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B/R's Week 5 PPR Fantasy Football 2025 Player Rankings
We're one month into the 2025 NFL season. And what a month it was for fantasy managers.
At the rate things are going, it's going to require removing shoes to count all the starting quarterbacks who are banged up, with Baltimore's Lamar Jackson joining the list of injured high-end stars.
The wide receiver position is chaotic. Two high-end options were lost for the year in Week 4. Several more seemed to disappear—and at least one seemingly isn't happy about it. More are dealing with the fallout of all those injured quarterbacks.
Running back has long been considered the most volatile fantasy position, yet it's been mostly chalk a month in.
All fantasy managers can do is put their heads down and try to navigate the bedlam. And we have the map to help them do just that with position-by-position PPR rankings, breakout and bust candidates, sleeper picks, and top overall flex options.
Quarterbacks
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There have already been multiple injuries at quarterback this season, but none left a pit in the stomach of fantasy managers like in Week 4, when Lamar Jackson left the Ravens' loss to the Kansas City Chiefs with a hamstring injury.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh wasn't especially forthcoming when discussing Jackson's status for this week's visit from the Houston Texans.
"We got a pretty good feel on all the injuries, with the different guys right now where we're at," he told reporters. "Really not commenting on those things today. We'll comment on them later in the week, a little bit more."
Be ready to pivot to another option later this week.
Week 5 Quarterback Rankings
Players to Watch in Week 5
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (at CIN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,500]
Goff has been relatively quiet in three of four games this season. But the reeling Bengals just gave up a 326-yard effort to Denver's Bo Nix and have given up the ninth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season
Patrick Mahomes II, Kansas City Chiefs (at JAC) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,600]
Mahomes is coming off his first four-touchdown game through the air since 2023, and he next faces a Jaguars defense that ranks 24th in the league against the pass, allowing 233.5 yards per game through the air.
Players to Avoid in Week 5
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals (vs. TEN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,900]
Murray has been mediocre this year and is 15th in fantasy points among QBs for the season. The Tennessee Titans are hot garbage, but they are giving up the 10th-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (vs. SF) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,400]
Stafford is coming off a huge game against the Indianapolis Colts, throwing for 375 yards and three touchdowns in a Rams win. But the 49ers have been stingy to opposing quarterbacks, allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to the position.
Sleeper
Sam Darnold, Seattle (vs. TB) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,100]
Darnold's numbers this season haven't been all that impressive, and he is QB20 four weeks into the season. This week's matchup is favorable, though, as the Buccaneers have given up the eighth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks in 2025.
Running Backs
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Of all the fantasy positions, running back has been the most settled over the first month of the season.
Seeing Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers, Bijan Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons and Jahmyr Gibbs of the Detroit Lions listed among the top five in PPR points isn't shocking.
This isn't to say there haven't been surprises, though. If you saw Javonte Williams of the Dallas Cowboys and Travis Etienne Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars as top-10 running backs before the season began, you should consider grabbing a ticket for Wednesday's Powerball draw.
Week 5 Running Back Rankings
Players to Watch in Week 5
Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. KC) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,900]
Etienne is coming off his second 100-yard rushing effort of the season, and he is averaging a gaudy 6.1 yards per carry. This week, he takes on a Chiefs team giving up the ninth-most PPR points to running backs this year.
Cam Skattebo, New York Giants (at NO) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,000]
Skattebo is rapidly becoming a favorite of both Giants fans and fantasy managers. And while the rookie's per-carry average wasn't great in Week 4, the 25 carries he got against the Chargers is a good sign moving forward.
Players to Avoid in Week 5
Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. DET) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,100]
This analyst beat the drum for Brown over the summer, but he can't do a thing for your team at the moment. The Bengals offense is hot garbage, to the point that even starting Ja'Marr Chase is a risky bet.
Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings (at CLE) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,400]
Mason came crashing back to earth last week in Dublin with 16 carries for 57 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now he faces a Cleveland Browns defense that has surrendered just 70.3 rushing yards per game in 2025.
Week 5 Sleeper
Woody Marks, Houston Texans (at BAL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,400]
If Week 4 was any indication, Marks has seized control of Houston's backfield. He surpassed 100 total yards and scored twice against Tennessee. Now he draws a Ravens defense giving up over 140 yards per game on the ground.
Wide Receivers
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Well, that was a very bad week at wide receiver.
First, Malik Nabers of the New York Giants tore his ACL in Sunday's win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Then, Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins suffered a horrific knee injury Monday night against the Jets.
Add in Terry McLaurin of the Washington Commanders and Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers already on the shelf and guys like Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings and Ja'Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals dealing with backup quarterbacks, and the wide receiver position is a mess.
So much for them being "safer" than running backs.
Week 5 Wide Receiver Rankings
Players to Watch in Week 5
Nico Collins, Houston Texans (at BAL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,800]
Four weeks into the season, Collins is a so-so 22nd in PPR points among wide receivers. He's set up well for a smash week Sunday in Baltimore—the Ravens couldn't cover a bed with a sheet before the secondary was blasted by injuries.
Garrett Wilson, New York Jets (vs. DAL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,100]
Wilson has been solid for fantasy managers in three of four games, including a 6/82/1 line in Week 4 against the Dolphins. He'll make it four of five this week against the Cowboys' non-existent pass defense.
