What You Need to Know From Week 5

Welcome to this week's Need to Know feature, where we look at last week's action and tell you everything you need to know from each contest.

CHI @ WAS

• Justin Fields had another outstanding game. He's back in our lineups for good. Even if it is just a function of facing poor defenses, he'll get the Vikings this week. Washington will face Desmond Ridder and the Falcons offense.
• Khalil Herbert went down with a high ankle sprain that will sideline him for multiple weeks, if not land him on injured reserve. Roschon Johnson also left with a concussion. D'Onta Foreman should be a bigger part of the backfield until Herbert is back and could start against Minnesota if Johnson isn't cleared to play. Johnson does have three extra days to heal coming off of a Thursday game. Johnson was ahead of Foreman in the coaches' minds, so he's the better waiver pickup even if he is out this week.
• DJ Moore had a massive game and has a shot to finish as a first-round value if he can post a few more of these.
• Cole Kmet scored again and continues to rise and fall with Fields' level of play. He's a mid TE1 when Fields is on, and he should be against the Vikings this weekend.
• Sam Howell had a rough first half but kept chucking it through the whole second half in a futile comeback attempt, which created a fruitful fantasy stat line. He's looking like a low QB1 going forward, fueled by a bad defense and aggressive mentality as a passer.
• Brian Robinson was a disappointment. He's going to be game-script sensitive, but this offense is good enough to justify him as an every-week RB2 anyway. Antonio Gibson got an ideal game script and still didn't hit. He's not an essential hold.
• Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson got fewer looks than Logan Thomas and Curtis Samuel. Dotson is still too talented to drop since he's in a pass-happy offense, but he should be on your bench until he heats up. Samuel is a WR3/Flex against Atlanta. McLaurin is, too, but in Week 6, he could have a long day matched up with A.J. Terrell, who shut down Calvin Ridley and Nico Collins the last two weeks.

JAX Vs. BUF (London)

• Trevor Lawrence was solid against the tough Bills defense (which suffered another big injury when linebacker Matt Milano went down). Only two untimely fumbles kept this from being a blowout and a bigger day for Lawrence, whose value is headed up with the Colts on tap this week.
• Travis Etienne finished the game with a long score for the second time this year. Along with Lawrence, his value is going up.
• Calvin Ridley had a bounce-back week facing a Bills secondary that was missing its #1 corner. He should be big again this week like he was in Week 1 against the Colts.
• Zay Jones returned and caught a score but left with a knee injury again. He could be good to go for Week 6 but should be on benches until he can get through a game intact.
• Josh Allen had a good fantasy line only because he was facing a soft defense nursing a lead in the fourth quarter. The Bills didn't seem to be as sharp as the Jaguars, who also played in London last week. Allen should be huge against the woeful Giants defense in Week 6.
• James Cook was a dud, but he should be better this week, along with the rest of the team. He is looking more like a boom/bust RB2/Flex than a budding RB1.
• Gabe Davis scored in the fourth straight week. He's an every-week WR3/Flex and hit at a depressed ADP in drafts.
• Both Bills' tight ends got hurt in this one. Dalton Kincaid (concussion) could miss this week along with Dawson Knox (wrist), which could mean more targets for Cook or the team's slot receiver trio.

NO @ NE

• Derek Carr was more of a game manager in this one since the Saints defense dominated the Patriots offense. So we aren't sure if Chris Olave was affected by his ankle tweak in warmups, but Olave did score before the game got out of hand. Watch the practice reports if you have Olave. Carr should pass downfield more against the Texans this week.
• Kendre Miller was the clear #2 with Tony Jones released. He was effective as a pass-catcher and should be on a roster in leagues where most clear backup running backs are carried.
• Mac Jones was miserable and replaced by Bailey Zappe before the game was over. Jones will start Week 6, but Zappe could get a look sooner than later, not that it will change the fate of this offense.
• Rhamondre Stevenson, the one Patriots taken early in fantasy drafts, is now unreliable and only a hold-and-hope type of player on your bench.
• Hunter Henry has also fizzled out after a hot start and can be dropped.

TEN @ IND

• Ryan Tannehill was trusting a now healthy DeAndre Hopkins on contested catches downfield, and Hopkins was reliable. Consider Hopkins a solid WR2 who could be a fantasy WR1 if this continues.
• Derrick Henry just missed on a touchdown pass attempt to Hopkins and was stuffed on short yardage runs deep in Colts territory. He's fine, even though he had a floor game in the loss.
• Tyjae Spears finally had the solid fantasy output we've been waiting for. He's on the field enough to matter in fantasy, and this result will encourage the team to keep upping his usage.
• Anthony Richardson left with a shoulder injury that will probably sideline him for 4-6 weeks. Don't drop him, but do worry that unless he changes his running style, he is a wide range of outcomes boom/bust weekly play. Gardner Minshew will start in his place. The offense has been good with Minshew, and his presence should help the value of Josh Downs, who shouldn't be on any waiver wires.
• Zack Moss was outstanding and made it so Jonathan Taylor could be mired in a committee even though the team just signed him to a three-year, $42 million deal. Both are RB2/Flex plays against the Jaguars.

