The ESPN+ Cheat Sheet for Week 5 is your one-stop shop for fantasy football advice. We've curated all of our best start/sit advice from this week, including insights from Matt Bowen, Mike Clay, Tristan H. Cockcroft, Eric Karabell and Liz Loza. Don't have time to read it all? That's why cheat sheets were invented! Catch up on a week's worth of reading in mere minutes, see which players are on the injury report, consider the betting data and then set your lineup with confidence.
Lines accurate as of latest time stamp. For latest odds, go to ESPN BET.
Injury aggregation powered by Rotowire. Football Power Index by ESPN Analytics.
New York Jets vs. Minnesota Vikings -2.5
Locks: Sunday 9:30 a.m. ET
Over/under total: 40.5 (10th highest)
FPI favorite: Vikings by 1.5, 53.9% to win outright
Jets injury watch: QB Jordan Travis: O
Vikings injury watch: TE T.J. Hockenson: O
Best of the Week
Eric Karabell reminds you this game kicks off at 9:30 a.m. ET and advises you to set a lineup before you go to bed on Saturday night, including putting any questionable options in your flex spot.
Mike Clay reminds you that, while Justin Jefferson is matchup-proof and should always be started, the Jets' domination of wide receivers continues for the third consecutive season and this does not bode well for Brandon Powell or Jordan Addison. The Jets receivers, however, are in a good spot if the game script calls for a pass-heavy approach. His advice: If you expect the Vikings to continue their strong play, Jets receivers will be in a good spot this week. If you think the Jets will win this weekend, the matchup isn't quite as appealing.
Carolina Panthers vs. Chicago Bears -4
Locks: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 40.5 (10th highest)
FPI favorite: Bears by 5, 63.4% to win outright
Bears injury watch: WR DeAndre Carter: Q
Best of the Week
Tristan H. Cockcroft: The Panthers are one of only three teams (Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills) to have surrendered as many as three 20-point performances to running backs thus far, making this a plus matchup for D'Andre Swift, who is coming off his best of the season so far. On the other side of the field, Diontae Johnson may find it hard to exceed 12.5 fantasy points against the Bears, who have allowed that score to only one receiver this season (Nico Collins).
Mike Clay: Bears receivers DJ Moore and Rome Odunze will benefit from a soft Panthers' perimeter defense, while Keenan Allen should be productive out of the slot.
Matt Bowen: With Adam Thielen (hamstring) on IR, Xavier Legette saw his role increase in Week 4 against the Bengals, as he recorded 10 targets. It's a much tougher matchup in Week 5, but with Andy Dalton at quarterback, Legette should once again see solid volume as the No. 2 opposite of Johnson. Dalton's matchup is tough, but he has thrown multiple touchdowns in back-to-back starts and scored at least 15 points in each, so you can take a shot here if you need a starter in deep leagues.
Buffalo Bills -1 vs. Houston Texans
Locks: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 47.5 (fourth highest)
FPI favorite: Bills by 2.2, 56.2% to win outright
Bills injury watch: WR Khalil Shakir: O
Texans injury watch: RB Dameon Pierce: Q; WR Robert Woods: Q; RB Joe Mixon: Q; WR Tank Dell: Q
Best of the Week
Mike Clay is downgrading the Texans' receivers against a stout Bills secondary that has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season.
Mike Clay isn't ready to trust Keon Coleman as a flex play yet, but is encouraged by the boost in playing time in Week 4 after he'd been benched in Week 3.
Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars -3
Locks: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 45.5 (fifth highest)
FPI favorite: Colts by 0.2, 49.1% to win outright
Colts injury watch: RB Jonathan Taylor: O; QB Anthony Richardson: Q
Jaguars injury watch: RB Tank Bigsby: Q; WR Gabe Davis: Q; TE Evan Engram: Q; RB Travis Etienne Jr.: Q
Best of the Week
Tristan H. Cockcroft is starting Michael Pittman Jr. regardless of whether Joe Flacco or Anthony Richardson is under center. The Jaguars are that good a matchup, and Richardson had some success throwing to Pittman prior to exiting the game early in Week 4. Evan Engram, if he is able to return from his hamstring injury, is similarly in a good matchup for his return, drawing a Colts D that has surrendered two of the nine highest single-game PPR fantasy point totals for the season.
