jahmyr-gibbs-1400-us.jpg
USATSI

It's amazing how much can change in a month. In one of my leagues, I started the season out with a core I felt pretty darn good about: Joe Burrow at QB; Saquon Barkley, Aaron Jones, and Nick Chubb at RB; Amon-Ra St. Brown, Calvin Ridley, and DK Metcalf at WR. In Week 5, Ridley is the only one of those players I'll actually have in my lineup, and even he hasn't been good enough to feel confident in the past few weeks. 

I'm in a rough spot in that league, and I'm sure plenty of you are in similar spots with injuries and bye weeks causing attrition at every single position. The good news is, at least we are getting Jonathan Taylor and Cooper Kupp back this week, and in my last updated rankings, both are starting-caliber players for me. I sure wish I had them both in that league. 

In addition to my updated ranks, I also have the answers to some of your #AskFFT questions this morning and thoughts on the latest injury news from around the NFL. Of course, you might need more specific help, and the FFT team is here for you. Go to Twitter and use the hashtag "#AskFFT", where our whole team will be answering questions all morning; and go to the FFT YouTube channel to chat with Adam and I starting at 11:30 a.m. ET. We'll be there right up until kickoff answering as many questions as we can, so make sure you're in the chat early to get your questions in. 

Now, here's everything you need to set your Week 5 lineup, plus the latest on injuries and more: 

Injury report updates

We're publishing earlier than usual this week, so I don't have quite as much information on injuries as on a typical Sunday. Here's what we do know, or what we think we know based on reports: 

Likely to play

Outside of the two running backs, you probably shouldn't be planning on using any of the players here. Williams is a top-12 RB with how much he's been dominating touches for the Rams, while I have Sanders ranked not far from there. I know he's been a pretty huge disappointment, but I still believe he's a talented runner and I'll write off the more even split between him and Chuba Hubbard last week as being a result of the injury; Sanders did more in practice this week and doesn't carry an injury designation into today, so I'm hopeful he'll be the clear lead back for Carolina. It's not a great matchup, but he's a top-20 RB for me. 

The other thing I'll note here is that I'm wary of trusting the Steelers or Saints offenses, with Pickett and Carr dealing with their injuries. Carr was clearly significantly less than 100% healthy last week, and it showed as he completed 4 of 16 passes beyond 5 yards from the line of scrimmage. As for Pickett, he's struggled even when healthy, and now he'll likely be playing at less than 100%. I could see a very ugly game for the Steelers offense; not that it would be out of the norm at this point. 

Legitimately questionable

I think Stevenson is probably more on the probable side of that "questionable" designation, but since this is a new injury and it's the Patriots, I'll list him here for now. The good news is, it's an early game, so we should know his status by 11:30. For what it's worth, if you need to make the call on him vs. Travis Etienne or James Cook in the morning game, I'll just throw both of them out there; that also goes for those two against Barkley, who looks more legitimately questionable after missing the past two games. Coach Brian Daboll told reporters Friday that Barkley would be a game-time decision today, but I'll rank him as a top-12 RB if we learn he's playing. If we don't know by the time of the Bills-Jaguars game, I'd just go with Cook and Etienne ahead of him. 

The status of Williams and Adams are less clear, since they play later – Williams at 4:25, Adams on Monday night. I think I'm leaning toward just sitting Williams, who might be in a legitimate three-way split backfield with Jaleel McLaughlin looking solid last week. I'm not giving up on Williams as the Broncos likely lead back in the long run, but given the later start time, he hasn't shown enough upside to roll the dice on.

That's obviously much less true for Adams, who is officially questionable. I'd go see if Jayden Reed is available just so I have someone to slide into my lineup if Adams is ruled out Monday, but I'd absolutely be willing to take the chance on a surprise inactive for Adams' upside. 

And, obviously, Jones might be the toughest call of them all here. I'd bet on him playing, but it doesn't seem like an absolute certainty. If you have AJ Dillon, you could pivot if Jones is ruled out, though he was so bad with Jones out – 96 yards, one catch, no touchdowns in two games Jones missed – that he certainly wouldn't be a sure thing. If I don't have Dillon, I'm probably just steering clear, and if I have a viable alternative – say, someone ranked him my top 30 this week – I might just avoid Jones altogether just in case he can't go. 

