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Dave's quarterback start 'em, sit 'em picks for fantasy football Week 5 lineups (2025). Read his expert QB start/sit advice for Trevor Lawrence, Justin Herbert, Bo Nix, others.
We have reached Week 5 of the 2025 NFL season. That means bye weeks have begun, and it's time for fantasy managers to start planning accordingly.
As we approach the heart of the fantasy football season, gamers will need to stay on top of their lineups as each decision gets magnified the closer we get to the fantasy playoffs. That is especially true at the quarterback position. If you need a starter this week, we'll do our best to recommend some viable streaming candidates as well as a few signal-callers you may want to avoid.
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Week 5 Starts - Potential Fantasy Football Booms
Justin Fields - QB, New York Jets vs. Dallas Cowboys
Fields had a strong performance last week in his first game back following a concussion. He threw for 226 passing yards and a touchdown to go along with 81 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown as well. Fields would finish the week as the overall QB4.
JUSTIN FIELDS TO THE HOUSE
NYJvsMIA on ESPN
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/92RkeGy7qF— NFL (@NFL) September 30, 2025
The Jets now take on a Dallas Cowboys defense that might be the worst in the league. Dallas ranks 32nd in FTN Fantasy’s defensive passing DVOA and has allowed the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks so far this year, per Fantasy Football Today. The Cowboys have also allowed the sixth-most rushing yards to quarterbacks, so this projects as another spot where Fields could amass a ton of yardage with his legs.
This game also has one of the highest projected totals on the Week 5 slate, so we could see both offenses light up the scoreboard. Start Fields as a strong QB1 play this weekend.
C.J. Stroud - QB, Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens
Stroud has struggled to recapture the same form we saw from him as a rookie in 2023. He started to show some signs of life against the lowly Tennessee Titans last week. Houston’s signal-caller has a great chance to keep the momentum rolling this weekend as he takes on a Baltimore Ravens defense that is reeling from several injuries and poor play.
Baltimore surprisingly ranks 24th in defensive passing DVOA and has allowed the second-most passing yards per game. Big plays have come routinely against this defense, and that could mean huge things for Stroud and the Texans' passing game this weekend.
Houston will likely look to attack Baltimore on the ground, too, with its running back duo of Woody Marks and Nick Chubb. However, Stroud could still produce in this scenario and is live to throw multiple touchdowns as Baltimore has allowed nine touchdown passes (tied for second-most in the league) this year.
Consider Stroud a fine streaming candidate in single quarterback leagues and a strong QB2 play in superflex formats.
Justin Herbert - QB, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Washington Commanders
Herbert was a massive bust against the Giants last week. He only threw for 203 passing yards, one touchdown, and tossed two picks on the day to finish as the overall QB20.
Intercepted by Dru Phillips!
LACvsNYG on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXnxV pic.twitter.com/S2zClQejKv
— NFL (@NFL) September 28, 2025
That was a tough pill for gamers to swallow, but Herbert has a perfect get-right spot in front of him in Week 5. Los Angeles takes on the Washington Commanders, and the Washington defense has continued to struggle against opposing quarterbacks in 2025. The Commanders have allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks and are coming off a game where they were absolutely torched by Michael Penix Jr. and the Atlanta Falcons offense.
Washington also ranks 25th in defensive passing DVOA and 32nd in PFF's pass coverage grade. If the Chargers' offensive line can give Herbert more time to throw this weekend, then he should post a bounce-back performance.
Start Herbert as a fringe QB1 play in single quarterback leagues and high-end QB2 play in two quarterback formats.
Jaxson Dart - QB, New York Giants at New Orleans Saints
Dart burst onto the scene against the Chargers last weekend. He didn’t light the world on fire as a passer, but did have 54 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown to finish the week as the overall QB11.
Jaxson Dart takes it in himself for the TD!
LACvsNYG on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXnxV pic.twitter.com/uO4uK3jxvO
— NFL (@NFL) September 28, 2025
Unfortunately, Dart lost his WR1, Malik Nabers, for the season due to a torn ACL. However, this week could be a good opportunity to improve upon his 111 passing yards from Week 4, as the Saints only rank 29th in defensive passing DVOA.
New Orleans has also allowed the sixth most points to opposing signal-callers this year. Throw in the fact that Dart offers a safe floor due to his legs, and this looks like another good spot to start the Giants' rookie.
Get Dart in lineups while you can because the schedule for New York gets a lot tougher over the next few games. For now, though, consider Dart a fine streamer for Week 5.
Week 5 Sits - Potential Fantasy Football Busts
Bo Nix - QB, Denver Broncos vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Nix is coming off his best game of the season Monday night against the Cincinnati Bengals. He threw for 326 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and scored a rushing touchdown, too. As a result, he would finish the week as the overall QB5.
Despite the nice stat line, Nix threw his fourth interception of the season in as many games. There are still too many moments where Nix is unnecessarily throwing off-platform and putting the football in harm’s way. Denver’s Week 5 opponent, the Philadelphia Eagles, could really punish Nix if he has a few more of those moments this weekend. Philadelphia has also allowed just five passing touchdowns this season and ranks ninth in PFF’s pass coverage grade.
Nix has had some good moments mixed in with a lot of shaky play this season. Denver may have trouble running the football in this game, and that would put a lot of pressure on Nix to perform against an elite defense.
Gamers should consider leaving Nix on their bench in favor of other options.
Trevor Lawrence - QB, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Lawrence only has one finish inside the top-12 this season. He has struggled with turnovers and consistency, and looks like he is still adjusting to Liam Coen’s offense.
Week 5 doesn’t look like the time he will put it all together, as the Chiefs are eighth in defensive passing DVOA and allow the eighth fewest passing yards per game in the league. We could also see Jacksonville rely on its ground game here, and that would mean fewer opportunities for Lawrence. There’s also the possibility that this game morphs into a defensive battle where scoring opportunities are limited.
That all makes Lawrence a fade this week. Gamers should look elsewhere if they need a streamer.
Carson Wentz - QB, Minnesota Vikings at Cleveland Browns
We got the full Carson Wentz experience in Week 4 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. At times, he looked like a world beater. At others, he showed zero internal clock/pocket presence, and it reminded everyone why he phased out as a starter. Still, Wentz threw for 350 yards and two touchdowns to finish Week 4 as the overall QB9.
This week, though, Wentz will face a Browns defense that is among the best in the league. Cleveland ranks second in total defensive DVOA and has allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.
This is a tricky game to handicap as Minnesota could struggle to gain traction offensively on the ground and through the air. With Dillon Gabriel making his first career start for Cleveland, it’s easy to see this game devolving into a defensive slugfest where both teams are exchanging punts and battling for field position. Minnesota will also be down multiple starting offensive linemen, and that will also hurt Wentz's outlook.
Even though the Browns were just destroyed 34-10 by the Detroit Lions, they held Jared Goff to just 168 passing yards. We could see similar things from Wentz this weekend, and that makes him a sit.
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