Starting decisions can be frustrating for even the best fantasy managers. If you need help setting your fantasy football lineups, Scott Pianowski offers some help in his Week 5 traffic report.
Green Light ✅
QB Jacoby Brissett vs. Lions: Detroit’s back seven is all but cut, and Josh Allen is the only unquestioned star it faces. Brissett’s 2026 season has been inconsistent, but he has help (Trey McBride, Michael Wilson) and should exceed 40 pass attempts. The first team with 30 points wins.
Advertisement
TE Isaiah Likely to Commanders: He is, at worst, the second read in this passing game, and probably quietly has the highest target share of all tight ends. Jameis Winston played buttoned-up football in Week 3 but went back to YOLO Winston in Week 4 — that’s a positive trend for fantasy managers. Washington’s defense also presents a plus-matchup.
TE Mike Gesicki and Dolphins: It was a revenge game for Gesicki, who spent five years at South Florida. Joe Burrow likes Gesicki in the red zone (three touchdowns), and Gesicki could see more work if Cincinnati is without any of its star wideouts. Miami’s pass defense is surprisingly capable on the flanks but exploited in the seam.
RB Aaron Jones Sr. and Saints: The Minnesota passing game is a mess right now, with Kyler Murray struggling to get his mojo back. That may not matter in Week 5, as Jones can carry the mail. The seasoned veteran has averaged 23 touches per week over his last three starts, and the New Orleans front seven has been wounded on the ground (nine rushing touchdowns, 147.8 yards per week).
Yellow Light 😕
RB Quinshon Judkins and Jets: We can’t give Judkins green-light status while he’s still averaging 3.0 yards per carry. But his touch count increased each week, largely because the Browns used him more in the passing game (15 catches this year, just 26 his rookie season). Cleveland overhauled its entire offensive line before the year, so let’s give it some time to gel. The game script shouldn’t be a problem for the Jets.
Advertisement
RB Will Shipley vs. Jaguars (London): Shipley is a reasonable waiver wire target, given the injuries in the Philly running back room. But the Philadelphia offensive line has collapsed, and the Jaguars are showing a scary matchup (allowing just 3.3 YPC). Shipley should easily get double-digit chances, but be reasonable with expectations.
RB TreVeyon Henderson vs. Raiders: He was held to just one reception — after catching 35 passes last year — and he’s rarely the guy tabbed at the goal line. But Rhamondre Stevenson has been rattled and the Raiders have been leaky against the run all year (5.2 YPC, 134.5 yards per game). This is a week where Henderson can be a proactive flex play.
Advertisement
WR Josh Downs to the Steelers: I’m torn on Downs, a good player who may still be working with a ceiling cap. As a smaller receiver (5-foot-9, 171 pounds), he likely won’t see much work in the red-zone; he was only targeted inside the 15-yard line once. It was also disappointing to see Downs do so little against a leaky Washington secondary last week. The Steelers’ defense could also challenge Downs — it’s better in slot coverage than outside. Downs remain in the WR3 bucket: playable, but not a slam dunk.
Red Light 🚨
QB Brock Purdy to the Seahawks: I’m on the Purdy bandwagon almost every week, but Seattle’s defense has proven its Kryptonite. Purdy faced the Seahawks twice in January (once in the playoffs) and it was a nightmare: just nine points, zero touchdowns, a piddly 267 passing yards. Seattle’s defense is floundering again (allowing a paltry 5.2 YPA, just 144.8 yards per game), so this might be the one time you bench Purdy.
RB Alvin Kamara vs. Vikings: He’s capable of scoring fantasy points even if he’s not efficient — that’s how Kamara escaped Monday, bailed out by a touchdown deodorant. And Kendre Miller (Week 4 fumble) looks like he’s in the doghouse. But Minnesota’s top defense could force the Saints to junk the running game early. I am not interested in threading the Kamara needle in Week 5.
Advertisement
RB Omarion Hampton against the Broncos: The Chargers can’t worry about draft capital and contracts and as of now, they just need to identify their best players and rely on them. And it’s inevitable that Keaton Mitchell has been as good as Hampton in recent weeks. No matter who the Chargers rely on in the backfield, the offensive line is yet another injury-plagued mess. Facing a tough schedule, the Chargers have the potential to crash-land in 2026.
WR Malik Washington vs. Bengals: He was the target hog in Miami, if that matters to you — 17 catches for 219 yards, enough to earn rostership in most leagues. But the Dolphins are averaging just 25 pass attempts per week and have just one touchdown pass in the opening quarter. Washington himself may have an end-zone allergy, having stuck with three spikes for his 89 career receptions.