Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings Risers And Fallers: Upgrade Jaylen Waddle, Downgrade Bo Nix

It is time to set our fantasy lineups for the week, and with that in mind, let's follow the data to analyze some of the biggest Week 5 fantasy football rankings risers and fallers in the ranks to help you make those start-sit decisions.

Rankings Risers for Week 5

See below for the biggest risers in my Week 5 fantasy football rankings, sorted by position.

Justin Fields is a top-six QB in Week 5 against Dallas.

Fields has delivered 29.5 and 27.2 fantasy points in his two complete starts in 2025. In those contests, he has averaged 222 yards and one touchdown through the air. Those marks are well above his career average, and the mobile QB has been up to his usual tricks on the ground, averaging 64.5 rushing yards and a touchdown in two complete games.

Fields leads all quarterbacks with at least 100 snaps in designed rush rate (19%) and scramble rate (13%). Fields also ranks No. 1 in share of designed rush attempts inside the five-yard line at 67%, with 0.7 per game.

The Jets carry a healthy team total of 22.5 (12th-highest) per the oddsmakers, but Matthew Freedman's NFL Betting Game Model likes them much more. In the model, New York boasts a juicy 25.3 team total (eighth).

The Cowboys have sanctioned the No. 1 fantasy boost to opposing quarterback rooms at 9.6 points per game. Opponents have enjoyed a 93-yard and 0.9 TD boost through the air over the first four games.

Fields offers the third-highest Xfinity Best ceiling on the slate and also carries strong median and floor projections:

Xfinity Best (ceiling): 33 (3rd)
Median: 19.2 (4th)
Floor: 10.7 (8th)

That is what we call a SMASH PLAY, y'all. Fields moves up the ranks to No. 6.

QB Rapid Fire: Upgrades & Pending News

Jared Goff | Lions: The Lions boast the highest team total on the slate at 30 points as 10.5-point favorites over the Bengals. While this game lines up tremendously for the Lions' ground game, Cincinnati has also coughed up the fourth-largest boost to quarterbacks at 4.2 points per game. Despite entering Week 2 as significant favorites, the Lions threw five passing TDs. Goff is a low-end QB1 in Week 5.
Kyler Murray | Cardinals: Murray gets an upgrade in Week 5 thanks to the fifth-highest team total in the NFL Betting Game Model. However, I am not as bullish as some of my fellow Fantasy Life rankers because Murray has averaged only 16.4 points per game as the QB21. He projects well with the No. 8 Xfinity Best ceiling projection (30.1) and the No. 11 median (17.9)—Murray UPGRADES to low-end QB1 territory.

Cam Skattebo has a massive role—he is a low-end RB1 in Week 5.

Skattebo has averaged 18.6 points over the last two games with Tyrone Tracy exiting Week 3 early and missing Week 4. Last weekend, we saw the rookie fourth-round takeover the backfield with a 75% snap share and a mouth-watering 25 rushing attempts against the Chargers.

The Giants don't carry a big team total, and the Saints' defense has been a neutral matchup against opposing rushing attacks so far. But let me go back to the Utilization: Skattebo has a full-time role and offers game-script insulation—he is the Giants' top option rushing and on pass downs.

Jaxson Dart could snipe a rushing TD, which is annoying, but Skattebo is in a great spot in what should be a competitive game against New Orleans. He projects well across the range of outcomes.

Projection Model (PPR):

Xfinity Best (ceiling): 34.2 (7th)
Median: 16.7 (7th)
Floor: 8.1 (7th)

Skattebo UPGRADES to low-end RB1 territory and offers a significant ceiling in Week 5.

David Montgomery climbs to RB19 against the Bengals.

Montgomery's workload is down versus last season, with Jahmyr Gibbs getting more work.

While that isn't ideal, Montgomery is in a fantastic position in Week 5.

Detroit carries a thirty-point team total (first).
The Lions are 10.5-point favorites (first).
The Bengals provide a 6.1-point boost (fifth) to opposing backfields.

This game could look a lot like Montgomery's 29.4-point blowup in Week 3, where he scored 29.4 fantasy points on only 12 rushes and one target.

Projection Model:

Xfinity Best (ceiling): 27.3 (19th)
Median: 11.8 (20th)
Floor: 5.3 (22nd)

Montgomery UPGRADES to mid-range RB2 status against the Bengals. He should be in most starting lineups.

