Our Week 5 fantasy football start and sit recommendations are now live with a whole lot to look at after the first four weeks of the NFL season.
Last week saw us recommend you starting Russell Wilson (three touchdowns) at quarterback. You are welcome. Unfortunately, another recommended start in that of running back James Cook didn’t do well. Our apologies. But as they say, it’s a new day.
Without further ado, here’s our fantasy football start and sit for Week 5 of the 2023 NFL season.
Related: Love Fantasy Sports? Get Top FREE Insights From One Of The World’s Best Players Today!
Week 5 fantasy football start and sit: Quarterbacks
Start
Sam Howell, Washington Commanders
After a disastrous four-interception performance against the Buffalo Bills back in Week 3, Howell returned to form in an overtime loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in his last outing. The second-year quarterback completed 29-of-41 passes for 290 yards with a touchdown and zero interceptions. He was solid all the way around despite not being an impactful fantasy performer.
Howell now has himself a solid Week 5 matchup against the disaster class that are the Chicago Bears. This defense has yielded 10 touchdown passes against two interceptions in four games this season. With head coach Matt Eberflus continuing to call plays following the resignation of defensive coordinator Alan Williams, things are not going swimmingly right now for Chicago’s D.
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
It’s perfectly clear that Burrow’s calf injury has impacted him big time through three games. The NFL’s highest-paid player initially suffered the injury during training camp before aggravating it in Week 3. It has led to some major statistical struggles on the part of the star quarterback.
- Joe Burrow stats (2023): 58% completion, 728 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
When Burrow aggravated the injury, it was noted he’d be dealing with it for at least a couple weeks. The hope is that he’s closer to 100% come Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals.
We’re banking on it in our fantasy football start and sit for this week. After all, Arizona has yielded the seventh-most fantasy points to quarterbacks on the season. Last week alone, San Francisco 49ers youngster Brock Purdy completed 20-of-21 passes for nearly 300 yards. This could act as a get-right game for Burrow.
Sit
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
In his last two starts against the 49ers (each in the playoffs), Prescott has tallied just two touchdowns against three interceptions with Dallas putting up a total of 29 points. He seems to struggle against one of the best defenses the NFL has to offer.
We don’t expect this to change come Week 5 in Santa Clara. The 49ers’ defense has yielded four touchdowns against five interceptions through the air this season. During San Francisco’s 14-game regular season winning streak, it has given up just 15 touchdowns compared to 15 interceptions through the air. If you’re going to bet on anyone in this one from Dallas, make sure it’s Tony Pollard.
Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Continuing with what promises to be the game of the week around the NFL, some might be inclined to start Purdy after what we’ve seen from the youngster early in his career. In fact, Purdy heads into Week 5 having put up some absolutely insane numbers through four weeks.
- Brock Purdy stats (2023): 72% completion, 1,019 yards, 7 total TD, 0 INT, 115.1 QB rating
We’re not going to bank on the Cowboys picking Purdy off come Sunday night with Trevon Diggs sidelined for the season. However, this unit will certainly hold him in check. Dallas’ defense has yielded 676 passing yards with two touchdowns and seven interceptions through the air in four games. That’s about as absurd as it gets.
Related: Week 5 fantasy football rankings
Week 5 fantasy football start and sit: Running backs
Start
Breece Hall, New York Jets
With Dalvin Cook struggling (30 attempts, 74 yards this season), the Jets will soon turn to Hall for near every-down duties moving forward. The second-year back has been somewhat inconsistent. However, he’s averaging a resounding 6.6 yards per rush this season and is coming off a 69-yard performance on nine touches against the Kansas City Chiefs.
At 1-3, New York is in must-win mode as it visits the Denver Broncos in Week 5. The good news? Denver has been an absolute disaster against running backs this season. This unit has yielded 613 rushing yards and seven touchdowns at a clip of 5.6 yards per rush to running backs through four games. Last week alone, Bears running back Khalil Herbert went for 122 total yards and a touchdown on 22 touches. Prior to that, Herbert had put up just 93 rushing yards in three games. Go ahead and do the math.
De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
How good has this rookie third-round pick from Texas A&M been from a fantasy perspective over the past two weeks? He’s gone for 353 total yards and six touchdowns on just 33 touches. That’s an average of 10.7 yards per touch and one score every 5.5 times he touches the ball.
