Key Starters and Tough Calls - Lineup Spotlights for Week 5

Scott Engel provides Week 5 fantasy football lineups analysis, spotlighting key NFL players to start and tougher lineup start/sit decisions to make.

Welcome to Week 5, RotoBallers! Below you will find some of my spotlight choices and players to go with when faced with tough lineup decisions in Week 5 of the fantasy football season.

These are based off my Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings, available as part of the RotoBaller's NFL Premium Pass. Enter promo code KING at checkout for a 10% discount and get access to all of my ranks in all formats, plus a full roster of tools and analysis for the entire 2019 season.

Skill position picks here are based on PPR ranks.

• 2025 fantasy football rankings (redraft)
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings
• 2025 NFL rookie fantasy football rankings
• Best ball fantasy football rankings
• Quarterback fantasy football rankings
• Running back fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
• Tight end fantasy football rankings

Spotlight Running Backs for Week 5

Antonio Gibson: He had a career-high 128 scrimmage yards (82 rec, 46 rush) and a rush TD last week. Gibson is one of two NFL RBs (James Robinson) with 250-plus scrimmage yards (284) and three TDs in 2020. I have to admit that he has become more of an immediate contributor than I though he would be. Gibson has already vaulted into must-start territory as a RB2. He is the only RB to rush for a score vs. the Ravens this year. I recommend starting him regardless of matchup.

Kenyan Drake: You have to give him one more chance this week as he faces the Jets. New York ranks 25^th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to running backs. The Cardinals may want to get him going in a very friendly matchup. Drake may still get goal-line chances stolen away by Kyler Murray and Chase Edmonds, but he is capable of scoring from 10-plus yards out when he is displaying his better form. Drake is ideally used as a flex play and give him the edge one more time in a close lineup call.

Joshua Kelley: He is not going to dominate the carries, as Kelley must show he can hold onto the football. The rookie has fumbled in two consecutive games. Kelley has flashed his potential already, though, as he has 258 scrimmage yards this season. Justin Jackson will get his share of the touches but both are flex plays. This game will be a proving ground for Kelley to see how dependable he can be. The Chargers certainly have to like the spark he has played with at times. An opportunity to show he deserves a bigger share of the touches could spur a good performance.

D'Ernest Johnson: He was one of the hottest waiver wire adds this past week and should spell Kareem Hunt at times. But you should temper expectations for now and see what his true role should be first. Reserve Johnson for this week if you can. Hunt is looking like a major threat to defenses and could take on a major portion of the RB workload for the Browns. He leads the AFC with five TDs. The Colts are fourth-best in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to RBs and Johnson is unproven.

Spotlight Wide Receivers for Week 5

Robby Anderson: Another example of a player who fares better after he leaves Adam Gase, Anderson has 28 catches and two 100-yard games, plus a 99-yard outing. Teddy Bridgewater has been more aggressive throwing downfield than many expected, and Anderson is also stepping up in situations that call for high percentage catches. The Panthers take on the Falcons this week, and Anderson could explode for his best game yet with Carolina.

Deebo Samuel: Now that he has one game in the 2020 bank after returning in Week 4, you should feel comfortable about starting Samuel as a WR3 again. Jimmy Garoppolo also returns this week, which only helps Samuel’s outlook. Miami ranks 25^th in FFPG allowed to WRs. If you have been patiently been waiting to activate Samuel again, you can get him back into your lineup and enjoy the results.

Golden Tate: Samuel may emerge as one of the premier yardage-after-the-catch wide receivers in the game, but Tate has long been one of the best in that regard. Entering this season, only Michael Thomas had more yardage after the catch since 2017. Tate still has those skills, but has not been able to demonstrate them enough yet this season. Expect to see classic Golden Tate this week in a shootout vs. the Cowboys.

Christian Kirk: This is a deep, daring play that can pay off nicely. Kirk is also worthy of usage as a DFS value this week. The awful Jets secondary is going to be so concerned with DeAndre Hopkins, that other contributors in the passing game will get freed up to make plays. Kirk is overrated in fantasy football and has not met many expectations so far this year, yet this could be a one-week smash spot for him.

The King and Michael Florio's Sleeper and Value Plays for Week 5 

Spotlight Tight Ends for Week 5

Mo Alie-Cox: Trey Burton and Jack Doyle are back in the TE mix in Indianapolis, but it is Alie-Cox who has the most upside and playmaking appeal for Philip Rivers. Like Antonio Gates, Alie-Cox has a basketball background. He has scored in two consecutive games and the Browns allow the fourth-most FFPG to TEs.

Ian Thomas: The matchup with Atlanta is obviously an enticing one. The Falcons have allowed the most FFPG to TEs this season. But Thomas does not have more than two catches or 16 yards in any game so far. Using Thomas may prove to be a risk that does not pay off. He has not shown he can produce much at all so far this year, so do not start him unless you are desperate for a TE plugger. I would take the alternative in most cases in a tight lineup decision involving Thomas.

Spotlight Quarterbacks for Week 5

Joe Burrow: In the current NFL environment, there are no shutdown defenses anymore. Even if the Ravens stifle Burrow early and move out to a big lead, he can potentially pad his totals nicely playing catch-up. Burrow is already looking like a fearless gunner. He is the first rookie QB with 300-plus pass yards in three consecutive games in NFL history. Burrow leads the AFC in completions and passing attempts. He is not a surefire start this week, but don’t assume he will flame out, either. He is still worth Week 5 streaming consideration. Also, the spread on this game is too much to not take advantage of. Cincinnati will cover a 13-point spread. They are better than what that spread advertises and divisional games can be close.

Matt Ryan: He has one TD pass in his past two games and the Panthers are fourth-best in FFPG allowed to QBs. Ryan may not have Julio Jones this week. You should not start him over alternatives such as  Bridgewater, Justin Herbert, Burrow, Gardner Minshew, Jared Goff and Kirk Cousins.

More Weekly Lineup Prep