Out or probably out

The Lions downgraded Gibbs to doubtful Sunday, a designation shared with St. Brown. As of Saturday night, neither is expected to play, unfortunately. We should see a ton of David Montgomery in this one, and Sam LaPorta figures to be Jared Goff's primary short-area target without St. Brown. It's possible this whole offense struggles to do much without its best player, but I'm still starting Montgomery and LaPorta in all leagues; Josh Reynolds is a boom-or-bust WR3/4, while Jameson Williams seems likely to be in a limited role in his season debut and is not a recommended starter. 

According to one Sunday morning report, the Giants aren't expected to have Barkley available. It'll be his third straight game missed as a result of his ankle injury, and should once again put Matt Breida in the lead role in the backfield. That has resulted in 23.6 PPR points over the past two games, so he's a low-end, fringe starting option. 

#AskFFT Mailbag

In Friday's Newsletter, I dropped my email address to take some questions. For the ones not featured here, I try to respond personally, so if you want your questions answered, send them to Chris.Towers@Paramount.com with the subject line "#AskFFT." Here are my answers to some of your tough questions:

Cheryl: Michael Wilson or Jordan Addison, and Jaleel Mclaughlin or Breece Hall

There was some excitement in the Fantasy Football world when Robert Saleh was quoted as saying, "There is no pitch count with him anymore" when talking about Hall this week. Hall has been limited to 90 snaps over four games this season, but the hope all along has been that he'd see his role increase as the season goes on. I don't think we're at the point where you can just expect 15-plus touches for Hall, but he's looked clearly better than Dalvin Cook, and I do expect him to be the lead back in what looks like a great matchup, and I'm going with him ahead of McLaughlin with Williams expected to play. And I know Addison was a disappointment last week, catching no passes on just one target, but I'm not even close to ready to write him off; the Vikings threw just 19 passes last week, and they might triple that against the Chiefs. Addison isn't a sure thing by any means, but I want him in my lineup this week for the upside.  

Joe: How should I handle starting Ridley vs Kirk moving forward and is it too risky to play both when my other flex options are Michael Thomas, Mattison, Flowers, Pacheco, Tank Dell?

Generally speaking, I'm not afraid to start multiple receivers in the same offense, especially if it's a good offense. The problem is, we're not sure if that's actually what the Jaguars are right now. I'm still willing to bet on them getting there, and there's no reason there shouldn't be plenty of room for both of them to be significant parts of the offense. The matchup against the Bills is tough, but it could also lead to a pass-heavy script, which we certainly wouldn't mind. I have both as top-24 WRs this week, and I'd roll with them both over the other options mentioned here. 

Mary: I need to know who to put in my flex. My options are Raheem Mostert, James Conner, or Tank Dell. Mostert got me four points last week and my gut is telling me to put in Dell but he didn't produce last week either. Should I do Mostert and Conner or swap out one for Dell?

Mostert was a significant disappointment last week, and De'Von Achane's rapid ascension makes Mostert feel much less like a sure thing than he did even a week ago. However, I don't think Achane is necessarily the lead back here already, so Mostert should still have plenty of opportunities in a game the Dolphins should win fairly easily. I like Dell, but he's coming off a sobering performance, as he couldn't build on his breakout in Week 3. WRs are inherently more volatile than running backs, all else being equal, and Dell looks more volatile than most, so I'll go with Mostert here. 

Tom: Short and sweet: Chris Olive or Gabe Davis?

Olave is coming off a miserable game in Week 4, catching one ball for 4 yards. That he's still a top-10 WR for me this week tells you all you need to know about my level of concern. Carr's shoulder is an obvious concern, especially given how much Olave relies on winning downfield for his Fantasy production. However, I'm hopeful Carr will be better this week than he was last, and Olave did still have the fourth-most targeted air yards last week, so the role remains very, very valuable. There's no way I'm sitting him, especially not for a guy in Davis who is no sure thing himself despite three games in a row with a touchdown; he has just one game out of four with more than four targets and remains a touchdown-or-bust WR3/4. 

