Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings: Position-by-Position Breakdown

Regardless of whether you won your matchup last week or were crushed in a lopsided blowout, fantasy football owners must move on to the Week 5 position-by-position rankings and begin game-planning for your potential lineup.

While injuries continue to be a major concern for fantasy owners, only Miami and Oakland are on bye this week and there should be ample options when picking starters. If you are having trouble making a decision, refer to the ranking lists and start the higher-ranked player.

Here is a position-by-position fantasy breakdown heading into Week 5.

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	Projections
1	Andrew Luck, IND	28 Points
2	Aaron Rodgers, GB	26 Points
3	Peyton Manning, DEN	26 Points
4	Drew Brees, NO	22 Points
5	Matthew Stafford, DET	20 Points
6	Matt Ryan, ATL	18 Points
7	Nick Foles, PHI	18 Points
8	Philip Rivers, SD	18 Points
9	Eli Manning, NYG	16 Points
10	Jay Cutler, CHI	16 Points
11	Tom Brady, NE	15 Points
12	Tony Romo, DAL	15 Points
13	Ben Roethlisberger, PIT	14 Points
14	Cam Newton, CAR	14 Points
15	Colin Kaepernick, SF	12 Points

The biggest breakout star of Week 4 was Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck. He went 29-of-41 through the air for 393 yards, added four touchdowns and threw just one interception on Sunday and looked to have a rapport with each of his receivers, tight ends and running backs.

Colts coach Chuck Pagano told Mike Wells of ESPN.com about Luck’s offensive dominance this season:

"

He was just trying to get the ball in the hands of his playmakers. That's what most of the guys coming off back-to-back weeks like this, I don't care what sport you play, whether it's basketball, you're Michael Jordan, you score 80 points in a game and they ask him how'd it happened and he doesn't even remember how many points he had or how he had it. He's in the zone right now.

Anytime you go out there and play fast and you're not thinking, usually the result is the numbers, you know the yards and the touchdowns that he's producing right now. And he's got some great playmakers around him who are making great plays too.

"

Luck’s success was not limited to Week 4, either. He already has 1,305 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and four interceptions through the first quarter of the season and has one of the more favorable second-half schedules in the NFL.

Indianapolis is in a tough matchup against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5, but with the Colts offense clicking, this could be an offensive shootout with major fantasy implications. Owners should expect another huge statistical day for Luck.

Running Backs

Rank	Player	Projection
1	DeMarco Murray, DAL	22 Points
2	Le'Veon Bell, PIT	22 Points
3	LeSean McCoy, PHI	20 Points
4	Marshawn Lynch, SEA	20 Points
5	Matt Forte, CHI	18 Points
6	Jamaal Charles, KC	18 Points
7	Arian Foster, HOU	16 Points
8	Doug Martin, TB	16 Points
9	Giovani Bernard, CIN	16 Points
10	Montee Ball, DEN	15 Points
11	Rashad Jennings, NYG	15 Points
12	Zac Stacy, STL	15 Points
13	Eddie Lacy, GB	13 Points
14	Alfred Morris, WAS	13 Points
15	Frank Gore, SF	13 Points
16	Andre Ellington, ARI	13 Points
17	C.J. Spiller, BUF	10 Points
18	Reggie Bush, DET	10 Points
19	Donald Brown, SD	10 Points
20	Bernard Pierce, BAL	9 Points
21	Stevan Ridley, NE	9 Points
22	Trent Richardson, IND	9 Points
23	Chris Johnson, NYJ	8 Points
24	Khiry Robinson, NO	8 Points
25	Joique Bell, DET	8 Points

There are several running backs worth starting in every fantasy league this week, but you should be going all-in on Le’Veon Bell of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Doug Martin of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Despite Pittsburgh’s loss, Bell proved once again to be a fantasy workhorse. While he didn't get a touchdown, he ran the ball 19 times for 63 yards and caught six passes for another 46 yards. That brings his all-around yardage to 570 through four games.

Whether it’s PPR or standard scoring, Bell is a RB1.

Even NFL legend LaDainian Tomlinson has heaped praise on Bell’s performance this season, via CBS Sports Eye on Football:

One player flying under the radar in Week 5 is Buccaneers running back Doug Martin. He has struggled while making the transition to a new offensive scheme and recovering from a knee injury, but he is still the most talented player in the Tampa Bay backfield.

In his first game back from the injury, he was favored as the No. 1 back over Bobby Rainey and carried the ball 14 times for 40 yards and a touchdown while adding two receptions for 16 yards. With a very favorable matchup against New Orleans, Martin is a RB2 or flex play with a high risk/reward factor.

