Week 5 Flex Rankings for Fantasy Football

We are entering Week 5 which means fantasy football managers must now begin dealing with those dreaded bye weeks. It feels like the NFL staggered the bye weeks in a stranger way than normal this year. Only 10 teams will have a bye over the next four weeks. This week features four teams on a bye – Detroit, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia, and Tennessee. However, I still listed over 200 players in my Week 5 Flex rankings. That should accommodate leagues and rosters of all sizes.

The running back position is going to lose the most production due to this round of byes. Five of the top 20 running backs in total fantasy points are off this week. Comparatively, just five of the top 40 wide receivers and one of the top 15 tight ends (albeit the overall TE1 in Dallas Goedert) have a Week 5 bye. This feels like a week where some productive “backup” running backs make viable Flex plays. Some examples include Chase Brown, Bucky Irving, and Rico Dowdle. All of those players finished as top-24 backs last week and could very well do so again in Week 5. I currently have Zack Moss ahead of Brown and Rachaad White ahead of Irving. But I admit those rankings may change between now and Sunday.

And yes, Kareem Hunt is also squarely in the Flex conversation this week. That may sound crazy considering that he was on his couch two and a half weeks ago. But things change quickly in the NFL. Especially when you are an undrafted rookie making your first start and fumble away your first carry. That is exactly what happened to Carson Steele a week ago. Steele saw limited action from that point forward. The rookie played just 11 total snaps, while Hunt played 28 and Samaje Perine played 25. For now, I am giving Hunt the edge over Perine, with the latter only being a consideration in deeper leagues. Steele is off the Flex radar until further notice.

I know I discussed tight ends last week, so I do not want to belabor the same point. But since we are now in October, we are just a few short weeks from National Tight Ends Day. However, if tight ends continue to perform at such a poor and inconsistent rate for fantasy football managers, we may have to consider canceling the festivities this year. I currently have just six tight ends in the top 90 overall in my Week 5 Flex rankings. And based on year-to-date production, that might be generous. Dalton Kincaid is the overall TE7 through four weeks, and he comes in at 105 overall among all Flex players.

The top 15 overall scorers at tight end have played a total of 56 games. In those 56 games, they have scored six (yes, six) fantasy points a combined 23 times. That is just 41.1 percent! It is not like scoring six points is a particularly high bar. There have been just 52 total instances of a tight end scoring six fantasy points in a game this season. I guess if you want a reason for optimism, that number has increased every week (10, 12, 14, 16). Still, I generally advise you not to put a tight end in your Flex spot even under favorable conditions. So that goes double in a year like this, where even would-be studs are failing to put up consistent numbers.

Below are my current Week 5 Flex rankings. These are based on Half-PPR scoring, so adjust as needed based on your league specs. As always, feel free to shoot me any specific questions regarding your lineup decisions. May the fantasy football gods be in your favor this week!

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Check out all of our Week 5 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Flex

