NFL Week 5 fantasy flex rankings: Top 150 RB/WR/TE lineup options

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Pondering some tough flex choices for your Week 5 fantasy football lineup? Adam Rank sorts through the running backs, receivers and tight ends to present his top 150 flex options, with some useful nuggets of analysis sprinkled in. The ranking is based on a 0.5 PPR scoring format.

NOTE: In a typical week, this ranking will be posted on Tuesday. Injury designations will be added, adjusted or removed as teams’ official injury reports are made available. The following three designations will be reflected:

(Q) — Player is listed as questionable on his team’s official injury report.

(D) — Player is listed as doubtful on his team’s official injury report.

(O) — Player has been ruled out on his team’s official injury report.

RANKING TIERS

FLEX RANKINGS: 1-50

1. Christian McCaffrey, 49ers (at Rams | TNF) | RB1

2. Jonathan Taylor, Colts (vs. Raiders) | RB2

3. James Cook, Bills (vs. Patriots | SNF) | RB3

4. Puka Nacua, Rams (vs. 49ers | TNF) | WR1

5. Saquon Barkley, Eagles (vs. Broncos) | RB4

6. Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions (at Bengals) | RB5

7. De’Von Achane, Dolphins (at Panthers) | RB6

8. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions (at Bengals) | WR2

9. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks (vs. Buccaneers) | WR3

10. Jordan Mason, Vikings (vs. Browns in London) | RB7

11. Justin Jefferson, Vikings (vs. Browns in London) | WR4

12. Kyren Williams, Rams (vs. 49ers | TNF) | RB8

13. Omarion Hampton, Chargers (vs. Commanders) | RB9

14. Emeka Egbuka, Buccaneers (at Seahawks) | WR5

15. Bucky Irving, Buccaneers (at Seahawks) | RB10

16. Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals (vs. Lions) | WR6

17. Nico Collins, Texans (at Ravens) | WR7

18. Breece Hall, Jets (vs. Cowboys) | RB11

19. Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks (vs. Buccaneers) | RB12

20. Garrett Wilson, Jets (vs. Cowboys) | WR8

21. Derrick Henry, Ravens (vs. Texans) | RB13

22. Trey Benson, Cardinals (vs. Titans) | RB14

23. Davante Adams, Rams (vs. 49ers | TNF) | WR9

24. Cam Skattebo, Giants (at Saints) | RB15

25. Ashton Jeanty, Raiders (at Colts) | RB16

26. A.J. Brown, Eagles (vs. Broncos) | WR10

27. J.K. Dobbins, Broncos (at Eagles) | RB17

28. Chuba Hubbard, Panthers (vs. Dolphins) | RB18

29. Zay Flowers, Ravens (vs. Texans) | WR11

30. Keenan Allen, Chargers (vs. Commanders) | WR12

31. Travis Etienne, Jaguars (vs. Chiefs | MNF) | RB19

32. Javonte Williams, Cowboys (at Jets) | RB20

33. Alvin Kamara, Saints (vs. Giants) | RB21

34. Chase Brown, Bengals (vs. Lions) | RB22

35. Courtland Sutton, Broncos (at Eagles) | WR13

36. Tetairoa McMillan, Panthers (vs. Dolphins) | WR14

37. Trey McBride, Cardinals (vs. Titans) | TE1

38. Brock Bowers, Raiders (at Colts) | TE2

39. Quinshon Judkins, Browns (vs. Vikings in London) | RB23

40. George Pickens, Cowboys (at Jets) | WR15

41. Jakobi Meyers, Raiders (at Colts) | WR16

42. Deebo Samuel Sr., Commanders (at Chargers) | WR17

43. Brian Thomas Jr., Jaguars (vs. Chiefs | MNF) | WR18

44. Tony Pollard, Titans (at Cardinals) | RB24

45. Jameson Williams, Lions (at Bengals) | WR19

46. DeVonta Smith, Eagles (vs. Broncos) | WR20

47. Quentin Johnston, Chargers (vs. Commanders) | WR21

48. Marvin Harrison Jr., Cardinals (vs. Titans) | WR22

49. Chris Olave, Saints (vs. Giants) | WR23

50. David Montgomery, Lions (at Bengals) | RB25

Takeaways:

Well, that was terrible. A day after we lost Malik Nabers for the season, we witnessed Tyreek Hill suffer one of the most gruesome injuries I have seen in some time. Now we must sort through these situations to figure out how to fill holes on our rosters moving forward.

