Week 5 of the 2025 fantasy soccer season featured a lot of huge performances and a handful of disappointing ones.
Who have been the large winners and losers?
Matt Bowen and Tristan H. Cockcroft provide their analyses.
Leap to a subject:
Rating winners | Rating losers |
Greatest accidents and what’s subsequent
Rating fantasy winners of Week 5
1. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts: One other week, one other three-touchdown, 30-plus PPR fantasy level efficiency for Taylor, who has abruptly moved into second place at his place (121.3) behind Christian McCaffrey (123.9) for the season. Taylor scored 31.6 factors in his newest dominant effort, this one towards the Las Vegas Raiders, regardless of his not touching the soccer over the ultimate 17 minutes of the sport. Put apart his previous harm questions, as he is working about in addition to anybody presently and is a locked-in RB1. — Cockcroft
2. Emeka Egbuka, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: His rookie season is now reaching historic ranges, after he scored 31.3 PPR fantasy factors, his most by way of his first 5 NFL video games. Egbuka is the sixth huge receiver in historical past to attain no less than 12 factors in every of his first 5 video games, becoming a member of Charlie Brown (1982), Terry Glenn (1996), Randy Moss (1998), Ja’Marr Chase (2021) and Puka Nacua (2023), and his 102.4 whole factors path solely Nacua’s 115.6 and Moss’ 104.7 amongst huge receivers by way of the primary 5 video games of a profession. Egbuka has swiftly develop into an every-week fantasy starter with WR1 upside, and he must be considered such towards the San Francisco 49ers in Week 6. — Cockcroft
3. Rico Dowdle, RB, Carolina Panthers: With Chuba Hubbard down (calf), Dowdle took benefit of the constructive matchup vs. Miami, scoring a career-high 32.4 factors. Dowdle noticed heavy run recreation utilization, carrying the ball 23 occasions for 202 yards and a rating, plus he added 28 yards receiving on three catches. With open daylight to assault versus the Dolphins entrance, racked up six rushes of 10 or extra yards. Explosive. If Hubbard remains to be out for the Week 6 recreation versus Dallas, Hubbard suits as a stable RB2, and he is presently out there in over 60% of ESPN leagues. — Bowen
4. Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams: Williams’ enhance in receiving utilization pushed his whole to a season-high 31.1 factors within the Thursday night time loss to the 49ers. Williams caught eight of 10 targets right here for 66 yards, plus he added two landing grabs. Williams did lead the workforce in dashing with 65 yards on 14 carries (4.6 YPC), whereas backup Blake Corum noticed only one dashing try. With a Week 6 matchup versus a banged-up Ravens protection, Corum will stay an upper-tier RB2. — Bowen
5. Dak Prescott, QB, and Javonte Williams, RB, Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys’ offense was buzzing as soon as once more towards the mightily struggling New York Jets, scoring 37 factors to present them a league-leading three video games totaling no less than that many. Prescott performed a giant half, throwing 4 passing touchdowns and scoring 28.28 fantasy factors, to position himself no less than among the many high 4 at his place for the season (pending Sunday and Monday night time outcomes). Williams caught one in all them and including a dashing rating of his personal, for a season-best 26.9 PPR fantasy factors that represented his third 20-point efficiency of 2025. The Cowboys’ defensive woes have resulted in Prescott often airing issues out — his 195 passing makes an attempt are simply the league’s most — which appears unlikely to vary within the coming weeks. Count on extra huge scores from each in Weeks 6 and seven towards the Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders, groups which have additionally struggled defensively. — Cockcroft
6. Sam Darnold, QB, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle Seahawks: Regardless of a late interception (versus stress) that arrange the profitable kick for Tampa on Sunday, Darnold posted a season-best 27.64 factors. Darnold accomplished 28 of 34 passing for 341 yards and 4 touchdowns. Darnold made throws from the pocket, created off-schedule and hit the schemed ideas. Smith-Njigba’s 27.2 factors have been additionally a season-high, as he caught eight of 9 targets for 132 yards and landing. Smith-Njigba will keep within the WR1 combine for the Week 6 recreation at Jacksonville, whereas Darnold (who has 4 straight video games with 15 or extra factors), is offered in over 85% of ESPN leagues. — Bowen
0:49
Is Jake Ferguson the most popular TE in fantasy?