Mike Clay: Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis have plus matchups on the perimeter and can be upgraded. With Kenny Moore II ruled Out, Christian Kirk can also be upgraded against Chris Lammons.
Cleveland Browns vs. Washington Commanders -3
Locks: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 43.5 (sixth highest)
FPI favorite: Commanders by 5.2, 63.3% to win outright
Browns injury watch: RB Nick Chubb: O; TE David Njoku: Q; RB Nyheim Hines: O; RB Pierre Strong Jr.: Q
Commanders injury watch: RB Brian Robinson Jr.: Q; WR Noah Brown: O
Best of the Week
Mike Clay is starting Amari Cooper and upgrading the rest of the Browns' receivers against Benjamin St-Juste and the Commanders' secondary, which has allowed the most fantasy points to wide receivers this season.
Mike Clay would consider starting Deshaun Watson only in 16-team or 2-QB leagues despite the favorable matchup. Watson has yet to deliver a top-10 QB performance or clear 200 passing yards this season.
Miami Dolphins vs. New England Patriots -1
Locks: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 36.5 (12th highest)
FPI favorite: Patriots by 3.5, 59.9% to win outright
Dolphins injury watch: RB Raheem Mostert: Q; WR Odell Beckham Jr.: O; QB Skylar Thompson: Q; WR Malik Washington: Q; WR Braxton Berrios: Q
Patriots injury watch: WR K.J. Osborn: Q; WR Kendrick Bourne: O
Best of the Week
Eric Karabell advises you to keep starting Tyreek Hill and De'Von Achane, putting talent above recent performances. He does not feel the same way about Jaylen Waddle.
Mike Clay also doesn't like Waddle, who has yet to find the end zone this season and sits 47th in WR fantasy points. As long as Tua Tagovailoa is out, Waddle is best left on benches.
Baltimore Ravens -2.5 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Locks: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 49.5 (Highest)
FPI favorite: Ravens by 2.3, 55.9% to win outright
Ravens injury watch: RB Keaton Mitchell: O
Bengals injury watch: none to report
Best of the Week
Matt Bowen: Justice Hill isn't going to take carries away from Derrick Henry. But as a change-of-pace runner who can create second-level matchups in the pass game, Hill fits as a streaming option. He has now caught at least six passes in two of four games played. That works for the flex spot in deeper leagues.
Mike Clay: Zack Moss and Chase Brown split carries and targets almost down the middle in Week 4. With a true committee forming, Moss is no more than a fringe RB2, whereas Brown is a deep-league flex option.
Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers -7.5
Locks: Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 49.5 (Highest)
FPI favorite: 49ers by 7.9, 69.9% to win outright
Cardinals injury watch: TE Trey McBride: Q
49ers injury watch: WR Jacob Cowing: Q; WR Chris Conley: Q; TE George Kittle: Q; WR Ricky Pearsall: O
Best of the Week
Mike Clay: Jauan Jennings fell back to earth last week, playing on 57% of 49ers snaps against the Patriots. Jennings has now seen six or fewer targets in 36 of 39 games tracing back to the 2022 season opener. He's a risky flex option against Arizona this week.
Liz Loza: Despite the plus matchup, Brandon Aiyuk falls outside the top 20 wide receivers due to his poor recent performance (96 total yards in catching seven of 15 balls over his past two outings).
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Denver Broncos -2.5
Locks: Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 35.5 (13th highest)
FPI favorite: Broncos by 0.6, 52.8% to win outright
Raiders injury watch: TE Michael Mayer: Q; RB Zamir White: Q; WR Davante Adams: Q; WR Tyreik McAllister: Q
Broncos injury watch: none to report
Best of the Week
Matt Bowen: This Broncos defense is legit, and they can get home to the quarterback, leading the NFL with a blitz rate of 42.8%. On Tuesday, this unit was rostered in 5% of leagues, but no player or D/ST has been added in more ESPN leagues this week, so hopefully you didn't miss the window to use them this week.
Liz Loza: Denver's secondary may be elite versus wide receivers and solid when facing opposing running backs (T-10th), but the Broncos are truly mid (T-18th) against tight ends. That means the best way to exploit the matchup is over the middle of the field. Lock in Bowers as a top-10 TE.
Mike Clay: Denver has remained committed to Javonte Williams as its lead back and he has a good matchup this week against a Raiders defense that has allowed at least 15.5 fantasy points to the opposing lead back in all four games. With only Jaleel McLaughlin as competition for work this week, Williams is on the RB2 radar.
