Your Week 5 Fantasy football strategy will need to be dialed in now that byes have arrived. You likely have more Fantasy start-sit decisions to make if normal weekly starters are now unavailable. Some of those may involve Dallas' backfield of Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott, who have dim prospects as Week 5 Fantasy football picks against a Steelers defense that has allowed the second-fewest Fantasy points to running backs. On the other hand, Carolina has allowed the second-most points to opposing backs as it prepares to face Chicago on Sunday. D'Andre Swift had his breakout game last week, so he already earned his position in Week 5 Fantasy football rankings, but Roschon Johnson could be a bad flex option after back-to-back solid games. Before setting your Fantasy football lineups, be sure to check out the Week 5 Fantasy football rankings from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
When it comes to ranking players, SportsLine's model beat human experts in Fantasy football for the past several seasons, especially when there were big differences in ranking. Over the course of a season, that could literally be the difference between winning your league or going home empty-handed.
The same model has a proven track record of providing Fantasy football tips, including being ahead of the curve on players like A.J. Brown, Jonathan Taylor, Derrick Henry, Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara, and Jahmyr Gibbs. Anybody who banked on players like those made a run at their league title.
Now, SportsLine has simulated the entire Week 5 NFL schedule 10,000 times and released its latest Week 5 Fantasy football rankings. Head to SportsLine now to see them.
Top Week 5 Fantasy football QB rankings
Here's a look at SportsLine's top Week 5 Fantasy football QB picks:
1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens: Jackson owns an 8-1 record against the Bengals, and an equally impressive ratio of 16 total TDs versus four TOs in his career against Cincy. He's coming off his first two-passing TD game of the year and added 54 yards plus a score on the ground. Add in that this year's Bengals are 27th in scoring defense, and Jackson could find the endzone with both his arm and legs.
2. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers: Despite missing lots of weapons this season, Purdy ranks fourth in passing yards and has done so efficiently, ranking sixth in passer rating. He now gets to face an Arizona defense he carved up for eight passing TDs, plus one rushing score, over his three starts versus the team.
3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills: Not every defense Allen will face will be as good as Baltimore's last week, and that's certainly the case with Houston's this week. Just two teams have allowed more passing touchdowns (eight) than the Texans, and only six squads have allowed more Fantasy points to opposing QBs than Houston. The Texans are also susceptible on the ground to QBs, giving up a combined 100 yards and a TD in rushing to Anthony Richardson and Caleb Williams. See more top QBs here.
Top Week 5 Fantasy football RB rankings
Here's a look at SportsLine's top Week 5 Fantasy football RB picks:
1. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens: Sitting 18 rushing yards shy of joining the 10,000 yards club, Henry could get there in just three carries as he's averaging 6.0 rushing yards per attempt. He's leading the NFL in rushing yards (480) and TDs (five), ahead of a matchup versus Cincinnati, which allowed over 100 yards to Chuba Hubbard a week ago.
2. Jordan Mason, San Francisco 49ers:The third-year pro has at least 88 scrimmage yards in every game this season and leads the NFL in a stat that is desirable amongst Fantasy players: touches (97). He has a tasty Sunday matchup versus Arizona, which allowed four rushing TDs alone last week.
3. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams: His streak of seven straight games with a rushing TD is the longest in the league, while his six total touchdowns also tops the NFL. In Week 5 he'll face a Packers defense which has allowed three of the four starting RBs it's faced to produce at least 132 scrimmage yards. See more top RBs here.
Top Week 5 Fantasy football WR rankings
Here's a look at SportsLine's top Week 5 Fantasy football WR picks:
1. Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers: After missing Week 2, Samuel returned in Week 3 to produce 58 receiving and 14 rushing yards, giving him at least 72 scrimmage yards in all three of his games. On Sunday, Samuel has an appealing date with Arizona's defense, which ranks in the bottom-eight in both points allowed, yards allowed and gave up a season-high in passing yards a week ago.
2. Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers: Reed has nearly as many receiving yards (336) as Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks and Christian Watson combined (353). Watson (ankle) will miss Sunday's game against the Rams, who have allowed the second-most receiving TDs to wide receivers this season.
3. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys: Last year's WR1 is still in the top 10 of positional Fantasy points this season despite not having a true breakout game. He'll face a tough Steelers defense on SNF, but Pittsburgh allowed Michael Pittman and Josh Downs of Indy to combine for 195 yards and a score a week ago. See more top WRs here.
Top Week 5 Fantasy football TE rankings
Here's a look at SportsLine's top Week 5 Fantasy football TE picks:
1. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers: Kittle is the TE1 on a points-per-game basis this season and the 49ers have the highest implied team total (28.5) on the week going against the Cardinals. Arizona is allowing 26.5 points per game, which ranks 29th in the NFL, and is coming off a 42-14 loss to the Commanders. The 49ers are averaging 39.3 ppg over Brock Purdy's last three starts against the Cardinals and Kittle should be one of his top targets on Sunday.
2. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs: Last week was the first performance this season that came close to resembling what Fantasy football players expect from arguably the greatest tight end in NFL history. Kelce had seven receptions for 89 yards after averaging 23 receiving yards on eight total receptions over his first three games. Kansas City needs Kelce even more with Rashee Rice (knee) out and in what's been a down year for top tight ends throughout the NFL, Kelce reminded Fantasy football players of his potential last week.
3. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders: Bowers got off to a stellar start in his first NFL season, highlighted by nine receptions for 98 yards in Week 2, and he's the TE3 in Fantasy football this season. The No. 13 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft may be relied upon even more this week against the Broncos with Davante Adams unlikely to play with a hamstring injury and being involved in trade rumors and Broncos elite cornerback Patrick Surtain likely locking down whichever wide receiver he draws. See more top TEs here.
Top Week 5 Fantasy football defense rankings
Here's a look at SportsLine's top three Week 5 Fantasy football D/ST picks:
1. Vikings D/ST: The Vikings are giving up just 14.8 points per game on average, which ranks fourth in the NFL. Minnesota is tied for the league-lead with eight interceptions and Brian Flores' unit will face a Jets offense that scored just nine points last week.
2. Seahawks D/ST: The Seahawks gave up 42 points in their loss to the Lions, but they'll take on a New York Giants offense that is scoring just 15.0 points per game on average in Week 5.
3. Broncos D/ST: The Broncos held Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets to just nine points in last week's victory. Denver's defense enters Sunday's showdown against the Raiders giving up only 256.5 yards per game this season, which ranks second in the NFL. See more top D/ST here.
How to get Week 5 Fantasy football rankings
Now that you know who the top three at each position are, you'll want to see the full Week 5 Fantasy football rankings from SportsLine. The model has identified a stunner in the top 10 at quarterback, and knowing who it is can give you a huge edge in your league. Head to SportsLine now to get Week 5 Fantasy football rankings.
So who should you target in your Week 5 Fantasy football rankings, and which surprising QB could lead you to victory? Visit SportsLine now to get Week 5 Fantasy Football rankings for every single position, all from the model that has a history of making league-winning calls, and find out.