Week 5 of the 2025-26 NBA season delivered dominant performances from elite centers and dynamic guards, with several players putting up career-caliber fantasy totals. Managers who rode their star players through this stretch were rewarded handsomely, while those who benched the right names dodged significant damage.
Must-Starts: Week 5 Elite Producers
Nikola Jokic (DEN) — Center: 241.8 pts
Across 4 games this week, Jokic accumulated 123 points, 44 rebounds, 44 assists, 4 steals, and 2 blocks while recording 18 turnovers. The MVP-caliber center was an automatic lock in every lineup, nearly doubling some competitors' weekly outputs at the position.
Jalen Johnson (ATL) — Forward: 209.8 pts
Over 4 games, Johnson produced 97 points, 39 rebounds, 36 assists, 6 steals, and 2 blocks with 12 turnovers. His all-around production made him one of the safest fantasy assets regardless of league format.
Donovan Clingan (POR) — Center: 205.4 pts
Clingan's 5-game workload yielded 70 points, 62 rebounds, 16 assists, 10 blocks, 4 steals, and only 5 turnovers. The young Portland center showcased elite rebounding and shot-blocking upside that fantasy managers could not afford to leave on the bench.
Strong Starts: Reliable Options
- Deni Avdija (POR) — Forward: 198.7 pts across 5 games with 110 points, 31 rebounds, 35 assists, and 3 steals, though 16 turnovers tempered his value slightly.
- Keyonte George (UTA) — Guard: 179.1 pts across 4 games featuring 109 points, 18 rebounds, 31 assists, 5 steals, and clean playmaking despite 13 turnovers.
- Tyrese Maxey (PHI) — Guard: 178.0 pts across 3 games with 105 points, 24 assists, 8 steals, 4 blocks, 10 rebounds, and 11 turnovers for strong efficiency.
- Josh Giddey (CHI) — Guard: 170.5 pts across 4 games delivering 67 points, 35 rebounds, 39 assists, 4 steals, and 2 blocks in a well-rounded fantasy contribution.
- Donovan Mitchell (CLE) — Guard: 165.7 pts across 4 games with 107 points, 21 assists, 21 rebounds, 5 steals, and 0 blocks paired with 13 turnovers.
Tough Sits: Disappointing Weeks
- Anthony Edwards (MIN) — Despite 160.8 pts across 3 games with 102 points and 9 steals, Edwards' limited games and 10 assists disappointed managers expecting higher volume from the star shooting guard.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) — The superstar managed only 158.0 pts across 3 games with 101 points and 18 assists, significantly underperforming relative to his usual elite output due to reduced playing time.
- Jamal Murray (DEN) — Murray posted 157.9 pts across 4 games with 94 points and 35 assists, but minimal rebounding at 7 boards and limited defensive stats made him a step below his co-star's production.
- Franz Wagner (ORL) — At 154.6 pts across 4 games with 90 points, 28 rebounds, 18 assists, Wagner underdelivered for a player of his caliber, particularly lacking in steals and blocks with just 2 and 1 respectively.
PlayCaller's AI-powered lineup tools at playcallerapp.com help managers identify these elite performers and avoid costly missed starts in future weeks.