We’re entering the first week of the NFL season with teams on bye, as the Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Tennessee Titans will rest in Week 5.
With four teams on a bye and with players at each position emerging as breakout stars early in the season, how have the fantasy football Flex rankings been impacted for this coming week?
Let’s dive right into it and assess the fantasy outlooks of two intriguing players.
WEEK 5 POSITIONAL RANKINGS: QB | RB | WR | TE | K | DEF
Top 100 Fantasy Flex Rankings
1) CeeDee Lamb, WR | Dallas Cowboys (at PIT)
2) Justin Jefferson, WR | Minnesota Vikings (vs. NYJ {London})
3) Derrick Henry, RB | Baltimore Ravens (at CIN)
4) Jordan Mason, RB | San Francisco 49ers (vs. ARI)
5) Bijan Robinson, RB | Atlanta Falcons (vs. TB)
6) Ja’Marr Chase, WR | Cincinnati Bengals (vs. BAL)
7) Nico Collins, WR | Houston Texans (vs. BUF)
8) Alvin Kamara, RB | New Orleans Saints (at KC)
9) Marvin Harrison Jr., WR | Arizona Cardinals (at SF)
10) Malik Nabers, WR | New York Giants (at SEA)
11) DK Metcalf, WR | Seattle Seahawks (vs. NYG)
12) James Cook, RB | Buffalo Bills (at HOU)
13) DJ Moore, WR | Chicago Bears (vs. CAR)
14) Brandon Aiyuk, WR | San Francisco 49ers (vs. ARI)
15) Trey McBride, TE | Arizona Cardinals (at SF)
16) De’Von Achane, RB | Miami Dolphins (at NE)
17) Mike Evans, WR | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at ATL)
18) Kyren Williams, RB | Los Angeles Rams (vs. GB)
19) James Conner, RB | Arizona Cardinals (at SF)
20) Kenneth Walker III, RB | Seattle Seahawks (vs. NYG)
21) Drake London, WR | Atlanta Falcons (vs. TB)
22) Jonathan Taylor, RB | Indianapolis Colts (at JAX)
23) Chris Olave, WR | New Orleans Saints (at KC)
24) George Kittle, TE | San Francisco 49ers (vs. ARI)
25) Josh Jacobs, RB | Green Bay Packers (at LAR)
26) Jayden Reed, WR | Green Bay Packers (at LAR)
27) Garrett Wilson, WR | New York Jets (vs. MIN {London})
28) Chris Godwin, WR | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at ATL)
29) Terry McLaurin, WR | Washington Commanders (vs. CLE)
30) Breece Hall, RB | New York Jets (vs. MIN {London})
31) Brian Robinson Jr., RB | Washington Commanders (vs. CLE)
32) Zay Flowers, WR | Baltimore Ravens (at CIN)
33) Aaron Jones, RB | Minnesota Vikings (vs. NYJ {London})
34) Jerome Ford, RB | Cleveland Browns (at WAS)
35) Chuba Hubbard, RB | Carolina Panthers (at CHI)
36) Dalton Kincaid, TE | Buffalo Bills (at HOU)
37) Joe Mixon, RB | Houston Texans (vs. BUF)
38) Travis Etienne Jr., RB | Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. IND)
39) Deebo Samuel Sr., WR | San Francisco 49ers (vs. ARI)
40) Devin Singletary, RB | New York Giants (at SEA)
41) D’Andre Swift, RB | Chicago Bears (vs. CAR)
42) Stefon Diggs, WR | Houston Texans (vs. BUF)
43) Tyreek Hill, WR | Miami Dolphins (at NE)
44) Amari Cooper, WR | Cleveland Browns (at WAS)
45) Travis Kelce, TE | Kansas City Chiefs (vs. NO)
46) Najee Harris, RB | Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. DAL)
47) Diontae Johnson, WR | Carolina Panthers (at CHI)
48) Tee Higgins, WR | Cincinnati Bengals (vs. BAL)
49) Michael Pittman Jr., WR | Indianapolis Colts (at JAX)
50) George Pickens, WR | Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. DAL)
51) Christian Kirk, WR | Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. IND)
52) Khalil Shakir, WR | Buffalo Bills (at HOU)
53) Xavier Worthy, WR | Kansas City Chiefs (vs. NO)
54) Zack Moss, RB | Cincinnati Bengals (vs. BAL)
55) Kareem Hunt, RB | Kansas City Chiefs (vs. NO)
56) Brock Bowers, TE | Las Vegas Raiders (at DEN)
57) Jake Ferguson, TE | Dallas Cowboys (at PIT)
58) Rachaad White, RB | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at ATL)
59) Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR | Seattle Seahawks (vs. NYG)
60) Bucky Irving, RB | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at ATL)
61) Zamir White, RB | Las Vegas Raiders (at DEN)
62) Rico Dowdle, RB | Dallas Cowboys (at PIT)
63) Brian Thomas Jr., WR | Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. IND)
64) Rashid Shaheed, WR | New Orleans Saints (at KC)
65) Keenan Allen, WR | Chicago Bears (vs. CAR)
66) Wan’Dale Robinson, WR | New York Giants (at SEA)
67) Javonte Williams, RB | Denver Broncos (vs. LV)
68) Cam Akers, RB | Houston Texans (vs. BUF)
69) Dontayvion Wicks, WR | Green Bay Packers (at LAR)
70) Pat Freiermuth, TE | Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. DAL)
