We are four weeks into the NFL season, which means the fantasy season is nearly a quarter over. We have a large enough sample size at this point that I won’t be looking back to 2023 data as often. The NFL changes fast, and we have to keep up. With that in mind, let’s look at the best and worst fantasy start sit matchups for Week 5 using the FantasyPros Fantasy Points Allowed tool.

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Fantasy Points Allowed: Best & Worst Matchups (Week 5)

Week 5 Quarterback Fantasy Football Matchups

Good Matchup: Anthony Richardson (QB – IND) @ Jacksonville Jaguars

It has been a rough three weeks for Anthony Richardson, who looked good to start Week 4 but had his outing shortened by a hip injury. Luckily, that injury is reportedly minor, with Richardson set to return in Week 5.

He returns to an excellent matchup, as he and the Colts will face the Jaguars, who have allowed a league-leading 22.2 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. It may be a bumpy ride all season as Richardson struggles with accuracy, but this is a week to embrace the rollercoaster and lock him into your lineup.

Bad Matchup: Sam Darnold (QB – MIN) vs. New York Jets (London Game)

Four weeks into the season, the Jets are allowing an astonishingly low 8.9 points per game to opposing quarterbacks. That number will likely come up, as they have had the benefit of three soft matchups in Will Levis, Jacoby Brissett and Bo Nix. But they also held Brock Purdy to just 10.34 fantasy points in Week 1. This unit is legit.

Meanwhile, Sam Darnold is the fantasy QB4, averaging over 20 points per game. However, a solid chunk of that fantasy production has come from his truly insane 10.4% TD rate. No other quarterback is above 6.9% (Josh Allen). Given that most Darnold managers probably have another solid quarterback option, it might be wise to leave Darnold on your bench for his trip across the pond.

Week 5 Running Back Fantasy Football Matchups

Good Matchup: Joe Mixon (RB – HOU) vs. Buffalo Bills

I’m assuming Joe Mixon will be back this week, as he returned to practice in a limited fashion to finish last week and has been deemed “day-to-day” by DeMeco Ryans to start this week. If he does return, Mixon will immediately be blessed with a great matchup in the form of the sieve that the Buffalo Bills call a run defense.

Despite having an electric offense that you would think would force opposing teams to pass, the Bills rank last by a wide margin with 32.5 points per game allowed to opposing running backs. They have allowed 5.7 yards per carry; no other team has allowed more than 5.3. Assuming he’s off the injury report by kickoff, Mixon should be locked straight into lineups in his return.

Bad Matchup: Rico Dowdle (RB – DAL) @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Rico Dowdle has established himself as the Cowboys’ clear lead back over the last few weeks as Ezekiel Elliott has faded into the wind. However, his usage still isn’t exactly great. He played fewer than 50% of the Cowboys’ offensive snaps in Week 4, as everyone from Hunter Luepke (an undrafted free agent fullback) to KaVontae Turpin (a speedy return specialist) to CeeDee Lamb saw snaps in the backfield. However, especially with byes starting this week, Dowdle’s role as the No. 1 RB on a good offense may be tempting to fantasy managers.

Unfortunately for Dowdle managers, the Steelers have allowed just 13.8 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs, the second-lowest number in the league. They have also allowed the second-fewest yards per attempt and rank first in Pro Football Focus (PFF) tackling grade as well as fifth in PFF run defense grade. There will be weeks where Dowlde is startable, but this isn’t one of them.

Week 5 Wide Receiver Fantasy Football Matchups

Good Matchup: Amari Cooper (WR – CLE) @ Washington Commanders

Outside of Week 3, Amari Cooper is averaging under 21 receiving yards and 3.6 fantasy points per game. His 43% catch rate ranks fourth-worst out of 59 receivers with at least 20 targets (not that it’s entirely his fault — his 62.2% catchable target rate is also fourth-worst in that group).

With that said, this is not the week to give up on Cooper. The Commanders have allowed an astonishing 39.1 points per game to opposing wide receivers, easily the most in the league. Their offense is unstoppable, and their secondary can’t stop anyone — a perfect combination. Cooper does still have an elite 47% air yards share and he should make good on that volume this week.

Bad Matchup: Jakobi Meyers (WR – LV) @ Denver Broncos

With the recent news Davante Adams has requested a trade, Jakobi Meyers figures to be one of the hottest pickups of the week. With Adams sidelined by a hamstring injury in Week 4, the former Patriot saw a truly absurd 41.7% target share as well as a 45.0% first-read target share. Meyers, who has long been underrated, could be a legit Flex play going forward when making fantasy football start sit decisions.

Unfortunately, Meyers could not have a worse matchup for his first game in the post-Adams-trade-request era. The Broncos have allowed the third-fewest points to opposing WRs through three weeks. If we look just at theoretical No. 1 WRs, they have been even stingier: DK Metcalf, Mike Evans, George Pickens and Garrett Wilson have combined to average just 29 receiving yards per game against Patrick Surtain and Co. Add Meyers, but leave him on your bench this week.

Week 5 Tight End Fantasy Football Matchups

Good Matchup: Juwan Johnson (TE – NO) @ Kansas City Chiefs

Things haven’t been great for Juwan Johnson to start the season, as he is averaging just a 44.4% route participation rate and fewer than two targets per game. However, if there were ever a week to start him, this is it.

The Chiefs have allowed by far the most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends (14.4). They have also given up the most targets, receptions and yards. Especially with Johnson’s usage trending up (he saw a 57.9% route participation rate and three whole targets in Week 4), he’s a valid desperation start for Week 5.

Bad Matchup: David Njoku (TE – CLE) @ Washington Commanders

After missing the last three weeks with an ankle injury, David Njoku is expected to return to practice this week. Unfortunately, if he makes it back for Week 5, he will be in for a tough matchup with the Commanders.

The thing about the Commanders is that they are so bad at defending wide receivers that their opponents forget to throw to anyone else. They have given up just 11 receptions all season to opposing tight ends, as well as under 25 yards per game. Especially given that Njoku may be limited if he plays this week, he’s best left on benches for one more week.

Ted Chmyz is a fantasy football contributor for FantasyPros.com. Find him on Twitter @Tchmyz for more fantasy content or to ask questions.