Week 5 knocked several fantasy managers off balance as a slate of players underperformed across QB, RB, WR, and TE. Cooper Rush and Geno Smith delivered subpar showings, while rookies and veterans at RB and WR struggled to produce consistent fantasy value. The piece flags which names are still trustable moving forward and which quantities might rebound against softer matchups in Week 6.

Targets for bounce-back potential span multiple positions, with explanations on how volume, opponent, and in-game role could shift expectations. The analysis also surfaces late-stage obvious fades and identifies sleepers who flashed upside despite disappointing Week 5 totals.

Week 5 fantasy football holds strong TE intrigue. Dallas Goedert’s knee clearance puts him firmly in the TE1 mix for Philadelphia against Denver, while Taysom Hill’s PUP-by-activation status keeps him on the radar for a potential gadget-rush week for New Orleans. Darren Waller showed immediate impact in Miami with multi-score upside, Sam LaPorta draws a favorable Bengals matchup, and David Njoku’s London tilt versus Minnesota makes him a safer low-end option. The rest of the listed tight ends—Kincaid, Schultz, Johnson, Ertz, Andrews, Engram—are part of the broader Week 5 start/sit dialogue, with the RotoBaller tool guiding optimal decisions.

Overall, expect a mix of clear starters and high-variance plays. The Who Should I Start tool remains the fastest route to compare up to four players and tailor lineups to scoring formats and byes, helping managers navigate injury news, snap counts, and matchup strength in a fluid Week 5 slate.

Week 5 fantasy lineups hinge on tight-end usage and injury status. Hunter Henry remains a difference-maker in New England, delivering TE1-consistency as he builds on a strong early season. T.J. Hockenson’s floor stays solid, though matchup-driven; Juwan Johnson’s outlook depends on health, with Stoll ready to step in if needed. Sam LaPorta carries volume upside for Detroit, while Brenton Strange is a high-end TE2 in a favorable target share. Jake Ferguson is emerging in Dallas as a trusted second option, and Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews anchor most rosters. Isaiah Likely and Dalton Schultz add volatility and upside in deeper formats. Use the Who Should I Start tool to compare these names side-by-side and optimize Week 5 lineups.