Key Starters and Tough Calls - Week 5 Lineup Spotlights for Fantasy Football Include Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, C.J. Stroud

October 8, 2023

Scott breaks down his fantasy football lineup starts/sits for Week 5 (2023). He spotlights key NFL players to start, and tougher lineup start/sit decisions.

Welcome back, RotoBallers, to my Week 5 Lineup Spotlights - Key Starters and Tough Calls for fantasy football. Every week, I share some of my favored players to go with when dealing with challenging lineup decisions. These choices are based on my Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings, available as part of the RotoBaller NFL Premium Pass. Enter promo code KING at checkout for a discount and get access to my ranks in all formats, plus a full roster of tools and analysis for the 2023 fantasy football season.

We feature players that you should lean to in tough calls, and guys who may exceed expectations this week are also highlighted, so you can feel even more confident about starting or adding them. Skill position analysis here is based on my PPR rankings.

When considering each player for your lineup, also consult our fantasy football rankings to see exactly where they are positioned when compared to your other possible lineup choices.

Wide Receivers – Fantasy Football Week 5

Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua

The Rams’ superstar makes his long-awaited 2023 season debut in Week 5. Fantasy football players want to know what to expect from Kupp in his first game of the season, and how much Nacau’s production will be adversely affected in a matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Those who roster Kupp should not have any reservations about starting him. Published reports are indicating that he is not expected to be on any snap counts. My personal rule on players coming back from injuries is if the NFL team clears a guy to play without any “pitch count”, then he is cleared for my fantasy lineup. If Kupp was not ready to go, the team would not let him get out on the field or would have at least limited his role, and the Rams have been very careful to not rush Kupp back.

Not worried about Puka Nacua when Cooper Kupp returns and here’s why:

⭐️ Nacua has ran 69.3% of his routes lined up out wide
⭐️ Kupp has ran 65% of his routes from the slot the last 2 years
⭐️ The Rams are running 11-personnel at an 86% rate (2nd highest)
⭐️ Both WRs can feast

— Kyle Lindemann (@LuckIsMadeFF) October 3, 2023

You can lower expectations slightly on Kupp because this is the first time he will see any real game action this season. But he is always capable of delivering quality production, and I still must rank him as a back-end fantasy WR1. I am just not expecting a blowup outing in his first game of the year and will consider it a bonus if that happens.  The Eagles do rank 28^th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to WRs, so the matchup is good enough to anticipate a solid statistical day.

Nacau’s appeal takes an obvious hit with Kupp back, but he should still be regarded as a top-20 WR play for Week 5. Kupp will demand a lot of defensive attention right away, which will naturally help Nacua out, and he can be viewed similarly to other very productive WRs are when playing next to a top No. 1 guy. Nacua may now function as a Tee Higgins or DeVonta Smith type, who work well alongside Ja’Marr Chase and A.J. Brown, respectively. Nacua’s output will naturally dip overall but expect some good statistical spike weeks ahead and at least an adequate fantasy performance in Week 5.

Garrett Wilson

The Jets’ passing game showed signs of achieving respectability behind Zach Wilson in Week 4. Against the Chiefs, the New York QB completed 28 of 39 attempts for two TDs and no interceptions. This week, the Jets get a draw against Denver’s 31^st-ranked pass defense.

It is apparent to even the most casual NFL follower that the best way for Zach Wilson to keep the passing game on a positive path is to get the ball to his top WR. Breece Hall will also reportedly be let free for a bigger workload, further balancing the New York offense. The outlook is improving, and any continued strides forward will be heavily tied to Garrett Wilson, especially in a good matchup.

Garrett Wilson tied a career high with nine receptions in Week 4, and he is on his way to being a must-start fantasy WR2 again if Zach Wilson continues to perform decently. Lock the Jets’ WR into your lineups this week.

Romeo Doubs

Christian Watson is back, and many fantasy players will assume that he will re-emerge as the No. 1 WR for the Packers. But Doubs has been performing well, catching three TD passes so far this season, and he might settle in as a 1A for Jordan Love.

