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Top 25 ranked fantasy players for Week 5
In need of some quick fantasy advice? Look no further! Below are the top 25 ranked fantasy players per our esteemed panel of experts. The higher the player, the safer the start according to our experts. Not many of these names will surprise you, but it's a great way to get a quick sense of how well our experts collectively think each player will perform each week. You can view the full rankings HERE to help get your starting lineup set in stone prior to the kickoff of this weekend's games.
![When Gronk is active, he's likely going to be one of the top options on this list. He also has a nice matchup against the Cowboys, though any matchup for Gronk is a nice one.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/oqzep5jx1tvdgcz9ivvz.jpg)
When Gronk is active, he's likely going to be one of the top options on this list. He also has a nice matchup against the Cowboys, though any matchup for Gronk is a nice one.
![Bell broke the Ravens' streak of not allowing a 100-yard rusher last week. He'll face less resistance this week against the Chargers, and the Steelers will need him to be electric with Mike Vick still getting his feet under him.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/iirh8y9hrlrel1dn6dqc.jpg)
Bell broke the Ravens' streak of not allowing a 100-yard rusher last week. He'll face less resistance this week against the Chargers, and the Steelers will need him to be electric with Mike Vick still getting his feet under him.
![Best quarterback in the league at home (where he's nigh untouchable) against a somewhat leaky secondary? Check, check, check. No wonder Rodgers is our top ranked signal-caller.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/waulygxj0r7m1ftdyonh.jpg)
Best quarterback in the league at home (where he's nigh untouchable) against a somewhat leaky secondary? Check, check, check. No wonder Rodgers is our top ranked signal-caller.
![Even a down week didn't drop Julio in the overall rankings. He's one of the safest weekly starts in all of fantasy football.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/gh4omial7jrenwmvstab.jpg)
Even a down week didn't drop Julio in the overall rankings. He's one of the safest weekly starts in all of fantasy football.
![Brady is back after his bye and will have had extra time to prepare to carve up Dallas' banged up secondary. He should light up the scoreboard this weekend.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/unymbnxvfl4woopeyyxd.jpg)
Brady is back after his bye and will have had extra time to prepare to carve up Dallas' banged up secondary. He should light up the scoreboard this weekend.
![Of the first-round running backs, Charles has been the most consistent, scoring at least 14.50 fantasy points in every week this year. He should be able to tap-dance his way to a big fantasy day through the Bears defense.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/a2oc1z9x76ubjehqts7t.jpg)
Of the first-round running backs, Charles has been the most consistent, scoring at least 14.50 fantasy points in every week this year. He should be able to tap-dance his way to a big fantasy day through the Bears defense.
![Palmer had his worst fantasy performance of the year last week, but still finished with a decent 15.98 fantasy points. He should get back on track against Detroit in Week 5.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/nshmwpabl3wqphcwu0np.jpg)
Palmer had his worst fantasy performance of the year last week, but still finished with a decent 15.98 fantasy points. He should get back on track against Detroit in Week 5.
![Eifert was held to a goose egg in Week 3, and only notched 6.9 fantasy points in Week 4, but he's our No. 2 tight end this week. The Seahawks have been beaten by tight ends in the past, and Eifert is a focal point of this offense.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/siihrbhpudyigo7bpoop.jpg)
Eifert was held to a goose egg in Week 3, and only notched 6.9 fantasy points in Week 4, but he's our No. 2 tight end this week. The Seahawks have been beaten by tight ends in the past, and Eifert is a focal point of this offense.
![While Lacy hasn't found the end zone since Week 1, he's posted at least 87 total yards in each of the three games he's finished this year. He's due for a breakout performance now that his ankle has healed up, and that could happen this week against St. Louis.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/jldqreveqnsg2yosbqf3.jpg)
While Lacy hasn't found the end zone since Week 1, he's posted at least 87 total yards in each of the three games he's finished this year. He's due for a breakout performance now that his ankle has healed up, and that could happen this week against St. Louis.
