
Fantasy football rankings - updated Week 5 FLEX (RB, WR, TE) rankings for 2025. Read the top-accuracy fantasy football PPR FLEX rankings.
Given all the injuries and bye weeks affecting Week 5 lineups, deciding between similar players at different positions for your FLEX spot will be a challenge. We're here to help with our updated Week 5 fantasy football FLEX rankings for 2025. In the ranking below, find out where notable RBs, WRs, and TEs such as Darius Slayton, Wan'Dale Robinson, Elic Ayomanor, Keenan Allen, Jordan Mason, Rico Dowdle, Jordan Addison, Juwan Johnson, and more stand among all others.
Our FLEX fantasy football rankings for Week 5 are put together by Nick Mariano. Below the rankings, you will also find key fantasy football outlooks from our RotoBaller staff, as well as the "Who to Start?" tool. Also, be sure to check our fantasy football news for this week. There are always key injuries and developments to keep track of, so check back throughout the week for updates.
Be sure to bookmark our fantasy football rankings portal and check back regularly for updates. Most importantly, our free mobile app is a must-have - download it and configure your push notifications. We deliver all the top NFL news, injuries, and fantasy analysis 24x7 with our free push notification alerts... all for free!
Editor's Note: Stay on top of your draft prep with RotoBaller’s fantasy football rankings, featuring expert analysis, ADPs, and draft insights for both PPR and non-PPR leagues.
Week 5 FLEX Rankings for Fantasy Football
Bookmark our PPR rankings, Half-PPR rankings, and standard (non-PPR) rankings
Week 5 FLEX Rankings Outlooks
Luke McCaffrey, Washington Commanders
Washington Commanders wide receiver Luke McCaffrey will have another opportunity for more playing time in Week 5. Washington continues to deal with multiple injuries at wide receiver, with Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) and Noah Brown (groin) both ruled out again for Sunday. McCaffrey has now scored touchdowns in back-to-back games without those two players, finding the end zone for the first time in his career on a 43-yard catch and run against the Raiders in Week 3.
The second-year wideout, however, hasn't run a high number of routes in any game this season, despite injuries to the top of Washington's receiver room. He ran a season high of just 13 routes this past week against Atlanta. That signals that the coaching staff prefers not to use him on the outside, as journeyman receiver Chris Moore stepped into that role and ran close to a full number of routes against Atlanta. McCaffrey's role could expand this week against a stingy Chargers defense, but he's likely only playable in deeper leagues.
Darius Slayton, New York Giants
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton enters Week 5 as a high-upside, boom-or-bust flex option with an expanded role in the offense. Following the season-ending injury to Malik Nabers, Slayton now steps in as the clear WR2 and primary deep threat for rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart.
While his season statistics are modest, ranking him as the WR78, his 15.0 yards per reception average highlights his ability to make big plays. This week, he faces a Saints defense that has been vulnerable to explosive plays, having allowed the second-most passing touchdowns (9) in the league, making them the 19th-friendliest defense to fantasy wide receivers and creating a perfect opportunity for Slayton to connect on a long score.
Wan'Dale Robinson, New York Giants
New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson is one of the week's most intriguing fantasy plays following the season-ending injury to Malik Nabers. Now the primary target for rookie QB Jaxson Dart, Robinson, who already ranks as the WR29, will see a significant volume increase from his already impressive 27 targets and 76% snap share.
He faces a New Orleans Saints secondary that presents a favorable matchup for a team's top option. While the Saints are 13th in passing yards allowed, they have been susceptible to scoring, giving up the second-most passing touchdowns (9) in the NFL and ranking 19th against fantasy wide receivers.
Elic Ayomanor, Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Elic Ayomanor has been one of the few bright spots for this offense through four games. The Titans' offense has had a tough start to the season. However, Ayomanor has been decent with 12 receptions for 151 yards and two touchdowns through four games.
The rookie wideout saw seven targets last week, but only hauled in two of them for 44 yards. The Titans' offense is a complete mess, but Ayomanor has good upside. He should be in the conversation as a flex option for the upcoming Week 5 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.
Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers running back and former Dallas Cowboy, Rico Dowdle, is set to be the lead back in the Panthers' backfield in Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins, with Chuba Hubbard (calf) ruled out for Week 5.
Hubbard is considered week-to-week, so Dowdle isn't expected to be a hot commodity for a season-long play, but he immediately rises in the Week 5 ranks and becomes a top-25 running back against the Dolphins defense, which allows the seventh most fantasy points to the running back position.
Dowdle is no slouch either; last year with the Cowboys, he accumulated 1,328 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns. Rookie running back Trevor Etienne becomes the team's RB2 and should also be in line for additional carries.
Who Should I Start Tool
Not sure who to start? Check out the Who Should I Start tool:
Compare up to four players and we'll tell you who to start...

Who Should I Start? Who Should I Sit? Some common Week 5 fantasy football lineup decisions are regarding FLEX options like Darius Slayton, Wan'Dale Robinson, Elic Ayomanor, Keenan Allen, Jordan Mason, Rico Dowdle, Jordan Addison, Juwan Johnson. But not to worry, we are here to help make these decisions and build winning lineups in Week 5.
Week 5 Player Decisions. 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.
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, 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:
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Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.