Find success this weekend with the NFL Week 5 Start/Sit list for the offensive side of the ball!
The fourth week of NFL action brought more injuries to sort through, making lineup optimization even more challenging., but the NFL Week 5 Start/Sit list is here to help!
The most notable injuries included Joe Mixon, David Montgomery, Logan Thomas, and DJ Chark. Chark will be out for the year and Montgomery will be out 4-5 weeks, while Mixon, Carson, and Thomas will be considered week-to-week. Also, consider alternatives for Joe Mixon and Logan Thomas.
The "Trust, If You Must, and Bust" System:
“Trust” = Strong start, a player who should be started in all formats!
“If You Must” = Weak start, a player who is good enough to be a starter, but faces a tough matchup or holds an unclear opportunity in a good offense. Some caution should be used while the risk is recognized, as this is often league format dependent.
If you play in a shallow league, I would lean towards benching this player if you have a decent replacement option. In a deep league, I would lean towards starting, since the options may be more scarce. Either way, expectations should be managed.
“Bust” = Keep on your bench, at least for now. These players should be avoided since stronger options at the relative position should be considered first. These are players who fit into one of the following categories:
- A player in a tough matchup or currently holds ambiguous weekly opportunities in the offense.
- A strong bench stash for season-long purposes but currently in a “wait and see” period. Wait and see if their role expands for starter caliber consideration. For example, this type of player may be a strong backup RB behind a stud in an elite offense or could be in line for a big workload if the starter misses time.
- Currently lacking a clear offensive opportunity in either a projected good or bad offense
- Is too volatile on a week-to-week basis. There is no need to play boom or bust type players if you can help it.
Weekly Start/Sit Decision Reminders
Be sure to always be mindful of weekly injury reports and gameday inactive announcements as this could pivot a weak starter into a strong starter!
Be sure to always leave the FLEX spot(s) free of Thursday night players!
The Week 5 Slate
Week 5 is here, which means we are already a quarter through the season, and this is the last week without teams on bye until Week 15 *insert wide-eyes emoji* Below are some helpful weekly reminders for what to consider for lineup optimization!
Without further ado, the NFL Week 5 Start/Sit list for offensive players!
Thursday Night Football
Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks
Rams
Trust – Matthew Stafford QB, Cooper Kupp, WR, Darrell Henderson RB
If You Must – Tyler Higbee TE, Robert Woods WR
Bust - Sony Michel RB
Seahawks
Trust – Russell Wilson QB, D.K. Metcalf WR, Tyler Lockett WR, Chris Carson RB (if active)
If You Must – Alex Collins RB (if Carson inactive), Gerald Everett TE (if active)
Carson is considered week-to-week, so be prepared to have an alternative in place for him.
Sunday Early Afternoon Slate
Philadelphia Eagles at Carolina Panthers
Eagles
Trust – Jalen Hurts QB, DeVonta Smith WR, Dallas Goedert TE
If You Must – Miles Sanders RB, Jalen Reagor WR, Kenneth Gainwell RB, Zach Ertz TE
Panthers
Trust – D.J. Moore WR, Sam Darnold QB, Chuba Hubbard RB
If You Must – Robby Anderson WR
Bust - Terrace Marshall WR
New York Jets at Atlanta Falcons (in London!)