Week 5 rankings updates

QB rankings

  1. Patrick Mahomes @MIN
  2. Josh Allen vs. JAX
  3. Jalen Hurts @LAR
  4. Tua Tagovailoa vs. NYG
  5. Lamar Jackson @PIT
  6. Kirk Cousins vs. KC
  7. Anthony Richardson vs. TEN
  8. Trevor Lawrence @BUF
  9. C.J. Stroud @ATL
  10. Matthew Stafford vs. PHI
  11. Daniel Jones @MIA
  12. Jared Goff vs. CAR
  13. Dak Prescott @SF
  14. Russell Wilson vs. NYJ
  15. Jordan Love @LV
  16. Joshua Dobbs vs. CIN
  17. Brock Purdy vs. DAL
  18. Joe Burrow @ARI
  19. Mac Jones vs. NO
  20. Kenny Pickett vs. BAL
  21. Derek Carr @NE
  22. Bryce Young @DET
  23. Jimmy Garoppolo vs. GB
  24. Ryan Tannehill @IND
  25. Zach Wilson @DEN
  26. Desmond RIdder vs. HOU

RB rankings

  1. Christian McCaffrey vs. DAL
  2. Bijan Robinson vs. HOU
  3. Tony Pollard @SF
  4. Josh Jacobs vs. GB
  5. Derrick Henry @IND
  6. Alvin Kamara @NE
  7. Travis Etienne @BUF
  8. David Montgomery vs. CAR
  9. Joe Mixon @ARI
  10. Kyren Williams vs. PHI
  11. D'Andre Swift @LAR
  12. James Cook vs. JAX
  13. Raheem Mostert vs. NYG
  14. De'Von Achane vs. NYG
  15. James Conner vs. CIN
  16. Miles Sanders @DET
  17. Breece Hall @DEN
  18. Jonathan Taylor vs. TEN
  19. Isiah Pacheco @MIN
  20. Alexander Mattison vs. KC
  21. Rhamondre Stevenson vs. NO
  22. Dameon Pierce @ATL
  23. Najee Harris vs. BAL
  24. Aaron Jones @LV
  25. Gus Edwards @PIT
  26. Jaleel McLaughlin vs. NYJ
  27. Zack Moss vs. TEN
  28. Samaje Perine vs. NYJ
  29. Jaylen Warren vs. BAL
  30. Chuba Hubbard @DET
  31. Matt Breida @MIA
  32. Dalvin Cook @DEN
  33. Kenneth Gainwell @LAR
  34. Ezekiel Elliott vs. NO
  35. AJ Dillon @LV
  36. Cam Akers vs. KC
  37. Gary Brightwell @MIA
  38. Jerick McKinnon @MIN
  39. Tyler Allgeier vs. HOU
  40. Justice Hill @PIT
  41. Tyjae Spears @IND
  42. Devin Singletary @ATL
  43. Craig Reynolds vs. CAR
  44. Clyde Edwards-Helaire @MIN
  45. Tank Bigsby @BUF
  46. Ameer Abdullah vs. GB
  47. Chris Evans @ARI
  48. Rico Dowdle @SF
  49. Damien Harris vs. JAX
  50. Elijah Mitchell vs. DAL
  51. Kendre Miller @NE

