Week 5 - Players to Start and Sit

Thursday, Oct 5, 2023 at 11:44 am ET

This is the Fantasy Nerd's look at the best and worst matchups for Week 5 of the 2023 NFL season. Analysis is aggregated from multiple sources including FN. Rankings are based upon PPR (point per reception) scoring. Given the known conditions, these matchups are the ones to watch and/or avoid.

Please Note: This list does not generally include the elite players that you are going to start regardless of matchup. You don't need us to tell you to start Justin Jefferson, Patrick Mahomes, or Christian McCaffrey. Instead, we take a look at other players on your team that we believe either have great matchups or should be avoided for multiple reasons. Factors like opposing defense, performance trending, and peer comparisons may influence our decisions.

Start 'em Anthony Richardson (IND, QB)
It's not often that you get a rookie QB that you can plug in every week. When healthy, Anthony Richardson fits that bill. He may not always be the most accurate (that will come in time), but he can get you points on the ground. He may face a bigger challenge this week against the Titans who have been very good at stopping the run, but he's fully capable of putting up 20+ fantasy points. Keep him in your lineup.

16th Fewest Pts to QB

Start 'em Jordan Love (GB, QB)
It's not unrealistic to say that Jordan Love has exceeded expectations thus far. With a quarter of the fantasy season in the books, he's currently the 4th-best fantasy QB. He also finds himself inside our Top 10 this week as he gears up to head to Sin City for Monday Night Football. He's got a healthy backfield now and WR Christian Watson is back. Despite having the youngest wide receiver corp in the NFL, Love has actually been very efficient. His matchup is great this week. The Raiders are fresh off a 22 point game to Justin Herbert (who injured his hand during the game) and Love should lead the Pack to a nice fantasy game.

5th Most Pts to QB

Start 'em Devon Achane (MIA, RB)
What does it say about Miami that they have two running backs inside the Top 5 overall on the season? First, the caveat is that most of those points came in one blowout game so some context is warranted. Second, we need to recognize that Devon Achane is very talented who plays behind a RB with a history of injuries. Knowing that the Dolphins have plans to keep Tua healthy, the running game takes on greater importance. Achane is as strong a RB2 that you're going to find in Week 5.

11th Most Pts to RB

Start 'em Breece Hall (NYJ, RB)
Word this week out of New York is that Breece Hall is being taken off the snap count. That's good news for fantasy owners. He's incredibly talented even if that hasn't shown up in the stats yet (32nd best RB overall), but nobody has given up more points to running backs than the Broncos. Sharing the backfield will continue to dilute his value, but fire him up as a strong flex option with the potential to end the day in RB2 territory.

Most pts to RB

Start 'em DeAndre Hopkins (TEN, WR)
Hopkins has been awful this year. He's currently the 46th-best WR on the season playing on a run-first team with a sub-par QB, so why in the world would we recommend starting him this week? That depends upon where you put him in your lineup. Hopkins to us is a strong WR3 in a plus matchup. Calvin Ridley, Nico Collins, and Puka Nacua all easily hauled in at least 24 fantasy points. We don't anticipate him breaking the 20-point barrier, but double digits should be on its way.

8th Most Pts to WR

Start 'em Nico Collins (HOU, WR)
Nico Collins is quickly becoming the favorite target for C.J. Stroud. Fresh off a monster game where he hauled in 7 passes for 168 yards and two scores, his TD tally is up to three after just four games. Atlanta might look good on paper, but the Stroud/Collins connection can outperform expectations. If Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks (admit it - you have to look up those names) can put up double digit points, the bar is pretty low for Collins to deliver.

7th Fewest Pts to WR

Start 'em Sam LaPorta (DET, TE)
The fewest points that Sam LaPorta has delivered thus far has been 8.9 points. Given the status of the TE position, that's pretty impressive. He's the second-best fantasy TE so far and his prospects are bright. This is a tough matchup as the Panthers have been tough on the position, but LaPorta is an effective option for the Lions and worth starting consideration this week.

14th Fewest Pts to TE

Start 'em Zach Ertz (ARI, TE)
Wait - is that Zach Ertz on the start list? Yes. Yes it is. While he hasn't visited the endzone yet, that could change this week against a Bengals defense that hasn't been anywhere near as scary as folks thought back in August. Ertz pulled in six of his ten targets last week - 10 targets! His volume alone has him in TE1 discussions. The matchup keeps him there this week.

6th Most Pts to TE

Start 'em Miami Dolphins (MIA, DEF)
Expect Miami to bring the heat against the Giants. As we'll discuss when we cover Daniel Jones down below, the playbook for beating the Giants is wide open for everyone to see. Nobody gives up more fantasy points than the Giants who are notorious for allowing a ridiculous amount of sacks every...single...week.

Most pts to DEF

Start 'em Jason Sanders (MIA, K)
This matchup is great for Jason Sanders. With multiple double-digit games surrendered, the Giants have been very favorable to kickers this year. Sanders and the Miami offense will likely put plenty of points on the board.

5th Most Pts to K

Sit 'em Daniel Jones (NYG, QB)
Danny Dimes is talented, but the offensive line in New York is so awful that Jones finds himself running for his life every game. He's barely gotten TE Darren Waller involved and the receiving corp does not have a single stand out individual. Hopefully he gets Saquon Barkley back, but even if Saquon suits up, the playbook for defeating the Giants is open for all is see. Pressure the QB and the offense will sputter. Jones has one good game - the other three games he averaged just 5.7 points per game. Predicting when he can overcome that O-Line is a lesson in futility.

