Week 5 presents a lineup of high-upside opportunities and potential disaster spots for fantasy managers. In this edition of Best and Worst Matchups, we break down which players are poised to thrive—and who could struggle—so you can make informed lineup decisions before kickoff. Let’s separate the favorable matchups from the nightmare scenarios heading into Week 5.
Quarterbacks
- Best: QB Justin Fields, New York Jets
Jets QB Justin Fields has a dream matchup in Week 5 against the Cowboys. Dallas has been shredded by quarterbacks this season, giving up a league-high 1,237 passing yards and 12 touchdowns through the air, while also allowing 27.7 fantasy points per game (32nd) to opposing quarterbacks. Fields hasn’t been perfectly consistent, but his rushing ability gives him a safe floor and a monstrous ceiling this week.
He’s already shown he can exploit weak secondaries, with standout performances against Pittsburgh and Miami, including 81 yards and a touchdown on the ground last week. Dallas’ defense has been porous through the air (and against mobile QBs), allowing over 300 passing yards, 2.5 passing touchdowns, and the sixth-most rushing yards per game to signal callers. Fields is an elite fantasy option this week, with upside both through the air and on the ground.
- Worst: QB Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Last week against the 49ers, Trevor Lawrence managed just 174 passing yards and a single touchdown while completing 21-of-31 attempts for the Jaguars. While he avoided turnovers and ultimately got the W, his performance was underwhelming from a fantasy perspective and highlighted his inconsistencies as a passer.Â
Enter a Week 5 matchup against the Chiefs, who have allowed the eighth fewest fantasy points per game to QBs, and Lawrence’s woes look likely to continue. Kansas City ranks in the top 10 for fewest yards per completion allowed and has given up just one passing touchdown per game in the 2025 campaign. That’s a rough spot for Lawrence, who has failed to throw for more than one touchdown in three of his four starts this season. He’s a low-upside QB2 at best.
Running Backs
- Best: RB Cam Skattebo, New York Giants
Cam Skattebo looks set for another heavy workload in Week 5 against the Saints. New Orleans has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to running backs, setting up a prime opportunity for the rookie to shine yet again.
With Tyrone Tracy (shoulder) sidelined and Jaxson Dart under center, Skattebo has emerged as the clear focal point of the Giants’ offense. He had a career high 27 touches last week, carrying the ball 25 times for 79 yards and adding 11 receiving yards on two receptions plus a two-point conversion in Sunday’s win over the Chargers. Expect a similar script this week, with Skattebo commanding the backfield, making him a strong RB2 or flex option against a struggling Saints run defense.
- Worst: RB Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings
Vikings RB Jordan Mason’s Week 5 matchup is about as tough as it gets. He draws a Browns defense that has suffocated opposing backs, giving up just 70.3 rushing yards per game, a league-low 2.7 yards per carry, and only two rushing touchdowns all season. We saw Mason’s production dip last week against Pittsburgh—his longest run went for just nine yards, while backup Zavier Scott stole a late receiving score.Â
With Cleveland already shutting down stars like Derrick Henry and Josh Jacobs, Mason’s ceiling is capped. He still carries touchdown-dependent flex appeal while Aaron Jones Sr. is sidelined, but expectations should be tempered in London.
Wide Receivers
- Best: WR Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts
Michael Pittman Jr. draws a favorable matchup in Week 5 against the Raiders. Las Vegas has been one of the league’s worst defenses against wide receivers, allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game to the position while ranking in the bottom 10 in both passing yards and yards per completion allowed.
Pittman has emerged as the Colts’ primary red-zone threat, leading the team with three touchdown catches and hauling in the team’s only passing touchdown last week. He also saw a season-high 10 targets in Week 4, marking the first double-digit target game for a Colts’ pass catcher this season.
With the Raiders’ top corner, Eric Stokes, potentially out after leaving last week’s game with a knee injury, Pittman could see an even softer matchup in coverage. Against a vulnerable Raiders secondary, Pittman profiles as a strong WR2/flex option with elite upside.
- Worst: WR Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens
Zay Flowers’ hot start faces a major test in Week 5. With Lamar Jackson (hamstring) likely out, Cooper Rush could get the nod against a Texans defense that’s been suffocating opponents, allowing a league low 12.8 points per game and the second-fewest fantasy points overall. Flowers has been great to open the year, averaging a career-best 15.2 PPR points per game, but he’ll be fighting uphill this week.Â
Houston has kept wideouts in check all season, ranking top-10 in both catches and yards allowed, and is ceding the 9th fewest fantasy points per game to wide receivers. Not to mention, Baltimore is likely to lean on Derrick Henry against Houston’s middle-of-the-pack run defense if Rush indeed does get the start. Flowers is still in play if you need him, but more as a shaky WR2/Flex than a locked-in starter.
Tight Ends
- Best: TE Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills
Dalton Kincaid has a sneaky good Week 5 matchup against the Patriots. New England has struggled against tight ends this season, allowing the eighth-most fantasy points per game and an average of 63 receiving yards to the position.Â
Kincaid has already scored in three of four games this season, making him a consistent red-zone threat despite the Bills’ variable passing attack. Last week, he made his lone catch count with a touchdown down the sideline.
With the Patriots’ defense tied for the third-most passing touchdowns allowed this season, Kincaid is set up perfectly to continue his strong start. If Buffalo stays aggressive through the air (in a game with the highest projected point total of the week), he has clear upside for another score and a big fantasy day.
- Worst: TE Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars
Despite being a popular streaming option so far this season, Jaguars TE Brenton Strange draws a brutal matchup in Week 5. The Chiefs have stifled opposing tight ends, allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to the position while holding opponents to just 185.8 passing yards per contest.Â
That’s a tough spot for a Jaguars offense that’s already struggling through the air. Trevor Lawrence has failed to throw for more than one touchdown in three of his four starts, and second-year WR Brian Thomas Jr. continues to dominate targets in a low-volume passing attack.
The Chiefs’ defense contained Baltimore’s passing attack last week, even before Lamar Jackson’s exit, and limited Mark Andrews’ longest reception to just 7 yards. Strange belongs on the bench this week, with little upside in standard or PPR formats.
