How are we already dealing with byes in fantasy football? It doesn't feel like it's been that long since we were mock drafting, but here we are, already managing the Chiefs and Panthers on bye in Week 5. This injury-riddled, surprising 2026 season is already flying by.
The good news is that while byes and injuries can be frustrating in the NFL, in fantasy football, they create opportunities. Knowing who to start and sit once you have to navigate a bench full of players scoring 0 points that week can make or break your playoff hopes.
While we haven't completely wrapped Week 4 yet, it's never too early to start thinking about your next opponent. Here's who to start and sit in fantasy football for Week 5:
Week 5 fantasy football starts
WR Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals
Wilson continues to prove that he's the WR1
in Arizona by leading the team with seven catches for 95 yards against the Giants in Week 4. Next week, he gets to face a Lions defense that has been shredded against the pass this season. The offseason doubts about Wilson being able to continue the breakout we saw at the end of last season have been answered – he's become a locked-in starter.
TE Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals
If Ja'Marr Chase's head injury is serious and Tee Higgins misses any time for the Bengals, the most popular player on waivers this week is going to be wide receiver Dohnte Meyers. The former CFL receiver impressed with seven catches for 82 yards in Week 4 after Chase left with his injury, but undrafted rookies tend to slow down once there's tape on them. The player to start in Chase's potential absence is going to be Gesicki, who caught three passes for 40 yards and a touchdown in Cincinnati's loss to Jacksonville and is a good bet to score against the Dolphins in Week 5.
RB Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears
Breaking news: If a running back finishes with 146 yards on 30 carries and two touchdowns, you should put that guy in your starting lineup. Starter D'Andre Swift isn't going anywhere, but he went to the sidelines in Week 4 after fumbling and Monangai responded with an enormous day. Even if the second-year RB from Rutgers is the Bears' RB2 on paper, he's a must-start against a mediocre Packers defense in Week 5.
Week 5 fantasy football sits
WR Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts
On a day the Colts played the struggling Commanders defense, without WRs Keenan Allen or Alex Pierce, Downs finished with a paltry three catches for 16 yards despite being the WR1 on paper. It's not necessarily a Downs problem, as quarterback Daniel Jones has thrown for just 611 yards through four games, but playing either Jones or Downs right now is going to be a problem for your lineup. Leave both on your bench in Week 5 vs. the Steelers.
RB David Montgomery, Houston Texans
Through four games, the first-year Texan has totaled 127 rushing yards on around 2.5 yards per carry. The three touchdowns Montgomery scored in Week 1 are a distant memory, replaced by a reel of the veteran running back being hit in the backfield behind a porous offensive line. The Texans offense did look a lot better with WR Nico Collins back from a hamstring injury, so Montgomery could become startable again this season, but let's let him prove it from the bench in Week 5.
WR Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders
We'll end on an obvious one, as there's a good chance Washington's WR1 doesn't even play in Week 5 after injuring his hamstring late in the week and sitting out Week 4. But even if the veteran manages to overcome a hamstring injury in a week, leave Scary Terry on the bench. His quarterback situation is downright terrifying, as starter Jayden Daniels is likely still out a few weeks with an elbow injury and Marcus Mariota left Washington's Week 4 game early with a knee injury. Third string 7th round rookie Athan Kaliakmanis could be starting, and that's a bet we want to let other managers make.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Early Week 5 fantasy football start and sit in your lineup