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Week 5 Flex Rankings

RANK	PLAYER	TEAM	POS	OPP
1	Jordan Mason	SF	RB1	ARZ
2	Kyren Williams	LAR	RB2	GB
3	Derrick Henry	BLT	RB3	@CIN
4	Alvin Kamara	NO	RB4	@KC
5	CeeDee Lamb	DAL	WR1	@PIT
6	Nico Collins	HST	WR2	BUF
7	Breece Hall	NYJ	RB5	@MIN
8	Aaron Jones	MIN	RB6	NYJ
9	Bijan Robinson	ATL	RB7	TB
10	Malik Nabers	NYG	WR3	@SEA
11	Justin Jefferson	MIN	WR4	NYJ
12	Ja'Marr Chase	CIN	WR5	BLT
13	Kenneth Walker III	SEA	RB8	NYG
14	Brian Robinson	WAS	RB9	CLV
15	Joe Mixon	HST	RB10	BUF
16	DK Metcalf	SEA	WR6	NYG
17	Deebo Samuel	SF	WR7	ARZ
18	Travis Etienne Jr.	JAX	RB11	IND
19	Chris Godwin	TB	WR8	@ATL
20	Josh Jacobs	GB	RB12	@LAR
21	Jayden Reed	GB	WR9	@LAR
22	Rhamondre Stevenson	NE	RB13	MIA
23	Mike Evans	TB	WR10	@ATL
24	James Cook	BUF	RB14	@HST
25	Diontae Johnson	CAR	WR11	@CHI
26	Garrett Wilson	NYJ	WR12	@MIN
27	Marvin Harrison Jr.	ARZ	WR13	@SF
28	Brandon Aiyuk	SF	WR14	ARZ
29	D'Andre Swift	CHI	RB15	CAR
30	Chuba Hubbard	CAR	RB16	@CHI
31	James Conner	ARZ	RB17	@SF
32	Najee Harris	PIT	RB18	DAL
33	Drake London	ATL	WR15	TB
34	George Pickens	PIT	WR16	DAL
35	De'Von Achane	MIA	RB19	@NE
36	Travis Kelce	KC	TE1	NO
37	DJ Moore	CHI	WR17	CAR
38	Amari Cooper	CLV	WR18	@WAS
39	Stefon Diggs	HST	WR19	BUF
40	Chris Olave	NO	WR20	@KC
41	Devin Singletary	NYG	RB20	@SEA
42	Xavier Worthy	KC	WR21	NO
43	Tee Higgins	CIN	WR22	BLT
44	Michael Pittman Jr.	IND	WR23	@JAX
45	Zay Flowers	BLT	WR24	@CIN
46	Tyreek Hill	MIA	WR25	@NE
47	Zack Moss	CIN	RB21	BLT
48	Javonte Williams	DEN	RB22	LV
49	Terry McLaurin	WAS	WR26	CLV
50	Jerome Ford	CLV	RB23	@WAS
51	Jaxon Smith-Njigba	SEA	WR27	NYG
52	Rachaad White	TB	RB24	@ATL
53	Courtland Sutton	DEN	WR28	LV
54	Kareem Hunt	KC	RB25	NO
55	Dontayvion Wicks	GB	WR29	@LAR
56	Brian Thomas Jr.	JAX	WR30	IND
57	George Kittle	SF	TE2	ARZ
58	Christian Kirk	JAX	WR31	IND
59	Tank Dell	HST	WR32	BUF
60	Wan'Dale Robinson	NYG	WR33	@SEA
61	Khalil Shakir	BUF	WR34	@HST
62	Rashid Shaheed	NO	WR35	@KC
63	Trey McBride	ARZ	TE3	@SF
64	Davante Adams	LV	WR36	@DEN
65	Demarcus Robinson	LAR	WR37	GB
66	Jerry Jeudy	CLV	WR38	@WAS
67	Zamir White	LV	RB26	@DEN
68	Jake Ferguson	DAL	TE4	@PIT
69	Romeo Doubs	GB	WR39	@LAR
70	Jauan Jennings	SF	WR40	ARZ
71	Tyler Lockett	SEA	WR41	NYG
72	Darnell Mooney	ATL	WR42	TB
73	Keenan Allen	CHI	WR43	CAR
74	Jordan Whittington	LAR	WR44	GB
75	Xavier Legette	CAR	WR45	@CHI
76	Dalton Kincaid	BUF	TE5	@HST
77	Jordan Addison	MIN	WR46	NYJ
78	Josh Downs	IND	WR47	@JAX
79	Chase Brown	CIN	RB27	BLT
80	Jakobi Meyers	LV	WR48	@DEN
81	Gabe Davis	JAX	WR49	IND
82	Rico Dowdle	DAL	RB28	@PIT
83	Brock Bowers	LV	TE6	@DEN
84	Bucky Irving	TB	RB29	@ATL
85	Jaylen Waddle	MIA	WR50	@NE
86	Trey Sermon	IND	RB30	@JAX
87	Rome Odunze	CHI	WR51	CAR
88	Tyler Allgeier	ATL	RB31	TB
89	Zach Charbonnet	SEA	RB32	NYG
90	Tutu Atwell	LAR	WR52	GB
91	Keon Coleman	BUF	WR53	@HST
92	Brandin Cooks	DAL	WR54	@PIT
93	Jaleel McLaughlin	DEN	RB33	LV
94	Evan Engram	JAX	TE7	IND
95	Kyle Pitts	ATL	TE8	TB
96	Emanuel Wilson	GB	RB34	@LAR
97	Braelon Allen	NYJ	RB35	@MIN
98	Antonio Gibson	NE	RB36	MIA
99	Michael Wilson	ARZ	WR55	@SF
100	David Njoku	CLV	TE9	@WAS
101	Tucker Kraft	GB	TE10	@LAR
102	Samaje Perine	KC	RB37	NO
103	Justice Hill	BLT	RB38	@CIN
104	Colby Parkinson	LAR	TE11	GB
105	Isaiah Likely	BLT	TE12	@CIN
