Fantasy Football Week 5 Quarterback Start Decision: Justin Fields, Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins and More

As promised, I’m here today to discuss some fantasy quarterback starting options for week 5.

We’ll include the two quarterbacks (Baker Mayfield and Kirk Cousins) from the Thursday night game, and any other quarterbacks that appear in trending decisions with them on the FantasySP start/sit tool. That adds Dak Prescott, Justin Fields, Joe Burrow, Jordan Love, Kyler Murray, Geno Smith, Brock Purdy, C.J. Stroud, Sam Darnold, Patrick Mahomes and Anthony Richardson to the mix.

Looking for start/sit help? Be sure to check out the FantasySP Who Should I Start tool.

Season Stats

Mayfield has thrown for 984 yards and completed 70.5% of his passes this season. He’s thrown eight touchdowns to two interceptions and has rushed for 65 yards and two more scores.

Cousins has 864 passing yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions. He’s completed 64.7% of his passes and not added anything as a runner.

Prescott is already at 1,072 passing yards, but has completed just 64.4% of his passes. He has six touchdown passes, two interceptions, 21 rushing yards and an additional score on the ground.

After a big week 4, Fields has 830 passing yards, but just three touchdowns passes. He’s thrown one interception and rushed for 145 yards and three scores.

Burrow has 978 passing yards, seven touchdowns and one interception. He’s added 38 rushing yards and completed 70.9% of his passes.

Love played his second game in week 4, but has 649 passing yards already. He’s got six touchdown passes and four interceptions, while adding in just six rushing yards. Love has completed 55.7% of his passes.

Murray is coming off a down week 4 showing, but has six touchdown passes to just one pick. He’s completed 69.4% of his passes and rushed for 164 yards.

Smith is up to 1,182 passing yards, but has four touchdowns and interceptions. He’s completed 72.3% of his passes and rushed for 74 yards and a score.

Purdy has five passing touchdowns and two interceptions, along with 1,130 passing yards and a 68.9 completion percentage. He also has 75 rushing yards.

Stroud has 1,054 passing yards and 42 rushing yards. He’s thrown for six touchdowns, tossed two interceptions and has completed 67.6% of his passes.

Darnold has 11 touchdown passes to just three picks. He’s got 932 passing yards, a 68.9 completion percentage and has rushed for 50 more yards.

Mahomes is probably a surprise name on the list to some, but he’s got just 904 passing yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions already. He’s completed 68.6% of his passes and added 61 rushing yards.

Richardson left week 4 with a hip injury, so his status is one to watch as the games approach. He has 654 passing yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions on 50.6% passing. Richardson has added 141 rushing yards and scored once.

Week 5 Matchups

Mayfield and Cousins both have pretty favorable matchups on Thursday night. Atlanta’s defense allows opposing quarterbacks to score 19 points per game, while Tampa Bay’s defense gives up 18 points.

Prescott has a tough matchup against the Steelers, who allow just 11 fantasy points per game. Fields’ matchup against the Cowboys is more favorable, as Dallas allows 17 fantasy points.

Burrow’s clash with the Ravens is average, with Baltimore’s defense allowing 16 points. Love has a really favorable matchup against the Rams, who allow 19 points per game.

Murray has a tougher test against the 49ers, who allow 14 fantasy points. The matchup against the Cardinals is great for Purdy, as Arizona gives up 19 fantasy points per contest.

Smith’s matchup against the Giants is average, with New York allowing 15 fantasy points a week. The Bills allow 14 points, and that’s who Stroud faces.

Darnold has a very tough clash against the Jets, who allow only nine fantasy points per game. Mahomes’ matchup against the Saints is also tough, with New Orleans giving up only 10 points.

Richardson has the most favorable matchup of the week should he be able to play. He’s got the Jaguars, who allow 22 fantasy points per week to opposing quarterbacks.

Predictions and Starting Recommendations

Purdy is tied for the highest week 5 QB projection at 21 points. Murray, Stroud and Prescott are all projected for 19 points.

Love and Mahomes both sit at 18 points, while Fields is projected for 17. Burrow, Smith, Mayfield and Cousins are all at 16 points. Darnold is projected for 15 points, and Richardson is at 14 points.

I also like Purdy the best of the bunch. I like that he’s got most of his offensive weapons around him again, and the favorable matchup definitely helps him.

I’d take Love second. He’s knocked off the rust from sitting out a couple weeks and has a great matchup ahead of him. As long as he doesn’t turn the ball over multiple times, Love should be in store for a monster fantasy week.

I know the matchup isn’t the best, and he hasn’t performed the best this season, but I’d take Mahomes third. You didn’t draft him early to sit him behind any of these quarterbacks.

I like Mayfield next. He’s been good in three of the four games this season, and the favorable matchup definitely works in his favor. 

I’d roll with Cousins right after Mayfield. Cousins hasn’t performed as well this season, but the matchup is favorable, and with Bijan Robinson a bit banged up, I think Cousins could have a big passing day.

I’d take Stroud here. The matchup isn’t the best, but you simply have to trust in Stroud to deliver after being a high draft pick. He’s put up fantasy point totals that match the defenses he’s faced, so I trust in Stroud to at least do that again. 

Murray slots in here. I was disappointed in how he looked last week, but his rushing upside makes him too good to pass on any longer. We’re about to find out if last week was a fluke.

Give me Burrow here. I really wanted to take him higher, but there’s just something about that Ravens’ defense that makes me pause - it’s probably that they just shut Josh Allen and the Bills down.

I’d roll the dice with Fields here. I’m still not convinced that he’s even an average fantasy quarterback, but the matchup is good enough to take him over the remaining guys. 

If Richardson plays, this is where he’d fall for me. That matchup is fantastic, but I simply don't trust him based on his first couple weeks of play - plus, there’s a chance that hip injury affects him too.

I’d take Smith here. I think he’s got a high floor this week because of the matchup, but I put him this low because the touchdowns haven’t accompanied the big passing yards he’s put up. I’m still confident enough in Smith to start him if needed this week.

Give me Prescott over Darnold for the last spot. I do not like his matchup whatsoever, but I trust Prescott more than Darnold, even though Darnold has been the better fantasy performer this season. There’s always a chance that Prescott pops because the run game in Dallas is nonexistent, but that Steelers’ defense is no joke, and I’m trying to avoid them this season. Earlier in the week, I mentioned that I was in on Darnold finally, but I’m backtracking after looking at his week 5 matchup - maybe next week I’ll truly believe if Darnold can deliver again.