, Chargers @ Browns |
| 8 | Kyler Murray, Cardinals vs. Eagles |
| 9 | Aaron Rodgers, Packers vs. Giants |
| 10 | Derek Carr, Raiders @ Chiefs |
| 11 | Russell Wilson, Broncos vs. Colts |
| 12 | Kirk Cousins, Vikings vs. Bears |
| 13 | Matthew Stafford, Rams vs. Cowboys |
| 14 | Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars vs. Texans |
| 15 | Teddy Bridgewater, Dolphins @ Jets |
| 16 | Ryan Tannehill, Titans @ Commanders |
| 17 | Zach Wilson, Jets vs. Dolphins |
| 18 | Cooper Rush, Cowboys @ Rams |
| 19 | Jared Goff, Lions @ Patriots |
| 20 | Andy Dalton, Saints vs. Seahawks |
| 21 | Carson Wentz, Commanders vs. Titans |
| 22 | Geno Smith, Seahawks @ Saints |
| 23 | Justin Fields, Bears @ Vikings |
| 24 | Daniel Jones, Giants vs. Packers |
| 25 | Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers @ Panthers |
| 26 | Davis Mills, Texans @ Jaguars |
| 27 | Kenny Pickett, Steelers @ Bills |
| 28 | Marcus Mariota, Falcons @ Buccaneers |
| 29 | Baker Mayfield, Panthers vs. 49ers |
| 30 | Bailey Zappe, Patriots vs. Lions |
| 31 | Jacoby Brissett, Browns vs. Chargers |
| 32 | Matt Ryan, Colts @ Broncos |
Week 5 QB fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks
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