Jets
Trust – Corey Davis WR
If You Must - Michael Carter RB, Jamison Crowder WR
Bust - Zach Wilson QB, Tevin Coleman RB, Ty Johnson RB
Falcons
Trust – Calvin Ridley WR, Kyle Pitts TE, Matt Ryan QB, Mike Davis RB, Cordarrelle Patterson RB
Green Bay Packers at Cincinnati Bengals
Packers
Trust – Aaron Rodgers QB, Davante Adams WR, Aaron Jones RB, Robert Tonyan TE
Bust - AJ Dillon RB, Allen Lazard WR, Randall Cobb WR
Bengals
Trust – Joe Burrow QB, Ja'Marr Chase WR, Tyler Boyd WR, Tee Higgins WR (if active)
If You Must - Samaje Perine RB, Joe Mixon RB
Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings
Lions
Trust – D'Andre Swift RB, T.J. Hockenson TE
If You Must – Jamaal Williams RB, Quintez Cephus WR, Jared Goff QB
Vikings
Trust - Kirk Cousins QB, Alexander Mattison RB, Justin Jefferson WR, Adam Thielen WR
If You Must – K.J. Osborn WR, Tyler Conklin TE
Denver Broncos at Pittsburgh Steelers
Broncos
Trust – Courtland Sutton WR, Noah Fant TE
If You Must – Melvin Gordon RB, Javonte Williams RB, Tim Patrick WR
Steelers
Trust – Najee Harris RB, Diontae Johnson WR, JuJu Smith-Schuster WR, Chase Claypool WR (if active)
Bust - Ben Roethlisberger QB, Pat Freiermuth TE
Miami Dolphins at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Dolphins
Trust - Mike Gesicki TE
If You Must – Jacoby Brissett QB, Myles Gaskin RB, Jaylen Waddle WR
Buccaneers
Trust – Tom Brady QB, Mike Evans WR, Chris Godwin WR, Antonio Brown WR
If You Must - Ronald Jones RB, Leonard Fournette RB
New Orleans Saints at Washington Football Team
Saints
Trust – Alvin Kamara RB
If You Must – Jameis Winston QB, Marquez Callaway WR
Football Team
Trust – Antonio Gibson RB, Terry McLaurin WR
If You Must – Taylor Heinicke QB, J.D. McKissic RB, Curtis Samuel WR
Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars
Titans
Trust – Derrick Henry RB, A.J. Brown WR (if active), Julio Jones WR (if active), Ryan Tannehill QB (if A.J. Brown and Julio Jones are active)
Jaguars
Trust – Marvin Jones WR, James Robinson RB, Laviska Shenault WR
If You Must – Trevor Lawrence QB
New England Patriots at Houston Texans
Patriots
If You Must – Damien Harris RB, Jakobi Meyers WR, Jonnu Smith TE, Mac Jones QB, Hunter Henry TE, Nelson Agholor WR
Texans
Trust – Brandin Cooks WR
Bust – David Johnson RB, Phillip Lindsay RB, Mark Ingram RB, Davis Mills QB
Sunday Mid Afternoon Slate
Chicago Bears at Las Vegas Raiders
Bears
Trust – Allen Robinson WR, Darnell Mooney WR
If You Must – Justin Fields QB, Damien Williams RB
Raiders
Trust – Darren Waller TE, Josh Jacobs RB
If You Must –Derek Carr QB, Henry Ruggs WR, Hunter Renfrow WR
Bust - Kenyan Drake RB, Bryan Edwards WR
Cleveland Browns at Los Angeles Chargers
Browns
Trust – Nick Chubb RB, Kareem Hunt RB, Odell Beckham Jr. WR
If You Must – Baker Mayfield QB
Bust - Rashard Higgins WR
Chargers
Trust – Justin Herbert QB, Austin Ekeler RB, Keenan Allen WR, Mike Williams WR
If You Must – Jared Cook TE
Bust - Justin Jackson RB, Larry Rountree RB
New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys
Giants
Trust - Saquon Barkley RB, WR Kenny Golladay WR, Daniel Jones QB
Bust - Kadarius Toney WR
Cowboys
Trust – Dak Prescott QB, Ezekiel Elliott RB, Amari Cooper WR, CeeDee Lamb WR, Dalton Schultz TE,
If You Must – Tony Pollard RB
Bust - Blake Jarwin TE, Cedrick Wilson WR
San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals
49ers
Trust – George Kittle TE, Deebo Samuel WR
If You Must – Trey Sermon RB, Jimmy Garoppolo QB (if active), Brandon Aiyuk WR, Trey Lance QB (if Garoppolo inactive)
Bust - Elijah Mitchell RB
Cardinals
Trust – Kyler Murray QB, DeAndre Hopkins WR, Chase Edmonds RB
If You Must – James Conner RB, Christian Kirk WR, Rondale Moore WR, A.J. Green WR
Sunday Night Football
Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs
Bills
Trust – Josh Allen QB, Stefon Diggs WR, Dawson Knox TE
If You Must – Devin Singletary RB, Zack Moss RB, Cole Beasley WR, Emmanuel Sanders WR
Chiefs
Trust – Patrick Mahomes QB, Tyreek Hill WR, Travis Kelce TE, Clyde Edwards-Helaire RB
If You Must – Mecole Hardman WR
Monday Night Football
Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens
Colts
Trust – Jonathan Taylor RB
If You Must – Michael Pittman WR, Nyheim Hines RB, Zach Pascal WR
Bust - Carson Wentz QB, Colts TEs
Ravens
Trust – Lamar Jackson QB, Mark Andrews TE, Marquise Brown WR
If You Must – Sammy Watkins WR, Latavius Murray RB
Bust - Ty'Son Williams RB
Good luck and enjoy the games!