BAL @ PIT

• Lamar Jackson was victimized by a ton (well, seven) drops, many on downfield passes, and the Steelers had a timely knack for the big play on defense and special teams to eke out a win. Jackson will be fine. Buy low.
• Justice Hill got more snaps than Gus Edwards and looked like he had more juice, even though he did have a costly fumble. Hill is the better flex/emergency RB2 play against Tennessee, although speedy rookie UDFA Keaton Mitchell is getting close to healthy enough to complicate this backfield further.
• Zay Flowers left a much bigger game on the field as a culprit in the dropfest, but he's still the only wide receiver worth playing in this offense. Make sure he's in your lineup against the Titans.
• Kenny Pickett was ineffective except for throwing downfield to George Pickens, and that was good enough to win. Pickens demonstrated ceiling is good enough to keep in lineups every week as a WR2/WR3.
• Jaylen Warren once again outplayed Najee Harris, and he was in on the decisive drives. We'll see if the team installs Warren as the starter during the bye.

CAR @ DET

• Bryce Young feasted on garbage time defensive looks from the Lions in a blowout, so Adam Thielen had his first big game with Young. We'll see if this becomes a pattern now that the Lions offense and defense are both playing at a high level. Young should get more garbage time against Miami this week.
• Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders were in an even split. Neither is worth using as long as this approach persists.
• Jared Goff accounted for four scores and should be seen as a low-ceiling QB1 going forward, including this week at Tampa Bay.
• David Montgomery was the clear lead back with Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring) out. And Craig Reynolds was the clear #2, outsnapping Zonovan Knight 13-2. Reynolds should be added in long bench leagues.
• Josh Reynolds was the leading wide receiver with Amon-Ra St. Brown (abdomen) out. He should be added in all formats and could remain a WR3/Flex candidate even after St. Brown returns.
• Sam LaPorta scored twice and continues to look like one of the biggest tight end hits of fantasy drafts.

HOU @ ATL

• C.J. Stroud had his first ordinary stat line as a passer, but Tank Dell left with a concussion, while Nico Collins was blanketed by A.J. Terrell. Stroud has a tough matchup against New Orleans this week, so he might not be your best option at quarterback in Week 6.
• With Dell sidelined and Collins covered, Dalton Schultz had his biggest game yet this year. He's worth a spot start against the Saints if you don't have a reliable fantasy tight end.
• Desmond Ridder bounced back to lead his second comeback victory of the season. He should be the starter for the foreseeable future now, and he's even a strong sleeper against the porous Washington defense this week.
• Kyle Pitts had his biggest game of the year, and that's even with Jonnu Smith posting another big game of his own. Pitts is back in lineups, and Smith could be worth a spot start this week.

NYG @ MIA

• Daniel Jones and the whole Giants offense was terrible again vs. the Dolphins. Jones left with a neck injury but could play this week. Saquon Barkley could also return against Buffalo.
• Wan'Dale Robinson suffered a concussion and could miss Week 6. He's not an essential hold.
• Darren Waller had his first good game of the year in a silver lining. He should be back in lineups this week, no matter who starts at quarterback.
• Tyreek Hill had another massive game, but at least Jaylen Waddle scored. Stick with Waddle against Carolina.
• De'Von Achane had another massive game but left with a knee injury and will miss multiple weeks. Jeff Wilson was activated from injured reserve and should share the backfield with Raheem Mostert by Week 7. Add him if he's available in your league. Salvon Ahmed should be the #3 after being a healthy scratch in Week 5. Even he and rookie UDFA Chris Brooks are worth stashing where bench size allows, considering the injury history of Wilson and Mostert.

CIN @ ARI

• Joe Burrow is back! He moved better and carved up the Cardinals defense, fueling Ja'Marr Chase to one of the biggest games of his career.
• Trenton Irwin outproduced Tyler Boyd. When Tee Higgins is out, there's no reliable WR2 to play, even with Burrow regaining old form.
• Joe Mixon was stuffed on a fourth down deep in Arizona territory and should have had a better fantasy game. He'll do more for us going forward.
• James Conner left with a knee injury and will miss multiple weeks. Emari Demercado scored in his stead and should start next week unless Keaontay Ingram gets over the neck issue that kept him out last week. Demercado is worth a pickup in typical leagues. Ingram will be if he can get back to full practices.
• Michael Wilson came back to earth after his breakout game, and Joshua Dobbs looked more like a backup quarterback facing his third tough defense in a row. Wilson is droppable, and Dobbs is back to being droppable in 1QB leagues.

