C.J. Stroud threw for 347 yards and Jameson Williams lastly hit the century mark in a 2026 recreation. ok was arguably our most correct l matchups column but, and I count on the general hit charge to enhance every week as we achieve extra information and insights on crew and participant tendencies.
Each week, I'll proceed to determine and write up gamers that aren’t clearly begins or sits. No matter matchup, you're beginning somebody like James Prepare dinner each week, so I attempt to go a number of layers deeper than your early-round fantasy studs.
Observe: Projections confer with participant props within the betting and prediction markets, that are a worthwhile reference software for anybody enjoying fantasy soccer.
Greatest Week 5 fantasy soccer matchups
Jacoby Brissett vs. the Lions
Quarterbacks are averaging 327 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, and 29 fantasy factors per recreation in opposition to Detroit this season. Even when adjusting for opponents confronted (Tyler Shough, Josh Allen, Geno Smith and Bryce Younger), the s have nonetheless allowed greater than six fantasy factors per recreation to the place above expectation.
The sport complete in Cardinals-Lions is a hearty 54.5 factors, the best of Week 5. Brissett himself has tried a minimum of 35 passes in three of 4 video games, and he's averaging the eighth-most go makes an attempt per recreation (38) general. Virtually your complete Lions secondary is injured, as cornerback Rock Ya-Sin is about to overlook Week 5, making him the fourth Lions starter to go down of their secondary.
Consider Brissett as a top-10 fantasy choice this week, very like Stroud final week in opposition to the Cowboys.
D'Andre Swift on the Packers
Let's handle the elephant within the room. Sure, D'Andre Swift was benched final week after a nasty fumble. Kyle Monangai seemed like superman in aid, carrying 30 instances for 146 yards and two scores. Monangai himself is now a bit of banged up, and I count on Week 5 to be the D'Andre Swift present as soon as once more.
Swift signed a profitable three-year extension with the s earlier than the season started, and Head Coach Ben Johnson seems to have already moved on from the fumble. In a presser post-game, d:
"I feel the [fumble] final week was egregious… and [Swift] is aware of that. He takes quite a lot of pleasure in [not fumbling], therefore why it's by no means been a problem over the course of his profession… he'll be simply effective shifting ahead."
The Bears head coach is able to transfer on, and so are we. Inexperienced Bay has allowed 114 speeding yards and almost two touchdowns per recreation to operating backs on the bottom this season. When adjusting for opponents confronted, the s are sneakily the #1 matchup to focus on for our fantasy backs.
Vegas isn't apprehensive about Swift both, as sportsbooks have his complete yards projected for 78.5, with roughly 50-50 odds to attain.
Malik Nabers on the Commanders
The s have been a novel case examine in how go defenses funnel manufacturing. Via 4 weeks, the Commanders have given up almost eight instances as many yards to receivers on the surface in comparison with the slot. That is by far the most important ratio amongst any NFL protection this yr.
Nabers himself has run 80% of his routes on the surface, and he's coming off a giant six-catch, 112-yard recreation with a landing.
The Commanders have additionally held two of their 4 opponents to beneath 40 speeding yards, and with Cam Skattebo (shoulder) restricted in apply this week, there's an honest probability the s are compelled to work by way of the air to assault Washington's protection.
Nabers continues to be a polarizing fantasy asset, however I'm providing you with the inexperienced gentle to begin him once more in a superb matchup.
Kenyon Sadiq vs. the Browns
The rookie broke out in Week 3 with seven catches, 105 yards and a landing. After which Week 4 was radio silence (form of).
For these harm by Sadiq's Week 4 donut, it's time to get again on the horse as soon as once more. Whereas Sadiq failed to herald any of his 4 targets, Geno Smith solely tried 15 passes final week. So, Sadiq's 4 targets really tied with Garrett Wilson for a team-leading 27% goal share.
Diving deeper, Sadiq solely ran 12 routes, so he was being focused on an unreal 1 in 3 routes. Many are saying (okay, perhaps simply me) that this was the quietest force-feeding of targets for any participant by way of 4 weeks.
Turning to the matchup, the s have allowed a 27% goal share to tight ends this yr, a top-10 mark. It turns into much more favorable whenever you take a look at the blended bag of opponents the Browns have confronted (Brenton Unusual, Cade Otton, Darren Waller, Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington).
Make the leap with me and belief Sadiq as an upside play in Week 5 given the matchup.
Worst Week 5 fantasy soccer matchups
Tyler Shough vs. the Vikings
The Falcons pressured Shough on almost half his dropbacks final week, and it ended up being his worst fantasy output by far of the younger 2026 marketing campaign. This week, Shough faces the Vikings, who’re undefeated virtually completely because of their protection.
No crew has pressured quarterbacks at the next charge than the Vikings, and so they've held opposing quarterbacks to simply 12.5 fantasy factors per recreation. It's additionally a brief week for the s after g by the hands of Atlanta.
Shough ought to be handled like a fringe top-12 choice in fantasy, the place the aforementioned Brissett is a greater Week 5 choice.
Tony Pollard vs. the Texans
Tony Pollard has put collectively a pleasant string of fantasy performances, with 13 fantasy factors in back-to-back weeks. Sadly, that probably ends this week in opposition to Houston.
The Texans are holding operating backs to simply 3.55 yards per carry, regardless of going through Jonathan Taylor and James Prepare dinner already. Each these star backs had been held to beneath 70 speeding yards. General, the Texans are the third-worst matchup for fantasy backs when adjusting every protection for opponents confronted.
There’s additionally a large discrepancy between the Texans line of defense (Will Anderson, Danielle Hunter) and a downright unhealthy Titans offensive line. Betting and prediction markets peg Pollard's landing odds at lower than 29%, an impressively low quantity for a beginning NFL operating again.
Park Pollard in your fantasy bench this week.
Each Eagles Participant on the Jaguars (London recreation)
It's been about as unhealthy of a four-game runout as anybody might presumably think about for the s.
- Celebrity guard Landon Dickerson is on injured reserve
- d
- s
- Saquon Barkley ought to miss this recreation because of a hamstring harm
- DeVonta Smith ought to miss this recreation because of a hamstring harm
- Tank Bigsby is now on Injured Reserve for core muscle surgical procedure
- Dallas Goedert is hoping to return from a sprained MCL in Week 2
When the bullet factors emerge, you realize it's unhealthy information, however the hits hold coming. This week, the Eagles face a Jaguars crew that has allowed the fewest speeding yards per recreation to operating backs (48). Jacksonville has additionally allowed simply three passing touchdowns on the season, the bottom mark by way of 4 video games.
Jalen Hurts' go yards prop is beneath 190, it's only a full mess. The Eagles are greater than landing underdogs in a low 41.5 level recreation complete.
It's additionally a London recreation, which is basically simply one other dwelling recreation for the Jaguars, who’ve performed greater than twice as many video games there as some other NFL franchise. Like Tampa Bay final week, this isn’t per week to fireplace up any Eagles in fantasy soccer.
For extra fantasy soccer recommendation, r.
This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: 5