Analysis

10/6/22

8 min read

Wheeler's Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings

Saquon Barkley top 5 running backs in the NFL

We now can start to operate with some data and some sticky information when constructing rankings. Four games aren’t enough of a sample to have confidence in average projections, but some obvious trends can support or reject our pre-season narratives.

Injuries are starting to adjust the fantasy landscape going forward. It's not just players going down, but some are starting to return and make a difference.

Two new injuries stood out to me this weekend.

Tennesse Titans wide receiver Treylon Burks (turf toe) won't need surgery, but he might miss a couple of weeks while recovering. Because he'll miss a couple of weeks, Burks could land on injured reserve, but no surgery means he'll be back this season.

Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams (torn ACL, LCL) will miss the remainder of the season. I expect to see Melvin Gordon and Mike Boone split the backfield this week. However, Denver also signed RB Latavius Murray off the Saints' practice squad Tuesday morning, making this a full-blown committee. I believe Boone will have a boom week or two, but he has never captured a long-term role in his five-year career, despite several opportunities.

Before I started ranking players and writing about fantasy, I would search for analysts' “Rest of Season” rankings. At the time, there were few people doing that. So when I started writing, it became a large part of my process. "Rest of Season" rankings help me with waiver wire or free-agent pick-ups before Sunday game-time.

Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings

When examining these rankings, consider I am only looking at positional ranks, not flex or overall rankings. When it comes to whom you start in the flex, a lot will depend on your specific league rules and roster construction. If players are ranked within three spots of each other, the difference between them is negligible. They will likely score the same amount of points. In those cases, go to our Discord.

Weekly Rankings Update

Check this link throughout the week and on Sunday morning for the latest updates.

Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterback

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has the best matchup this week against the Ravens. However, you’re most likely starting Burrow in any match-up. Las Vegas Raiders QB Derek Carr should be in a shoot-out, as the Raiders host the Kansas City Chiefs.

Washington Commanders QB Carson Wentz and New York Jets QB Zach Wilson also have good matchups, if you are looking for cheap DFS GPP plays. The same goes for either of New Orleans's potential QBs in Andy Dalton and Jameis Winston (back/ankle).

  QB Team Opp
1 Josh Allen BUF vs. PIT
2 Jalen Hurts PHI @ ARI
3 Lamar Jackson BAL vs. CIN
4 Patrick Mahomes KC vs. LV
5 Joe Burrow CIN @ BAL
6 Justin Herbert LAC @ CLE
7 Tom Brady TB vs. ATL
8 Kyler Murray ARI vs. PHI
9 Kirk Cousins MIN vs. CHI
10 Derek Carr LV @ KC
11 Russell Wilson DEN vs. IND
12 Aaron Rodgers GB vs. NYG
13 Matthew Stafford LAR vs. DAL
14 Trevor Lawrence JAC vs. HOU
15 Jared Goff DET @ NE
16 Teddy Bridgewater MIA @ NYJ
17 Ryan Tannehill TEN @ WAS
18 Geno Smith SEA @ NO
19 Carson Wentz WAS vs. TEN
20 Marcus Mariota ATL @ TB
21 Zach Wilson NYJ vs. MIA
22 Jacoby Brissett CLE vs. LAC
23 Justin Fields CHI @ MIN
24 Jimmy Garoppolo SF @ CAR

Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Back

Jacksonville Jaguars James Robinson will bounce back in Week 5, against the Houston Texans. There might be room for Robinson's backfield mate, Travis Etienne, to stay relevant too.

The Saints aren’t playing in England this week, so we will know if Alvin Kamara is healthy enough to play. If he does play, he has a sweet matchup against Seattle in Week 5.

  RB Team Opp
1 Saquon Barkley NYG @ GB
2 Nick Chubb CLE vs. LAC
3 Derrick Henry TEN @ WAS
4 Christian McCaffrey CAR vs. SF
5 Austin Ekeler LAC @ CLE
6 Dalvin Cook MIN vs. CHI
7 Aaron Jones GB vs. NYG
8 Leonard Fournette TB vs. ATL
9 Alvin Kamara NO vs. SEA
10 Joe Mixon CIN @ BAL
11 James Robinson JAC vs. HOU
12 Jamaal Williams DET @ NE
13 J.K. Dobbins BAL vs. CIN
14 Josh Jacobs LV @ KC
15 Miles Sanders PHI @ ARI
16 Dameon Pierce HOU @ JAC
17 Clyde Edwards-Helaire KC vs. LV
18 Najee Harris PIT @ BUF
19 James Conner ARI vs. PHI
20 Damien Harris NE vs. DET
21 Jeff Wilson Jr. SF @ CAR
22 Khalil Herbert CHI @ MIN
23 Rhamondre Stevenson NE vs. DET
24 Rashaad Penny SEA @ NO
25 AJ Dillon GB vs. NYG
26 Melvin Gordon III DEN vs. IND
27 Kareem Hunt CLE vs. LAC
28 Breece Hall NYJ vs. MIA
29 Ezekiel Elliott DAL @ LAR
30 Antonio Gibson WAS vs. TEN
31 Devin Singletary BUF vs. PIT
32 Tyler Allgeier ATL @ TB
33 Raheem Mostert MIA @ NYJ
34 Cam Akers LAR vs. DAL
35 Travis Etienne Jr. JAC vs. HOU
36 Tony Pollard DAL @ LAR
37 Michael Carter NYJ vs. MIA
38 Darrell Henderson Jr. LAR vs. DAL
39 Chase Edmonds MIA @ NYJ
40 Nyheim Hines IND @ DEN
41 J.D. McKissic WAS vs. TEN
42 Rex Burkhead HOU @ JAC
43 Alexander Mattison MIN vs. CHI
44 Kenneth Gainwell PHI @ ARI
45 Mark Ingram II NO vs. SEA
46 Isiah Pacheco KC vs. LV
47 Mike Boone DEN vs. IND
48 Jonathan Taylor IND @ DEN
49 Eno Benjamin ARI vs. PHI
50 Rachaad White TB vs. ATL
51 Ken Walker III SEA @ NO
52 Latavius Murray DEN vs. IND

Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receiver

We should see Jaguars WR Christian Kirk bounce back in Week 5 against Houston while Los Angeles Chargers WR Mike Williams should continue his hot streak against Cleveland. There could be some Jets receivers who are viable plays against Miami if Wilson plays well enough.

