Boom or Bench: Week 5 start/sit fantasy tips

Boom or Bench provides insight and analysis to help you handle your difficult fantasy football starting lineup decisions every week.

QB: Jets' Justin Fields vs. Cowboys

The Cowboys have allowed the most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks in 2025. Meanwhile, Fields has scored over 27 fantasy points in the two contests he finished this season. That pairing is very enticing.

Fields produced an elite performance in his first game back from injury Monday, throwing for 226 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 81 yards and another score. Dallas has surrendered 10 passing and two rushing touchdowns to quarterbacks this campaign, so expect Fields to be responsible for a few points.

Projection: 248 passing yards, passing TD, 58 rushing yards, rushing TD

Other QBs primed to boom:

• Lions' Jared Goff at Bengals

• Texans' C.J. Stroud at Ravens

RB: Texans' Woody Marks at Ravens

Marks is expected to see his snap and opportunity shares increase after his breakout game against the Titans, and he couldn't have asked for a better opponent to showcase his skills as a potential lead rusher. The Ravens are tied for the most touchdowns allowed to running backs and have given up the most fantasy points per contest to the position.

Marks rushed for 69 yards and a touchdown and caught four of his five targets for 50 yards and a second score last week. Both of those yardage totals more than doubled the fourth-round rookie's production from his previous three games.

Projection: 83 rushing yards, 34 receiving yards, 3 receptions, TD

RB: Giants' Cam Skattebo at Saints

Skattebo was a workhorse last week, carrying the ball 25 times and catching two passes for 90 total yards against the Chargers. He was extra effective in Week 3 against the Chiefs, tallying 121 total yards and a touchdown. The Arizona State product should keep his good production rolling against a Saints defense that's allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to running backs.

The Bills ran for 165 yards against New Orleans last week, as James Cook led the way with 117 yards and a touchdown. Buffalo's top rusher also hauled in a few passes to boost his fantasy output even more. Expect a workman-like outing from Skattebo that includes at least one score.

Projection: 88 rushing yards, 25 receiving yards, 2 receptions, TD

Other RBs primed to boom:

• Lions' David Montgomery at Bengals

• Browns' Quinshon Judkins vs. Vikings

WR: Cardinals' Marvin Harrison Jr. vs. Titans

Harrison has started to resemble the star he was projected to be as a prospect over the last few quarters. The Titans have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, which makes for a great matchup for Harrison as he continues to gain confidence.

The Ohio State product should continue to see plenty of targets after posting a season-high 10 against the Seahawks. Harrison could be an even bigger part of this week's game plan after Trey Benson landed on injured reserve.

Projection: 102 receiving yards, 8 receptions, TD

WR: Colts' Michael Pittman Jr. vs. Raiders

Pittman has been one of the primary beneficiaries of Daniel Jones' play this season, hauling in 21 of his 29 targets for 234 yards and three touchdowns. Those numbers aren't the most prolific, but he scored each of his touchdowns in a different game.

Pittman should find the end zone again versus one of the worst defenses for defending receivers. The Raiders have surrendered 695 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns to wideouts this season. Those marks rank 29th and tied for 27th in the league, respectively.

Projection: 94 receiving yards, 6 receptions, TD

Other WRs primed to boom:

• Chargers' Keenan Allen vs. Commanders

• Lions' Jameson Williams at Bengals

TE: Bills' Dalton Kincaid vs. Patriots

Kincaid should have a solid performance against the Patriots. They've allowed the seventh-most yards to tight ends this campaign in addition to a pair of touchdowns. More importantly, Kincaid has gotten off to a hot start with a touchdown in three of his four appearances.

The 25-year-old is also averaging a career-high 44.8 yards per game while posting 12.8 yards per reception and 9.9 yards per target. Look for Kincaid to keep his solid start rolling against an AFC East rival he's previously done well against, averaging 5.3 receptions for 59 yards per contest versus New England.

Projection: 61 receiving yards, 3 receptions, TD

Other TEs primed to boom:

• Lions' Sam LaPorta at Bengals

• Texans' Dalton Schultz at Ravens

QB: Broncos' Bo Nix at Eagles

Nix had his best game of the season last week, but the Eagles' defense is significantly better than the Bengals' in most ways. Philly has allowed five passing touchdowns and 860 passing yards compared to the Bengals' eight scores and 1,089 passing yards.

