Week 5 NFL Matchups Analysis: Start/Sit for Fantasy Football (Part 1)

Welcome to Week 5 of NFL and fantasy football action, RotoBallers. Each week of the NFL season, we will be breaking down each of the NFL matchups and providing you with some fantasy football advice and lineup recommendations based on matchups that we love, matchups that we hate, and some high-risk/high-reward players, as well.

Below, you will find our Week 5 NFL matchups & fantasy football start/sit analysis, which should hopefully help you prepare your lineups to win this week. It’s essential to analyze the weekly NFL matchups to find lineup sleepers and gems, while also avoiding those players who may turn out to be busts.

And of course you can always stop by the RotoBaller chat rooms for any live advice you may need.

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) fantasy football rankings
• Tight end (TE) fantasy football rankings
• Quarterback (QB) fantasy football rankings
• FLEX fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• Kicker (K) fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Vikings @ Packers - Thursday 10/2 @ 8:25 EST

Matchups We Love

Randall Cobb - Cobb's already tied for most receiving touchdowns in the league, and he's been one of the Packers most targeted players in the red zone. Captain Munnerlyn, the Vikings main slot corner, has already let up two touchdowns to receivers in the slot.

Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon - First things first: this isn't a call to start McKinnon. But if you have to start him, this isn't the worst team for him to be up against. Although both players are looking at a fierce competition for carries, this matchup has the opportunity to give both of them the yards they deserve.

Matchups We Hate

Vikings Defense - The only argument you need to sit this defense is that they're playing against Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb.

Notable Players

Eddie Lacy - This is a good week for Lacy to have his bounceback. He's going up against an average run defense and has his offensive line at nearly full strength. He failed to put together a good impression against the Bears, so this is probably the last chance most owners are going to give him, and I don't blame them.

Packers Defense - If Bridgewater isn't starting, this defense becomes a must-start.

Bears @ Panthers - Sunday 10/5 @ 1:00 EST

Matchups We Love

Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall - The loss of Greg Hardy has really killed the Panthers pass rush, and as a result, their corners are being regularly exposed. Coming off of a week where Steve Smith hung 150 yards and two TDs on them, they find themselves up against Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall. This is going to be another struggle for the Panthers.

Jay Cutler - Speaking of Cutler's wideouts, the quarterback himself is in a great situation this week. The Panthers defense is going to have trouble keeping up, especially considering the aforementioned lack of pass rush and pass coverage.

Matt Forte - Panthers have allowed the sixth-most rushing yards per game to this point in the season, permitting 5.7 yards per carry. What else needs to be said?

Greg Olsen - The Bears linebackers have allowed over 250 yards in the last four games with their coverage. They'll be tasked with handling Greg Olsen this week. If it turns out that the Bears put that duty on their safeties, note that they haven't done any better, allowing almost 200 yards and two touchdowns.

Matchups We Hate

Panthers Running Backs - Whether it's Darrin Reaves, Fozzy Whittaker, or a hobbled Jonathan Stewart, you'd have to be desperate to start a Carolina running back this week. The Bears have been average in every way possible against the run, but this weak group of players could make them look like an elite rushing defense.

Notable Players

Kelvin Benjamin - The two starting outside corners on the Bears are 5'8'' and 6'0''. Kelvin Benjamin currently owns at least 30% of Cam Newton's targets, receptions and yards. Although Chicago's corners have been up and down so far, Benjamin's stock has been rising since preseason-- there's no reason to sit him this week.

Cam Newton - His main two targets have great matchups. Both teams lack solid quality corners for their matchups. So far, i've been two-for-seven on predicting these shootouts, but this is another game where I've just got to go in that direction.  Cam's got the more difficult matchup, but he's got the talent to make this work, even if he can't run like he used to.

Browns @ Titans - Sunday 10/5 @ 1:00 EST

Matchups We Love

Bishop Sankey - Jake Locker must be so upset that he's missing a matchup that he could so easily take advantage of. Without him here, there are no other players that you can depend on this week. Fortunately, that boosts Sankey's value slightly against one of the worst run defenses in the league. He is a better play than the other Tennessee running backs Shonn Greene and Dexter McCluster.

Matchups We Hate

Jordan Cameron - The Titans defense has good coverage from both their linebackers and safeties. It'll be hard for an injured Cameron to truly take advantage of a situation that a healthy Cameron would be at least neutral with.

Notable Matchups

Kendall Wright, Justin Hunter and Delanie Walker - These players all have solid matchups, but there's no way to recommend any of them as must-starts in a situation where Charlie Whitehurst might still be starting. If Locker does return this week, they all become must-plays.

Rams @ Eagles - Sunday 10/5 @ 1:00 EST

Matchups We Love

LeSean McCoy - The Rams run defense has allowed the third-most rushing yards in the league this season, and there is not a single player in their front seven who has been playing well against the run. It's a matchup made in heaven for McCoy, and the perfect opportunity to bounce back from a disappointing week. Darren Sproles is a solid start for PPR leagues as well.