Weird stat line for Christian McCaffrey . He has the most fantasy points among running backs this season despite having -66 rushing yards over expectation and no rushing touchdowns. He does have 204 yards after the catch this season, per Next Gen Stats (third-most in the NFL).

If you landed Puka Nacua , you’re loving it so far. He led all players with 36 fantasy points in Week 4 and has posted 22-plus points in every game this season. Also, he leads the league with a 37.6% target share.

It looks like Omarion Hampton szn for the Chargers. He finished with a season-high 27.5 fantasy points against the Giants.

I’m still keeping Ja’Marr Chase relatively high in my rankings, based on nothing other than history. And the fact we’ve seen Jake Browning play well in the NFL previously. But it’s getting tougher with each disappointing week. Tee Higgins doesn’t deserve as much grace. And I might add I was sweating out needing one final catch from him in one of my leagues on Monday night, which he finally delivered late in the fourth quarter. It’s not a great life for those of us who drafted Bengals this year.

Nico Collins has been a struggle. He has four or fewer receptions in three of four games this season. But you can’t cut him. Nobody is going to want to trade for him. In fact, I’d go the other way. Try to see if you can steal him away from a desperate fantasy manager.

Derrick Henry was out-snapped by Justice Hill on Sunday (40 percent to 59 percent), but is it just a one-week thing? I’m not feeling great if Lamar Jackson is going to miss significant time with his hamstring injury, but his status is unclear right now. Why can’t we have nice things in fantasy football?

Ashton Jeanty had his breakout game against the Bears on Sunday. It’s safe to say you should probably start your running backs against the Bears. They made Jeanty look like Boise State Jeanty for an afternoon. He’s the third Raiders rookie since 1970 to score one or more rushing TDs and one or more receiving TDs in a single game, joining Bo Jackson and Marcus Allen, which isn’t bad company to keep.

A.J. Brown is becoming increasingly difficult to trust in fantasy. He had a great game in Week 3, when the Eagles were playing catch-up, but Philadelphia seems content with winning as boringly as possible. The Eagles have the lowest pass play percentage in the NFL this season (45.6%).

Alvin Kamara posted just 11.2 fantasy points on Sunday. That was his second-lowest total of the season. He has not been involved in the passing game like we’ve come to expect, gaining just 49 yards receiving on the season (a career-low through his first four games played of a season). Also, he has no goal-line rushes since Week 1.

The Cowboys defense is another one you need to start your running backs against. Josh Jacobs had nearly 32 points against Dallas on Sunday night. If you had Jacobs and lost your matchup, please send me a tweet because I need to see that stuff. Feels unbelievable.

Dak Prescott felt like a risky start heading into Week 4 with CeeDee Lamb out and the Cowboys down two starters on the offensive line, but I still loved George Pickens . He finished with a season-high 11 targets, eight catches, 134 yards and two touchdowns against the Packers.

David Montgomery had a tough game against the Browns, but that’s not a huge surprise. Cleveland’s defense will swallow up a ton of running backs. But Montgomery will bounce back this week against the Bengals.

You might notice Ricky Pearsall is not in my rankings this week. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Monday that Pearsall is dealing with a knee injury, and GM John Lynch said Pearsall is questionable for Thursday night’s game against the Rams. On a short week, I’m erring on the side of caution. Keep an eye on his status.