106	Pat Freiermuth	PIT	TE13	DAL
107	Tyler Conklin	NYJ	TE14	@MIN
108	Cole Kmet	CHI	TE15	CAR
109	Jaylen Warren	PIT	RB39	DAL
110	Austin Ekeler	WAS	RB40	CLV
111	Ray-Ray McCloud III	ATL	WR56	TB
112	Cade Otton	TB	TE16	@ATL
113	Roschon Johnson	CHI	RB41	CAR
114	Allen Lazard	NYJ	WR57	@MIN
115	Jonathan Mingo	CAR	WR58	@CHI
116	Rashod Bateman	BLT	WR59	@CIN
117	Darius Slayton	NYG	WR60	@SEA
118	Alexander Mattison	LV	RB42	@DEN
119	Mike Williams	NYJ	WR61	@MIN
120	Zach Ertz	WAS	TE17	CLV
121	Raheem Mostert	MIA	RB43	@NE
122	Greg Dortch	ARZ	WR62	@SF
123	Dalton Schultz	HST	TE18	BUF
124	Ezekiel Elliott	DAL	RB44	@PIT
125	Tre Tucker	LV	WR63	@DEN
126	Mark Andrews	BLT	TE19	@CIN
127	Demario Douglas	NE	WR64	MIA
128	Hunter Henry	NE	TE20	MIA
129	Jalen Tolbert	DAL	WR65	@PIT
130	Tank Bigsby	JAX	RB45	IND
131	Justin Watson	KC	WR66	NO
132	Taysom Hill	NO	TE21	@KC
133	Josh Reynolds	DEN	WR67	LV
134	Noah Brown	WAS	WR68	CLV
135	Andrei Iosivas	CIN	WR69	BLT
136	Tyler Johnson	LAR	WR70	GB
137	Mike Gesicki	CIN	TE22	BLT
138	Miles Sanders	CAR	RB46	@CHI
139	Elijah Moore	CLV	WR71	@WAS
140	Noah Fant	SEA	TE23	NYG
141	Ty Chandler	MIN	RB47	NYJ
142	Curtis Samuel	BUF	WR72	@HST
143	Alec Pierce	IND	WR73	@JAX
144	JuJu Smith-Schuster	KC	WR74	NO
145	Carson Steele	KC	RB48	NO
146	Ja'Lynn Polk	NE	WR75	MIA
147	Tyler Goodson	IND	RB49	@JAX
148	Marvin Mims Jr.	DEN	WR76	LV
149	Jalen McMillan	TB	WR77	@ATL
150	Mack Hollins	BUF	WR78	@HST
151	Johnny Mundt	MIN	TE24	NYJ
152	Adonai Mitchell	IND	WR79	@JAX
153	Ray Davis	BUF	RB50	@HST
154	D'Onta Foreman	CLV	RB51	@WAS
155	Van Jefferson	PIT	WR80	DAL
156	Noah Gray	KC	TE25	NO
157	Lil'Jordan Humphrey	DEN	WR81	LV
158	Blake Corum	LAR	RB52	GB
159	Tommy Tremble	CAR	TE26	@CHI
160	K.J. Osborn	NE	WR82	MIA
161	Calvin Austin III	PIT	WR83	DAL
162	Dameon Pierce	HST	RB53	BUF
163	Trey Benson	ARZ	RB54	@SF
164	Greg Dulcich	DEN	TE27	LV
165	Luke McCaffrey	WAS	WR84	CLV
166	Jamaal Williams	NO	RB55	@KC
167	Luke Musgrave	GB	TE28	@LAR
168	Juwan Johnson	NO	TE29	@KC
169	Jonnu Smith	MIA	TE30	@NE
170	Nelson Agholor	BLT	WR85	@CIN
171	Tyrone Tracy	NYG	RB56	@SEA
172	David Moore	CAR	WR86	@CHI
173	Jalen Nailor	MIN	WR87	NYJ
174	Erick All	CIN	TE31	BLT
175	Dawson Knox	BUF	TE32	@HST
176	Olamide Zaccheaus	WAS	WR88	CLV
177	Theo Johnson	NYG	TE33	@SEA
178	Nick Chubb	CLV	RB57	@WAS
179	Austin Hooper	NE	TE34	MIA
180	Kyle Juszczyk	SF	RB58	ARZ
181	Ty Johnson	BUF	RB59	@HST
182	Brandon Powell	MIN	WR89	NYJ
183	Jordan Akins	CLV	TE35	@WAS
184	Foster Moreau	NO	TE36	@KC
185	Dyami Brown	WAS	WR90	CLV
186	Bo Melton	GB	WR91	@LAR
187	Ja'Tavion Sanders	CAR	TE37	@CHI
188	Josh Oliver	MIN	TE38	NYJ
189	KaVontae Turpin	DAL	WR92	@PIT
190	Ronnie Rivers	LAR	RB60	GB
191	Gerald Everett	CHI	TE39	CAR
192	Michael Mayer	LV	TE40	@DEN
193	Troy Franklin	DEN	WR93	LV
194	Kylen Granson	IND	TE41	@JAX
195	Brenton Strange	JAX	TE42	IND
196	Mason Tipton	NO	WR94	@KC
197	Jalin Hyatt	NYG	WR95	@SEA
198	Cordarrelle Patterson	PIT	RB61	DAL
199	Mo Alie-Cox	IND	TE43	@JAX
200	Jeremy Ruckert	NYJ	TE44	@MIN
201	Hunter Luepke	DAL	RB62	@PIT
202	Elijah Higgins	ARZ	TE45	@SF
203	Jake Bobo	SEA	WR96	NYG
204	Pierre Strong Jr.	CLV	RB63	@WAS
205	Marquez Valdes-Scantling	BUF	WR97	@HST
206	Emari Demercado	ARZ	RB64	@SF

Make sure to check out all of our Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!