6th Most Pts to QB

Sit 'em Brock Purdy (SF, QB)
Brock Purdy has been a nice surprise this year. He's currently the 11th-best fantasy QB with a ridiculously-talented offense, so this sit recommendation is more about his matchup. The Cowboys have been very tough on QBs this year regularly keeping opposing signal callers to single digits. It's tough with the bye weeks to find another streamer, but the outlook for Purdy this week has him just outside the QB1 range. We're anticipating a tough outing here.

2nd Fewest Pts to QB

Sit 'em Najee Harris (PIT, RB)
With the first bye week upon us, you may not have another option, but Najee Harris has not lived up to his ADP. In fact, last week was his first double-digit game (just 11.3 points) after posting three consecutive games of 6 points or less. Jaylen Warren has emerged as a more dynamic player and has a bigger role in the passing game than Harris. Harris has yet to find the endzone this season, and in a tough matchup against the Ravens, it's not likely to happen Sunday.

11th Fewest Pts to RB

Sit 'em Javonte Williams (DEN, RB)
Can you trust Javonte Williams? In what should have been a bountiful display of fantasy points against the Bears last week, he got hurt and delivered just 3.9 fantasy points. Williams has not delivered double-digits at all this year and is averaging just 7.5 points per game. Even in a plus matchup, it's terribly difficult to trust that he can deliver anything meaningful. Start him if you like the risk, but there are plenty of viable options with better upside.

10th Most Pts to RB

Sit 'em Courtland Sutton (DEN, WR)
The only way for Courtland Sutton to deliver a big fantasy day is if he can get into the endzone. It's certainly possible given that he's done it three times in four games, but this matchup is going to be brutal. The Jets have surrendered the 3rd-fewest fantasy points to receivers and they rank inside the Top 5 in fewest-yards allowed. For the past two weeks, they have kept opposing receivers to single digits.

3rd Fewest Pts to WR

Sit 'em Drake London (ATL, WR)
If you haven't picked up on the theme for Week 5 yet, it's all about trust. Desmond Ridder has largely been a disappointment. Although London caught a touchdown pass in London last week (waited an entire week to say that), it's not realistic to expect that every week - especially not against the Texans who rank inside the Top 5 in fewest points allowed. London is very tough to trust at the moment.

4th Fewest Pts to WR

Sit 'em Dallas Goedert (PHI, TE)
The matchup for Dallas Goedert is fantastic, but can you trust him to capitalize on it? He hasn't hauled in more than 41 yards all season and has yet to top 9 fantasy points (averaging just 5.5 pts/week). He's largely been a non-factor in this offense. We are hoping to see him bounce back at some point, and while it could happen this week, it's difficult to predict when that breakout game will occur.

10th Most Pts to TE

Sit 'em Dawson Knox (BUF, TE)
This is not the Dawson Knox that we've come to know. He's barely involved in this offense. In fact, over his last two games, he's averaging just 1 catch on 1.5 targets. Tough to win your matchup when your fantasy TE delivers just 2 points. Until he becomes a bigger part of this offense, Knox can't be trusted to be anywhere but your bench.

5th Most Pts to TE

Sit 'em Cincinnati Bengals (CIN, DEF)
The Bengals defense isn't scary - even against an Arizona offense that is equally un-scary. Joshua Dobbs is getting better each week and James Conner has been tough to lock down thus far. There are much better options at DST this week.

5th Fewest Pts to DEF

Sit 'em Younghoe Koo (ATL, K)
Unless your name is Bijan Robinson, there aren't many players on the Falcons offense that we like. That extends to Younghoe Koo who has frequently been held to less than two field goal attempts per game. The Texans have not allowed any kicker to put up double digits.

8th Fewest Pts to K

Join the Discussion

If asking a sit/start question, be sure to provide your scoring format and contribute to answering questions from other FN members as well.

TOBIAS CommentedOct 7, 2023 12:36 pm

Aiyuk (SF) or Collins (HOU) .5 point per reception?

Bwb CommentedOct 7, 2023 2:11 pm

Id go aiyuk

Cobras2015 CommentedOct 7, 2023 3:35 pm

I think Aiyuk is going to have a down game against Dallas. Nico Collins is a safer choice.

RedState CommentedOct 8, 2023 9:42 am

Aiyuk

KittyPop CommentedOct 8, 2023 10:56 am

Brandon Aiyuk

c30341 CommentedOct 7, 2023 3:13 pm

who is the better WR to start this week? Tutu Atwell or Tank Dell? Option to pick up Det WR Reynolds or LaPorta to play as an alternative. With Kupp back, unsure of impact on Atwell. Thanks for any comments.

Cobras2015 CommentedOct 7, 2023 3:36 pm

I would go get LaPorta or Reynolds. St. Brown is not going to play so those guys will have a chance to go off.

RedState CommentedOct 8, 2023 9:42 am

Reynolds

KittyPop CommentedOct 8, 2023 10:56 am

voting for reynolds too

Cobras2015 CommentedOct 7, 2023 3:38 pm

Would you guys trust either Saquon Barkley or Aaron Jones this week? Not even going to ask about other players. Just want to know if you guys think these two will play and have decent games. I will start them if they play, right?

RedState CommentedOct 8, 2023 9:41 am

Trust Jones. Sit Barkley.

KittyPop CommentedOct 8, 2023 10:56 am

barkley isn't going to play

David Boskey CommentedOct 7, 2023 4:37 pm

Start 3 of 4: Derrick Henry, David Montgomery, Raheem Mostert, Kyren Williams . Which 3?

RedState CommentedOct 8, 2023 9:42 am

Henry, Montgomery, Williams

KittyPop CommentedOct 8, 2023 10:56 am

same as RedState

Rick Surgeon CommentedOct 7, 2023 6:05 pm

Henry…he’s a stud. Mostert….their playing the Giants. Williams….he is on fire and Krupp is back making Williams invisible. Gook luck!