71) Rhamondre Stevenson, RB | New England Patriots (vs. MIA)
72) Rome Odunze, WR | Chicago Bears (vs. CAR)
73) Roschon Johnson, RB | Chicago Bears (vs. CAR)
74) Chase Brown, RB | Cincinnati Bengals (vs. BAL)
75) Braelon Allen, RB | New York Jets (vs. MIN {London})
76) Jaleel McLaughlin, RB | Denver Broncos (vs. LV)
77) Darnell Mooney, WR | Atlanta Falcons (vs. TB)
78) Evan Engram, TE | Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. IND)
79) Tucker Kraft, TE | Green Bay Packers (at LAR)
80) Jaylen Waddle, WR | Miami Dolphins (at NE)
81) Tank Bigsby, RB | Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. IND)
82) Austin Ekeler, RB | Washington Commanders (vs. CLE)
83) Zach Charbonnet, RB | Seattle Seahawks (vs. NYG)
84) Michael Wilson, WR | Arizona Cardinals (at SF)
85) David Njoku, TE | Cleveland Browns (at WAS)
86) Courtland Sutton, WR | Denver Broncos (vs. LV)
87) Tyler Allgeier, RB | Atlanta Falcons (vs. TB)
88) Jordan Addison, WR | Minnesota Vikings (vs. NYJ {London})
89) Jauan Jennings, WR | San Francisco 49ers (vs. ARI)
90) Mike Williams, WR | New York Jets (vs. MIN {London})
91) Jerry Jeudy, WR | Cleveland Browns (at WAS)
92) Alexander Mattison, RB | Las Vegas Raiders (at DEN)
93) Romeo Doubs, WR | Green Bay Packers (at LAR)
94) Tyler Lockett, WR | Seattle Seahawks (vs. NYG)
95) Jakobi Meyers, WR | Las Vegas Raiders (at DEN)
96) Cordarrelle Patterson, RB | Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. DAL)
97) Ty Chandler, RB | Minnesota Vikings (vs. NYJ {London})
98) Xavier Legette, WR | Carolina Panthers (at CHI)
99) Cole Kmet, TE | Chicago Bears (vs. CAR)
100) Greg Dortch, WR | Arizona Cardinals (at SF)
Which Flex Options Are Intriguing for Week 5?
Rico Dowdle’s Fantasy Outlook
Dowdle started the game for Dallas on Thursday and was handed the ball on the team’s first two snaps. It’s becoming more and more clear with each passing week that the Cowboys are seeing the same thing the fantasy community is: Dowdle is the top option in Dallas’ backfield.
That said, even with them seemingly committing to him, Dowdle played 43-48% of the offensive snaps for a fourth straight game. I worry that our excitement around him is more context-based than anything.
Dowdle looks far more explosive than Ezekiel Elliott, and that has us wishing for fantasy numbers. But is he an impactful talent when compared to all other backs?
shoutout to the 4% of people who started Rico Dowdle tonight pic.twitter.com/89SnPeDFna
— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) September 27, 2024
This season, the 26-year-old doesn’t have a carry gaining more than 10 yards (34 attempts) and has seen just two targets on 21 routes run during Dallas wins (his season reception numbers have been inflated by the two one-sided losses — 10 targets on 34 routes).
If we expect the Cowboys to operate with a lead more often than not, I’m not sold that Dowdle is the most versatile of options.
We can argue about his value moving forward, but I’d rather not go Dowdle’s direction in this spot against one of the best defenses in the game that also owns a ball-control offense. I’m penciling in a very similar stat line to what we saw last week (61 yards on 15 touches and zero touchdowns), and that’s not going to get it done in most situations.
Rashid Shaheed’s Fantasy Outlook
Not all growth is linear. Shaheed has been a downfield threat since entering the league, and those highlights are what produce the ceiling games that we love from him. However, through four weeks, I’m more encouraged by the “how” his three top-25 performances have occurred.
This season, Shaheed’s target rate is higher when Derek Carr is pressured (29%) than when not (25%), something that wasn’t even close to being true through two seasons (11.2% compared to 20.6%).
This past Sunday, Shaheed earned a pair of end-zone targets inside the 10-yard line. For the season, his first-quarter on-field target share is 36.4%, a rate that is leaps and bounds ahead of his 22.4% number from a year ago.
Most teams have a burner who can threaten defenses vertically. However, few teams have a player like Shaheed who owns that trait while developing in this fashion.
I have Shaheed ranked inside of my top 30 at the position this week — I think he’s a version of George Pickens with more stability under center.
It’s early, but the deep passer rating allowed by the Chiefs is 41.7 points higher than it was a season ago.
All stats are from TruMedia unless otherwise stated.