2022 Fantasy Football: Week 5 Quarterback Rankings

A lot happened in Week 4 on the quarterback front that will affect fantasy teams. From a new quarterback in Pittsburgh to multiple injuries at the position, there’s much to unpack as we dive into the Week 5 quarterback rankings.

We have a quarterback change in Pittsburgh, folks. Kenny Pickett started the second half of last week’s game and completed 10-of-13 passes and threw three interceptions. He also rushed six times for 15 yards and punched in two touchdowns on the ground. Pickett offers rushing upside and is an interesting play moving forward. Unfortunately, he gets a tough Week 5 start against the Bills who are allowing the fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.

There were a bunch of quarterback injuries in Week 4. The big injury news concerns Tua Tagovailoa. He endured two scary hits within five days, resulting in neck injuries and a concussion. He’s still in concussion protocol and has already been ruled out for Week 5. Teddy Bridgewater filled in nicely for Miami last week and will be a solid replacement in two-quarterback leagues until Tagovailoa returns.

The Giants’ and Patriots’ quarterback situation is a mess. Daniel Jones has a sprained ankle and is considered day-to-day. Backup Tyrod Taylor is in concussion protocol. They’re both low-end QB2 options. In New England, Mac Jones is out with a high-ankle sprain. Backup Brian Hoyer is in concussion protocol, leaving rookie Bailey Zappe as the last quarterback standing. A matchup against Detroit is ideal, making Zappe an option in two-quarterback formats.

Quarterback Notes

• Joe Burrow could go off this week. He gets a favorable matchup against the Ravens who are allowing 23.17 fantasy points to quarterbacks this season (fourth-most). Burrow has fared well against his division rivals. In their two meetings last season, he combined for 941 receiving yards, seven touchdowns, and one interception. Not too shabby. Burrow has thrown for more than 300 yards only once this season, but with Baltimore surrendering the most passing yards (1,216), I like Burrow and the Bengals’ offense to explode this week.
• Tom Brady got back on track last week with the return of favorite wideouts Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. The Bucs lost in Week 4, but it was the first time this season that Brady threw for more than 275 yards and multiple touchdowns in a game. Brady should be able to build on that and have another solid outing this week against Atlanta. The Falcons have allowed the eighth-most passing yards this season (1,040), and the 10th-most fantasy points to the position (18.6).
• Jared Goff has had a fantastic start to the season. He’s averaging 22.2 fantasy points per game and is the QB5 through four weeks. Goff has no mobility to his game and has been getting everything done through the air – he has the third-most passing yards (1,126) and his 11 passing touchdowns are tied for the league lead with Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes. The Patriots have allowed 20.44 fantasy points to quarterbacks this season, making Goff a top-8 option for me this week.
• Geno Smith is the QB9 on the season and has been on fire the last two weeks (QB7 vs ATL and QB2 vs DET). However, he should only be considered in favorable matchups. When faced with stiffer competition, Smith hasn’t fared as well (QB15 vs DEN and QB30 vs SF). Smith gets a tough road matchup in Week 5 against New Orleans. The Saints have allowed the ninth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks and have only given up three passing touchdowns all season. Despite Smith’s strong start to the season, I’d look for other options this week.
• Matthew Stafford is the QB28 and has failed to score a touchdown in the last two games. He has four touchdowns on the season, and his six interceptions lead the league through four weeks. To be fair, Stafford has faced both the Bills and 49ers – the top-two defenses against quarterbacks. Also, his offensive line has given up the second-most sacks through four weeks (16). However, things won’t get easier in Week 5. Stafford faces a Dallas defense that has only surrendered three passing touchdowns on the season. Additionally, they rank second in quarterback pressure rate (32.7%) and sacks (15). Expect another down week for Stafford.

Week 5 Quarterback Rankings

More Week 5 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Flex Rankings