Week 5 Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Justin Boone's lineup advice

Make any day feel like Game Day with the Burger King Game Day Menu. Before you take your first bite, get your lineup ready with this week’s must-starts and sits.

Justin Boone provides a weekly look at undervalued fantasy players to consider starting this week and potential busts you might want to leave on your bench.

For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult his Week 5 rankings.

Starts

Matthew Stafford, QB, Rams

vs. Bills

Stafford’s fantasy numbers have been a mixed bag in the opening month, with two weeks as a top-10 QB and two finishes outside the top 25. Fortunately, his next matchup has the makings for one of the best prime-time shootouts of the season.

The Rams will host the Bills on Monday Night Football, in a game tied for the highest projected point total on the week at 54.5.

Buffalo is allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing passers, including a QB1 overall result to Drake Maye last week.

Other QBs to start:

Drake Maye vs. Raiders – Speaking of Maye, he finally looked more like his 2025 self in Week 4. The most exciting outcome was his season-highs in carries (8) and rushing yards (54), which Mike Vrabel highlighted as a key to their victory. If Maye keeps it up, he’ll return to high-end fantasy QB1 territory.
Jared Goff at Cardinals – Goff might not be at home for this one, but this is a dome game with a 54.5 projected point total against an Arizona defense that’s giving up the fifth-most fantasy points to QBs.

Jaylen Warren, RB, Steelers

vs. Colts

With Rico Dowdle sitting out the last couple of games due to a toe injury, Warren has made the most of his increased workload. Despite not finding the end zone in either contest, he still racked up 302 scrimmage yards and six receptions on 44 touches during those two weeks.

Dowdle is reportedly unlikely to play on Sunday, but even if he suits up, Warren remains a strong start after showcasing his potential recently.

The Colts are also the eighth-best matchup for fantasy RBs, which is by far his easiest opponent through the first five weeks. You can confidently start Warren once again whether Dowdle is active or not.

Other RBs to start:

Bhayshul Tuten vs. Eagles (London) – Tuten was one of my recommended buys this week, since he’s been so close to much bigger stat lines recently. He’s RB16 on the year, topping 85 scrimmage yards in three of his four games and is coming off season-highs in usage. He also had two TDs called back due to penalties last week. He should see plenty of work with the Jags heavily favored over the banged-up Eagles.
Emanuel Wilson vs. 49ers – Wilson is coming off a 120-yard, two-touchdown effort and facing a 49ers defense that’s let four different backs reach double-digit fantasy points against them in four weeks. Seattle also ran all over San Francisco in its matchups last season.
Braelon Allen vs. Browns – It’s hard to judge the Jets offense based on their performance in Week 4, since the Bears completely controlled the game and time of possession. Even so, Allen finished with 16 touches, including all 14 of New York’s rushing attempts. I like his chances against a Browns defense allowing 103.5 scrimmage yards per game to starting RBs this season.

Jameson Williams, WR, Lions

at Cardinals

Williams was highlighted as a start last week in this space and answered the call with six receptions and 102 yards on eight targets. Is it risky to go back to the well expecting another spike week from the volatile WR3? Yes, but fantasy managers should feel good about his outlook once again.

In addition to being projected as a high-scoring affair in the desert, Williams also gets to face a generous Cardinals defense. Arizona is the fourth-friendliest fantasy opponent for wideouts and has given up a league-leading 11 receiving TDs.

Other WRs to start:

DK Metcalf vs. Colts – With Michael Pittman Jr. sidelined with a foot injury, Metcalf will be asked to carry the passing game. His nine targets in Week 4 are a promising sign of things to come and resulted in a 5-115-0 stat line versus the Browns. Indy is not a matchup to be feared.
Romeo Doubs vs. Raiders – With A.J. Brown and now Mack Hollins injured, Doubs has become the focal point of New England’s passing attack. Over the last three weeks, he’s delivered solid numbers with 96 yards, 49 yards and then his six-catch, 58-yard, two-touchdown explosion in Week 4. The nine targets in that game are what I find the most alluring. Expect Doubs to be featured against a Raiders defense that’s permitted 100-yard games to wideouts in back-to-back weeks.

Mike Gesicki, TE, Bengals

at Dolphins

We can look to the Bengals when searching for a tight end to start this week. With Chase still working to get cleared and Higgins seeming more unlikely to be ready, Gesicki is firmly in play for fantasy.

He’s been a sneaky starter most weeks in the opening month, with touchdowns in three of his four outings. Now, he’s set to benefit from the receiver injuries and see increased volume against his old team, the Dolphins.

Miami is the fifth-best matchup for fantasy tight ends, allowing George Kittle (80 yards, TD), Travis Kelce (59 yards, TD) and T.J. Hockenson (119 yards) to have big days against them over the past three weeks.

Editor’s note: Both Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins will reportedly play on Sunday, which bumps down Gesicki’s upside, making him more of a low-end TE1 or high-end TE2.

Other TEs to start:

Juwan Johnson vs. Vikings – Suggesting players to start against Minnesota’s defense doesn’t come without risk. However, the Vikings have given up at least 50 yards to a tight end three times in four weeks and Johnson has posted at least 50 yards in every game. He also has three touchdowns on the season.
Tyler Higbee vs. Bills – With Terrance Ferguson sidelined, Higbee has found the fountain of youth, with 8-62-1 and 5-67-0 stat lines in the last two games. He’s worthy of consideration as a streaming option in a potentially high-scoring MNF matchup with the Bills, who are still figuring things out under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard.

Sits

Jalen Hurts, QB, Eagles

vs. Jaguars (London)

They say things can always get worse, but the Eagles are putting that to the test at the moment.