Players to Avoid in Week 5
Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,200]
While Puka Nacua has been on a rampage, Adams has been a top-15 fantasy wideout in his own right. He draws a tough Week 5 matchup, though, as the Niners have surrendered the fourth-fewest PPR points to wide receivers in 2025.
Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. DET) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,900]
Frankly, it's tempting to list Chase here. The Bengals offense has fallen apart with Jake Browning under center. Four games into the season, Higgins has had 35 receiving yards in a game just once.
Week 5 Sleeper
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts (vs. LV) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,100]
The Colts are off to a good start to the season, but Downs has been quiet, with 14 catches for 121 yards this year. He's due to find the end zone in a top-five fantasy matchup for wide receivers with the reeling Raiders.
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Tight Ends
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We suspected going into the 2025 season that the tight end position in fantasy football would be weird.
Behind the "Big 3" of Brock Bowers of the Las Vegas Raiders, Trey McBride of the Arizona Cardinals and George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers, there was a whole lotta "maybe."
Kittle is hurt, but Bowers and McBride both rank inside the top 10 at the position. However, others are dominating the top five.
Jake Ferguson of the Dallas Cowboys, Hunter Henry of the New England Patriots, Tyler Warren of the Indianapolis Colts and Tucker Kraft of the Green Bay Packers all have more PPR points than Bowers, who was the first tight end drafted in most leagues.
Week 5 Tight End Rankings
Players to Watch in Week 5
Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills (vs. NE) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,400]
Kincaid is sitting just outside the top five in PPR points among tight ends in part because of touchdowns the past two weeks. Now he faces a Patriots team giving up the ninth-most PPR points to tight ends this year.
Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions (at CIN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,200]
LaPorta hasn't had 10 PPR points in a game since Week 1, but the Lions are headed to the Queen City to face the Bengals, who are making just about everyone look good right now.
Players to Avoid in Week 5
Evan Engram, Denver Broncos (at PHI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,700]
Engram has been a massive disappointment this season, although he showed a glimmer of life in Week 4. That will be snuffed out in Week 5 by an Eagles defense surrendering the third-fewest PPR points to tight ends in 2025.
T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings (at CLE) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,800]
Hockenson had a big Week 3, but outside that outing he's been quiet and outside the top 15 in PPR points for the season. That won't stop in Cleveland against arguably the best defense in the NFL.
Week 5 Sleeper
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at SEA) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,300]
Otton has six catches for 34 yards for the season and two goose eggs in four games. But the Buccaneers are beat up at wide receiver, and the Seahawks are allowing an NFL-high 18.6 PPR points per game to tight ends.
Team Defenses and Kickers
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Touchdowns have always been an important, if unpredictable, part of fantasy scoring where defenses are concerned. And there have been plenty of non-offensive touchdowns scored over the first month of the 2025 season.
In Week 3, there were more non-offensive scores than in any week since 2020. Last year, there were eight punts returned for six points. After three punt returns for scores in Week 4, there have already been seven in 2025.
Does it make defenses any more predictable? Of course not. The highest-scoring defense this year (Minnesota Vikings) has had three meh weeks and one ridiculous outing.
But start one of those defenses that finds the end zone, and it can turn a loss into a win.
Week 5 Team Defense Rankings
Week 5 Kicker Rankings
Players to Watch in Week 5
Detroit Lions Defense (at CIN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,500]
The Lions have been stout against the run but just average against the pass in 2025. Average will do fine when you're playing a team that has almost as many accepted penalties in Week 4 as points and first downs combined.
Jake Elliott, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. DEN)
Like the Eagles offense as a whole, Elliott's fantasy production has been underwhelming this season. But even after holding the Bengals to three points in Week 4, the Broncos have surrendered the second-most fantasy points to kickers.
Players to Avoid in Week 5
Denver Broncos Defense (at PHI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $2,700]
The Broncos were the first defense drafted in most leagues this season, so many fantasy managers will just ride out this bad matchup. But the Eagles have given up the 10th-fewest fantasy points to defenses.
Tyler Loop, Baltimore Ravens (vs. HOU)
Loop has been decent for fantasy managers as Baltimore's kicker, ranking inside the top 10 in points. But in addition to the Ravens' injury issues, the Texans are dead-last in fantasy points given up to kickers.
Week 5 Sleeper
Cleveland Browns Defense (vs. MIN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $2,500]
The Browns are playing as well defensively as any team in the league, although their putrid offense has left the team hung out to dry regularly. Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz was sacked six times and picked off twice last week in Dublin.
Overall Rankings
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These overall player rankings for Week 5 can be of assistance to fantasy managers in making flex lineup decisions.
However, quarterbacks are not included here—if your league has a superflex spot and you have a decent second quarterback, he should be in that spot.
Of course, with all the injuries under center, "decent" is becoming a relative concept.
Week 5 brings with it the first of the bye weeks, as well. The Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers are all off. So, no Bijan Robinson or Tucker Kraft this week.
This week's tip is simply to try to weather the storm. If injuries and/or disappointing players have left your team 1-3 or even 0-4, that's rough.
But there's a lot of season left. And while making the postseason after an 0-4 start isn't easy, it can be done. Keep fighting.
Week 5 Overall Rankings
Gary Davenport is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow Gary on X at @IDPGodfather.
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