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Should I start Darren Waller, Juwan Johnson, Brenton Strange for Week 5? Fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks and recommendations for the 2025 NFL season.
Every year, there are a few tight ends who come out of nowhere to surprise us. This season, Darren Waller, Juwan Johnson, and Brenton Strange are all names that weren't high on draft boards but have popped early on.
They weren't hyped as must-starts in the preseason, more so hyped as under-the-radar sleepers. Now, Waller's finally back on the field, Johnson has been carving out a larger role, and Strange is quietly posting steady numbers.
The question is whether they maintain this going forward. Matchups are essential, and Week 5 brings some challenges that'll test these TEs. Let's take a look at the contests to see which of these tight ends should be in your starting lineup.
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Should I Start Darren Waller for Fantasy Football?
It had been almost two years since Waller last saw the field, and he quickly made an impact. He recorded three catches for 27 yards and two touchdowns on just 16 snaps. Those are impressive statistics considering the limited work.
That kind of efficiency won't happen each week, but it is encouraging to know his role should increase. Waller told reporters his snap count is in for a boost moving forward. His limited participation in practice this week is concerning, but it appears to be more maintenance-related than anything else.
Already making an impact 💪 pic.twitter.com/kYdbgGcINi
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) September 30, 2025
This week's contest with Carolina is a reason for optimism as the Panthers have surrendered the second-most receiving yards to tight ends this season (285 yards on 21 receptions). Additionally, they've given up two touchdowns to the position.
While a repeat of the two-TD performance is unlikely, Waller still gets the nod as a strong start this week. He's essentially functioning as the WR2 in Miami's offense behind Jaylen Waddle (with Tyreek Hill (knee) out). His size and athleticism make him the perfect red zone target and streaming candidate. He's one of the better players who could still be available in your league.
Should I Start Juwan Johnson for Fantasy Football?
It's been a brilliant start to the year for Johnson, despite a down performance in Week 4. He's registered 204 receiving yards through four matchups (seventh among tight ends), and ranks fourth at the position in red zone targets.
Last week against Buffalo, he had a down game, catching just three passes for 28 yards. But even with the dip, he has been a reliable second option in the Saints' passing attack behind WR Chris Olave.
JUWAN JOHNSON, WHAT A CATCH! 🔥
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/RZ828fjZs8
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 14, 2025
This week's game against the Giants sets up nicely for Johnson, as they have struggled against the pass. Facing tight ends, they've been middle of the pack, but they've conceded the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers. That opens up space for Johnson as the defense looks to slow down Olave.
Johnson won't blow up every week, but his role in the New Orleans offense is secure enough to make him a low-end TE1 in this one. He's a bounce-back candidate that deserves a spot in your starting lineup unless you're stacked at the position.
Should I Start Brenton Strange for Fantasy Football?
Volume has been encouraging for Strange managers this season as the tight end has posted back-to-back seven-target contests. In his most current outing, he caught six passes for 45 yards. The floor is safe with Strange, averaging 45.5 receiving yards per matchup and leading his squad with 182 receiving yards.
His ceiling could be an issue in Week 5. Strange has yet to score this season, and he's facing a brutal matchup for tight ends in the Chiefs. Kansas City has conceded the fourth-fewest fantasy points to the position while allowing the third-fewest targets, and they've yet to allow a TD to a tight end.
Brenton Strange (Rank among TEs)
19 Receptions (T-5th)
182 Yards (T-9th)
3 Contested Catches (T-4th)
6 Missed Tackles (2nd)
+11.5 Total EPA (3rd) pic.twitter.com/hhC6renhVe— Daniel Griffis (@DanDGriffis) September 30, 2025
It's tough sledding for a tight end who hasn't found the end zone this season. The matchup drags Strange down to a high-end TE2 this week instead of a TE1 you can trust.
Consider sitting the tight end in Week 5 unless you're desperate in deeper leagues. Oh, and it's a Monday night game. You really don't want to be stuck relying on Strange to bail you out if your team is trailing.
Who Should I Start Tool
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Who Should I Start? Who Should I Sit? Some common Week 5 fantasy football lineup decisions are regarding players like Darren Waller, Juwan Johnson, Brenton Strange. But not to worry, we are here to help make these decisions and build winning lineups in Week 5. Set your optimal fantasy football lineups for Week 5 of the 2025 NFL season. Our free Who Should I Start? tool will help make your fantasy football lineup decisions. Compare up to four NFL players, and we tell you who to start... all free! Get your winning lineups set, and make the right decisions.
Week 5 Player Decisions. Today's focus is on specific players - Darren Waller, Juwan Johnson, Brenton Strange. These are some of the most common searches for fantasy football lineups in Week 5.
Using The Tool. This is a simple tool but very powerful. The first step is to enter the player names that you want to compare. In the first box, search for the first player's name. In the second box, search for the second player's name. Compare up to four NFL players at once, and then click the Who To Start? button to see who the recommended starts are based on weekly fantasy football matchups.
Improvements For Who Should I Start? You may have noticed, our Who Should I Start? tool has gotten an overhaul. We've added lots of great features for you to give you as much information as possible to win your fantasy football matchups each week. You'll see NFL player tiles with headshots and bye weeks, enhanced search results with data to compare, and a slick new interface. We hope you enjoy!
How It Works. Each week, our RotoBaller staff puts together their weekly fantasy football rankings and projections based on their research. That information is the core data that is powering the decision-making in this tool. When you search for player names, you will only see those players who are ranked. If someone is out for the week, they will not appear in the search results.
Scoring Formats. Fantasy football managers play in various types of leagues, and this tool allows you to choose whether it's PPR scoring, Half-PPR scoring, or Standard (Non-PPR) scoring. The second thing you want to do is to select the scoring format. There are three small radio buttons (small circles), so click on the scoring format you prefer. The results may vary based on the scoring format you select.
Popular Week 5 Searches. Curious to see some tough lineup decisions for Week 5 (2025)? Below you will find a list of some popular Who Should I Start? searches that RotoBaller readers are looking at this week. Click any of the links to see the result and recommendation.
Popular Week 5 Searches - Start/Sit Player Comparisons
Below are some popular Week 5 searches and comparisons from our 'Who To Start' tool for Darren Waller, Juwan Johnson, Brenton Strange compared to others:
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