Wide Receivers

Rank	Player	Projection
1	Antonio Brown, PIT	20 Points
2	Calvin Johnson, DET	20 Points
3	Demaryius Thomas, DEN	18 Points
4	Julio Jones, ATL	18 Points
5	Dez Bryant, DAL	18 Points
6	Brandon Marshall, CHI	17 Points
7	Jordy Nelson, GB	17 Points
8	Steve Smith, BAL	17 Points
9	A.J. Green, CIN	15 Points
10	Reggie Wayne, IND	15 Points
11	Keenan Allen, SD	15 Points
12	Jeremy Maclin, PHI	14 Points
13	Kelvin Benjamin, CAR	14 Points
14	Randall Cobb, GB	14 Points
15	Victor Cruz, NYG	14 Points
16	Percy Harvin, SEA	12 Points
17	Alshon Jeffery, CHI	12 Points
18	Andre Johnson, HOU	12 Points
19	Sammy Watkins, BUF	12 Points
20	Larry Fitzgerald, ARI	10 Points
21	Cordarrelle Patterson, MIN	10 Points
22	Roddy White, ATL	10 Points
23	Julian Edelman, NE	10 Points
24	Pierre Garcon, WAS	8 Points
25	Golden Tate, DET	8 Points
26	Michael Floyd, ARI	8 Points
27	Vincent Jackson, TB	6 Points
28	Brandin Cooks, NO	6 Points
29	Emmanuel Sanders, DEN	6 Points
30	Marques Colston, NO	5 Points
31	Michael Crabtree, SF	5 Points
32	Greg Jennings, MIN	5 Points
33	T.Y. Hilton, IND	4 Points
34	Eric Decker, NYJ	4 Points
35	Kendall Wright, TEN	4 Points

The biggest loser for Week 4 wide receivers was Father Time. Both Steve Smith of the Baltimore Ravens and Reggie Wayne of the Indianapolis Colts defied the odds at 35 years old and dominated the fantasy landscape on Sunday.

Smith had some extra motivation going against his old Carolina Panthers teammates, but there is no way to discredit his seven catches for 139 yards and two touchdowns. With 25 receptions on the season for 429 yards and three touchdowns, he has emerged as Baltimore’s top weapon.

Jeff Darlington of NFL Network showed just how impressive Smith’s performance was in Week 4:

Another veteran who exploded like he was 10 years younger was Wayne. With quarterback Andrew Luck performing at an elite level and his confidence in a surgically repaired knee as high as it’s been all season, the seven catches for 119 yards and a touchdown he amassed Sunday was coming in a matter of time.

What makes the story of these two veterans even more interesting is that they are going head-to-head this week. Baltimore travels to Indianapolis for what should be an offensive showcase. If you own Smith or Wayne, start them with confidence.

Tight Ends

Rank	Player	Projection
1	Jimmy Graham, NO	18 Points
2	Rob Gronkowski, NE	18 Points
3	Julius Thomas, DEN	16 Points
4	Greg Olsen, CAR	14 Points
5	Delanie Walker, TEN	12 Points
6	Martellus Bennett, CHI	12 Points
7	Jason Witten, DAL	10 Points
8	Antonio Gates, SD	10 Points
9	Owen Daniels, BAL	10 Points
10	Jordan Cameron, CLE	8 Points
11	Jared Cook, STL	8 Points
12	Larry Donnell, NYG	8 Points
13	Niles Paul, WAS	6 Points
14	Zach Ertz, PHI	6 Points
15	Heath Miller, PIT	6 Points

Chicago Bears fans won’t be happy about the team’s loss on Sunday, but it wasn’t because of a lack of effort from tight end Martellus Bennett. Fantasy owners who started Bennett were treated to nine catches and 134 yards, but he could not score another touchdown after starting the year with four in three games.

ESPN’s ESPN Stats and Info Twitter account talked about Bennett’s dominant performance:

Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler proved to be dependent on Bennett when plays broke down, targeting him 11 times on the day. With the team coming off a loss and playing the vulnerable Carolina Panthers, Bennett owners should expect a heavy fantasy workload.

Team Defenses

Rank	Team	Opponent	Projection
1	Seattle Seahawks	Washington	16 Points
2	Pittsburgh Steelers	Jacksonville	14 Points
3	Denver Broncos	Arizona	14 Points
4	Cincinnati Bengals	New England	12 Points
5	San Diego Chargers	New York Jets	12 Points
6	Arizona Cardinals	Denver	12 Points
7	San Francisco 49ers	Kansas City	10 Points
8	Houston Texans	Dallas	10 Points
9	New England Patriots	Cincinnati	10 Points
10	Detroit Lions	Buffalo	8 Points
11	Carolina Panthers	Chicago	8 Points
12	Philadelphia Eagles	St. Louis	8 Points

Even with No. 1 overall draft pick Jadeveon Clowney out injured, there are few defensive units as entertaining to watch as the Houston Texans. Led by defensive end J.J. Watt, Houston has the ability to pressure the quarterback, stop the run and turn the ball over.

Besides the 30-point anomaly the Texans gave up against the New York Giants, the defensive unit has only given up a combined 37 points in the other three games. Add in the seven forced fumbles, four interceptions and two blocked kicks, and Houston’s defense is a fantasy star.

Kickers

Rank	Player	Projection
1	Stephen Gostkowski, NE	14 Points
2	Justin Tucker, BAL	14 Points
3	Dan Bailey, DAL	14 Points
4	Mason Crosby, GB	12 Points
5	Dan Carpenter, BUF	12 Points
6	Matt Bryant, ATL	12 Points
7	Steven Hauschka, SEA	12 Points
8	Blair Walsh, MIN	10 Points
9	Greg Zuerlein, STL	10 Points
10	Nick Novak, SD	10 Points
11	Cody Parkey, PHI	10 Points
12	Adam Vinatieri, IND	8 Points

For fantasy owners, ride with the kicker you drafted until a bye week or an injury forces you to make a change. If you are looking for an ideal fit for Week 5, Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens is the right choice.

Tucker is 9-of-11 on field-goal attempts and has kicked 10 extra points. With the Baltimore offense starting to find a rhythm, the Ravens will likely find themselves in field-goal range often Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts in what could turn into a shootout.

*Stats via NFL.com.