PHI @ LAR

• The Eagles red zone offense is still underperforming, but that didn't stop Jalen Hurts from having another strong fantasy game. He actually has room to grow. Buy high.
• Dallas Goedert got fed after head coach Nick Sirianni said it was the coach's fault that he hadn't gotten going yet. Goedert should be back in lineups.
• DeVonta Smith had a dud, but last year, we saw that it's difficult for all three of the best pass-catchers for the Eagles to have good weeks at the same time. Ceiling weeks are coming for Smith; hang tight.
• Cooper Kupp looked as good as ever and posted a big game, while Puka Nacua still outproduced him because he also got strong target volume, and the rookie scored. Both are every-week plays going forward. Matthew Stafford could also become a solid low-ceiling QB1 sooner than later, with Arizona up this week.
• Kyren Williams' volume suffered, and he didn't score. He's more fantasy RB2 than RB1 with Kupp back.

NYJ @ DEN

• Zach Wilson came back to earth, even against a poor Broncos defense. He's only desperation depth in 2QB/Superflex.
• Tyler Conklin at least had his second solid game in a role. He's worth a spot start against Philadelphia if you need a tight end.
• Breece Hall returned to his pre-injury form and workload and should be in lineups every week from here on out. Dalvin Cook is droppable if you haven't already let him go.
• Russell Wilson played well enough to post a solid fantasy game, but none of his receivers produced enough to be useful. We're going to have to wait for one or both of Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy to get traded to have some clarity here.
• Jaleel McLaughlin was sensational again with Javonte Williams out, and he deserves to have a big role when Williams is healthy. He shouldn't be on any waiver wires and should be in lineups as a flex against Kansas City.

KC @ MIN

• Patrick Mahomes II was actually held in check by the Vikings defense with Travis Kelce banged up, but he still found Kelce and Rashee Rice for a score. The team has said Rice could be used more as the season goes on. He has the most targets of any Chiefs wideout, even though he only has the fourth-highest snap count. He shouldn't be on any waiver wires.
• Travis Kelce left in the first half with an ankle injury but returned to the game to rack up short catches and a score. Check the injury report for his Thursday game vs. Denver before starting him.
• Justin Jefferson left with a hamstring injury and will be placed on injured reserve. It's not clear when he'll return, and if the team trades away Kirk Cousins and the season is lost. That could prolong Jefferson's absence. Jordan Addison gains some value, and K.J. Osborn is definitely worth a pickup. But it's a blow for Cousins' value and the entire offense.
• Alexander Mattison scored as a receiver but is closer to a full-blown RBBC with Cam Akers and is now in a Justin Jefferson-less offense. Mattison is a sell low.

DAL @ SF

• Dak Prescott was ineffective against the 49ers defense, and the Cowboys offense looked feeble. They should be better against the Chargers, but Prescott isn't an essential hold in leagues where you can use the waiver wire as your backup quarterback.
• CeeDee Lamb continues to be held in check by defenses of various quality. He's more WR2 than WR1 at this point.
• Brock Purdy is taking his mastery of this offense to a new level. The 49ers humiliated the Cowboys defense, and Purdy has established himself as a low-ceiling QB1 with the tough Browns defense up next.
• Jordan Mason has played well since Elijah Mitchell went down and might be the hold over Mitchell as the injury-upside backup behind Christian McCaffrey since Mitchell hasn't proven he can stay healthy with any significant workload.
• Deebo Samuel didn't have a big game, but he looked healthier than he did in Week 4 and is a safe start again.

GB @ LV

• Aaron Jones missed this game after returning in Week 4. Hopefully, his hamstring gets better during the bye week, and this doesn't represent a setback. AJ Dillon actually scored in Jones' stead but isn't worth carrying through the bye in short bench leagues.
• Jordan Love was uneven and threw multiple bad interceptions. After a promising start, he's not an essential carry through the bye in 1QB leagues.
• Christian Watson was horse-collared, or he would have had a long score. It's still going to be a rough ride if you plan on trusting him or Romeo Doubs, who caught one pass. Luke Musgrave caught six balls for a solid tight end line, but it's not clear yet whether he'll do this consistently.
• Jimmy Garoppolo had a solid game and found Jakobi Meyers for a score. Meyers looks like an every-week PPR RB3/Flex given his strength overlapping with Garoppolo's penchant for getting the ball out safely and quickly.
• Davante Adams was quiet in this one but came in nursing a shoulder injury. Hopefully, he'll bounce back against the defanged Patriots defense.