Week 5 of the NFL season has arrived! As the season progresses, more significant injuries pile up around the league, setting the stage for tough lineup decisions for every fantasy manager. Let’s break down my fantasy football start/sit Week 5 picks for the 2026 season.
Week 5 Fantasy Football Start/Sit Picks
QB Start/Sit Week 5
Start: Jared Goff at Cardinals
Through four games, the Lions clearly aren’t the true contender they have been the last few years. That can pretty much be chalked up to their defense, which is among the worst units in the league.
On the other side of the ball, it’s business as usual for this immensely talented offensive group. Detroit is moving the ball and scoring with ease, with Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown leading the way. However, the biggest fantasy revelation so far has been Jared Goff. The ultimate souped-up game manager has always been an elite producer, but with Detroit’s defense struggling significantly he now has to throw more often than usual. That has led to QB4 numbers through four games, with Goff amassing fewer than 19 points in an outing just once.
Goff will look to keep the momentum rolling against a poor Cardinals defense that ranks top five in fantasy points allowed to QBs. Fire him up in Week 5 as a legit QB1.
Sit: Jalen Hurts at Jaguars
Shocker, losing one of the best receivers in the NFL (and seeing the next man up get hurt) has only compounded the issues of a quarterback who already struggled to move the ball through the air. After a solid start to the 2026 campaign, Hurts’ production has fallen off a cliff the last two weeks. The former Super Bowl MVP has failed to hit 14 fantasy points in back-to-back contests.
Hurts was never an elite QB due to his arm talent, but with A.J. Brown gone, DeVonta Smith now out with a hamstring injury and Saquon Barkley also hurt, it’s a struggle on every snap for Philly to move the chains. That doesn’t generate optimism for Hurts heading into a matchup with the Jaguars, who are a top-10 defense against fantasy quarterbacks this year. Keep the veteran on your bench and find a better option in Week 5.
WR Start/Sit Week 5
Start: DK Metcalf vs. Colts
Don’t look now, but DK Metcalf is starting to figure things out. After an infuriating first year in Pittsburgh and a slow start to the 2026 season, Metcalf has now scored at least 12 points in back-to-back outings. He’s coming off a monstrous performance against the Browns in which he caught five of nine targets for 115 yards.
It appears Metcalf and Aaron Rodgers are finally on the same page, which puts the star receiver firmly back on the fantasy map moving forward as a FLEX/WR3 with upside. He should put up strong numbers against a struggling Colts secondary that ranks among the top 10 in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers.
Sit: Denzel Boston at Jets
This pick doesn’t have much to do with Boston, who boasts a ton of talent and should be a productive receiver for years to come in Cleveland. However, I always urge caution for rookies after a quick start (just look at Emeka Egbuka last season). As you dive deeper into the numbers, there’s slight reason for concern about Boston’s fantasy prospects this week.
Yes, the Washington product has racked up double-digit fantasy points in three of his first four NFL games, but those numbers can be chalked up to a couple touchdowns and multiple long-gainers. Boston still only has 13 catches on the year, suggesting a reliance on big plays. In Week 5, he draws a tough matchup against a stout Jets secondary. I would temper expectations for the rookie and look elsewhere, as we’re still in wait-and-see mode with Deshaun Watson and this Browns offense.
Find all of our Week 5 fantasy football advice and content here!
RB Start/Sit Week 5
Start: Kyle Monangai at Packers
Fantasy managers around the globe are feverishly reacting to the Bears’ backfield split in their win over the Jets last Sunday. D’Andre Swift led the way to open the contest, but fumbled in the third quarter and was subsequently benched for the remainder of the game. That opened the door for second-year back Kyle Monangai, and he took advantage of the opportunity.
Monangai saw a whopping 30 carries, taking them for 146 yards and two touchdowns. It was quite the statement for a young back who will battle Swift for chances on a weekly basis. I wouldn’t expect a similar split this week against Green Bay with Swift returning to the fold, but one would imagine Monangai has earned at least 12-15 touches. Against a Packers team that is surrendering the most fantasy points in the league to running backs, that puts Monangai in RB2/FLEX territory.
Sit: TreVeyon Henderson vs. Raiders
I’ve officially reached “I need to see it again before I believe it” territory with TreVeyon Henderson. The dynamic change-of-pace back broke a big gain for a touchdown in his 2026 season debut, but it’s been all downhill since. Usage hasn’t been an issue for Henderson, as he’s been relatively involved, but translating that into production has certainly been a problem. The speedy, big-play threat amassed just 65 yards on 22 carries over his last two outings.
Rhamondre Stevenson has out-snapped, out-touched and out-produced Henderson in back-to-back weeks, so the notion that the second-year RB could flip this backfield seems to have been overblown. Rhamondre is the running back you want to start in New England, and until Henderson starts producing or gets involved in the passing attack, it’ll stay that way.
TE Start/Sit Week 5
Start: Isaiah Likely at Commanders
No Jaxson Dart? No problem for Isaiah Likely.
Likely was a popular breakout candidate heading into the season after finally landing in a situation where he could operate as the undisputed top tight end. He even established a shockingly strong rapport with Dart in a short amount of time. Then, Dart suffered a season-ending knee injury, and Likely’s fantasy outlook took a massive hit.
Last week, he proved that he could still produce regardless of who’s under center. Likely saw 12 targets from Jameis Winston, hauling in seven of them for 66 yards. He’ll look to carry that positive momentum over into a favorable matchup with the Commanders, who have allowed the third-most fantasy points to tight ends per contest.
Sit: Dalton Kincaid at Rams
Fantasy managers who watched Dalton Kincaid’s first two weeks and rejoiced that his breakout had finally arrived may have been fooled.
Kincaid has been nowhere to be found in the subsequent two contests, catching three balls for 45 yards. He’s quickly gone from a set-and-forget option to a forgotten option entirely. The struggles will likely continue in Week 5 against the Rams, who are surrendering fewer than seven fantasy points weekly to tight ends. Kincaid could still return to form as a top target for Josh Allen, but I want to see it again before I trust him in my lineup.
Those are my Week 5 fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em picks! Stay tuned for positional WR and RB 2026 Week 5 start/sit picks and advice later this week.
