Week 5 spotlights the NFL trenches: the Houston Texans surge their defense behind Will Anderson Jr., Rankins, and Settle, while Denver’s front holds the league’s pressure crown led by Bonitto. Browns’ elite line, Lions’ pass rush revival, Cowboys’ front-seven momentum, and Rams’ run-stopping heft shape fantasy value across the board.

Texas leads the run defense alongside interior disruptors; Denver’s trio fuels an elite pass rush; Cleveland’s veterans anchor a top unit; Detroit and Dallas flash top-tier pressure metrics; Rams’ run-stopping breadth keys weekly depth charts. Vikings’ pass rush also bears watching as season-long trends unfold.

In short, the front seizes Week 5—a clear signal for fantasy strategy: chase edge talent with proven pressure rates, monitor interior run-stops, and exploit teams that lean on disruptive fronts for sacks and stops.

Jordan Addison delivered the game-winner, catching a 12-yard TD from Carson Wentz with 25 seconds left to lift Minnesota over Cleveland 21-17 in London, keeping the Vikings undefeated in the capital.

Wentz shrugged off a shoulder scare to execute two second-half drives, while Justin Jefferson piled up 123 yards. Cleveland rookie Dillon Gabriel threw two TDs but fell short; Quinshon Judkins added 110 rushing yards as Cam Akers sparked Minnesota with a 32-yard trick-play TD to Josh Oliver.

David Njoku answered with a nine-yard TD after a hurdling grab, and Will Reichard’s 51-yard miss late sealed the result for the Browns after a fumble by Mason earlier set up Cleveland’s chances.

The Browns’ defense sparked a pivotal turnover day, forcing two fumbles against Minnesota as Shelby Harris and Isaiah Maguire stamped the edge. A late fourth-quarter sequence, started by a strip and reinforced by Alex Wright’s earlier pressure, shifted momentum and kept Cleveland ahead. With the offense needing to sustain drives, the Browns D/ST offers a risky yet enticing fantasy upside this week, especially against teams with shaky ball security.

Cleveland’s defense has flipped the script, bottling the run and pressuring the passer behind Garrett and a surging front that leans on a rookie-heavy rotation. Schwesinger, Graham, and Huntington have answered the call, while Delpit, Bush and Collins have been stalwarts. Harris capped the performance with a game-changing blocked field goal.

Over three games, the unit has surrendered just 172 rushing yards (57.3 per game) and boasts Garrett’s four sacks, seven TFLs, and 16 total tackles. The defense is taking shape as a viable weekly fantasy streaming option with multiple path to production.

Depth and disruptive potential across the front seven have Cleveland poised to swing fantasy outcomes in upcoming matchups as the defensive unit continues to lock down the run and threaten the quarterback.