RB Rapid Fire: Upgrades & Pending News

Breece Hall | Jets: Hall handled a season-high 64% rush share with Braelon Allen knocked out of the game early. With Allen expected to miss Week 5, this backfield will consolidate around Fields, Hall and Isaiah Davis. The Jets sport a juicy team total in the betting model (25.3), and Dallas has allowed the No. 4 boost to opposing RB rooms at 6.6 points per game (PPG). Hall offers the eighth-highest Xfinity Best ceiling (34.1) as a borderline RB1.
Quinshon Judkins | Browns: Judkins will play with a new quarterback in rookie Dillon Gabriel this weekend. That introduces new uncertainty, but it isn't like Joe Flacco has been tearing up the league, averaging only 204 passing yards per game. The oddsmakers don't see much offense for the Browns (15.5-point team total), which hurts Judkins' ceiling. However, the team has morphed into a run-first unit. With Judkins as the starter over the last two games, Cleveland has a -3% dropback rate over expected (DBOE). While Flacco's veteran calls at the line could be missed, the mobility of Gabriel could add more layers to this offense and its new identity. Judkins is a mid-range RB2.
Woody Marks | Texans: Marks took over the RB1 role for the Texans last weekend with 59% of the snaps and exploded in the fantasy box score with 27.9 points. We don't know if Marks is the clear-cut RB1 moving forward, but at a minimum, he has forced an even split between himself and Nick Chubb. The rookie back faces a Ravens defense without multiple key starters that has been vulnerable on the ground. Baltimore has green-lighted the No. 2 fantasy boost to RBs at 7.7 points per game. Marks is a low-end RB1 option in Week 5.
Rachaad White | Buccaneers: With Bucky Irving seeking additional medical opinions on his foot/ankle injury, he seems unlikely to play in Week 5. White is the next man up. Sean Tucker could also get involved, but the team has shown a clear preference for White over Tucker dating back to their postseason push and playoff game last season. So far in 2025, White has outsnapped Tucker 31% to 2%. I expect White to handle well over 50% of the workload with a ceiling closer to 70% on the snaps front—he is a strong option in the pass game. White UPGRADES to mid-range RB2 status. Tucker is a borderline RB3.
Arizona RBs | Cardinals: With Trey Benson headed to IR for at least four weeks, I am expecting a nasty two-to-three-way committee in Arizona. Last weekend, Emari Demercado was the RB2, handling passing down duties behind Benson. Michael Carter played one snap on the final drive, while Bam Knight didn't play despite listing ahead of Carter on the depth chart. Carter is the most well-rounded back of the three options, but Knight has shouldered an early-down workload before as a rookie with the Jets. I prefer to avoid this backfield, but have Carter and DeMercado as RB4 options.

Jaylen Waddle ascends to top-24 status with Tyreek Hill out.

After the loss of Hill in Week 4, Waddle posted a 90% route participation and a team-dominating 38% target share against the Jets. While that is a small sample, Waddle has a long track record of performing without Hill on the field.

Routes with Tyreek Hill from 2022 to 2025 (1,228 routes):

23% target share
2.08 yards per route run (YPRR)
0.42 fantasy points per route

Routes without Hill (267):

22% target share
2.81 YPRR
0.53 fantasy points per route

When a high-end WR1 goes down, we aren't often able to assign most of his workload to a teammate, because targets are talent-driven for the most part. However, in this case, we have another outstanding receiver waiting in the wings who has already proven he can carve out a larger workload without Hill on the field.

Waddle comes in as my WR14 in the projection model and offers an Xfinity Best ceiling of 29 points in PPR formats.

Waddle is a mid-range WR2 option this weekend against the Panthers.

