Sam Darnold sparked Seattle’s duel with Tampa Bay, carving up the Buccaneers for 341 yards and four TDs while Jaxon Smith-Njigba siphoned targets for 132 yards and a score. Kenneth Walker III found a rhythm late, AJ Barner kept Seattle’s red-zone attack alive with two more TDs, and Dareke Young provided game-changing returns and a big grab. Jalen Milroe’s miscue lingered as a reminder of development curves, yet Seattle’s run defense held firm and the offense showed versatility to contest elite NFC foes.

Week 5 starts hinge on volume and matchup. Rachaad White steps into the lead back role for Tampa Bay with Bucky Irving out, offering solid flex upside in a favorable matchup vs Seattle. Pollard remains the Titans’ workhorse until Tyjae Spears returns, keeping him in flex territory. Kenneth Walker III faces a stout run defense and a backfield committee, making him a low-end RB2 with punt-punt upside via receiving work. Keenan Allen projects heavy targets against Washington, while Calvin Ridley and Ja’Marr Chase remain high-end options in shootouts. Sean Tucker is a speculative stash behind White, Luke McCaffrey’s role is uncertain, and Cooper Kupp stands as a must-start.

Overall, the Week 5 landscape favors high-volume pass-catchers and disciplined runners in clear roles. The Who Should I Start tool helps parse four-player comps, factoring scoring formats and byes to surface the best starts. Monitor injuries and game-flow specifically for Spears, Irving, and any last-minute Washington adjustments for Allen and Ridley, then lock in your lineup with confidence.