Bo Nix and 3 More Quarterbacks to Sit in Fantasy Football for Week 5
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Not every quarterback matchup is worth trusting in NFL Week 5. While some passers are trending up against struggling defenses, others face circumstances that could stall their fantasy output.
Challenging road environments, improved secondaries and lingering offensive issues all play a role this week. A few quarterbacks have been inconsistent under pressure, while others may find themselves in game scripts that limit passing opportunities.
With lineups tightening due to bye weeks and wins becoming harder to secure, avoiding the wrong quarterback start can be just as important as finding the right one. Here are four signal-callers better left on the bench in Week 5.
Bo Nix (Broncos) @ Eagles
Nix is coming off his best performance of the 2025 season, where he passed for 326 yards and scored three total touchdowns against a porous Bengals defense. However, he averaged 178 passing yards, 1.7 passing touchdowns and an interception per game in Weeks 1-3. He also didn’t score any rushing touchdowns in that span. In Week 5, he faces off against the Eagles on the road. Philadelphia ranks 21st in fantasy points given up to opposing quarterbacks per game this season. Nix has struggled against good defenses such as the Colts and Chargers and the Eagles present a similar, significant challenge.
Bo Nix vs the Bengals
— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) September 30, 2025
🔸 29/42
🔸 326 yards
🔸 3 total TDs pic.twitter.com/ime6ybRXp1
Matthew Stafford (Rams) vs. 49ers
Stafford is coming off a QB2 Week 4 finish in which he scored 27.4 fantasy points. He passed for 375 yards and three touchdowns against a very solid Rams secondary. Still, he makes the sit list in Week 5. The 49ers' defense has allowed 207 passing yards or fewer in all four games this season. They also surrender the sixth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks per game. With Stafford offering zero rushing upside, he should be benched against a stout 49ers unit.
Matthew Stafford in the 4th quarter vs Indianapolis
— PFF (@PFF) September 28, 2025
🧊 9/10
🧊 172 passing yards
🧊 2 TDs pic.twitter.com/zeX6s87uwd
Geno Smith (Raiders) @ Colts
Smith has been a popular streaming option at the quarterback position this season. Still, he’s disappointed in every matchup aside from his Week 3 performance, where most of his production came with the game already out of reach. He’s ranked inside the top 20 on several platforms, yet his play and the matchup simply don’t warrant such a ranking. Smith leads the NFL in interceptions thrown (7). The Colts' defense is also tied for the sixth-most interceptions forced (4) through four weeks. Furthermore, they give up the ninth-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. Look elsewhere for streaming options in Week 5.
This is the second game this season Geno Smith has thrown at least THREE interceptions.
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) September 28, 2025
He leads the NFL in picks with seven in less than four complete games played with the Raiders. pic.twitter.com/f5JsK7PDNx
Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins) @ Panthers
Aside from Tagovailoa’s Week 2 performance, where he passed for 315 yards and two touchdowns, he has struggled mightily this season. He’s averaged just 146 passing yards, 1.7 passing touchdowns and an interception in every other game. The matchup against the Panthers is also not favorable. Carolina ranks sixth for the fewest fantasy points given up to quarterbacks per game. Most teams have done damage on the ground against the Panthers, so expect De’Von to have a big game.
Tua Tagovailoa was at his best targeting in-breaking routes against the Jets, finishing 9 of 11 for 117 yards and 2 TDs, including a perfect 7 of 7 targeting crossing routes.
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) September 30, 2025
Both of his TD passes on the night came when the Jets ran a man-blitz.#NYJvsMIA | #PhinsUp pic.twitter.com/sbraNXssI1
Check out our Week 5 quarterback rankings and waiver wire quarterbacks to consider.
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Michael Rovetto previously served as the staff writer for University of Maryland Athletics for nearly two years. There, he wrote, edited and managed all editorial content for all 20 of Maryland's varsity sports on umterps.com. Rovetto is recognized as a College Sports Communicators district award-winning writer. Many of his stories have also appeared on NCAA.org, garnering national attention. Before graduating from Maryland's Philip Merrill College of Journalism in December 2023, Rovetto wrote for PressBox and Terrapin Sports Central, covering Maryland men's basketball and football. He also has experience in broadcasting, previously working as an analyst and camera operator for Big State Sports, and communication, interning for Shell Shock TBT as its Director of Communication & Content Development.