Fantasy Football Week 5 Start ’Em, Sit ’Em Cheat Sheet

Do you have tough lineup decisions to make this Sunday? We’ve got you covered. Welcome to your Week 5 fantasy football cheat sheet for start/sit advice. In this article, we’ll highlight players to start and sit at each position along with fantasy rankings. Find Week 5 start/sit picks at QB, WR, RB and TE below.

Week 5 Start/Sit QB Picks

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.

Find our full Week 5 QB fantasy rankings here!

Week 5 Start/Sit RB Picks

Start: Ollie Gordon II vs. Bengals

Following De’Von Achane’s season-ending ACL injury, many fantasy analysts had reservations about another back stepping in and finding success within such a volatile Dolphins offense. Ollie Gordon II has quieted the doubters quite effectively over his last two contests.

The second-year back amassed 14.5 and 18 fantasy points respectively over those two outings, producing remarkable efficiency on the ground against a stout Vikings run defense with nine carries for 100 yards and a touchdown. There will certainly be down games in Gordon II’s future, but his recent output and established status as the new lead back in Miami makes him a strong RB2 this week against Cincinnati. The Bengals have been solid against the run this year, but if Gordon II can find success against the Vikings, Cincy shouldn’t be a problem.

Sit: Will Shipley at Jaguars

Saquon Barkley is dealing with a hamstring injury that will likely require missed time, and promising backup Tank Bigsby suffered a core muscle injury that has placed him on IR. That leaves the Eagles with Will Shipley, who will almost certainly carry a heavy workload this week. I’m just not sure it will translate to production.

Philly’s offense has been absolutely decimated by injuries with Barkley, Bigsby, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert banged up. As a result, Jalen Hurts and company haven’t been able to move the ball. I don’t love Shipley’s odds of producing against a stacked Jaguars box. Jacksonville has surrendered the third-fewest fantasy points to RBs this season, only further compounding the negative momentum for Shipley’s fantasy prospects.

Check out the rest of our Week 5 RB start/sit picks here!

Week 5 Start/Sit WR Picks

Start: Romeo Doubs vs. Raiders

THAT was the Romeo Doubs the Patriots believed they were signing this offseason.

Doubs has had his fair share of disappointing moments since joining New England, but he broke out in a much-needed Week 4 win for his new squad. Doubs established himself as Drake Maye’s go-to target, catching six of nine balls for 58 yards and a pair of impressive touchdowns. This was just the outing Doubs needed to get back on track, and he should feature heavily again in the Patriots’ Week 5 matchup with Las Vegas. The Raiders boast a tough defensive unit that should force New England to look to the air early and often, which will only benefit Doubs. Fire Romeo up as a WR3/FLEX with upside.

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.

Check out the rest of our Week 5 WR start/sit picks here!

Week 5 Start/Sit TE Picks

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.

Find our full Week 5 TE fantasy rankings here!

That’s our Week 5 fantasy football start/sit cheat sheet! Stay tuned for more fantasy advice and start/sit picks next week.