WR rankings

  1. Justin Jefferson vs. KC
  2. Tyreek Hill vs. NYG
  3. Stefon Diggs vs. JAX
  4. CeeDee Lamb @SF
  5. Ja'Marr Chase @ARI
  6. A.J. Brown @LAR
  7. Chris Olave @NE
  8. Devonta Smith @LAR
  9. Jaylen Waddle vs. NYG
  10. Puka Nacua vs. PHI
  11. Cooper Kupp vs. PHI
  12. Davante Adams vs. GB
  13. Deebo Samuel vs. DAL
  14. Calvin Ridley @BUF
  15. Brandon Aiyuk vs. DAL
  16. Christian Kirk @BUF
  17. Nico Collins @ATL
  18. Michael Pittman vs. TEN
  19. DeAndre Hopkins @IND
  20. Garrett Wilson @DEN
  21. George Pickens vs. BAL
  22. Christian Watson @LV
  23. Adam Thielen @DET
  24. Michael Thomas @NE
  25. Jakobi Meyers vs. GB
  26. Tank Dell @ATL
  27. Marquise Brown vs. CIN
  28. Jordan Addison vs. KC
  29. Zay Flowers @PIT
  30. Jerry Jeudy vs. NYJ
  31. Courtland Sutton vs. NYJ
  32. Robert Woods @ATL
  33. Tyler Boyd @ARI
  34. Kendrick Bourne vs. NO
  35. Romeo Doubs @LV
  36. Josh Reynolds vs. CAR
  37. KJ Osborn vs. KC
  38. Gabe Davis vs. JAX
  39. Tutu Atwell vs. PHI
  40. D.J. Chark @DET
  41. Van Jefferson vs. PHI
  42. Drake London vs. HOU
  43. Rashee Rice @MIN
  44. Brandin Cooks @SF
  45. Treylon Burks @IND
  46. Michael Wilson vs. CIN
  47. Jayden Reed @LV
  48. Rashid Shaheed @NE
  49. Josh Downs vs. TEN
  50. DeVante Parker vs. NO
  51. Allen Lazard @DEN
  52. JuJu Smith-Schuster vs. NO
  53. Parris Campbell @MIA
  54. Allen Robinson vs. BAL
  55. Darius Slayton @MIA
  56. Calvin Austin vs. BAL
  57. Rashod Bateman @PIT
  58. Rondale Moore vs. CIN
  59. Kadarius Toney @MIN
  60. Marquez Valdes-Scantling @MIN

TE rankings

  1. Travis Kelce @MIN
  2. T.J. Hockenson vs. KC
  3. Mark Andrews @PIT
  4. Sam LaPorta vs. CAR
  5. George Kittle vs. DAL
  6. Evan Engram @BUF
  7. Dallas Goedert @LAR
  8. Hunter Henry vs. NO
  9. Tyler Higbee vs. PHI
  10. Darren Waller @MIA
  11. Zach Ertz vs. CIN
  12. Jake Ferguson @SF
  13. Luke Musgrave @LV
  14. Kyle Pitts vs. HOU
  15. Dalton Kincaid vs. JAX
  16. Chigoziem Okonkwo @IND
  17. Durham Smythe vs. NYG
  18. Jonnu Smith vs. HOU
  19. Dalton Schultz @ATL
  20. Dawson Knox vs. JAX
  21. Hayden Hurst @DET
  22. Irv Smith @ARI
  23. Tyler Conklin @DEN
  24. Mike Gesicki vs. NO