WR Rapid Fire: Upgrades & Pending News

Garrett Wilson | Jets: Yes, I will list a Jet at every position in this article. They are playing the Cowboys, so those are just the rules. Dallas has been the best matchup in the league for WR rooms, giving up a 12.5-point boost. Wilson ranks second in the NFL with a 36% target share. That sounds like a recipe for success—Wilson UPGRADES to top-six status in Week 5.
George Pickens | Cowboys: Pickens could see plenty of Sauce Gardner on Sunday, but this game is too juicy to care much. The Cowboys can't stop anyone on defense, CeeDee Lamb is out and they are a pass-heavy team. Pickens is going to see plenty of opportunities this weekend. Pickens UPGRADES to mid-range WR1 status.
Xavier Worthy | Chiefs: Worthy notched a dominant performance in his first game back with a 24% target share and a 57% air yards share on his way to 17.1 fantasy points. Considering he did that on a 71% route participation, Worthy has room to improve if he gets more playing time. The Chiefs have the sixth-highest team total (25.4) in Freedman's game model, and the Jaguars have supported the No. DvP 4 boost to WR corps at six points per contest. Worthy enters the low-end WR1 chat against Jacksonville.
Quentin Johnston | Chargers: This one is pretty straightforward. Johnston has averaged 19.9 points per game with an 85 Utilization Score. The third-year WR is breaking out despite massive target competition from Keenan Allen and Ladd McConkey. While the targets could eventually level out, the Chargers are a pass-first team (8% DBOE) with a great quarterback. Additionally, this week the Chargers get the fifth-best DvP matchup against the Commanders, who offer a 5.8-point boost. Johnston is a high-end WR2 in Week 5.
Chris Godwin | Buccaneers: Godwin returned to action last week and posted a 91% route participation and a whopping 10 targets (26%). With Mike Evans likely to miss Week 5, the Bucs' passing game should continue to flow through Godwin and Emeka Egbuka. Godwin UPGRADES to borderline WR2 status against the Seahawks.
Jameson Williams | Lions: Williams has been a bust so far in 2025, but he had several near-misses in Week 5 with a season-high 178 air yards. The Lions carry the top team-total on the slate (30) and face a Bengals defense providing the third-largest boost at 6.3 points per game. Williams is a fantastic boom-bust WR3 option this weekend—if you have stuck with him this far, don't give up now, y'all!
Stefon Diggs | Patriots: Diggs notched a season-high 82% route participation and dominated the eye of Drake Maye with a 41% target share. Maye ranks sixth in passing yards per game (247) and needs a WR1 to step up. Diggs UPGRADES to mid-range WR3 territory.
Wan'Dale Robinson | Giants: With Malik Nabers (ACL) out for the season, there is a massive void in the Giants offense. While this offense doesn't have another Nabers, Robinson ranks second on the team in 2025 with a 24% target share after recording a 25% share in 2024. Robinson has a 10.4-yard average depth of target (aDOT) so far this year—up from 5.1 last season. Robinson is a mid-range WR3 against the Saints this weekend.
Isaiah Bond | Browns: The Browns have a bad pass-game matchup (-6.8 DvP boost) and a low team total (15.5), but Bond could play a full-time role with Cedric Tillman out. Bond is a low-end WR5.

TE Rapid Fire: Upgrades & Pending News

Dalton Kincaid | Bills: Kincaid continues to split time with Dawson Knox, but he ranks first on the team with a 21% TPRR. The Bills own a massive team total of 29 points and the Patriots have delivered the No. 3 boost to the tight end position at 3.1 points per game. Kincaid is inside my top-10 this week and offers a sneaky Xfinity Best ceiling of 19.8 points thanks to the game environment.

Rankings Fallers for Week 5

See below for a list of my quick-hitter downgrades for Week 5.

Rapid Fire Downgrades & Pending News:

Bo Nix | QB | Broncos: Nix is the QB20 through the first four games and has a tough out against Philadelphia in Week 5. The Broncos own the third-lowest team total in Freedman's game model, and the Eagles are the third-hardest matchup for quarterbacks. They have held opposing QB rooms to 3.4 points below their season average. Nix is a mid-range QB2 in Week 5.
Kenneth Walker | RB | Seahawks: Walker held a slight lead over Zach Charbonnet in Week 4 with a 52% snap share and 58% attempt share. However, Charbonnet stole many of the high-leverage snaps, partaking in 63% of the short-yardage plays and accounting for 100% of the two-minute offense. I am not fully fading Walker this weekend, but I am the lowest ranker at RB23.
Tony Pollard | RB | Titans: Pollard ranks No. 1 in snap share (89%) among all RBs this season and ranks 30th in points per game (10.4). That is very hard to do, but the Titans have done it, y'all! This offense appears to be one of those rare inept outliers that we encounter only once every three years. Tyjae Spears is eligible to come off of IR this week, which I am currently projecting to happen. Pollard is an RB3 that should be on your bench if possible.
Troy Franklin | WR | Broncos: Franklin is tied with Courtland Sutton for the leading target share (21%) in Denver. However, the Eagles have been the worst matchup for WRs. Philadelphia has held opposing WR corps to nine points below their season average. Franklin is a WR4 this weekend.
Jerry Jeudy | WR | Browns: Jeudy will have a new signal-caller under center in Gabriel this weekend. The Browns have the lowest team total (13.9) in Freedman's game model, and the Vikings have been the third-hardest matchup for WR units with a -6.8 DvP boost. This is a rough spot for Jeudy, who is a boom-bust WR4. Bench this man if you can.
T.J. Hockenson | Vikings: Hockenson has yet to find his footing in 2025. With questionable QB play, the return of Jordan Addison, and a tough matchup against the Browns, it is an easy weekend to get away from Hockenson. He is a high-end TE2.

