Top five FLEX plays for fantasy football Week 5

I think it’s time to start getting optimistic about the NFL again. There’s always, of course, the preseason fantasy draft hype, the anecdotal missives from OTAs and training camp, the drilled-down beneath-the-hood analysis that reveals how talented these players are, were they just able to stay healthy, or touch the football more often. Then comes September, and those first four weeks, which felt this year especially like a slog. It’s the injuries—yes. But it’s the sloppy play, too. In this case, with all the QB1 injuries, one might beget the other. But the four weeks behind us may as well be considered the NFL’s regular season preseason, as it were, and I think it’s time things’ll really kick into gear. High-profile players will return soon for the middle-eight weeks. Depth chart situations feel as solidified as ever, this week.

So, this week, we’re going for absolute max-production plays. We want the guys whose matchups are going to win you a week. Not the guys who might just keep whatever’s left of your drafted 16 slightly buoyant as the water level churns higher. Let’s blow the roof off this thing.

Happy Fantasy Friday once more—and let’s dominated this weekend with renewed, velociraptor hope. I’m here with the Five Lists of Five: Week 5 edition. We’re-so-back edition. We’re after every edge for Sunday.

For the newly-ordained: Soundbite-length blurbs with advanced analysis on my favorite plays of the week. We begin now with my Top five FLEX plays for fantasy football Week 5. Here are my other offerings in this edition:

• Top five must-start WRs for fantasy football Week 5
• Top five must-start RBs for fantasy football Week 5
• Top five fantasy football players to stash ahead of NFL Week 5
• Top five fantasy defenses to start for NFL Week 5

All data provided by Fantasy Points Data Suite 2.0, unless otherwise noted.

Fantasy football Week 5: Top five FLEX plays to start

Mike Washington Jr., LV (at Patriots)

Ashton Jeanty’s practice week went backward: full Wednesday, limited Thursday, then absent Friday with an ankle-and-foot designation. Jeanty is questionable. Washington goes into my flex if Jeanty sits. The backup handled 35% of Las Vegas’ carries against Kansas City, though nine attempts yielded a wretched 18 yards. The Chiefs stopped ten of the Raiders’ 26 runs for no gain or a loss.

On one run, Washington salvaged positive yardage by dodging Spencer Burford after a defender flattened the guard. That is an awful amount to ask before a back even finds a running lane. Jackson Powers-Johnson returns at right guard after missing Week 4, restoring a starter to an offense that needs help getting Washington beyond the line. New England has conceded 2.15 adjusted yards before contact per attempt to backs through four games, 11th-most; their front has permitted some initial room.

Washington ran routes on just 10% of Las Vegas’ Week 4 dropbacks against Jeanty’s 54%, so his receiving assignment as a starter remains unproven, but there’s potential there. But Klint Kubiak already gave him 35% of the carries last week with Jeanty playing. If Jeanty is inactive, Washington should lead the rushing rotation, and I’m starting him in the flex with Powers-Johnson back at right guard.

RJ Harvey, DEN (at Chargers)

Harvey caught ten passes for 68 yards against San Francisco while J.K. Dobbins took half of Denver’s carries. Quite a pleasant division of labor for PPR managers with Harvey. He ran routes on 41% of their Week 4 dropbacks to Dobbins’ 16%, and his 20.2% target share across three appearances leads both the Broncos and every NFL running back. Give me Denver’s receiving back for the PPR flex.

Sean Payton is reclaiming the play sheet after Bo Nix completed a dreadful one of nine throws traveling at least ten yards downfield against San Francisco. Nix also overlooked open receivers; better decisions and throws to Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle could siphon catches from Harvey. Los Angeles has used two-high looks at a top-three rate across 2025–26, and Harvey has averaged a team-leading 2.08 yards per route against them over the same span. His rushing and receiving work has generated 12.9 expected PPR points per active game this season, 21st among backs—a useful workload beneath last week’s ten-catch extravagance.

Rome Odunze, CHI (at Packers)

Tyson Bagent waited for Odunze to get loose against the Jets. From a bunch formation, Kalif Raymond drew two defenders toward the boundary, Odunze beat a safety, and Bagent delivered a 37-yard completion from a well-protected pocket. Ben Johnson later called play-action from Chicago’s own four; Bagent found Odunze for another 20 yards. I like that willingness to throw with a backup pinned so deep. Johnson named Bagent to start again, although Caleb Williams returned to limited practice Friday and is questionable.

Odunze drew a season-high 21.7% of Chicago’s first-read targets in Week 4, above his 15.5% share through four games. Bagent is giving him more of the throws he looks for first. Odunze has aligned outside on 76.4% of his routes this season, putting most of his work against Green Bay’s outside coverage: receivers aligned there have averaged 2.10 yards per route through four games, ninth-most against any defense. I want him in the flex. The 37-yarder required time, and Chicago’s three injured starting linemen—Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson and Darnell Wright—finished Friday practicing fully with no game designation.

Carnell Tate, TEN (vs. Texans)

Tate is flourishing in a passing game that can be maddening. Cam Ward has delivered accurate throws at a meager 47% rate through four weeks, 38th among 40 quarterbacks with at least 25 dropbacks, yet Tate has averaged 2.39 yards per route, 17th among 79 qualifying receivers. Ward has sent him 26.9% of Tennessee’s targets over the opening month; Tate turned a dozen looks against Baltimore into nine catches for 145 yards. Tate remains questionable after Thursday’s back tightness, although Robert Saleh says he is good to go. He gets my PPR flex start if active.

Houston has made life remarkably easy for receivers at the release. CeeDee Lamb faced press on just one of 45 routes last week and caught nine out-or-hitch passes for 96 yards. Those cushions let Dak Prescott throw in rhythm, something Ward badly needs. Tennessee has allowed only six sacks in four games, encouraging evidence that their blockers can give Ward time against Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. DeMeco Ryans is reclaiming defensive calls from Matt Burke. He wants cleaner communication within the same scheme after Dallas repeatedly exploited those cushions.

Romeo Doubs, NE (vs. Raiders)

Doubs converted two fourth downs against Buffalo and caught a 12-yard curl on New England’s winning drive. Drake Maye trusted him to extend possessions, and Doubs has been separating well beyond those few plays: he has won separation on 23% of his routes through four games, third among 111 receivers. A.J. Brown remains on injured reserve and Mack Hollins is out, so I’m starting Doubs in the flex. Maye devoted a substantial 26.3% of New England’s first-read targets to him against Buffalo.

Las Vegas has allowed outside receivers only 4.5 catches per game through four weeks, second-fewest, yet ranks 17th among 32 teams in yards allowed per target to those receivers. The reception totals look more forbidding than their per-target defense. The Raiders have pressured quarterbacks on 35.6% of dropbacks through four games, a top-five rate, and Morgan Moses is questionable with a foot injury at right tackle opposite Maxx Crosby.

Doubs owes Maye a better finish, too. He dropped a well-thrown go ball against Buffalo; Maye threw another pass low, which Doubs bobbled into an interception.