Michael Carter and More Week 5 Injury Fill-Ins
In today's Fantasy Life Newsletter, presented by Xfinity, we're rounding up even more Week 5 injury replacements.
In today's Fantasy Life Newsletter, presented by Xfinity:
One of these days I’ll get to write about something other than the non-stop deluge of injuries to players on our fake football teams, but today is not that day.
Here are three new developments that you need
Trey Benson > Michael Carter, Emari Demercado. This came seemingly out of nowhere. Benson is headed to IR with a knee injury, which means he’ll miss at least four games and you’ll be missing every dollar of FAAB you spent on him. Even though Demercado operated as the clear No. 2 behind Benson in Week 4, he is likely to remain in his role as the receiving down back. Carter is who I expect to be the direct replacement for Benson and who I recommend making your priority target on the waiver wire.
Bucky Irving > Rachaad White, Sean Tucker. Wep, the MRI confirmed that Irving is dealing with a foot sprain. He was spotted at practice yesterday on crutches and in a walking boot. The team insists that it isn’t a long-term injury, but this is going to be the White and Tucker show for at least this week and, realistically, the foreseeable future.
The team trusts White (and he’ll be the better play in Week 5), but Tucker could easily earn the majority of the early-down carries if Bucky misses an extended period.
Lamar Jackson > LAMAR JACKSON?! Um, what? Apparently Jackson is going to try to play this week and is more “week-to-week” than out for a few weeks. That’s great news all around.
That said, I still wouldn’t count on him going this week (he didn’t practice yesterday) and would have a backup plan ready to go.
For any start/sit questions involving these situations, check out our Week 5 rankings.
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Week 5 Rankings Upgrades: J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets!
It’s not often you get mass upgrades across an entire offense, but that’s what happens when a team plays the 2025 Dallas Cowboys. This week? The New York Jets, who are getting upgrades across the board in Dwain’s Week 5 Rankings …
✈️ Justin Fields
Fields has delivered 29.5 and 27.2 fantasy points in his two complete starts in 2025. In those contests, he has averaged 222 yards and one touchdown through the air. Those marks are well above his career average, and the mobile QB has been up to his usual tricks on the ground, averaging 64.5 rushing yards and a touchdown in two complete games.
Fields leads all quarterbacks with at least 100 snaps in designed rush rate (19%) and scramble rate (13%). Fields also ranks No. 1 in share of designed rush attempts inside the five-yard line at 67%, with 0.7 per game.
The Jets carry a healthy team total of 22.5 (12th-highest) per the oddsmakers, but Matthew Freedman's NFL Betting Game Model likes them much more. In the model, New York boasts a juicy 25.3 team total (eighth).
The Cowboys have sanctioned the No. 1 fantasy boost to opposing quarterback rooms at 9.6 points per game. Opponents have enjoyed a 93-yard and 0.9 TD boost through the air over the first four games.
Fields offers the third-highest Xfinity Best ceiling on the slate and also carries strong median and floor projections:
- Xfinity Best (ceiling): 33 (3rd)
- Median: 19.2 (4th)
- Floor: 10.7 (8th)
That is what we call a SMASH PLAY, y'all. Fields moves up the ranks to No. 6.
✈️ Breece Hall
Hall handled a season-high 64% rush share with Braelon Allen knocked out of the game early. With Allen expected to miss Week 5, this backfield will consolidate around Fields, Hall and Isaiah Davis.
The Jets sport a juicy team total in the betting model (25.3), and Dallas has allowed the No. 4 boost to opposing RB rooms at 6.6 points per game (PPG). Hall offers the eighth-highest Xfinity Best ceiling (34.1) as a borderline RB1.
✈️ Garrett Wilson
Yes, I will list a Jet at every position in this article. They are playing the Cowboys, so those are just the rules. Dallas has been the best matchup in the league for WR rooms, giving up a 12.5-point boost. Wilson ranks second in the NFL with a 36% target share.
That sounds like a recipe for success—Wilson UPGRADES to top-six status in Week 5.
» For all of Dwain’s Week 5 risers and fallers, click below. 👇
Predicting Week 5: Woody Marks Does It Again
This week, the Ravens could be without seven—SEVEN!—of their defensive starters.
- DT Nnamdi Madubuike (neck, IR)
- DT Broderick Washington (ankle, IR)
- DT Travis Jones (knee): Out Week 4
- EDGE Kyle Van Noy (hamstring): Last played in Week 2
- LB Roquan Smith (hamstring): Exited Week 4, doubtful
- CB Marlon Humphrey (calf): Exited Week 4, doubtful
- CB Nate Wiggins (elbow): Exited Week 4, questionable
As a consequence, they could struggle to sustain drives on offense and stop them on defense.
And that makes me think we could see a big game out of rookie RB Woody Marks, who broke out last week with 119 yards and two TDs on 17 carries and five targets.
Given the success he had last week, the Texans could lean on him even more this week … and the Ravens are No. 1 in most fantasy points allowed to RBs (30.8).
The Week 7 bye can't get here fast enough for the Ravens.
Week 5 DST Streamer of the Week: LA Rams (TNF)
Around the Watercooler
The latest fantasy nuggets, silliness, and NFL gossip from our merry band of football nerds.
💪 Week 5’s top DST streamers are here. Some hit the field tonight.
🚨 10 things to know for Week 5. Your keys to success are here.
👀 The Browns make the switch at QB. Rookie time.
📝 Our first bye week is here. Strategy, adds, trade targets and more.
🤲 Caleb Williams receives high praise … from an elite defender.
😡 If the brace is hampering Brock Bowers … this is not good news.
👋 Week 5 mismatches! Ian has you covered.
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