NFL Week 5 Was Wild: Who Won Fantasy Football Matchups
NFL Week 5 of the NFL 2025 season is in the books, and it did not disappoint. The Tennessee Titans got their first win of the season thanks to an intercepted ball by Titans quarterback Cam Ward that was fumbled by the Arizona Cardinals and recovered in the endzone by Titans wide receiver Tyler Lockett to close out the afternoon slate on Sunday. The New Orleans Saints also got their first win over the New York Giants.
Now, looking at fantasy football, there are a number of performances that are surprising. Today, we will break down the top fantasy football performers of the NFL Week 5.
Rico Dowdle Shines for Carolina
Rico Dowdle was the shining star for fantasy football in Week 5. Dowdle, the backup on the depth chart, got the starting nod due to the starting running back, Chuba Hubbard, getting injured. He took full advantage of the opportunity, rushing for a whopping 20t6 yards and a touchdown.
The career-best performance earned him 32.4 PPR fantasy points, which led all running backs. Dowdle is rostered in 58.7% of ESPN fantasy football leagues, so hopefully you were able to snag him on waivers and get him in your starting lineup during week five.
Jonathan Taylor Takes NFL Touchdown Lead
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor dominated the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, rushing for 66 yards and three touchdowns (31.6 PPR fantasy points). His three-touchdown day put him at seven touchdowns on the season through five games.
That touchdown total leads the entire NFL. Taylor, a second-round draft pick in most fantasy football leagues, looks to be a true league-winner at his draft cost.
Emeka Egbuka Continues His Historic Rookie Season
In the absence of Mike Evans, rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka continued to dominate for Tampa Bay on Sunday. Egbuka caught seven passes for 163 yards and a touchdown. That total was good for 31.3 PPR fantasy points.
Egbuka is having a historic rookie season that could rival the likes of Puka Nacua, Brian Thomas Jr., and Ja’Marr Chase in the past. It will be interesting to see if he continues his historic pace once Mike Evans returns from injury and Chris Godwin gets fully healed from his ACL injury last season.
Other Notable Performances
Rams running back Kyren Williams, Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, and 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey were other skill players who scored over 28 PPR fantasy points during Week 5. If you rostered any of the above players, the odds are you dominated your fantasy football matchups.
We are now five weeks into the season, and we have accurate data to give ourselves an advantage heading into the next part of the season. Follow along for league-winning advice to help you get a leg up on your league mates.
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NFL Week 5: FAQs
Q: Who was the top fantasy football scorer in NFL Week 5?
Rico Dowdle led all fantasy scorers in Week 5 with 32.4 PPR points thanks to his 206-yard, 1-touchdown performance.
Q: Is Jonathan Taylor now the top running back in fantasy football?
Jonathan Taylor currently leads the NFL in touchdowns with seven after Week 5. He looks like a top-tier fantasy running back and a potential league-winner.
Q: Should I add Emeka Egbuka to my fantasy team?
Yes. Egbuka is having a historic rookie season and continues to put up WR1-level production, even with Tampa Bay’s wide receiver room getting healthier.
Q: Which other players had standout fantasy performances in Week 5?
Kyren Williams, Ja’Marr Chase, and Christian McCaffrey all scored over 28 PPR points, making them major contributors to fantasy wins.
