Week 5 of the 2025 NFL season featured strong quarterback performances and productive running back outputs. Fantasy managers who started the top-scoring options were rewarded, while some established names underperformed relative to their typical output.
Must-Starts: Week 5 Top Performers
C.J. Stroud (HOU) — QB: 28.8 pts
Stroud completed 244 passing yards with 4 touchdowns and 30 rushing yards on an 80% snap rate. His four-touchdown passing performance ranked him among the week's top quarterbacks.
Rico Dowdle (PIT) — RB: 32.4 pts
Dowdle rushed for 206 yards with 1 touchdown and added 3 receptions for 28 yards on a 67% snap rate. His 206 rushing yards made him the week's top running back.
Emeka Egbuka (TB) — WR: 31.3 pts
Egbuka caught 7 passes for 163 yards and 1 touchdown on an 85% snap rate. His receiving performance ranked second among all wide receivers in Week 5.
Jonathan Taylor (IND) — RB: 31.6 pts
Taylor scored 3 rushing touchdowns while accumulating 66 rushing yards and 3 receptions for 20 yards on a 74% snap rate. His three-touchdown game ranked second among running backs for the week.
Strong Starts: Reliable Options
- Sam Darnold (SEA) — QB: 28.6 pts - Darnold accumulated 341 passing yards with 4 touchdowns on a 100% snap rate.
- Kyren Williams (LAR) — RB: 31.1 pts - Williams recorded 65 rushing yards, 8 receptions for 66 yards, and 2 receiving touchdowns on a 91% snap rate.
- Ja'Marr Chase (CIN) — WR: 29.0 pts - Chase caught 6 passes for 110 yards and 2 touchdowns on a 92% snap rate.
- Dak Prescott (DAL) — QB: 28.3 pts - Prescott delivered 237 passing yards with 4 touchdowns and 28 rushing yards on a 100% snap rate.
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA) — WR: 27.2 pts - Smith-Njigba caught 8 passes for 132 yards and 1 touchdown on a 90% snap rate.
- Christian McCaffrey (SF) — RB: 27.9 pts - McCaffrey totaled 57 rushing yards, 8 receptions for 82 yards, and 1 touchdown on an 88% snap rate.
Tough Sits: Underperformers
- Josh Allen (BUF) — QB: 20.4 pts - Allen managed 253 passing yards with 2 touchdowns and 53 rushing yards on a 100% snap rate, underperforming compared to the week's top quarterback performances.
- Jaylen Waddle (DEN) — WR: 23.0 pts - Despite 6 catches for 110 yards and 1 touchdown on an 89% snap rate, Waddle scored below the week's median wide receiver performance.
- Tua Tagovailoa (ATL) — QB: 22.7 pts - Tagovailoa compiled 256 passing yards with 3 touchdowns on a 100% snap rate, ranking in the middle tier of the week's quarterback performances.
- Sam LaPorta (DET) — TE: 20.2 pts - Despite a 94% snap rate and 5 catches for 92 yards with 1 touchdown, LaPorta ranked fourth among tight ends for the week.
- Rashid Shaheed (SEA) — WR: 21.4 pts - Shaheed caught 4 passes for 114 yards and 1 touchdown, but his 67% snap rate was lower than other Seahawks receivers like Smith-Njigba (90%) and Barner (80%).
Week 5 demonstrated the importance of monitoring target volume and snap rate trends to identify weekly matchups and avoid inconsistent performers.