Week 5 of the 2026 NFL season is here, and fantasy football managers have some difficult decisions to make at quarterback.

With bye weeks beginning to enter the equation and several quarterbacks carrying big-name value, fantasy managers cannot simply rely on reputation when setting their lineups. Matchups, recent production, and potential game script all need to be considered.

Here are three quarterbacks to start and three to sit in Week 5.

Week 5 Start ‘Em

C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

C.J. Stroud has a chance to deliver another strong fantasy performance against the Tennessee Titans this week. Stroud currently sits as Sleeper's No. 13 quarterback, but he is coming off a 23+ fantasy-point performance against the Dallas Cowboys. He threw for 347 yards and two touchdowns in Week 4, showing the type of passing production that can make him a strong fantasy option.

Stroud has three games this season with at least 274 passing yards, which is respectable through four weeks. The biggest issue has been his touchdown production, with only five touchdown passes so far. Still, fantasy managers should expect the Texans quarterback to find the end zone against Tennessee.

Stroud should throw for at least 275 yards and two touchdowns, putting him inside the top 12 quarterbacks for Week 5.

Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers

Aaron Rodgers has quietly put together back-to-back strong fantasy performances and now gets a matchup that could allow him to make it three in a row.

Rodgers scored 23 fantasy points in consecutive games against the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns, and he now faces the Indianapolis Colts. He has thrown for 999 yards and seven touchdowns through four games.

The Steelers have enough weapons around Rodgers to make this offense dangerous through the air, particularly in the red zone.

Rodgers has yet to throw for 300 yards in a game this season, but that does not necessarily need to happen for him to be a quality fantasy starter. A 275-yard performance with at least two touchdowns would give him another strong outing, and three touchdowns are certainly within the range of possibilities.

Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

Matthew Stafford is not putting together another MVP-caliber season just yet, but Week 5 could be the beginning of a massive stretch for the Rams quarterback.

Stafford has six touchdown passes through four games, but he failed to throw a touchdown in the Rams' Week 4 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. That was the second time this season he failed to throw a touchdown.

That makes his matchup with the Buffalo Bills even more intriguing. The Rams now enter a stretch against Buffalo, Arizona, Las Vegas, the Los Angeles Chargers, Washington, and Arizona again. Stafford has plenty of opportunities to rack up fantasy production, and it starts Monday night against Buffalo.

With Puka Nacua back in the lineup and Stafford already ranking among the top fantasy quarterbacks for Week 5 in several rankings, this could be the beginning of his return to 20-plus fantasy-point performances.

Expect Stafford to find the end zone at least three times in what could be a Super Bowl preview.

Week 5 Sit ‘Em

Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

Jordan Love has been productive enough this season to remain in the fantasy conversation, but his Week 5 matchup against the Chicago Bears makes him a quarterback to consider sitting.

Love has thrown for 1,041 yards and eight touchdowns through four games, but he has also thrown three interceptions. He also has two games throwing for under 200 yards. The inconsistency is why he sits this week.

The matchup is not necessarily disastrous, but fantasy managers have better options available. Love's lack of rushing production also makes him more dependent on passing touchdowns to reach his fantasy ceiling.

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Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

Trevor Lawrence has played well enough this season to make sitting him uncomfortable, but fantasy managers should be careful with him against Philadelphia.

Lawrence has thrown for 843 yards and eight touchdowns with only two interceptions through four games. However, this is more about the matchup and expectations than Lawrence's talent. The Eagles limited Matthew Stafford big time in Week 4.

Some Week 5 rankings still have Lawrence firmly inside the top five, while others are more cautious. That difference shows just how difficult this decision is.

If Lawrence needs a big passing day to justify his fantasy ranking, there are enough concerns to look elsewhere.

Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

Jalen Hurts has scored fantasy points with both his arm and legs throughout his career, yet his passing production has been inconsistent through four games. He has thrown for 713 yards and seven touchdowns with three interceptions while adding 105 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Hurts is always capable of breaking a matchup with his legs, but there are enough questions surrounding Philadelphia's offense right now to make him a risky start. He just has not played well enough to still be in the lineup.

Week 5 is not the week to blindly trust quarterback names. Stroud, Rodgers, and Stafford have favorable paths to big performances, while Love, Lawrence, and Hurts all carry more risk than their names suggest.