![OBJ had a quiet game, but was still targeted 12 times against the Bills. He should have a much easier go of things this week against the 49ers.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/ni1yn5klfrrojrrr7y74.jpg)
OBJ had a quiet game, but was still targeted 12 times against the Bills. He should have a much easier go of things this week against the 49ers.
![We expected Hopkins to receive the vast majority of the targets in the Houston offense, but 60 -- yes, SIXTY -- after four games is a little bonkers. If Vontae Davis is ruled out for Thursday Night Football, Hopkins will be ranked even higher.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/x7pl7rcui7cxn0lp7lht.jpg)
We expected Hopkins to receive the vast majority of the targets in the Houston offense, but 60 -- yes, SIXTY -- after four games is a little bonkers. If Vontae Davis is ruled out for Thursday Night Football, Hopkins will be ranked even higher.
![Zeus hasn't had fewer than 49 receiving yards in a game yet this season, and is a key cog in the Chiefs offense. Jeremy Maclin won't command all of the targets every week, and this matchup against the Bears could be a good one for Kelce to rebound in after a 2.9-point outing last week.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/m2pcugi0huathm9abpnr.jpg)
Zeus hasn't had fewer than 49 receiving yards in a game yet this season, and is a key cog in the Chiefs offense. Jeremy Maclin won't command all of the targets every week, and this matchup against the Bears could be a good one for Kelce to rebound in after a 2.9-point outing last week.
![As Forte goes, so too does the Bears offense. His 500 total yards rank first amount running backs in 2015. The Bears will rely on him once again to try and secure two wins in a row. Fantasy owners can start him with confidence.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/qswjwanbxvggemyyd9jx.jpg)
As Forte goes, so too does the Bears offense. His 500 total yards rank first amount running backs in 2015. The Bears will rely on him once again to try and secure two wins in a row. Fantasy owners can start him with confidence.
![Brown's insane five-catch, 50-plus yard streak came to an end last week, but the Steelers know they need to put the ball in his hands to be successful. After an extended week of practice with Mike Vick, expect Brown to get back on track in Week 5 against the Chargers](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/efn17olah2ntusgwh3zr.jpg)
Brown's insane five-catch, 50-plus yard streak came to an end last week, but the Steelers know they need to put the ball in his hands to be successful. After an extended week of practice with Mike Vick, expect Brown to get back on track in Week 5 against the Chargers
![Thomas has posted over 90 receiving yards in three straight games for the Broncos. He's only found the end zone once in 2015, but that could change this week against the Raiders' banged up secondary -- especially since Denver doesn't have a dynamic tight end to exploit the Raiders' weakness.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/gnmjnmraokdgdsbrupvu.jpg)
Thomas has posted over 90 receiving yards in three straight games for the Broncos. He's only found the end zone once in 2015, but that could change this week against the Raiders' banged up secondary -- especially since Denver doesn't have a dynamic tight end to exploit the Raiders' weakness.
![With Alshon Jeffery banged up, Bennett became the No. 1 target for the Bears. While Alshon might come back this week, Bennett is still one of the most trust-worthy tight ends in fantasy and should be started this week against the Chiefs.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/hrlvxyqgh8xdzllbbwqx.jpg)
With Alshon Jeffery banged up, Bennett became the No. 1 target for the Bears. While Alshon might come back this week, Bennett is still one of the most trust-worthy tight ends in fantasy and should be started this week against the Chiefs.
![Clay has emerged as a real threat for the Bills (and fantasy owners) over the last three weeks, either scoring a touchdown or crossing the 100-receiving yard mark. With some of the Bills' top weapons suffering from injuries (Karlos Williams, Sammy Watkins, LeSean McCoy) Clay should continue to stay hot.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/m1pm1dh00hovvjecl8pt.jpg)
Clay has emerged as a real threat for the Bills (and fantasy owners) over the last three weeks, either scoring a touchdown or crossing the 100-receiving yard mark. With some of the Bills' top weapons suffering from injuries (Karlos Williams, Sammy Watkins, LeSean McCoy) Clay should continue to stay hot.
