5 Stats You Need To Win Your Week 5 Fantasy Matchup

Fantasy start-or-sit decisions can rack your brain, especially when last week’s box score points one way and the usage points another. That’s where we come in: stats such as passing volume, goal-line carries, target volume and receiving usage can cut through the noise and make those lineup calls a little easier.

With four weeks in the books, we’re focusing on roles that are holding steady or changing in ways worth noticing. Let’s dive into the top five stats you need to win your Week 5 fantasy matchup, and the 10 players they point to as starts!

1. Quarterback Passing Volume

Volume is what gives a quarterback his floor. The ones throwing it the most tend to score the most, no matter how the touchdowns fall on a given Sunday.

Prescott has quietly been one of the most efficient high-volume passers around, completing 105 of 150 throws for 1,065 yards with eight touchdowns and just one interception, good for 20.0 points a game. The attempts come every week and the turnovers don’t. He’s a strong QB1 at home against Tampa Bay.

Stroud is up to 151 attempts and 1,141 yards without throwing a single pick, a rare mix of volume and ball security at 18.1 points a game. The touchdown total should climb as the season goes. He’s a confident streaming QB1 at Tennessee.

Starts: QB Dak Prescott, QB C.J. Stroud

2. Running Back Red Zone Carries

Red zone carries are the cleanest read on a back’s touchdown equity. The ones trusted inside the 20 get scoring chances that season-long yardage totals can hide.

Cook has turned 12 red zone carries into three scores on 70 totes for 421 yards, a steady 17.1 points a game. The goal-line role is the piece that holds up week to week, no matter the game script. He’s a solid RB2 at the Rams.

Hampton has stepped into real work his sophomore year, with 11 red zone carries and three rushing touchdowns on 59 attempts. The yardage is still modest at 238, but the goal-line trust is what drives the scoring. He’s a sneaky RB2 or flex at home against Denver.

Starts: RB James Cook III, RB Omarion Hampton

3. Running Back Receiving Work

In full PPR, a back’s passing-game role counts as much as his carries. The ones who earn targets keep their floor even when the running lanes close up.

Brown has become a genuine passing-down weapon, catching 21 of 24 targets for 103 yards on top of his carries, worth 14.5 points a game. The reception volume gives him a floor even on the quiet rushing weeks. He’s a dependable flex at Miami.

Warren keeps earning passing-down work, with 20 targets and 13 catches for 143 yards and a steady 14.6-point line. Even when the carries thin out, the receptions keep him startable. He’s a solid flex at home against Indianapolis.

Starts: RB Chase Brown, RB Jaylen Warren

4. Wide Receiver Target Volume

For receivers, it comes down to targets. The ones seeing the most looks carry the highest floor, even on the weeks a quiet box score tempts you to bench them.

Wilson leads this group with 44 targets, 25 catches and 258 yards, and nine of those looks have come in the red zone, so the touchdown equity is building. The production hasn’t fully caught up to the usage yet, which is exactly the buy signal. He’s a flex worth starting against Detroit.

Golden has taken the next step in his second season in Green Bay, with 37 targets, 18 catches, 274 yards and two scores. The target share is climbing and so is the big-play juice. He’s a flex with upside at home against Chicago.

Starts: WR Michael Wilson, WR Matthew Golden

5. Tight End Receiving Yards

At a position this thin, receiving yards separate the every-down tight ends from the touchdown-or-bust streamers. Yardage points to a steady role.

Hockenson is back to a full workload, catching 22 of 26 targets for 195 yards at 11.9 points a game. Tight ends have been getting more work across the league, but Hockenson continues to be a steady option. He’s a back-end TE1 at New Orleans.

Fannin has been a surprise for Cleveland since being drafted, turning 23 targets into 17 catches, 153 yards and three touchdowns his sophomore year. He’s running a real route tree, not just hunting the end zone. He’s a streaming TE1 at the Jets.

Starts: TE T.J. Hockenson, TE Harold Fannin Jr.

The Bottom Line

These numbers point to opportunity, not a guarantee. Four weeks is still a small sample, efficiency bounces around, and a strong role doesn’t promise a strong Sunday. Good luck in your Week 5 matchups, and come back next week for the Week 6 stats to know!

Methodology: Full PPR with no bonuses. Passing yards/25, four points per passing touchdown, minus one per interception, rushing yards/10, six per rushing touchdown, one per reception, receiving yards/10, six per receiving touchdown. Figures reflect finalized Weeks 1 through 4. Lost fumbles and two-point conversions are left out because the format defines no value for them. Injury data reflects the Week 5 report pulled 2026-10-07; none of the featured players carried a game-status designation at that time. Confirm each player’s final status before kickoff.

This article was written with the help of generative AI and edited by a DraftKings Network employee.