Analysis
10/6/22
8 min read
Wheeler's Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings
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.
Welcome back to the end zone, J.K. Dobbins! @jkdobbins22
📺: #BUFvsBAL on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/cByfmcze7G pic.twitter.com/gpBJyZZeHQ— NFL (@NFL) October 2, 2022
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
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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.
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