Sure, these numbers are not sustainable. But we’re not expecting too much of a slow down Week 5 against a New York Giants defense that yielded the sixth-most fantasy points to running backs through the first three weeks. Look for Achane to shine again.
Related: 2023 NFL Playoff and Super Bowl predictions
Sit
Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
Since replacing the recently traded Cam Akers as Los Angeles’ RB1, this sophomore has put up 292 total yards and four touchdowns in just three games. Williams is also coming off a Week 4 performance that saw him gain 103 rushing yards and two touchdowns against the Indianapolis Colts.
We just don’t expect him to continue this in Week 5 against a Philadelphia Eagles team that is yielding the fewest fantasy points to running backs on the season. Players at this position have put up all of 185 rushing yards and one touchdown in four games. As an aside, the Rams will likely have to rely on Matthew Stafford and the passing game to keep pace with the Eagles’ high-octane scoring offense.
Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans
As good as C.J. Stroud has been for Houston as a rookie, the quarterback’s presence has had an indirect impact on Pierce’s fantasy relevance. After a stellar rookie season, this former fourth-round pick has gained a mere 181 rushing yards on 64 attempts through four games. That’s an average of 2.8 yards per rush.
It doesn’t get much easier for Pierce Week 5 against an Atlanta Falcons defense that has been surprisingly good stopping the run thus far this season (3.9 yards per attempt). Atlanta has also yet to yield a touchdown to the running back position through four games.
Week 5 fantasy football start and sit: Wide receivers
Start
Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens
From a PPR standpoint, Flowers has been tremendous as a rookie. He’s caught 24-of-29 targets from Lamar Jackson through four games. Unfortunately, Flowers is averaging a mere 10.2 yards per catch and has not hauled in a touchdown thus far as a rookie.
Will that change with Baltimore taking on a Steelers team that has been absolutely horrendous stopping the pass on the season? Opposing receivers have already hauled in 62 receptions for 866 yards and six touchdowns in four games. They are averaging 14 yards per catch and hauling in 64% of their targets. This bodes well for Flowers in Week 5.
Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
If we’re hellbent on recommending Joe Burrow, why not go ahead and stream Bengals players? This duo has to break out at some point, right? Chase has shown signs over the past two weeks that he’s returning to form, catching 19-of-24 targets for 214 yards. That’s a nice backdrop heading into Week 5.
As with Burrow, he’s also facing a plus-level matchup against Arizona. Last week saw Brandon Aiyuk catch all six of his targets for 148 yards against the Cardinals. All said, this unit is yielding a 72% completion to wide receivers on the season.
Sit
Drake London, Atlanta Falcons
We just can’t rely on any pass-catcher as a legitimate option with Desmond Ridder throwing passes in Atlanta. In addition to tight end Kyle Pitts, London is a prime example of this. Through two weeks, the former USC star has caught 11-of-22 targets for 126 yards. While he has two touchdowns, the consistency is not there.
Don’t expect that to change come Week 5 against a red-hot Houston Texans defense that has given up just 23 points over the past two games. Thus far this season, opposing receivers have hauled in just 49 passes for 489 yards with a touchdown against Houston.
Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
Shockingly, Samuel was not targeted a single time in San Francisco’s 35-16 win over Arizona. He’s been dealing with a rib and knee injury over the past couple weeks, which could’ve played a role. With that said, Brock Purdy honed in more on Aiyuk and Christian McCaffrey last week (13-of-14 passing for 219 yards).
Taking on one of the best pass defenses in the NFL, we expect Purdy to play the matchups here. Targeting wide receivers might not be it. Dallas has given up a 48% completion to wide receivers through four games. Look for a lot of McCaffrey and George Kittle in this one.
Week 5 fantasy football start and sit: Tight ends
Start
Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams
We expected a big season from Higbee in 2023, but the emergence of Puka Nacua has changed the narrative somewhat in Southern California. Even then, this underrated tight end has shown signs of stepping up recently. He’s caught 10 passes for 135 yards over the past two games. The Philadelphia Eagles have not been good against this position in 2023, giving up a 85% completion and the second-most fantasy points to tight ends.
Sit
Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears
Kmet has been one of the few bright spots for an otherwise embarrassing Bears team, hauling in 75% of his targets from Justin Fields with two touchdowns. Unfortunately, there’s no reason to believe this will change Week 5 against a Washington Commanders defense that has given up all of 83 yards to tight ends in four games.