Tiers: Nos. 1-50 | Nos. 51-100 | Nos. 101-150

FLEX RANKINGS: 51-100

51. Michael Pittman, Colts (vs. Raiders) | WR24

52. Tee Higgins, Bengals (vs. Lions) | WR25

53. TreVeyon Henderson, Patriots (at Bills | SNF) | RB26

54. Woody Marks, Texans (at Ravens) | RB27

55. Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins (at Panthers) | WR26

56. Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks (vs. Buccaneers) | RB28

57. Tyler Warren, Colts (vs. Raiders) | TE3

58. Khalil Shakir, Bills (vs. Patriots | SNF) | WR27

59. Sam LaPorta, Lions (at Bengals) | TE4

60. Xavier Worthy, Chiefs (at Jaguars | MNF) | WR28

61. Nick Chubb, Texans (at Ravens) | RB29

62. Keon Coleman, Bills (vs. Patriots | SNF) | WR29

63. Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots (at Bills | SNF) | RB30

64. Ladd McConkey, Chargers (vs. Commanders) | WR30

65. Jerry Jeudy, Browns (vs. Vikings in London) | WR31

66. Wan’Dale Robinson, Giants (at Saints) | WR32

67. Jake Ferguson, Cowboys (at Jets) | TE5

68. Hunter Henry, Patriots (at Bills | SNF) | TE6

69. Jordan Addison, Vikings (vs. Browns in London) | WR33

70. Calvin Ridley, Titans (at Cardinals) | WR34

71. Jauan Jennings, 49ers (at Rams | TNF) | WR35

72. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Commanders (at Chargers) | RB31

73. Tre Tucker, Raiders (at Colts) | WR36

74. Hollywood Brown, Chiefs (at Jaguars | MNF) | WR37

75. Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs (at Jaguars | MNF) | RB32

76. Juwan Johnson, Saints (vs. Giants) | TE7

77. Travis Kelce, Chiefs (at Jaguars | MNF) | TE8

78. Dalton Kincaid, Bills (vs. Patriots | SNF) | TE9

79. Troy Franklin, Broncos (at Eagles) | WR38

80. T.J. Hockenson, Vikings (vs. Browns in London) | TE10

81. Kareem Hunt, Chiefs (at Jaguars | MNF) | RB33

82. Josh Downs, Colts (vs. Raiders) | WR39

83. Chris Godwin, Buccaneers (at Seahawks) | WR40

84. Terry McLaurin, Commanders (at Chargers) | WR41

85. Elic Ayomanor, Titans (at Cardinals) | WR42

86. Emari Demercado, Cardinals (vs. Titans) | RB34

87. Zach Ertz, Commanders (at Chargers) | TE11

88. Rashid Shaheed, Saints (vs. Giants) | WR43

89. Travis Hunter, Jaguars (vs. Chiefs | MNF) | WR44

90. Sterling Shepard, Buccaneers (at Seahawks) | WR45

91. Bhayshul Tuten, Jaguars (vs. Chiefs | MNF) | RB35

92. Tyquan Thornton, Chiefs (at Jaguars | MNF) | WR46

93. Stefon Diggs, Patriots (at Bills | SNF) | WR47

94. Mark Andrews, Ravens (vs. Texans) | TE12

95. Christian Kirk, Texans (at Ravens) | WR48

96. Cooper Kupp, Seahawks (vs. Buccaneers) | WR49

97. David Njoku, Browns (vs. Vikings in London) | TE13

98. Harold Fannin Jr., Browns (vs. Vikings in London) | TE14

99. RJ Harvey, Broncos (at Eagles) | RB36

100. Kayshon Boutte, Patriots (at Bills | SNF) | WR50

Takeaways:

Texans rookie RB Woody Marks broke out with 27.9 fantasy points on Sunday. He out-touched starter Nick Chubb 21 to 15 and had two red zone touches.

I’m not saying that I’m panicking about Sam LaPorta . But he’s scored fewer than eight fantasy points in three straight games for the first time in his career.

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