Doubs set career highs with nine catches and 95 yards in Week 4. He is aiming for his third consecutive game with five-plus receptions and 70-plus receiving yards. The Raiders have allowed six TD receptions to WRs, tied for the most in the NFL entering Week 5, so both Watson and Doubs are good starting options as they head into a Monday night matchup with Las Vegas.

Running Backs – Fantasy Football Week 5

Kyren Williams

It is hard to sit Williams based on his production so far. He has already proved to be one of the best waiver pickups of the 2023 season, The Rams RB had a career-high 103 rushing yards and two rushing TDs in Week 4. He is tied for third in the NFL with six scrimmage TDs and is the only player with three games of two-plus TDs in 2023. He has been the consistent drive finisher for a surprising Rams offense that ranks fourth in the NFL.

The matchup, though, signals that Williams may be on the verge of a down fantasy performance in Week 5. The Eagles rank third in rushing yards allowed to RBs and have surrendered only one rushing TD. If Williams disappoints against Philadelphia, and you do not roster him, consider making a trade for the Los Angeles RB after the games are over. In Week 6, the Rams take on the Cardinals, who allow the second-most Fantasy Points Per Game to RBs, and in Week 7, they face the Steelers, who can be exploited by my next recommended RB for this week.

Gus Edwards

There are four teams on byes in Week 5. Fantasy players will be without the statistical services of Kenneth Walker III, Austin Ekeler, Jerome Ford, and Rachaad White. The Tampa Bay RB has not earned regular starting consideration, but not having him as a lineup choice only makes fantasy rosters thinner when mulling over possible starters.

#Ravens Week 4 RB opportunities (carries + targets):

Gus Edwards - 18
Melvin Gordon - 4
Justice Hill - 3

— Jared Smola (@SmolaDS) October 2, 2023

Edwards should function as a quality streamer for Week 5. He led the Ravens’ backfield with 15 rushing attempts in Week 4 and can provide an adequate numerical floor. In his last road meeting with the Steelers, he rushed for 66 yards and is capable of even better production this time. Pittsburgh ranks 31^st in rushing yards allowed to RBs.

Jerick McKinnon

The “revenge game” angle cannot be statistically proven in many cases, but I do lend some credence to intangibles. Having spoken to current and former players, the revenge angle is indeed a real thing. Guys do want to either show up their former organization, or want to trash talk their ex-teammates, and the current teammates will strive to help them perform well.

McKinnon caught nine TD passes last season and already has a two-TD reception outing in 2023.  The Kansas City-Minnesota game has the highest projected point total of the week at 53, and I think McKinnon will do his part in reaching that projected number. Take a shot on the ex-Viking as a fill-in RB or flex option.

Quarterback And Tight End – Fantasy Football Week 5

C.J. Stroud

If you are considering streaming Stroud, the move certainly makes sense. He has two TD passes in three consecutive games. Stroud ranks fourth in the NFL with 1,212 passing yards this season, the second-most ever by a player in his first four career games.

This defense tackles, and tackles with efficiency

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) October 6, 2023

The matchup, though, points to the impressive Texans rookie potentially struggling this week. The Atlanta defense has performed better than many expected or are noticing. The Falcons rank third in passing yards allowed to QBs and have given up only three passing TDs. Matthew Stafford and Jordan Love are examples of QBs I like better as Week 5 streamers.

Zach Ertz

The situation has become pretty unpredictable and anxious at the thinnest position in fantasy football, to the point where I am ranking Ertz as a back-end TE1. The former Eagles star went undrafted in most leagues this season. Yet he remains a reliable option for his QB, as evidenced by three games of six-plus catches and eight-plus targets. Ertz lacks upside, with no TD catches or games of 60 receiving yards yet, but in many cases, owners are just looking for a decent statistical outing, and the 32-year-old can still provide it. The Bengals rank 27^th in FFPG allowed to TEs.

Scott Engel's fantasy and betting analysis is also featured at The Game Day.

More Fantasy Football Analysis