  WR Team Opp
1 Cooper Kupp LAR vs. DAL
2 Stefon Diggs BUF vs. PIT
3 Justin Jefferson MIN vs. CHI
4 Ja'Marr Chase CIN @ BAL
5 Tyreek Hill MIA @ NYJ
6 Davante Adams LV @ KC
7 A.J. Brown PHI @ ARI
8 Mike Evans TB vs. ATL
9 Tee Higgins CIN @ BAL
10 Deebo Samuel SF @ CAR
11 CeeDee Lamb DAL @ LAR
12 Jaylen Waddle MIA @ NYJ
13 Courtland Sutton DEN vs. IND
14 Christian Kirk JAC vs. HOU
15 Marquise Brown ARI vs. PHI
16 Michael Pittman Jr. IND @ DEN
17 Mike Williams LAC @ CLE
18 DK Metcalf SEA @ NO
19 Amon-Ra St. Brown DET @ NE
20 Diontae Johnson PIT @ BUF
21 Chris Godwin TB vs. ATL
22 Chris Olave NO vs. SEA
23 Drake London ATL @ TB
24 Amari Cooper CLE vs. LAC
25 Brandin Cooks HOU @ JAC
26 Terry McLaurin WAS vs. TEN
27 Tyler Lockett SEA @ NO
28 DeVonta Smith PHI @ ARI
29 Curtis Samuel WAS vs. TEN
30 Gabe Davis BUF vs. PIT
31 Allen Lazard GB vs. NYG
32 Romeo Doubs GB vs. NYG
33 Adam Thielen MIN vs. CHI
34 Jerry Jeudy DEN vs. IND
35 D.J. Moore CAR vs. SF
36 Garrett Wilson NYJ vs. MIA
37 JuJu Smith-Schuster KC vs. LV
38 Robert Woods TEN @ WAS
39 Rashod Bateman BAL vs. CIN
40 Brandon Aiyuk SF @ CAR
41 Elijah Moore NYJ vs. MIA
42 Darnell Mooney CHI @ MIN
43 Tyler Boyd CIN @ BAL
44 Isaiah McKenzie BUF vs. PIT
45 Josh Reynolds DET @ NE
46 Keenan Allen LAC @ CLE
47 Allen Robinson II LAR vs. DAL
48 George Pickens PIT @ BUF
49 Corey Davis NYJ vs. MIA
50 Michael Gallup DAL @ LAR
51 Zay Jones JAC vs. HOU
52 Michael Thomas NO vs. SEA
53 Russell Gage TB vs. ATL
54 DeVante Parker NE vs. DET
55 Noah Brown DAL @ LAR
56 Marquez Valdes-Scantling KC vs. LV
57 Mack Hollins LV @ KC
58 Chase Claypool PIT @ BUF

Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight End

  TE Team Opp
1 Travis Kelce KC vs. LV
2 Mark Andrews BAL vs. CIN
3 Zach Ertz ARI vs. PHI
4 T.J. Hockenson DET @ NE
5 Darren Waller LV @ KC
6 Dallas Goedert PHI @ ARI
7 Tyler Higbee LAR vs. DAL
8 George Kittle SF @ CAR
9 Kyle Pitts ATL @ TB
10 Pat Freiermuth PIT @ BUF
11 Gerald Everett LAC @ CLE
12 David Njoku CLE vs. LAC
13 Tyler Conklin NYJ vs. MIA
14 Robert Tonyan GB vs. NYG
15 Dalton Schultz DAL @ LAR
16 Dawson Knox BUF vs. PIT
17 Irv Smith Jr. MIN vs. CHI
18 Hayden Hurst CIN @ BAL
19 Evan Engram JAC vs. HOU
20 Logan Thomas WAS vs. TEN
21 Juwan Johnson NO vs. SEA
22 Mo Alie-Cox IND @ DEN
23 Will Dissly SEA @ NO
24 Hunter Henry NE vs. DET
25 Mike Gesicki MIA @ NYJ
26 Cameron Brate TB vs. ATL
27 Cole Kmet CHI @ MIN

Top Waiver Adds for Week 5

Name Team Position Opp
George Pickens PIT WR @ BUF
Michael Gallup DAL WR @ LAR
Isaiah McKenzie BUF WR vs. PIT
Raheem Mostert MIA RB @ NYJ
Tyler Allgeier ATL RB @ TB
Kenneth Walker III SEA RB @ NO
Kenneth Gainwell PHI RB @ ARI
Rachaad White TB RB vs. ATL
Brian Robinson Jr. WAS RB vs. TEN
Jaylen Warren PIT RB @ BUF
Jakobi Meyers NE WR vs. DET
Zay Jones JAC WR vs. HOU
Jarvis Landry NO WR vs. SEA
Russell Gage TB WR vs. ATL
Mike Boone DEN RB vs. IND
James Cook BUF RB vs. PIT
J.D. McKissic WAS RB vs. TEN
Tyler Conklin NYJ TE vs. MIA
Caleb Huntley ATL RB @ TB

Good luck this week!

WATCH MORE: Josh Fewster Identifies Four Players to Trade Away Heading Into Week 5.

 

 


RELATED