Green Bay Packers -3 vs. Los Angeles Rams
Locks: Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 48.5 (third highest)
FPI favorite: Packers by 2.5, 56.7% to win outright
Packers injury watch: WR Romeo Doubs: Q; WR Christian Watson: D; TE Luke Musgrave: Q
Rams injury watch: WR Cooper Kupp: O; TE Tyler Higbee: O
Best of the Week
Tristan H. Cockcroft highlights Jordan Love's plus matchup with the Rams, who have allowed the second-most fantasy points per pass attempt. It makes sense, then, that the Packers' receivers have the week's fourth-best matchup.
Mike Clay: Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks, who figures to play a full-time role with Christian Watson out, benefit most from this matchup. However, Jayden Reed, who aligns in the slot, doesn't get much of a boost.
Liz Loza: The Packers are establishing a running back by committee, but Josh Jacobs is the clear chairman due to his role in the passing game and red zone (despite no scores yet). His floor remains strong in this matchup but his ceiling is capped.
Matt Bowen: With Cooper Kupp (ankle) out again this week, Tutu Atwell is the top streaming Rams wide receiver as the big-play target, while tight end Colby Parkinson, who has 12 targets over his past two games, fits in as an outlet for quarterback Matthew Stafford against a Green Bay defense allowing 12.4 PPG to opposing tight ends.
New York Giants vs. Seattle Seahawks -6.5
Locks: Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 43.5 (sixth highest)
FPI favorite: Seahawks by 5.7, 65.5% to win outright
Giants injury watch: RB Devin Singletary: Q; WR Malik Nabers: O; WR Wan'Dale Robinson: Q
Seahawks injury watch: TE Pharaoh Brown: Q; TE Noah Fant: Q; WR Tyler Lockett: Q; WR DK Metcalf: Q; RB Kenneth Walker III: Q
Best of the Week
Matt Bowen wants to see more touchdown production from Geno Smith, but he's scored 17 or more points in three of four games played and rushed for 30 or more yards twice. Smith is a streaming option in this matchup, as is Giants receiver Wan'Dale Robinson, as he's seen 22 targets in the past two games and has double-digit points in three of his four games (and was 0.2 points from making it all four).
Mike Clay says DK Metcalf is in a terrific spot being shadowed by Giants corner Deonte Banks and can be upgraded.
Liz Loza: Kenneth Walker III showed why he is the lead back in Seattle with his "Monday Night Football" performance, but Zach Charbonnet remains a super-valuable insurance policy and should not be dropped.
Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers -2.5
Locks: Sunday 8:20 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 43.5 (sixth highest)
FPI favorite: Steelers by 0.8, 52.8% to win outright
Cowboys injury watch: WR Ryan Flournoy: Q; RB Ezekiel Elliott: Q; WR Brandin Cooks: O
Steelers injury watch: RB Cordarrelle Patterson: Q; RB Jaylen Warren: Q; QB Russell Wilson: Q; TE MyCole Pruitt: Q
Best of the Week
Tristan H. Cockcroft is avoiding Pat Freiermuth, as the Dallas defense has been excellent so far in containing opposing tight ends.
Matt Bowen: Rico Dowdle led the Cowboys backfield with a team-high 11 carries (46 yards rushing) in last week's win over the Giants, and he took a screen pass for a score on a red zone concept. It's hard to trust this Dallas backfield, but Dowdle gives you more than Ezekiel Elliott right now.
New Orleans Saints vs. Kansas City Chiefs -5.5
Locks: Monday 8:15 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 43.5 (sixth highest)
FPI favorite: Chiefs by 4.2, 60.8% to win outright
Saints injury watch: TE Juwan Johnson: Q; RB Alvin Kamara: Q; TE Taysom Hill: Q; WR A.T. Perry: Q
Chiefs injury watch: WR Mecole Hardman: Q; RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire: O
Best of the Week
Matt Bowen: After Carson Steele fumbled in Week 4, Kareem Hunt logged 16 touches for 85 yards. Hunt should be looked at as a flex option this week against the Saints. He has been added in a great deal of leagues this week, so check to see if he's still available in yours.
Tristan H. Cockcroft doesn't see this as the week Patrick Mahomes breaks out. The Saints have been the stingiest defense to opposing quarterbacks on a points-per-attempt basis.