DeVonta Smith and Saquon Barkley are sidelined, while Dallas Goedert is expected to return from injury after a two-game absence. Wideout Dontayvion Wicks also popped up on the injury report with a new hamstring injury and a limited practice on Thursday, but will play.

To make matters worse, the offensive line is in complete disarray following the sudden retirement of Lane Johnson, the trade of Cam Jurgens and a cavalcade of injuries, including Landon Dickerson, Fred Johnson and Drew Kendall.

Now, they’re traveling to London to face a Jaguars defense that’s known for shutting down the run, but has also been tough on QBs this year. This is not the time to have Hurts in your lineup.

Other QBs to sit:

Sam Darnold vs. 49ers – San Francisco is allowing the seventh-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks in 2026. The Niners also held Darnold in check during their three meetings last season in Week 1 (150 yards, no TDs), Week 18 (198 yards, no TDs) and the divisional round (124 yards, TD).
Justin Herbert vs. Broncos – Herbert has played so poorly this year (QB22, QB24, QB23, QB27) that he’s not even worth starting against a Broncos defense that will be without starting corners Patrick Surtain II and Riley Moss.

Alvin Kamara, RB, Saints

vs. Vikings

While it might not have looked pretty at times, Kamara came through for fantasy managers in Week 4 with seven carries for 23 yards, five catches for 35 yards and two touchdowns on Monday Night Football.

Hopefully no one is talking themselves into Kamara being a strong fantasy option after that game. Even with Travis Etienne Jr. on IR, Kamara still only played 38% of the snaps — sharing the load with Kendre Miller and CJ Donaldson.

Brian Flores’ defense isn’t going to make life easy on him, either. Prior to Ollie Gordon II’s somewhat flukey 100-yard, one-touchdown stat line on just nine carries, the Vikings had held every back they’d faced under 50 rushing yards. On paper, Minnesota is the toughest opponent for fantasy backs in 2026. Kamara will also be playing through a back injury. The 31-year-old Kamara remains a desperation TD-or-bust RB3, who may have trouble holding up to these workloads.

Other RBs to sit:

Omarion Hampton vs. Broncos – Hampton’s usage is trending in the wrong direction after he split snaps almost evenly with Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal last week. He’s managed to salvage his fantasy weeks by scoring touchdowns in three of four games so far, but that won’t always be the case. Follow the volume, which led to a season-low 11 touches in Week 4.
Tony Pollard vs. Texans – Pollard has come through with a couple usable stat lines lately, but he’s still a risky RB3 with limited scoring upside. Though the Texans defense might not be as ferocious as it was in 2025, I would still be avoiding Pollard in this matchup.
J.K. Dobbins at Chargers – Dobbins has been held under 50 rushing in every game this season, has a very limited role in the passing game and hasn’t found the end zone. Even a revenge game narrative against the Chargers isn’t enough to convince me to start him.

Devaughn Vele, WR, Saints

vs. Vikings

Vele has been an outstanding fantasy pickup in the opening month, with at least 50 yards in three of his games and a pair of touchdowns.

Coming off a primetime contest where many people watched him catch six passes for 54 yards and a score, fantasy managers might be getting comfortable starting him. I’d advise against it this week.

The Vikings are a challenging defense and Vele has benefitted from some easier matchups in the first four weeks. His only tougher opponent was the Raiders (eighth-fewest fantasy points to WRs), who held him to just three catches for 39 yards. You don’t have to drop Vele until Jordyn Tyson returns, just lower your expectations against more difficult opponents like Minnesota.

Other WRs to sit

Eagles WRs vs. Jaguars (London) – This probably goes without saying, but you shouldn’t be mining for value on the Eagles’ WR depth chart right now. Dontayvion Wicks will play after he showed up with a new injury on Thursday and Makai Lemon remains a deeper stash for later in the season. You just can’t trust any of Philly’s wideouts in your lineup right now with all the injuries and struggles this offense is dealing with.
Courtland Sutton at Chargers – Sutton has only topped 25 yards in one game this season and is fresh off a one-catch, four-yard effort against the 49ers. Even with Pat Bryant missing time due to injury, Sutton isn’t someone I’m willing to put in lineups. Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims Jr. will simply see more work in Bryant’s absence.
Wan’Dale Robinson vs. Texans – Robinson has found the end zone in consecutive weeks, but don’t get used to it. This is a receiver who hasn’t scored more than four touchdowns in an NFL season. He’s a low-floor, low-ceiling WR4/flex.

T.J. Hockenson, TE, Vikings

at Saints

After missing last week with an ankle injury, Justin Jefferson practiced in a limited fashion this week. That makes it seem like he’s trending in the right direction to play, but he appears to be a game-time decision and the Vikings have a Week 6 bye. So, if Minnesota wants to play it safe with the star wideout, he could sit again.

If Jefferson plays, Hockenson goes back to being a low-end TE2 who doesn’t qualify as a fantasy starter. However, even if Jefferson is ruled out, fantasy managers should be cautious about chasing Hockenson’s 13-catch, 119-yard stat line from last week.

Remember when Dalton Schultz had a 12-catch, 140-yard game for the Texans when Nico Collins was sidelined? Collins remained out the next week, but Schultz drew more defensive attention and flopped with just three catches and 30 yards. Hockenson is in a similar group at the position, making him just a risky streamer.

Other TEs to sit:

Dalton Schultz at Titans – Aside from that one big blowup game, Schultz has been kept to 35 yards or less in his three other appearances. That includes just two grabs for nine yards last week.
Kyle Pitts Sr. vs. Ravens – Don’t be tempted by Pitts’ 47-yard outing last week. It came on just three catches, while running a route on just 43% of the Falcons’ dropbacks. He’s well off the fantasy radar and should be dropped in most redraft leagues.

Source: sports.yahoo.com