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RotoBaller staff's fantasy football sleepers, avoids, and start 'em sit 'em picks for Week 5 of 2025. Expert lineup advice from Adam Koffler and Thunder Dan Palyo.
Going into any fantasy football season, we know there will be a flurry of injuries, but they have come early and often so far in 2025. Injuries to Joe Burrow, Malik Nabers, James Conner, and more have complicated fantasy lineup decisions, and now, bye weeks are here to make things even more difficult. Our experts are here to help.
It's time for the next edition of our RotoBaller staff start-or-sit calls. Three of the industry's best analysts are here to break down 12 potential sleepers and busts ahead of the full slate of Week 5 NFL action.
These fantasy football sleepers, avoids, and busts are from top RotoBaller contributors Adam Koffler and Thunder Dan Palyo. Good luck in Week 5!
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:- 2025 fantasy football rankings
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- Kicker (K) fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
Week 5 Fantasy Football Sleepers - Start 'Em Picks
Woody Marks, Texans at Ravens (Adam Koffler)
The rookie out-touched Nick Chubb for the first time in Week 4. He looked really good, too, totaling 119 yards and two touchdowns on 21 touches. Next up is a matchup with a Lamar Jackson-less Ravens team that allows the most fantasy points, targets, and receptions to running backs this season. That’s great for Marks, who appears to have the pass-catching role secured in Houston. He registered a season-best 54% route participation rate last week and saw a career-high five targets as a result in a positive game script. The Texans’ Week 5 matchup vs. the Ravens could be more competitive, leading to even more targets for Marks. Start ‘em!
Hey, howdy, hey! That's Woody! pic.twitter.com/4u8avVoqGL
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) October 2, 2025
David Montgomery, Lions at Bengals (Thunder Dan)
The Lions' rushing attack is in a sweet spot this week against a very poor Cincy run defense. Detroit is heavily favored this week on the road, and we could get another blowout game script that really favors both of the running backs, similar to what we saw when Detroit poured 52 points on the Bears. Monty is coming off a tough outing against a very good Browns front-seven, but could run rampant this week as he did against the Ravens and Bears. Start him as your RB2 with confidence.
Michael Carter, Cardinals vs. Titans (Adam Koffler)
Carter was signed to the Cardinals' active roster earlier this week after Trey Benson suffered a knee injury in Week 4. Most, including Carter himself, believe he’ll be stepping into a “starting” role in Week 5 with Emari Demercado maintaining his third-down, pass-catching role in the offense. There’s no better time to be the early-down back than against a Titans team allowing a league-most six rushing touchdowns this season. The Cardinals have an implied team total of 24.8 points, and Carter has better odds than Tony Pollard and Quinshon Judkins to score a touchdown this weekend. Fire him up if you’re looking for an RB2 with touchdown upside.
I’m starting Michael Carter this week at home vs. a Titans defense that has allowed a league-high six rushing touchdowns so far this season https://t.co/3E1wMKpcTx
— Adam Koffler (@AdamKoffler) October 2, 2025
Alvin Kamara, Saints vs. Giants (Thunder Dan)
I'm surprised how many start-sit questions I've gotten this week about Kamara. Yes, Kendre Miller is eating into his touches, but Kamara still had 19 touches last week and was productive. There's probably enough production to go around this week as the Saints face the league-worst rush defense in New York. I expect New Orleans to continue to feed their backs as many touches as they can handle, and Kamara's PPR potential is too good to leave on your bench.
Ladd McConkey, Chargers vs. Commanders (Adam Koffler)
I know it’s been tough watching Ladd score in single digits in three consecutive weeks. That comes to an end this week at home vs. a Commanders team allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing slot wide receivers this season. McConkey plays nearly 60% of his snaps from the slot and has a squeaky wheel narrative on his side after catching just one ball for 11 yards in Week 4. I trust that Justin Herbert will look his way early and often this week.
