Week 5 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em, Play or Bench Tips for Fantasy Football Managers

Fantasy football managers have plenty of information to track heading into Week 5. A few more significant injuries occurred last week, and another rookie quarterback is set to make his starting debut this week.

The Cleveland Browns are turning to Oregon product Dillon Gabriel at quarterback after the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins lost star receivers Malik Nabers and Tyreek Hill, respectively.

Oh, and bye weeks will have fantasy standouts like Bijan Robinson and Josh Jacobs out of action this week.

That's all on top of the usual lineup criteria managers must consider, like matchups and projected roles. You'll find help for a few of those calls here with start/sit recommendations for point-per-reception (PPR) play.

Start: Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets

AP Photo/Peter Joneleit

New York Jets running back Breece Hall has been a solid high-volume play through the first month, but he's still searching for his first touchdown of 2025. There's a decent chance that he'll find it against the Dallas Cowboys this week.

The problem for Hall has been the presence of Justin Fields and Braelon Allen in New York's offensive game plan. Fields, who has three rushing touchdowns on the season, is still behind center. Allen, however, is dealing with a knee injury, and his absence is likely to increase Hall's work load.

Expect Hall to finally get some of that goal-line work.

The Cowboys, meanwhile, aren't very good at stopping the run. They've surrendered six rushing touchdowns and the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing RBs this season.

Sit: Jordan Mason, RB, Minnesota Vikings

AP Photo/Matt Krohn

Here's a tip: If you're planning on trusting a running back against a stiff run defense, he'd better possess a high PPR floor. Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason, who has six receptions this season and 17 over the last two years, does not.

Mason has been terrific for the Vikings in the absence of Aaron Jones (hamstring), but he isn't regularly a big part of the passing game. That could pose a problem against the Browns, who have surrendered the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs.

There's a chance that Mason will get the volume needed to reward managers anyway. Gabriel is a rookie making his first start against a tough defense in London. If Minnesota runs away with the game early, Mason could see a lot of work.

Even in a blowout win over the Cincinnati Bengals, though, Mason only logged 16 carries. Zavier Scott and Cam Akers combined for 13 carries in that game. It's hard to trust that Mason's volume will carry him.

Start: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals

AP Photo/Samantha Chow

Arizona Cardinals wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. spent the first three weeks—and part of the fourth—frustrating fans and fantasy managers alike. He dropped easy passes, appeared to quit on routes and generally underperformed.

Then, Harrison got hot late against the Seattle Seahawks and went on to finish Week 4 with six catches for 66 yards and a touchdown.

Kyler Murray targeted Harrison 10 times last Thursday night, and he could give him a similar target volume in Week 5—Harrison's touchdown catch likely created some much-needed confidence. That's a recipe for success against a bad Tennessee Titans defense.

The Titans have surrendered the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season.

Sit: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

Cleveland's pivot from Joe Flacco to Gabriel does change the complexion of the Browns-Vikings matchup. However, it's unlikely to jump-start the fantasy value of Jerry Jeudy.

A lot has been going on in Cleveland other than poor QB play. The offensive line is injured and unreliable, and receivers like Jeudy have continually dropped passes.

Jeudy has been credited with four drops and has caught just 13 of 30 targets through three games.

Even if Gabriel exceeds expectations and gives the Browns' offense a boost, he's not going to erase the other issues that have plagued Jeudy. On top of that, Minnesota presents a very difficult matchup.

In fact, no team has surrendered fewer fantasy points to opposing wide receivers than the Vikings.

*Fantasy scoring information from FantasyPros.