Matt Bowen assesses Jake Ferguson’s elevated fantasy manufacturing over his final two video games with CeeDee Lamb injured.
7. Jake Ferguson, TE, Dallas Cowboys: These aforementioned Cowboys defensive struggles, coupled with the absence of star huge receiver CeeDee Lamb, has ramped up Ferguson’s utilization within the passing recreation. He scored a career-best 23.9 PPR fantasy factors whereas tying for the workforce lead in targets (9), giving him a decent end-leading 48 of the latter for the season. Whereas Lamb could possibly be able to return from his ankle harm for Week 6, Ferguson ought to nonetheless be closely concerned sufficient to be a top-five possibility at his place. — Cockcroft
8. Matthew Stafford, RB, Los Angeles Rams: He orchestrated a late-game rally to tie, solely to see his Rams lose a heartbreaker in additional time, 26-23, on Thursday night time. Stafford’s fantasy managers have been happy nonetheless, as he scored 25.56 fantasy factors after totaling 27.40 the week earlier than. He is making wonderful use of his high two huge receivers, Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, in addition to working again Kyren Williams within the passing recreation, and may once more be a fantasy QB1 in Week 6 towards a Baltimore Ravens protection that has allowed 4 passing touchdowns to every of its previous two opponents. — Cockcroft
9. Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals: Two fourth quarter touchdowns saved the day for Chase mangers within the Bengals Week 6 loss to Detroit. Chase caught a 15 yard landing on a second-reaction throw from Jake Browning after which obtained excessive of the Lions protection for a 64 yard (double-move). Chase completed with 29.0 factors, catching six of a team-high 10 targets. Browning’s inconsistent stage of play impacts the Bengals go recreation, however Chase will stay within the lower-tier WR1 vary for the Week 6 recreation at Inexperienced Bay attributable to his explosive potential. — Bowen
10. Mac Jones, QB, San Francisco 49ers: On brief week, with a number of backups enjoying important roles within the 49ers go recreation, a beat-up Jones scored 22.18 factors within the Thursday night time win over the Rams. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan schemed up Jones off play-action and used the fast recreation to get the ball out on this one. Jones, who accomplished 33 of 49 passes for 342 yards, averaged 6.0 air yards per try, with Kendrick Bourne (10-142) main the workforce in receiving, whereas Christian McCaffrey and Jake Tonges caught touchdowns. With no return date set for beginning quarterback Brock Purdy (toe), Jones (out there in over 95% of ESPN leagues), could possibly be in-line to start out once more in Week 6 at Tampa. — Bowen
11. C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans: He scored 28.76 fantasy factors, his first recreation above 20 since Week 4 of final season, and totaled 4 passing touchdowns in a dismantling of the reeling Baltimore Ravens protection. The efficiency spoke as a lot to Stroud’s personal successes — he accomplished 9-of-10 passes to fit receivers for 119 yards and two scores — because it did the matchup itself. The Ravens have now seen three totally different quarterbacks high 27 factors towards them (Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes), which is value tucking away for future opponents Matthew Stafford (Week 6), Caleb Williams (Week 8) and Tua Tagovailoa (Week 9). Stroud and the Texans, in the meantime, now head into their bye week. — Cockcroft
12. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Washington Commanders: After a 7.7 PPR fantasy level Week 4, the 27.0 factors he scored on Sunday have been definitely encouraging for his managers. Croskey-Merritt paced the backfield by enjoying 49% of the offensive snaps, and had an impressive day during which he managed 5 explosive runs, 44 extra dashing yards than anticipated and 4 carries which noticed him clocked 18.7 mph or sooner, per Subsequent Gen Stats. This was the type of breakthrough recreation that may earn a working again the clear leading-man job, during which case he aligns brilliantly for a Week 6 assembly with the Chicago Bears, who’ve struggled towards the run. — Cockcroft
0:35
Is Darren Waller a superb fantasy play in Week 6?
Liz Loza breaks down her fantasy outlook for Darren Waller in Week 6 after a pleasant recreation vs. the Panthers.
