Week 5 Fantasy Flex Rankings

Each week, fantasy football owners have to make tough start 'em, sit 'em decisions at the flex spot. Most owners have several must-starts locked into the lineup, but flex is usually the place to take a chance on a potential breakout player or to play a guy with an excellent matchup that could exceed expectations. Not every decision works, but the process of comparing RBs, WRs, and TEs and identifying a solid, matchup-based sleeper to throw in the flex is one of the things that makes fantasy football so fun (and frustrating) for owners.

Decision-making in the flex spot becomes even more important when bye weeks begin in earnest. Week 5 represents the first week of planned byes, and the Packers and Lions won't be playing. As a result, Aaron Jones, Davante Adams, Kenny Golladay, Marvis Jones, T.J. Hockenson, Robert Tonyan, Adrian Peterson, and D'Andre Swift will be absent from our rankings. All eight of those players would draw starter consideration from owners in a normal week, so the ranks are thinned a bit making our Week 5 flex rankings even more important than usual.

WEEK 5 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em

If you're looking for a replacement for one of those players this week, the Panthers-Falcons game has the makings of a high-scoring affair and could be a matchup to target players in. Other games to target include Seahawks-Vikings and Cowboys-Giants. A sneakier matchup to get in on could be the 49ers-Dolphins game, as a few of the potential flex options in that contest could be available on the waiver wire.

WEEK 5 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

If you need a safe flex option, look for someone who will get guaranteed touches (often a volume RB even if they're in a bad offense). If you're looking more for upside, target a top receiver in a great matchup. And of course, always remember to put the player with the latest-starting game in your flex spot. That way, if there are any unexpected absences in the game your player is involved in, you'll have more options to replace him.

Without further ado, here are our Week 5 flex rankings. 

WEEK 5 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings: Flex

These rankings are for standard, non-PPR leagues.