Nix has also shown that matchups like this aren't great for him. Against the Titans and Chargers - both of whom rank near the Eagles in terms of production allowed to quarterbacks - Nix averaged under 200 passing yards and tossed just one touchdown in each contest.

Projection: 14 rushing yards, 169 passing yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

Other QBs to bench:

• Rams' Matthew Stafford vs. 49ers

• Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa at Panthers

RB: Vikings' Jordan Mason at Browns (in London)

Running backs have struggled to find room against the Browns this season. Mason will be the third consecutive bigger-bodied tailback to face a Cleveland defence that looks like it was built to stop that specific profile. Josh Jacobs posted only 30 rushing yards on 16 carries in Week 3, and David Montgomery had 12 on nine carries last week.

Although Mason should still see plenty of opportunities in this game, I'd keep your expectations low if you need him in your lineup. Prepare for a high volume of carries, but expect poor efficiency. Zavier Scott could also get some extra work to try to find space as a receiver out of the backfield after tallying 43 yards on six receptions last week.

Projection: 47 rushing yards, 14 receiving yards, 2 receptions

RB: Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco at Jaguars

Pacheco is having a tough start to the 2025 campaign, and I don't expect that to change against the Jaguars. Jacksonville has allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points to running backs, hasn't surrendered a rushing touchdown to the position this season, and has given up the third-fewest rushing yards to tailbacks.

Pacheco has faced the Jaguars twice before with no touchdowns. His best performance came in 2022, when he rushed for 82 yards but didn't receive a passing target. The Rutgers product isn't likely to top that production this weekend, especially if seventh-round rookie Brashard Smith continues to see more snaps.

Projection: 51 rushing yards, 8 receiving yards, 1 reception

Other RBs to bench:

• Seahawks' Zach Charbonnet vs. Buccaneers

• Bengals' Chase Brown vs. Lions

WR: Ravens' Zay Flowers vs. Texans

Things don't look great for Flowers this weekend, given the Texans are among the top 12 teams in fewest fantasy points allowed to receivers this year. However, the real concern is that Lamar Jackson appears unlikely to suit up.

Cooper Rush is expected to play under center for Baltimore. He has six career starts with fewer than 200 passing yards and only three with over 250. Meanwhile, the Texans boast the league's top scoring defense, rank fifth in yardage allowed, and are seventh in sacks. The chances of Rush having a career game and boosting Flowers' production are low.

Projection: 62 receiving yards, 5 receptions

WR: Eagles' DeVonta Smith vs. Broncos

Smith has posted fewer than five receptions in all but one contest this year, hasn't exceeded 60 yards once, and is averaging the lowest yards per game of his career by a wide margin (39.5). Jalen Hurts is also recording career lows in yards per game, per attempt, and per completion. This duo isn't likely to improve on those numbers in a meaningful way against Denver.

The Broncos' defense has been a bit underwhelming relative to its preseason expectations, but the unit remains in the top 10 in total yards (285.3), passing yards (186.0), and points (16.8) allowed this season. Denver is also surrendering the fourth-fewest fantasy points per contest to wide receivers.

Projection: 46 receiving yards, 3 receptions

Other WRs to bench:

• Bills' Khalil Shakir vs. Patriots

• Panthers' Tetairoa McMillan vs. Dolphins

TE: Ravens' Mark Andrews vs. Texans

A lot of the concerns that plague Flowers this weekend also apply to Andrews. The Texans are even better against tight ends than wide receivers, ranking seventh in points allowed to tight ends.

While Andrews has produced success against Houston in the past, he's relied on big plays resulting in touchdowns rather than consistently finding opportunities to make an impact. Despite tallying 172 yards and two touchdowns in three games against the Texans, he's had just seven receptions. And with Rush under center, Andrews is more likely to have a similar production to his 29-yard performance from the 2020 season than to grab big plays.

Projection: 38 receiving yards, 3 receptions

Other TEs to bench:

• Vikings' T.J. Hockenson at Browns (in London)

• Jaguars' Brenton Strange vs. Chiefs

Andrew Dixon is a contributing fantasy analyst for theScore.