Top Fantasy QBs for Week 5
Let’s break down the key usage notes and matchups that are driving our Week 5 QB Rankings.
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1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen
BUFQB1on
Allen has accounted for multiple touchdowns every week this season on his way to ranking as the QB1. He’s producing a ninth ranked 259.8 passing yards per game and faces a Rams defense that’s allowing the second most. His passing production combined with his top-ranked 13.3 rushing points per game gives Allen the top QB projection in Week 5.
2. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Jared Goff
DETQB2on
Goff’s working on the highest fantasy-scoring average of his career by at least 1.5 points (depending on your format). This week’s matchup with a Cardinals team that has faced the second-most pass attempts in the league shouldn’t derail that.
3. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Played on Thursday
4. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford
LARQB4on
After a pair of QB1 finishes, Stafford ranked as the QB26 last week. He still managed 300 yards for a third consecutive week, but it came after throwing for the fourth most pass attempts in Week 4. Stafford projects as a high-end QB1 in Week 5 with both top WRs, Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, healthy against a Bills defense allowing the 4th most points to QBs.
5. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow
CINQB5on
Burrow’s dealing with a banged-up WR corps, with both Ja’Marr Chase (concussion) and Tee Higgins (adductor/hip) iffy for Sunday. Fortunately, Burrow gets an excellent matchup against a Dolphins secondary that’s thin on talent. The Fins enter Week 4 slotted 29th in pass defense DVOA and 28th in sack rate.
6. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Brock Purdy
SFQB6on
Purdy faces his toughest test of the season in Seattle against the Seahawks’ fourth-ranked QB defense. Purdy’s fantasy finishes in 3 regular-season games against Seattle over the last 2 seasons: QB6, QB13, and QB28. This year’s version of Purdy is playing the best ball of his career, completing 70% of his passes at 8.9 yards per attempt with 11 TDs vs. 1 INT. We’d stick with him in Week 5 fantasy lineups in most cases.
7. Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals
Jacoby Brissett
ARIQB7on
Brissett managed just a QB22 Week 4 against an uneven Giants defense. But he has supplied 2 TD passes in consecutive games and taken just 7 total sacks so far this season. Week 5 presents a Lions D that’s adding the fifth-largest boost to QB scoring on the year. The most recent sample found Panthers QB Bryce Young completing 70.7% of his passes for 329 yards and 2 TDs, despite missing No. 2 WR Jalen Coker.
8. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Drake Maye
NEQB8on
Maye’s breakout game arrived last week against Buffalo. He set season highs in passing yards (269), TDs (3), and rushing yards (54). The Raiders have exceeded expectations so far this year but they’re not yet a matchup to fear, sitting 20th in adjusted fantasy points allowed. View Maye as a top-10 QB.
9. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels
WASQB9on
Daniels is set to return for Sunday’s game vs. the Giants just three weeks after dislocating his left elbow. While it shouldn’t impact the righty’s passing, Daniels’ rushing figures to be limited, and he’ll be at risk of re-injury. He lasted just 39 snaps when he tried to return from this same injury last year. The matchup vs. the Giants is neutral on paper. New York sits ninth in our Pass Defense Power Rankings and 16th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs. Note: Daniels will be without Stefon Diggs in this game, although Terry McLaurin is expected to play.
10. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
Jordan Love
GBQB10on
Through the first month, Love ranks third among QBs in expected fantasy points but only 14th in actual points per game, making him the biggest underachiever at QB thus far. Sunday doesn’t look like a huge bounce-back spot against a surprisingly effective Bears defense. Still, the Packers are implied for a decent 22.25 points, while a still-ineffective run game should continue to put more work on Love’s right shoulder. He’s a fringe QB1.
11. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence
JACQB11on
Lawrence’s production has varied wildly through four weeks, alternating between top-12 finishes and rankings of QB24 or worse. The biggest difference has been TD luck, while modest passing volume has lowered both the floor and ceiling. Lawrence is averaging just 26 pass attempts per game so far, after he threw 32.9 times per game in his first season under HC Liam Coen. We’re betting that increases overall, but a flailing Eagles team might not be able to drive up his volume this week. That keeps Lawrence at the bottom of QB1 range.
12. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
Sam Darnold
SEAQB12on
Darnold has turned in QB4 and QB17 fantasy finishes in 2 games back from his glute injury. The difference was volume: 45 pass attempts in a high-scoring Week 3 loss vs. just 22 in a comfortable Week 4 win. Sunday’s game vs. the 49ers should be close (Seattle favored by 3), so Darnold should get at least decent volume. San Francisco ranks 14th in our Pass Defense Power Rankings and 22nd in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs.
13. Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints
Tyler Shough
NOQB13on
Shough gets the double challenge this week of facing the most difficult defense on his schedule so far, plus an opposing offense that doesn’t look capable of driving up the score. Shough has hit 40+ pass attempts in three of four games so far, but each of those was a Saints loss. This contest carries the sixth-lowest projected game total on the slate, while Minnesota ranks second in total DVOA and first against the pass. The Vikings have been second-toughest on QB scoring so far by our adjusted fantasy points allowed.
14. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson
CLEQB14on
Watson went 24/33 for 268 yards with a TD and an INT in Week 4’s win over the Steelers, finishing as QB18. He has been efficient this season, completing 69.6% of his passes for 6 TDs and 2 INTs at 7.43 yards per attempt. His legs have added a floor, with 31 carries for 127 yards. The Jets are the issue. They’ve been the second-toughest QB matchup so far, allowing just 12.64 adjusted PPR points per game. With a 40-point total, Watson is a low-end QB1 with a lower ceiling than usual this week.
15. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud
HOUQB15on
Stroud’s averaging 19.8 PPR points in two games with WR Nico Collins, which would make him the QB12 this season. Without Collins, he’s averaging just 14.4 PPR points. Fortunately, his top WR is healthy for a consecutive week with the Texans facing a Titans defense allowing the 6th fewest points to QBs. Stroud projects as a fringe QB1 in Week 5.
16. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Hurts
PHIQB16on
Hurts has scuffled his way to a No. 13 ranking in fantasy points per game through four weeks. Now he travels to England to take on the No. 3 defense in DVOA with 40% of his Week 1 starting O-line and probably no DeVonta Smith. Tough to like the Eagles QB this week.
17. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Bo Nix
DENQB17on
Nix went 25/42 for 214 yards and a TD in Week 4’s loss to the 49ers, finishing as QB19. The Broncos have thrown at a 60.9% rate, giving him 33.75 attempts per game (QB13). That volume hasn’t fully paid off, as he is completing just 60% of his passes at 6.07 yards per attempt. The Chargers sit in the middle as a matchup, ranking 20th at 15.81 adjusted PPR points allowed per game to QBs. Nix is a mid-range QB2 whose passing volume gives him a decent floor.
18. Tyson Bagent, Chicago Bears
Tyson Bagent
CHIQB18on
Bagent wasn’t a fantasy asset in Sunday’s win over the Jets, as he didn’t record a TD. But he showed some positive signs with a 73.5% completion rate and nearly 7.9 yards per attempt. Now he gets a Packers defense that’ll be without its top two defenders: Edge Micah Parsons and LB Edgerrin Cooper. That gives Bagent appeal in two-QB or superflex setups.
19. Kyler Murray, Minnesota Vikings
Kyler Murray
MINQB19on
Murray rebounded from bad against Tampa in Week 3 to just “meh” vs. a weak Miami defense in Week 4. The whole offense has managed just one TD with him at the help, and Murray has yet to hit 20 rushing yards in a game. Keep him benched until he gives you a reason to play him.
20. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
Aaron Rodgers
PITQB20on
Aaron Rodgers
PITQB20on
Rodgers went 22/40 for 299 yards with 3 TDs and 2 INTs in Week 4’s loss to the Browns, finishing as QB3. The Steelers have thrown at a 66.1% rate, giving Rodgers 38.25 attempts per game (QB7). He has 7 TDs and 4 INTs, though a 57.5% completion rate has kept him at 16.29 PPR points per game. Indianapolis has been the seventh-most favorable QB matchup, allowing 19.99 adjusted PPR points per game. That volume and matchup make Rodgers a low-end QB2.
21. Geno Smith, New York Jets
Geno Smith
NYJQB21on
Smith went just 8/15 for 119 yards and a TD in Week 4’s loss to the Bears, finishing as QB31. He has still been one of the league’s most accurate passers, completing 72.6% of his throws with 5 TDs and no INTs. The problem is volume: Smith is averaging 29.25 attempts per game (QB21), which has kept him at 14.92 PPR points per game. Cleveland has been the ninth-most favorable QB matchup, allowing 19.12 adjusted PPR points per game. Smith is a low-end QB2 with some upside in a good matchup.
22. Jalon Daniels, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Played on Thursday
23. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles ChargersJustin Herbert
LACQB23on
Justin Herbert
LACQB23on
Herbert’s struggles continued in Week 4, when he went 19/31 for 189 yards with a TD, 2 INTs, and a lost fumble against the Seahawks to finish as QB27. He is averaging 12.36 PPR points per game (QB32) with 6 INTs against 4 TDs. He is also scoring 5.52 fewer points per game than his usage suggests, so some positive regression should be coming. Denver is a neutral matchup, ranking 17th at 16.70 adjusted PPR points allowed per game. Herbert is a low-end QB2 this week who’d get a boost if Denver CBs Pat Surtain II (ankle) and Riley Moss (ribs) aren’t able to play.
24. Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders
Kirk Cousins
LVRQB24on
Cousins enters Week 4 with 3+ passing TDs in three of four games. A 7.6% TD rate isn’t sustainable, though, and he doesn’t bring any rushing ability to counteract the upcoming dip. Despite a nice start, Cousins remains a QB2 in fantasy.
25. Jameis Winston, New York Giants
Jameis Winston
NYGQB25on
Winston is coming off a nice fantasy outing against the Cardinals, throwing for 250 yards and 3 TDs. He still tossed 2 INTs and took 4 sacks, though. Most importantly, Winston threw only 29 passes for a Giants team committed to being run-heavy. That caps Winston’s upside, and we know the floor is low.