The fantasy football quarterback landscape is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate. Injuries and changing offensive situations have reshaped the position entering Week 5 of the 2026 NFL season. Josh Allen remains a top-tier option despite Buffalo's first loss of the season. Others are firmly in the QB1 conversation, too. At the same time, injuries to Lamar Jackson, Marcus Mariota, Jayden Daniels, Caleb Williams, and Baker Mayfield could dramatically alter the quarterback pool before Week 5 kicks off.
Week 5 Top Fantasy Football Picks
Josh Allen, BUF (@ LAR)
Josh Allen remains one of the safest fantasy football quarterbacks despite Buffalo's disappointing Week 4 loss to New England. Allen completed 23-of-33 passes for 254 yards, one touchdown, and one interception while adding four rushing yards and a touchdown on five carries.
The biggest factor working against Allen was the absence of DJ Moore. The latter left the game in the first half with a shoulder injury. Buffalo's offense consequently lost another important piece of its passing attack.
Allen's late interception ultimately ended the comeback attempt and handed the Bills their first loss of the season. Still, his overall fantasy production remained solid. His rushing ability continues to provide an important floor, particularly when Buffalo's passing game encounters adversity. The Bills travel to Los Angeles to face the Rams in Week 5. Allen remains a high-end QB1 and should be firmly locked into fantasy lineups.
Joe Burrow, CIN (@ MIA)
Joe Burrow completed 39-of-54 passes for a massive 428 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in Cincinnati's 22-17 loss to Jacksonville. He also rushed for six yards and a touchdown. There were clearly positives and negatives. Throwing for more than 425 yards is outstanding fantasy production. However, two interceptions and only 17 points from Cincinnati's offense limited the overall impact.
The bigger question heading into Week 5 is the health of his receivers. Ja'Marr Chase is dealing with a concussion. Tee Higgins is managing an adductor injury. Burrow's fantasy ceiling is heavily tied to whether those two key targets can suit up against Miami. If either or both return, Burrow's enormous passing volume gives him significant upside.
Dak Prescott, DAL (vs. TB)
Dak Prescott completed 32-of-45 passes for 335 yards and one touchdown. He repeatedly targeted CeeDee Lamb, with the two connecting on 17 receptions. That level of connection immediately makes Prescott an attractive fantasy option. When Dallas is willing to lean heavily on Lamb, Prescott has a reliable source of high-volume production capable of keeping his fantasy floor elevated.
The Cowboys now face Tampa Bay on Thursday. Prescott should remain a QB1 option. The short week creates an additional challenge. However, his recent passing volume and connection with Lamb make him difficult to overlook.
Week 5 Fantasy Football Sleepers
Jameis Winston, NYG (@ WAS)
Jameis Winston showed why fantasy football managers shouldn't completely dismiss him. Winston threw three touchdowns Sunday while leading the Giants to an impressive victory over Arizona. He did throw two interceptions, so there remains obvious volatility. The performance, though, demonstrated that he can still produce fantasy-relevant numbers.
Winston's aggressive approach naturally comes with turnover risk, but managers in deeper leagues should consider him a streaming candidate against Washington.
Deshaun Watson, CLE (@ NYJ)
Deshaun Watson threw one interception and lost a fumble in the Browns' latest victory. However, also engineered a game-winning drive in the final two minutes after Pittsburgh erased an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit.
His season numbers are particularly intriguing. Watson has completed 69.6% of his passes. He is averaging more than 210 passing yards per game with a 6-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He has also added 127 rushing yards on 31 carries. That rushing production gives Watson another avenue to fantasy points. It also helps raise his floor beyond what his passing numbers alone might suggest. He'll face the Jets in Week 5 and remains an interesting streaming option for managers willing to trust his recent efficiency.
Michael Penix Jr., ATL (vs. BAL)
Article Continues BelowMichael Penix Jr has made the most of his opportunities. Penix completed 15-of-20 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown in Atlanta's dominant 45-24 victory over New Orleans. Atlanta's running game did most of the heavy lifting, though, which left Penix with limited responsibility.
Still, his efficiency was encouraging. Penix should continue to support an Atlanta offense that has taken a significant step forward since he reclaimed the starting job. His Week 5 matchup against Baltimore presents a much tougher test. Still, the increased confidence in Atlanta's offense makes Penix an intriguing deeper-league streamer.
Week 5 Quarterback Injuries
Several major quarterback injuries could dramatically reshape the Week 5 fantasy landscape.
Lamar Jackson left Baltimore's Week 4 game early with an ankle injury and remains listed as TBD. Marcus Mariota is dealing with a knee injury. Jayden Daniels remains TBD with an elbow injury.
Caleb Williams is out with a hamstring injury. That potentially opens the door for another Chicago quarterback to start. Baker Mayfield is also out while dealing with a thumb injury and could miss three to six weeks. That creates a significant void in Tampa Bay's offense.
Week 5 Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings
1. Josh Allen, BUF (@ LAR)
2. Joe Burrow, CIN (@ MIA)
3. Dak Prescott, DAL (vs. TB)
4. Brock Purdy, SF (@ SEA)
5. Matthew Stafford, LAR (vs. BUF)
6. Trevor Lawrence, JAX (vs. PHI)
7. Jared Goff, DET (@ ARI)
8. Drake Maye, NE (vs. LV)
9. Jayden Daniels, WAS (vs. NYG)
10. Jacoby Brissett, ARI (vs. DET)
11. Jalen Hurts, PHI (@ JAX)
12. Jordan Love, GB (vs. CHI)
13. Tyler Shough, NO (vs. MIN)
14. Kyler Murray, MIN (@ NO)
15. Jameis Winston, NYG (@ WAS)
16. Bo Nix, DEN (@ LAC)
17. Sam Darnold, SEA (vs. SF)
18. C.J. Stroud, HOU (@ TEN)
19. Deshaun Watson, CLE (@ NYJ)
20. Michael Penix, ATL (vs. BAL)
21. Aaron Rodgers, PIT (vs. IND)
22. Kirk Cousins, LV (@ NE)
23. Geno Smith, NYJ (vs. CLE)
24. Daniel Jones, IND (@ PIT)
25. Malik Willis, MIA (vs. CIN)
26. Tyson Bagent, CHI (@ GB)
27. Jalon Daniels, TB (@ DAL)
28. Justin Herbert, LAC (vs. DEN)
29. Tyler Huntley, BAL (@ ATL)
30. Cam Ward, TEN (vs. HOU)
Week 5 Outlook
Allen remains a dependable elite option. Burrow and Prescott bring significant passing-volume upside. Among the sleepers, Watson's rushing production, Winston's touchdown potential, and Penix's efficient play provide fantasy managers with several alternatives.
With multiple quarterback injuries still unresolved, the rankings could change before kickoff. Fantasy managers should monitor the final injury reports closely, but those who need a streamer already have several viable options.