Week 5 fantasy QB decisions hinge on a mix of proven veterans and emerging matchups. Daniel Jones, Geno Smith, Jared Goff, CJ Stroud, Bo Nix, Drake Maye, Dak Prescott, Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Justin Fields, Kyler Murray, and Bryce Young anchor the week’s planning. A dedicated Start/Sit tool lets you compare up to four players and yields a clear starter, with emphasis on matchups, scoring formats, and bye-week disruption. The piece also highlights streamer options like Darnold and prudent benches for high-risk QBs in tougher matchups.

Beyond the starters, the article underscores Week 5 searches that reflect the exact decisions fantasy managers confront, including how to balance upside versus floor in one-QB and two-QB formats. It also explains scoring and format nuances, ensuring you can tailor lineups to PPR, Half-PPR, or standard leagues while accounting for bye weeks and injury News. In short: disciplined matchup-based planning plus smart streaming can vault your lineup this week.

Texas Tech landed ESPN's No. 1 defensive tackle in the 2027 class, Jalen Brewster, choosing TTU over Ohio State, Texas A&M, Oregon, Oklahoma and Indiana. The Cedar Hill product is 6-3, 305 and joins LaDamion Guyton as TTU's second five-star pledge in 2027, bolstering a rising defensive class that already includes Redmond and Underwood. The program's strong NIL-backed push and a 4-0 start after beating Houston underline TTU's growing recruiting pull.

Texas Tech's staff, led by Joey McGuire and James Blanchard, continues to chase top targets like Kavian Bryant, Zane Rowe and Kaden McCarty. The 2026 class headlined by Felix Ojo provides depth and a base of high-end talent, while Brewster's commitment signals TTU's bold, expanding reach in the 2027 cycle and a plan to sustain defense-focused momentum in a competitive landscape.

The Steelers are tracking Drew Allar and Nico Iamaleava at the Penn State–UCLA showdown as part of a measured plan for a 2026 quarterback. Pittsburgh sits 3-1 atop the AFC North, with Aaron Rodgers in the background as a bridge option. A top-8 QB board places Allar at No. 7, underscoring the dilemma: keep winning could push the Steelers out of early-first-round range, possibly reshaping their long-term QB approach.

Indiana's Fernando Mendoza and his brother Alberto partnered with JLab to gift the Hoosiers a team-wide set of premium headphones, a standout NIL move that doubles as a morale boost and brand moment.

Mendoza has been efficient: 89-for-122, 1,208 yards, 16 TDs with one interception, and 30 rushes for 102 yards with two rushing scores. His Heisman odds hovered at 13-1 as IU eyes a marquee clash with Oregon. The gift underscores NIL as a culture-builder and recruiting edge beyond hype.