Week 5 is here, and just when you thought the injuries couldn’t stack up any higher… they did. Fantasy rosters are already limping after weeks of stars going down, and now we have bye weeks to deal with. Perfect. Fantasy managers are forced to duct-tape lineups together, scrape the waiver wire, and make the toughest Start/Sit decision of the season. Last week, I nailed it, going 4/4 on my Start/Sits. This week, I’m hoping to continue that momentum. Let’s take a closer look at the FootClan’s top lineup questions using the Fantasy Footballers’ Start/Sit tool. Together, we can navigate through the chaos and come out with some victories! Let’s get to work!
Dak Prescott or Drake Maye?
Through four weeks, Dak Prescott leads the league in both pass attempts and passing yards. Last week, he finished as the top fantasy QB, even without CeeDee Lamb and while facing a strong defense. The Cowboys’ struggling defense has made them similar to last year’s Bengals. That means there’s no such thing as garbage time for them since they are always required to score. This constant pressure keeps Dak’s fantasy floor very high. This week, he will be up against the Jets, who rank 19th in fantasy points allowed to QBs. Very middle of the pack.
Drake Maye is the ONLY QB to have 20+ fantasy points each of the last 3 weeks
pic.twitter.com/Uy0Pf9MYtv
— Fantasy Footballers (@TheFFBallers) October 1, 2025
Drake Maye looks every bit like the real deal. With three consecutive Top-10 fantasy finishes and an incredible streak of at least two TD passes in every game, he’s truly making a name for himself. This week, he gets a primetime test against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football. The matchup is tough. The Bills are allowing the fewest passing yards per game. But there’s a crack in the armor: QBs have been able to run on them. Three have already gone for 49+ yards on the ground, which sets up perfectly for Maye’s dual-threat ability.
Verdict: Dak leads the NFL in pass attempts and yards through four weeks, and he just finished as the QB1 without CeeDee Lamb against one of the league’s top defenses… You can’t leave him on the bench. Maye gets the tougher matchup, which gives Dak the edge.
Everyone rushed to waivers to add Woody Marks. And now? The Start/Sit Tool has been flooded with Woody Marks‘ decisions. It is October, so why don’t we do this:
*Cue spine-chilling music* Are you ready to play a game? I present to you: Woody Marks or…
Woody Marks or Jordan Mason?
Marks exploded last week with 119 total yards and two TDs, earning NFL Rookie of the Week honors. He logged 17 carries and four catches in a blowout win. This week’s matchup is even better. The Ravens are giving up the most fantasy points to RBs, ranking bottom five in both rushing and receiving yards allowed to the position. Mark’s dual-threat role makes him a strong RB2 with upside in Week 5. He’s Andy’s RB Start of the Week.
Week 3 had Jordan Mason owners hyped after he rushed for 116 yards and two TDs against the Bengals. Week 4… Mason owners were left less than thrilled after he faced an actual defense in the Steelers. Mason was only about to get 57 yards on the ground and was held without a TD. This week’s matchup? Brutal. The Browns are an absolute defensive unit. They allow the fewest yards in the NFL to the position (70.3 yards per game). They don’t offer a reprieve anywhere. Mason should still see volume, but with Minnesota’s banged-up offensive line and the tough matchup, he’s a risky play. Betz has already bet his rushing under.
Verdict: Start Woody Marks with confidence. Mason belongs on your bench this week.
Woody Marks or Chase Brown?
Week 5, and we’re still asking if Chase Brown is playable? Preseason me would have found that amusing, but here we are! While Brown’s usage is solid (68% snap share, 85% of RB carries), the offense is completely broken without Burrow. Brown has paid for that. Now he gets the Lions as a 10.5-point underdog. Detroit’s been stingy against the run, and while they’ve let a top-24 RB sneak by each week, it’s hard to trust this offense to keep that streak alive.
Verdict: Woody Marks gets the nod over Brown. Give me zero pieces of this Bengals’ offense, please.
David Montgomery or Woody Marks?
Week 4 was a dud for David Montgomery: nine carries for just 12 yards in the Lions’ 34-10 win over Cleveland. But Clevand, as I mentioned above, does that to opposing RBS. It was a rare game where Montgomery didn’t get much going, failing to reach 20 rushing yards for only the third time in his 32 games with Detroit. But it’s not time to panic, Week 5 sets up as a prime rebound spot. He’s one of Jason’s “Starts of the Week” for good reason. Detroit is favored by 10.5 with the highest implied team total of the week (30), and the Bengals’ run defense has been… well, exploitable. They rank 6th in yards before contact allowed, 2nd in missed tackles forced, and are tied for the most yards after missed tackles. Detroit should control the game, which means Montgomery should get plenty of touches.
Verdict: Start David Montgomery. Detroit is a 10.5-point favorite with a high implied total, and the Bengals’ run defense is weak. Put Week 4 behind you and fire him up.
Darren Waller or Juwan Johnson?
Last week, Waller kicked off his comeback tour on a high note. Straight out of retirement (and the recording studio), he scored two TDs despite only playing 16 snaps and getting four targets. The Dolphins lose Tyreek Hill for the season after a brutal knee injury. Talks of Waller getting increased work are already rumbling. Waller told the Miami Herald that he can “handle a jump in his snap count in Sunday’s game against the Panthers.” He’s another one of Jason’s Starts of the Week, and the matchup would be perfect for Waller to shine. As he points out, “The Panthers are a bottom-tier defense vs. TEs, ranking 26th in fantasy points allowed and giving up the 2nd-most yards to the position (70+ per game).”
Juwan Johnson has been one of the most consistent TEs to start the season, putting up multiple top 5 TE performances through the first two weeks. However, Week 4 wasn’t as pretty. He managed just 4.3 fantasy points against the Bills. The dip in production could have been influenced by a minor ankle issue, which has carried over into this week. Johnson has been limited in practice due to the ankle, but as of now, he doesn’t have a game status on the latest report. Despite the injury concerns, the matchup is favorable. The Saints face the Giants, a team that has struggled against TEs this season, ranking second-worst in fantasy points allowed at the position. Johnson is primed for bounce-back production if he suits up. The upside is clearly there, given the matchup and his role in the offense, but the ankle injury does add some risk. Keep an eye on the latest injury updates.
Verdict: As much as I love Darren Waller, Juwan Johnson‘s utilization and the easy matchup are hard to ignore. If he continues to stay limited in practice or is a game-time decision, I’d pivot to Waller. If he’s full go, you stick with Juwan.
Fantasy football is an exhilarating ride full of surprises! If you’re going to weather the storm, you’ve got to put yourself in the best spot to win. You gotta nail those Start/Sit choices. Forget who you drafted early; that sneaky waiver wire gem might steal the show. Be sure to examine opportunities and matchups to identify who’s actually trending upward. Stumped on a lineup decision? Feel free to hit me up on X or catch Mike live Sunday morning before kickoff. Let’s roll, beg the fantasy gods for mercy, and snag that Week 5 W!
from Fantasy Footballers Podcast https://ift.tt/gTvitfZ
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