![Ryan will be piloting Kyle Shanahan's offense in this classic "revenge" game against his former team. I jest, but Ryan does have a nice matchup against the Washington secondary with Julio Jones and the emerging Leonard Hankerson at his disposal.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/mibyqln0y4su2p376zmp.jpg)
Ryan will be piloting Kyle Shanahan's offense in this classic "revenge" game against his former team. I jest, but Ryan does have a nice matchup against the Washington secondary with Julio Jones and the emerging Leonard Hankerson at his disposal.
![Cobb came back down to earth last week after his three-touchdown outburst in Week 3, but he was also dealing with some soreness in his shoulder. After another week to heal back up, we like his chances of a big week against the Rams on his home turf.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/jzklosq1sb6dvfjrxxod.jpg)
Cobb came back down to earth last week after his three-touchdown outburst in Week 3, but he was also dealing with some soreness in his shoulder. After another week to heal back up, we like his chances of a big week against the Rams on his home turf.
![Frankly, I'm surprised Foster is not a bit higher, but he is coming off a rough performance in his 2015 debut. We expect him to get a far healthier share of the workload this week against a defense he's done well against in recent history.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/azihcjinn3gsoen97jro.jpg)
Frankly, I'm surprised Foster is not a bit higher, but he is coming off a rough performance in his 2015 debut. We expect him to get a far healthier share of the workload this week against a defense he's done well against in recent history.
![It was great to see ol' No. 9 out there slingin' it again last week. And looking pretty good in the process, too. Against an Eagles secondary that has been a sieve against the pass, we like Brees' odds to stay near the top of the quarterback heap for a second straight week.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/m5modk4z8qmb4yezpyfv.jpg)
It was great to see ol' No. 9 out there slingin' it again last week. And looking pretty good in the process, too. Against an Eagles secondary that has been a sieve against the pass, we like Brees' odds to stay near the top of the quarterback heap for a second straight week.
![Given the lack of passing options for the Cowboys, Witten climbs up the rankings ladder. The old man might not be able to juke anyone in the open field, but he still knows how to get open. He could see a ton of targets if/when the Cowboys fall behind the Patriots, too.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/yzzxejns84nhpovmfvbz.jpg)
Given the lack of passing options for the Cowboys, Witten climbs up the rankings ladder. The old man might not be able to juke anyone in the open field, but he still knows how to get open. He could see a ton of targets if/when the Cowboys fall behind the Patriots, too.
![Green draws a tough matchup against the "Legion of Boom," but he has the benefit of playing in a loaded offense on its home turf. He's still a WR1 this week.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/iggw0z8ogq1rjo0ntyjj.jpg)
Green draws a tough matchup against the "Legion of Boom," but he has the benefit of playing in a loaded offense on its home turf. He's still a WR1 this week.
![Despite losing two of his top three wideouts, Rivers still threw for nearly 360 yards last week. He welcomes back old reliable Antonio Gates to his lineup as well, which is why we like Rivers as an option for your lineup in Week 5 against the Steelers and their suspect secondary.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/fjjjtaylxaoxrrxm3l0o.jpg)
Despite losing two of his top three wideouts, Rivers still threw for nearly 360 yards last week. He welcomes back old reliable Antonio Gates to his lineup as well, which is why we like Rivers as an option for your lineup in Week 5 against the Steelers and their suspect secondary.
![It's been fantastic watching Larry Fitzgerald ball out like it's 2009 again. We expect him and Palmer to continue their hot streak on Sunday against the Lions.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/vrxohx8zc6u1iswsaqib.jpg)
It's been fantastic watching Larry Fitzgerald ball out like it's 2009 again. We expect him and Palmer to continue their hot streak on Sunday against the Lions.