Week 5 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em, Play or Bench Tips for Fantasy Football Managers

Week 4 came to a close with a huge statement win by the Atlanta Falcons and a big fantasy performance from star running back Bijan Robinson. While Robinson's performance wasn't a surprise to fantasy managers, the performance of Falcons backup Brian Robinson Jr. (62 yards, 3 TDs) might have been.

Brian Robinson is exactly the sort of fringe fantasy starter managers may have to count on in the coming weeks as byes enter the equation. Here, you'll find start/sit recommendations for similar matchup-based options.

As a reminder, the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs are on bye this week. All picks and analysis are based on point-per-reception (PPR) scoring.

Jared Goff isn't a weekly must-start in the same vein as Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, or Joe Burrow. However, he's becoming one of fantasy's better second-tier QBs because of the sorry state of the Detroit Lions' defense.

Simply put, the Lions need Goff to put up points because they're never going to win a defensive battle.

Goff has topped 19 fantasy points in each of the last three weeks and faces a strong matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona has surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough was a budding fantasy star early in the season, and he should still be a strong streaming option moving forward. However, New Orleans' lack of a reliable ground game will make it easier for opposing defenses to focus on stopping him for the time being.

Running back Travis Etienne Jr. will miss at least four games on injured reserve.

Shough was held to just 15.9 fantasy points by the Atlanta Falcons on Monday. He'll have some favorable matchups upcoming, but this week, he'll face a Minnesota Vikings defense that has surrendered fewer fantasy points to opposing QBs than any other team.

Injuries could lead to RJ Harvey being a massive fantasy producer in the coming weeks. The Denver Broncos lost receiver Pat Bryant to an ankle injury in Week 4, and they recently placed rookie running back Jonah Coleman on injured reserve.

J.K. Dobbins is still a big part of the backfield rotation, but Bryant has emerged as a reliable receiving back and one of Bo Nix's favorite check-down options. This past week, he rushed for only 25 yards, but he also caught 10 passes for 58 yards.

This week, the Broncos will face a reeling Los Angeles Chargers team that has surrendered the 11th-most fantasy points to opposing running backs.

It's becoming impossible to trust Houston Texans running back David Montgomery, who is averaging just 2.7 yards per carry behind an underwhelming offensive line.

Montgomery isn't a significant part of the Texans' passing game plan, and he hasn't reached double-digit fantasy points since Week 1. While the winless Tennessee Titans seem like a good matchup, they're really not.

The Titans have surrendered the 17th-most fantasy points to opposing backs, and that's only because opponents have regularly been protecting a lead. Tennessee's defense actually ranks a solid eighth in yards per carry allowed (3.7).

Rookie receiver Denzel Boston is quickly establishing himself as a No. 1 option for the Cleveland Browns. He's also becoming a fringe fantasy option worth starting in all but the toughest matchups.

Boston has reached double-digit fantasy points in three of his four outings so far this season.

The New York Jets are a tougher fantasy matchup than many, as they've surrendered the ninth-fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. However, that probably has a lot to do with teams attacking their 25th-ranked run defense. Cleveland has struggled to establish the run, and it should look to get Boston involved early and often.

Cooper Kupp has been a fine complementary receiver for the Seattle Seahawks, but he's far from the fantasy superstar he was early in his career with the Los Angeles Rams. He's reached double-digit fantasy points only once this season.

Despite Seattle's lack of healthy backfield options, it's impossible to trust Kupp in a matchup against the rival San Francisco 49ers.

San Francisco has surrendered the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers this season. Managers who want to target a Seahawks receiver not named Jaxson Smith-Njigba might want to consider Rashid Shaheed, who worked into the backfield rotation and scored a rushing touchdown in Week 4.

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Leaving the Baltimore Ravens to join John Harbaugh with the New York Giants has allowed Isaiah Likely to emerge as a true top tight end. Even with Jaxson Dart out of the lineup, he has a reasonable fantasy floor and a high ceiling.

In Jameis Winston's second start of the season last week, Likely caught seven passes for 66 yards. This week, he has a terrific matchup in a divisional battle with the Washington Commanders.

Washington has surrendered the third-most fantasy points to opposing TEs this season.

Sit: Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars

Brenton Strange was a prominent part of the Jacksonville Jaguars' game plan in Week 4, and he finished with seven catches for 95 yards. However, he remains a matchup-based play with a bad matchup in Week 5.

Strange took advantage of a Cincinnati Bengals defense that has struggled against opposing tight ends. That helped deliver his second double-digit fantasy performance of the year, but Strange has yielded fewer than seven points in his other two outings.

This week, the Jags will host the Philadelphia Eagles, who have surrendered the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends.

*Fantasy scoring information from FantasyPros