Fantasy Football Quarterback Start/Sit Week 5: Should You Start Joe Burrow, Sam Howell, or C.J. Stroud?

While things are getting a little more normal at quarterback, we're still left trying to make heads and tails of the first four weeks. Joe Burrow has been one of the worst fantasy quarterbacks so far this season. Jordan Love has been one of the best. And Baker Mayfield has more points than Trevor Lawrence and Dak Prescott. 

All that to say, we've got our work cut out for us as we try to figure out what to do with our start/sit decisions moving forward. 

You're obviously not benching any of those guys (more on that below), but there are plenty of other borderline fantasy starters we need to sift through. 

I'm going to use the list below to cover every quarterback start/sit situation for Week 5. The list is broken into tiers (which as pretty self-explanatory based on the names of them), and you can simply look at the list and make start/sit decisions -- because it's in order of preference! Think of it as my weekly quarterback rankings.

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No-Brainer Start 'Em

You drafted these guys as your starter. There's no reason to waffle on them based on matchups or anything like that. We don't even need to talk things through on any of these guys -- let's stop over-thinking things. Here's the order in which I'd start them this week: 

• Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

  • We don't even need to discuss why you always start Mahomes, right? 

• Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

  • Ditto what I said about Mahomes. 

• Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

  • Ditt what I said about Mahomes and Allen. 

• Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

  • Jackson looks to be back to form and should be locked in as a weekly starter. The Steelers are tough, but that shouldn't dissuade you from starting Lamar. 

• Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

  • Tua came back down to Earth last week, but should be able to get back on track against an iffy Giants defense. 

• Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts

  • Richardson is a top-10 lock at this point as long as he's healthy. The Titans defense is tough, but Richardson has such a high floor (and a high ceiling) that you have to start him. 

• Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings

  •  Cousins has had a really good fantasy season thus far and should be throwing a lot against the Chiefs. I wouldn't be shocked if he puts up top-5 numbers this week. 

Still Start 'Em

These guys are a little more of a borderline decision, but they're worth starting this week. Here's the order in which I'd start them this week: 

• Justin Fields, Chicago Bears

  • Fields finally came through last week, but things get tougher against the Commanders this week. While he's not a must-start, I still think Fields should be in most starting lineups. 

• Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Lawrence has been disappointing this year, but he's still supremely talented and is mostly a weekly starter. This week, however, is a tougher matchup against the Bills and could warrant a benching if you have a better option. 

• Jared Goff, Detriot Lions

  • I'm still in the "he's not a must-start yet" frame of mind with Goff, but he should be able to put up top-10 quarterback numbers against the Panthers this week. 

• C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

  • Stroud looks like the prize of the draft so far and should be started in almost every league until further notice. This week's matchup against Atlanta is no exception. 

• Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

  • Love has had his moments of looking lost, but he's generally been really really good and should be started in most leagues at this point. He has a chance to put up top-10 numbers against the Raiders this week. 

• Sam Howell, Washington Commanders

  • Howell had an awful Week 3, but turned things around against the Eagles last week. I think he's a great streaming start against an awful Bears defense this week.

• Joshua Dobbs, Arizona Cardinals

  • Dobbs has been fantastic over his last three games and should be able to do some damage against a scuffling Bengals squad.

• Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

  • Burrow honestly deserves to be in the tier below, but I'm a sucker and am sticking with him against a Cardinals defense that should give Burrow and the Bengals a bit of a reprieve.

Deep League Starts

These guys are basically "sits" in a 12-team league. But they're likely someone you should start in a superflex league or a 16-team league. Here's the order in which I'd start them this week:

• Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

  • I don't think I'll ever fully trust Purdy since he's such a limited talent, but he's worth starting due to the weapons around him. I don't love his mathcup this week, however, so I'm leaving him in this tier. 

• Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

  • Stafford has been the definition of average this year. And I think he'll continue to be average against the Eagles. Do with that what you will. 

• Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

  • Prescott looked good last week, but things get a lot harder against the 49ers this week. I'm sitting him where I can afford to. 

• Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos

  • Wilson has been up and down this season and now gets a tough matchup against a Jets defense that held down Patrick Mahomes. I'm ok starting Russ where you need to, but I'd avoid if you can. 

Sit 'Em

These guys are "sits" in pretty much any league except a superflex. Here's the order in which I'd start them this week if you absolutely have to:

• Daniel Jones, New York Giants

  • Jones can't be much worse than he was against the Seahawks and now has to play a tough Dolphins defense. His floor is decent due to his rushing ability, but I'm out on Danny Dimes.

• Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints

  • Carr gutted through an injury last week, but didn't do much. While New England's defense is in shambles after the loss of their two best players, I still don't trust Carr on the road. 

• Zach Wilson, New York Jets

  • I've seen way too many people jump onto the Wilson hype train after a decent game against the Chiefs. Do not board this train.

• Jimmy Garoppolo Las Vegas Raiders 

  • It looks like Garoppolo will be back this week, but he doesn't have a ton of upside. And Green Bay isn't an easy matchup either. 

• Mac Jones, New England Patriots

  • Jones was really good fantasy-wise through two weeks, but he's regressed and is coming off what was arguably the worst game of his NFL career. The Saints defense is very good, so Jones shouldn't be anywhere near your starting lineup. 

• Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

  • It's been a rough start to the rookie's NFL career. He was better last week, but he's still not worth starting in any fantasy leagues at this point. Especially against a tough Lions defense on the road.

• Kenny Pickett/Mitch Trubisky, Pittsburgh Steelers

  • It looks like Pickett might play against Baltimore, but both he and Trubisky are lackluster fantasy options. Keep either starter on your bench against a tough Ravens defense.

• Ryan Tannehill, Tennesee Titans 

  • Tannehill looked a little better last week, but he's still not someone you want as your starting fantasy quarterback. Keep him on your bench against Indianapolis and beyond.

• Desmond Ridder, Atlanta Falcons

  • Ridder has a ton of weapons, but he's been struggling to look like a starting NFL quarterback at times in his short career. Houston's defense has been playing well, so that combined with his recent struggles make Ridder an auto sit for me.

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