Brian Quick - The Eagles passing defense has been brutally incompetent this season, and their outside corners have been a huge reason for that.  Quick has received 25% of his teams passing targets and owns 30% of the passing yardage. He's got great WR2 potential this week in PPR leagues.

Matchups We Hate

There isn't much shutdown potential in this matchup.

Notable Players

Zac Stacy - The Philadelphia run defense has let up a lot of yards, but they've actually played the run decently.  They've been about average in yards per carry allowed, and they have one of the top 10 run defenses in the league (per PFF). Stacy has what is right now one of the best run-blocking lines in the league, so this matchup could be neutralized and perhaps even in Stacy's favor.

Austin Davis - Not that I'd tell you that you should start Davis over some obviously better players, but if you're looking for a streaming option, Davis has some risky upside. The key word here is "risky."

Jeremy Maclin - I wouldn't shy away from Maclin and Nick Foles this week. Jordan Matthews, Riley Cooper are much riskier starts though. Zach Ertz is a decent start but has been a bit too inconsistent to depend on, he's more over a low end TE1.

Falcons @ Giants - Sunday 10/5 @ 1:00 EST

Matchups We Love

Rashad Jennings - The Falcons have allowed the fifth-most rushing yards and the most rushing touchdowns in the league. Rashad Jennings is in no danger of being pulled for Andre Williams in a game that should remain competitive for all 60 minutes.

Larry Donnell - Atlanta's starting safeties have allowed 270 yards, and their main coverage linebacker has allowed another 170. Although no touchdowns have been let up yet, with that much yardage, they're due to give up a score or two.

Matchups We Hate

Giants Defense and Falcons Defense - I wouldn't take my chances with either this week.  The Falcons have one of the best offenses in the league, and the Giants have been one of the most (surprisingly) efficient. This might not be an incredibly high-scoring game, but it has the potential to be.

Notable Players

Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and Roddy White - All three players have tough matchups, but given their respective skill levels, there isn't too much reason to worry this week. I'd start any of the three with confidence.

Buccaneers @ Saints - Sunday 10/5 @ 1:00 EST

Matchups We Love

Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans - I really don't want to put Jackson here, but I don't know how I could avoid it. The Saints defense has been terrible against passing offenses, but unfortunately so has Jackson. Still, the talent is there, and maybe this is the week he comes back. Evans has been getting better and more involved in the offense. He might make a decent case for a flex play this week.

Doug Martin - There's nothing about the Saints run defense that looks good right now. Doug Martin has one of the easiest matchups in the league this week, and his owners should be seeing an easy 100+ total yards. Bobby Rainey is an afterthought right now.

Jimmy Graham - Does Graham ever have a bad matchup? The answer is no, and to make things better, this week Graham faces Tampa Bay and some of the worst cover corners in the league.  The bucs also have two of the worst cover safeties and linebackers. No matter where Graham's lined up this week, he should be destroying his opponent.

Drew Brees - He's going up against one of the worst passing defenses in the league. There's no reason to shy away.

Matchups We Hate

Buccaneers Defense and Saints Defense - I'm calling it: this game twill be a shootout. Glennon's a reckless quarterback who can throw a deep ball. Brees is an elite quarterback who moves the ball with ease. Expect the most out of this game, and the least out of the defenses.

Notable Players

Brandin Cooks and Marques Colston - Starting either one of these players is a bit of a leap of faith. It's hard to know who will get the usage or whether either will see enough looks to justify a starting spot. If you must start them, take solace in knowing that at least the matchup is great.

Texans @ Cowboys - Sunday 10/5 @ 1:00 EST

Matchups We Love

DeMarco Murray - Right now, I'd take Murray over pretty much anybody. Up against a run defense allowing the ninth-most yards in the league, with no player in their front seven outside of JJ Watt playing well? Oh, yes, definitely.

Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins - Few corners have been as bad as Brandon Carr this season. Whichever one of these two players ends up going against Carr is bound to beat him every single time.

Matchups We Hate

Houston Defense - They can barely stop the run and they've yet to face a passing threat like the Cowboys. There's nothing good to be had here.

Notable Players

Tony Romo and Dez Bryant - As above, the Texan's have yet to face a passing threat like the Cowboys. There's nothing to say that they're prepared to stop the Bryant/Romo duo. I have them both in my top 10 this week. Terrance Williams is a solid option too, and Jason Witten really isn't looking great right now. If you have a better option at tight end, I'd consider it instead.

Arian Foster - He is still nursing an injury, and was extremely ineffective this week. If he plays he's a low end FLEX/RB2 at best right now. If he doesn't, Alfred Blue would be the starting running back and be a decent FLEX/RB2 option.