13. Darren Waller, TE, Miami Dolphins: After scoring 17.7 factors in his first recreation of the season final week, Waller was productive once more in Sunday’s loss to the Panthers. With a rise in snaps and routes run (26), Waller had 18.7 factors in Carolina, catching all 5 of his targets for 78 yards and a landing. Waller has now scored no less than a landing in every of his two video games performed, and he can nonetheless stretch the seams out within the discipline. With Tyreek Hill out for the season, Waller’s position as a middle-of-the-field possibility ought to stay regular within the Miami offense. Waller (out there in over 50% of ESPN leagues) must be a high waiver add forward of the Week 6 matchup versus the Chargers. — Bowen
Rating fantasy losers of Week 5
1. Emari Demercado, RB, Arizona Cardinals: The extra well-liked pickup of the 2 working again replacements for the injured Trey Benson, Demercado had a nightmarish recreation, totaling solely 6.1 PPR fantasy factors after having been added in practically 60% of ESPN leagues over the previous week. Michael Carter, added in 41%, dealt with a lot of the early-down work and was leaned upon closely late after Demercado let go of the ball earlier than the aim line on a 71-yard run within the fourth quarter, leading to a game-changing misplaced fumble and a touchback. With the Cardinals in the end dropping, 22-21, regardless of holding a nine-point lead on the time of Demercado’s gaffe, Carter is very prone to stay the first again in Week 6 towards the Indianapolis Colts. — Cockcroft
2. Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints: Contemplating the matchup, in addition to the truth that the sport wasn’t actually out of hand till the start of the fourth quarter, Kamara’s 9.5 PPR fantasy factors have been an enormous letdown. He averaged solely 3.4 yards per carry and was often spelled by Kendre Miller as soon as the workforce took the aforementioned 26-14 fourth quarter lead. Kamara remains to be typically concerned sufficient to warrant weekly fantasy RB2 consideration. — Cockcroft
3. Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens: A late landing run in Sunday’s blowout loss to the Texans pushed Henry as much as 9.3 factors, however it was the fourth straight recreation with low-level numbers for the veteran again (15 carries, 33 yards dashing). Sure, the absence of quarterback Lamar Jackson (hamstring) issues right here. I get that. And this Ravens offense was a troublesome watch on Sunday. Nevertheless, over Henry’s previous 4 video games, he’s averaging simply 7.5 PPG. If Jackson is out once more for the Week 6 matchup versus the Rams, Henry will slide all the way down to the underside of my RB2 ranks. — Bowen
4. Trey McBride, TE, Arizona Cardinals: For the primary time since Week 16 of final season, McBride was held beneath 10 PPR fantasy factors (9.1). Although he paced the workforce in targets (7), he could not discover many openings towards the Tennessee Titans’ zone-heavy protection. It is not one thing fantasy managers ought to anticipate most weeks, and McBride appears prone to rebound in a extra favorable matchup towards the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6. — Cockcroft
5. Quentin Johnston, WR, Los Angeles Chargers: In Sunday’s loss to the Commanders, Johnston caught all 4 of his targets, however he had solely 40 yards receiving for the sport. With out the explosive performs, and the landing manufacturing, Johnston completed with a season-low 6.9 factors. Johnston, who averaged 19.9 PPG from Weeks 1-4, will look to rebound in Week 6 with a constructive matchup versus the Miami protection. — Bowen
6. Geno Smith, QB, Jakobi Meyers, WR, Las Vegas Raiders: Smith tossed three interceptions in Sunday’s blowout loss to the Colts, ending with solely 5.92 factors. It was the second straight recreation (in a high quality passing matchup) the place Smith has made poor choices and thrown a number of interceptions. The timing is off right here. Meyers caught 4 of six targets for 32 yards versus the Colts (7.2 factors) and has now posted fewer than 10 factors in three straight video games. Till Smith can begin throwing with extra constant rhythm, Meyers will stay a lower-tier WR3 — with the Titans up subsequent in Week 6. — Bowen
7. Woody Marks, RB, Houston Texans: His Texans dominated the Ravens 44-10, but Marks, a well-liked waiver pickup this week, scored solely 2.4 PPR fantasy factors for the 51.9% of ESPN managers who began him. Worse but, Nick Chubb had superior metrics to Marks, with one explosive run and 33 extra dashing yards than anticipated, per Subsequent Gen Stats, to Marks’ zero and three. Moreover, Chubb performed practically as many offensive snaps (23, to Marks’ 25). Neither will likely be simple to belief in a time share once they return from bye to go to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7. — Cockcroft
Harm affect
No notable accidents.