Quinshon Judkins, Browns vs. Vikings (Thunder Dan)
I know the game was early last week, but you all saw Kenneth Gainwell run for nearly 100 yards against this Minnesota front, right? Judkins had a gutsy outing against a much tougher Detroit team and has proven that the preseason hype surrounding him was warranted. With a new QB under center, we could see this Browns offense have some success moving the ball this week against the Vikings, and Judkins will likely be very involved once again, both as a runner and receiver. I think this is Judkins's biggest week of the year so far, so make sure he's in your lineups.
Week 5 Fantasy Football Avoids - Sit 'Em Picks
J.K. Dobbins, Broncos at Eagles (Adam Koffler)
Dobbins eclipsed 100 rushing yards for the first time this season in Week 4, but don’t let it fool you. It was also the first game he was out-touched by rookie RJ Harvey (17 to 18). Prior to Week 4, Harvey hadn’t had more than seven touches in a single game. But last week, his utilization finally matched Dobbins’. Not only that, but he had five targets to Dobbins’ one. Dobbins has just seven targets on 35 routes in four games. He isn’t used very much in the passing game, which could limit his opportunities against a formidable Philadelphia front seven. The Broncos are 3.5-point underdogs in Week 5 with their lowest implied point total of the season. Between fewer scoring opportunities and Harvey becoming much more of a factor in the backfield, Dobbins isn’t anything close to a must-start this week.
Tony Pollard, Titans at Cardinals (Thunder Dan)
Pollard has done everything he can to help this offense this year, but it's completely stuck in the mud. The Titans have an uphill battle this week as the Cardinals' run defense has been solid, and I worry that Pollard gets game-scripted out of this one like he did last week when the Titans were shut out by the Texans and trailed the entire game.
Wan'Dale Robinson, Giants at Saints (Adam Koffler)
Someone’s gotta catch passes for the Giants sans Malik Nabers, right? While true, this team is also going to pound the ball with Cam Skattebo and rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart. The Giants ran 42 times and passed just 20 times in Dart’s debut in Week 4. That included 10 rush attempts with a handful of designed runs for the rookie. That came in a competitive game vs. the Chargers. This week should be another competitive game, as the Giants find themselves as just two-point road underdogs against the Saints. New Orleans also allows the second-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing slot receivers this season (4.8). There are one too many things going against Wan’Dale in Week 5. Sit ‘em.
Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs at Jaguars (Thunder Dan)
This Kansas City backfield is getting to be a bigger mess with each passing week. Not only was Pacheco out-touched by Hunt 14-9 last week, but we also saw rookie Breshad Smith pick up 7 touches, too, and he has been impressing the coaching staff. You just can't feel good about starting Pacheco this week with this RB situation looking like an ugly three-headed monster for the time being.
Jordan Addison, Vikings vs. Browns (Adam Koffler)
I like Addison; he’s a really good receiver. This just isn’t the best environment for him. Through four games, Browns’ opponents are averaging just 26 pass attempts per game. The Vikings obviously feed Justin Jefferson first, then it’s Addison, T.J. Hockenson, Jalen Nailor, Zavier Scott, and Adam Thielen left to fend for the other targets. There may not be enough to go around for Addison to thrive in Week 5. If not for a busted coverage in Week 4 that led to an 81-yard catch and run, Addison’s stat line would have looked pretty pedestrian. Additionally, the Browns have allowed just the fifth-fewest receptions (39) and eighth-fewest yards (485) to opposing wide receivers this season.
Sean Tucker, Buccaneers at Seahawks (Thunder Dan)
If it were a different matchup, then I might be more interested in Tucker as a FLEX play, but the Bucs are facing a solid Seattle defense that has limited opposing run games all season. The Tampa back that you can play this week is Rachaad White, who is more likely to get more touches and the high-value receptions. Keep Tucker on your benches, and you still may get a chance to deploy him next week against San Francisco if Bucky Irving's injury lingers.
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