Flex top 125 rankings

  1. Christian McCaffrey vs. DAL
  2. Justin Jefferson vs. KC
  3. Tyreek Hill vs. NYG
  4. Travis Kelce @MIN
  5. Stefon Diggs vs. JAX
  6. CeeDee Lamb @SF
  7. Bijan Robinson vs. HOU
  8. Tony Pollard @SF
  9. Ja'Marr Chase @ARI
  10. Josh Jacobs vs. GB
  11. A.J. Brown @LAR
  12. Chris Olave @NE
  13. Derrick Henry @IND
  14. Alvin Kamara @NE
  15. Travis Etienne @BUF
  16. Devonta Smith @LAR
  17. Jaylen Waddle vs. NYG
  18. Puka Nacua vs. PHI
  19. David Montgomery vs. CAR
  20. Joe Mixon @ARI
  21. Kyren Williams vs. PHI
  22. Cooper Kupp vs. PHI
  23. D'Andre Swift @LAR
  24. James Cook vs. JAX
  25. Davante Adams vs. GB
  26. Deebo Samuel vs. DAL
  27. Raheem Mostert vs. NYG
  28. Calvin Ridley @BUF
  29. Brandon Aiyuk vs. DAL
  30. Christian Kirk @BUF
  31. De'Von Achane vs. NYG
  32. T.J. Hockenson vs. KC
  33. James Conner vs. CIN
  34. Miles Sanders @DET
  35. Nico Collins @ATL
  36. Michael Pittman vs. TEN
  37. Breece Hall @DEN
  38. Jonathan Taylor vs. TEN
  39. Isiah Pacheco @MIN
  40. DeAndre Hopkins @IND
  41. Garrett Wilson @DEN
  42. Alexander Mattison vs. KC
  43. Mark Andrews @PIT
  44. George Pickens vs. BAL
  45. Sam LaPorta vs. CAR
  46. Christian Watson @LV
  47. Adam Thielen @DET
  48. Michael Thomas @NE
  49. Jakobi Meyers vs. GB
  50. Tank Dell @ATL
  51. Marquise Brown vs. CIN
  52. Rhamondre Stevenson vs. NO
  53. George Kittle vs. DAL
  54. Dameon Pierce @ATL
  55. Jordan Addison vs. KC
  56. Zay Flowers @PIT
  57. Jerry Jeudy vs. NYJ
  58. Courtland Sutton vs. NYJ
  59. Robert Woods @ATL
  60. Najee Harris vs. BAL
  61. Evan Engram @BUF
  62. Dallas Goedert @LAR
  63. Aaron Jones @LV
  64. Tyler Boyd @ARI
  65. Kendrick Bourne vs. NO
  66. Gus Edwards @PIT
  67. Romeo Doubs @LV
  68. Hunter Henry vs. NO
  69. Tyler Higbee vs. PHI
  70. Jaleel McLaughlin vs. NYJ
  71. Darren Waller @MIA
  72. Josh Reynolds vs. CAR
  73. KJ Osborn vs. KC
  74. Zach Ertz vs. CIN
  75. Gabe Davis vs. JAX
  76. Tutu Atwell vs. PHI
  77. D.J. Chark @DET
  78. Zack Moss vs. TEN
  79. Jake Ferguson @SF
  80. Van Jefferson vs. PHI
  81. Samaje Perine vs. NYJ
  82. Drake London vs. HOU
  83. Rashee Rice @MIN
  84. Brandin Cooks @SF
  85. Jaylen Warren vs. BAL
  86. Chuba Hubbard @DET
  87. Treylon Burks @IND
  88. Michael Wilson vs. CIN
  89. Jayden Reed @LV
  90. Matt Breida @MIA
  91. Dalvin Cook @DEN
  92. Rashid Shaheed @NE
  93. Luke Musgrave @LV
  94. Kenneth Gainwell @LAR
  95. Ezekiel Elliott vs. NO
  96. AJ Dillon @LV
  97. Kyle Pitts vs. HOU
  98. Josh Downs vs. TEN
  99. DeVante Parker vs. NO
  100. Cam Akers vs. KC
  101. Allen Lazard @DEN
  102. Gary Brightwell @MIA
  103. JuJu Smith-Schuster vs. NO
  104. Parris Campbell @MIA
  105. Allen Robinson vs. BAL
  106. Darius Slayton @MIA
  107. Calvin Austin vs. BAL
  108. Rashod Bateman @PIT
  109. Jerick McKinnon @MIN
  110. Rondale Moore vs. CIN
  111. Kadarius Toney @MIN
  112. Dalton Kincaid vs. JAX
  113. Marquez Valdes-Scantling @MIN
  114. Skyy Moore @MIN
  115. Chigoziem Okonkwo @IND
  116. Durham Smythe vs. NYG
  117. Tyler Allgeier vs. HOU
  118. Jonnu Smith vs. HOU
  119. Dalton Schultz @ATL
  120. Justice Hill @PIT
  121. Dawson Knox vs. JAX
  122. Tyjae Spears @IND
  123. Devin Singletary @ATL
  124. Isaiah Hodgins @MIA
  125. Hayden Hurst @DET