Sicko Starts

I want to throw in a few names for all my fellow fantasy managers who are in a SICKO league. If you are in a 12-team league with three starting WRs and two flexes, these are for you! Or you are in a more typical setup, but need a name to help get you through injuries; these are for you!

We are looking for players with a rostership under 50% who aren't in many starting lineups.

Let's go, you sickos.

Week 1: Daniel Jones (hit), Jerome Ford (miss), Rashod Bateman (miss), Hunter Henry (hit)

Week 2: Trevor Lawrence (hit), Tyrone Tracy (miss), Kayshon Boutte (hit), Juwan Johnson (hit)

Week 3: Tyrod Taylor (hit), Tyler Allgeier (miss), Wan'Dale Robinson (miss), Cole Kmet (hit)

Week 4: Jaxson Dart (hit), TreVeyon Henderson (hit), Troy Franklin (hit), Cade Otton (miss)

Jaxson Dart | QB | Giants

Dart is rostered in 31% of Yahoo leagues and is in 11% of starting lineups.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I used Dart last weekend. Guess what!?!? Not enough folks picked him up, so he is eligible for another spin.

Dart posted 19.8 fantasy points despite only throwing for 111 yards in his NFL debut. How? The rushing cheat code! Dart accounted for 18% of the Giants' designed run plays and scrambled 11% of dropbacks. He finished the day with 45 yards rushing and a rushing TD.

The loss of Malik Nabers for the season hurts Dart's ceiling in the passing game, but the rookie could still challenge QB1 status thanks to his legs.

Projection Model:

Xfinity Best (ceiling): 29.1 (10th)
Median: 16.6 (13th)
Floor: 9.1 (16th)

Dart is a borderline QB1 against the Saints with four teams on bye in Week 5.

Rhamondre Stevenson | RB | Patriots

Stevenson is rostered in 73% of leagues but starts in only 19% of lineups.

Despite our love for TreVeyon Henderson at Fantasy Life, Stevenson remains the top option in a three-way committee in New England. He handled 58% of the snaps in Week 4.

I realize this is gross, but you should try finding a player with a decent role who is less than 30% of you are starting. Your list dwindles very quickly!

Stevenson is a mid-range RB3 against the Bills.

Malik Washington | WR | Dolphins

Washington is rostered in 19% of Yahoo leagues and is in a starting lineup less than 8%.

Malik Washington and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine have an opportunity to improve their standing within the offense with the loss of Hill.

Washington is the better YAC performer, while NWI has a history as a field stretcher. That could create a rotation. After the loss of Hill last week, Westbrook-Ikhine notched an 87% route participation, and Washington was at 70%.

Still, I want to put my chip on Washington. We have seen Westbrook-Ikhine for five seasons, with many coming on teams that needed someone to take on more targets. NWI came through last season with some TDs, but never took his game to the next level with a 14% target share.

Washington now gets his chance to shine, and he is the type of weapon that Mike McDaniel can move around the formation and get into space. He was an absolute menace with the ball in his hands at Virginia.

Washington UPGRADES to low-end WR4 territory and could be a hot waiver wire option in Week 6 if he has a big game. Westbrook-Ikhine is a boom-bust WR5.

Mason Taylor | TE | Jets

Taylor is rostered in 8% of Yahoo leagues and starts in 3% of lineups.

I told you that a Jet would make it into every position group in this article! That brings us to Taylor.

The rookie second-rounder had his best performance of the season in Week 4 with a 26% target share and an 82 Utilization Score.

With absolutely zero target competition behind Wilson and Hall, the rookie could emerge as an interesting option over the coming weeks. He gets his first shot this weekend against a Cowboys defense that has helped a Jets player from every position make their way into this article.

Taylor is a mid-range TE2 with TE1 upside against the Cowboys in Week 5.