At this stage in the 2025 NFL season, it’s time to start stacking wins or risk missing out on the fantasy playoffs. We now have a legitimate sample size to work with, as workloads, target shares, and other trends have emerged across the league. An additional wrinkle will be added to the fold this week with byes starting, as managers will have a smaller pool of players to choose from. With all of that in mind, let’s break down my start/sit Week 5 fantasy football picks.
Quarterbacks
Start ‘Em: Drake Maye (Patriots) at Bills
Baby Josh Allen heads to Buffalo to take on the real version in an intriguing AFC East SNF matchup. Allen is putting up MVP-caliber numbers as expected, but Maye quietly isn’t too far behind from a statistical standpoint.
The second-year signal caller looks to have taken the next step. Maye has recorded a 75% completion rate or higher and thrown two-plus touchdowns in each of the last three games. That’s a stat Patriots fans are familiar with, as only Tom Brady (2007) has had a longer such streak within a single season in NFL history.
Where Maye definitely has an edge on the G.O.A.T. is in the rushing department. The UNC product has scored twice on the ground, utilizing his legs consistently over New England’s last three contests. Maye racked up at least 20 fantasy points in each of those matchups and will look to keep that streak rolling in a key divisional contest.
Sit ‘Em: Matthew Stafford (Rams) vs. 49ers
Last week, I recommended sitting David Montgomery fresh off his best game of the season. He scored 1.2 points on 10 total touches. I think I’ve earned the right to suggest doing the same with the Rams’ gunslinger.
We saw vintage Stafford against the Colts, as he completed 29 passes for 375 yards and three touchdowns, all season-highs. I’m not taking anything away from the 37-year-old’s performance, I just don’t think he can come close to replicating it against San Francisco.
The 49ers boast one of the most formidable secondaries in the league, allowing no more than 207 passing yards in any of their four matchups this year. Unsurprisingly, San Francisco also gives up the fourth-least fantasy points to opposing QBs. With no rushing upside to fall back on, it’s hard to be optimistic about Stafford’s fantasy outlook this Thursday.
Running Backs
Start ‘Em: Woody Marks (Texans) at Ravens
Everyone’s top waiver wire target officially earns my “start of the week” nod.
After flashing potential as the change-of-pace option behind Nick Chubb in Week 3, it took Marks no time at all to surpass him last Sunday against the Titans. The rookie only saw 56% of offensive snaps but still racked up 17 carries and four catches for 119 total yards and two touchdowns. Chubb will still be a factor in the backfield, but all signs point to another 20-touch workload for Woody this week against Baltimore.
If there’s one word to describe the Ravens’ run defense, it would be abysmal. They’ve allowed the most fantasy points to running backs through four weeks, setting the stage for a second-straight dominant performance by Marks.
Sit ‘Em: Jordan Mason (Vikings) at Browns
After a monstrous first outing as Minnesota’s fill-in bellcow, Mason came back down to earth against Pittsburgh. The 26-year-old still received 19 touches, but only managed to turn them into 72 total yards, barely eclipsing the double-digit PPR point mark.
It won’t get any easier for Mason this week, as Minnesota travels to Cleveland to take on a shockingly stout run defense. The Browns are allowing the fewest rushing yards (70.3) and second-fewest fantasy points (14.6) to running backs per game. So far this season, they’ve shut down Derrick Henry, Chase Brown and Josh Jacobs. I expect Mason to be the latest addition to that list following Sunday’s contest in London. The volume may be there, but the production almost certainly won’t.
Check out all of my RB start/sit picks for this week here!
Wide Receivers
Start ‘Em: Stefon Diggs (Patriots) at Bills
If there’s any player in the National Football League who would live for a revenge game, it’s Stefon Diggs against the Bills.
As much as the veteran receiver attempts to downplay his exit from Buffalo, it’s clear there are still plenty of lingering feelings. Negative ones.
There were a lot of questions surrounding Diggs coming off an ACL tear. Specifically, did he still have the burst and skills to operate as a No. 1 receiver? Through his first three games as a Patriot, it looked like the answer to that question was no. Then, something clicked against the Panthers. The 31-year-old looked like the Stefon Diggs Bills fans once knew and loved, securing six of 7 targets for 101 yards. He showcased burst after the catch, elite separation and top-tier hands. It was the first time Diggs and Drake Maye have really been on the same page, it it feels like it could be the start of a fantastic partnership.
On Sunday, Diggs is going to show the fans in Buffalo exactly what they’re missing out on.
Check out the rest of my Week 5 start/sit WR picks here!
Sit ‘Em: Ladd McConkey (Chargers) vs. Commanders
Are we dealing with a Freaky Friday situation in Los Angeles? Someone check the Chargers’ staff, because a 53-year-old assistant coach could be capable of running some of the purest routes in the game.
One thing’s for sure: This is NOT the Ladd McConkey we saw dominate throughout his rookie season. After a promising showing in Week 1, it’s been nothing but downhill for the second-year receiver. Ladd accumulated just 10 catches for 100 yards over his next three contests, failing to hit the double-digit fantasy mark in any of those games. The Georgia product appears to have been demoted with the return of Keenan Allen and standout play of Quentin Johnston.
The Chargers head into Week 5 with a favorable matchup against a weak Commanders secondary, but McConkey should remain on your bench until he returns to form.
Tight Ends
Start ‘Em: Dalton Kincaid (Bills) vs. Patriots
Dalton Kincaid touchdowns in 2023 and 2024: Four total.
Dalton Kincaid touchdowns through four weeks in 2025: Three.
I’m not sure what finally clicked for the former first-round tight end, but now the man simply cannot stay out of the end zone. The 25-year-old doesn’t see a massive snap share and he’s not a target hog, although he did see six looks in both Week 2 and 3. That said, none of it matters in fantasy football at tight end if you play in a high-powered offense and score touchdowns at this high a clip.
Kincaid should keep the positive momentum rolling against a Patriots defense that has allowed north of 15 fantasy points per game to the position.
Sit ‘Em: Mark Andrews (Ravens) at Texans
Mark Andrews followed up two nonexistent performances to open the season with a monstrous Week 3 outing, in which he scored a pair of touchdowns. He then put up a decent showing against the Chiefs, in which he racked up seven catches. However, there are some concerns about his outlook heading into Week 5.
The first problem? Andrews simply doesn’t have the burst anymore. At 30 years old, he has lost the elite athleticism that once made him a top-three tight end in the league. That was made evident by the whopping 30 yards he accrued on his seven receptions in Kansas City.
The second problem? Lamar Jackson may miss this week’s game. The superstar was forced to exit last Sunday’s loss with a hamstring injury, and he just hasn’t looked quite right throughout the entire season. If Jackson misses time, it’s hard to rely on Cooper Rush to deliver, and even if he does suit up, he won’t be the same dynamic quarterback.
The third and final problem? The Texans’ defense is no joke. Houston allows the seventh-fewest passing yards per game and sixth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends. There are too many signs pointing down for the veteran this weekend, pivot to a different option at TE.
Check out all of my start/sit tight ends for Week 5 here!
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Those are my start/sit Week 5 fantasy football picks! Stay tuned for more start/sit Week 5 positional analysis over the coming days.
All views expressed are my own. I am an employee of DraftKings and am ineligible to play in public DFS or DKSB contests.
