NFL Week 5 Recap: Immediate fantasy football takeaways from Sunday’s games

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Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

PFF’s fantasy football recap focuses on player usage and stats, breaking down all the vital information you need to achieve fantasy success in 2025.

Minnesota Vikings @ Cleveland Browns

The Browns dig down the wide receiver depth chart: Two of the Browns’ top five wide receivers landed on injured reserve this past week.

The Browns placed starting wide receiver Cedric Tillman (hamstring) and backup wide receiver and returner DeAndre Carter (knee) on injured reserve. Cleveland only had five wide receivers on their roster before the injuries, so it signed both Gage Larvadain and Malachi Corley to the 53-man roster from the practice squad.

The Browns were already a team that used a significant amount of 12 personnel, but this led them to rely even more heavily on their two-tight-end sets. While Jamari Thrash started the game with Jerry Jeudy, Isaiah Bond joined Jeudy in two-receiver sets more often than not, particularly on passing plays. The three receivers were on the field together for their rare three-receiver sets. Corley was the fourth wide receiver, which included some snaps in two-receiver sets and an 11-yard carry, which was the first touch for a Browns wide receiver in the game. Larvadain was largely used as the Browns’ punt returner.

Bond is a fine waiver-wire option at wide receiver. His playing time should only increase from here, and there is a chance he remains ahead of Tillman on the depth chart whenever he comes back. Anytime you can add a rookie wide receiver who is among the top two on the depth chart, it makes sense to add them in the first half of the season, in case they take the necessary steps forward to be a fantasy starter in the second half of the season. However, given the state of the Browns’ passing offense, it might not make sense to have Bond in fantasy starting lineups at the moment.

David Njoku holds the lead in the Browns’ tight end rotation: Njoku was typically the Browns’ tight end on the field in one-tight-end sets.

Njoku has faced significant competition for playing time and targets from Harold Fannin Jr., the Browns’ fourth-round rookie tight end. While Njoku played more offensive snaps over the first four weeks, Fannin had more fantasy production. Last week, Fannin played over 50% of Cleveland’s offensive snaps in single-tight-end sets on third downs, leaving Njoku playing less than 50% of the snaps. On early downs, Fannin reached a career-high 37.5% of the offensive snaps.

While the momentum seemed to be in Fannin’s favor, Njoku was consistently on the field in single-tight-end sets in this game. It’s possible that the Browns wanted more of a veteran presence on the field to help their rookie quarterback, Dillon Gabriel, in his first start. Njoku led the team in receiving production with six receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown, while Fannin also scored a touchdown. 

Both players remain borderline fantasy starting tight ends depending on the matchup. The Browns have consistently run enough 12 personnel that you can reasonably have either in your lineup, unlike past teams that have had two noteworthy tight ends but don’t run as much 12 personnel. However, it’s becoming less likely that Fannin could become a top-five option at some point this season, given Njoku’s playing time and production.

Jordan Mason reaches double-digit fantasy points despite setbacks: Mason found success in the second half despite fumbling in the first half and injuries on the offensive line.

Mason has been the Vikings’ clear lead running back since Aaron Jones Sr. landed on injured reserve. Zavier Scott has emerged as the passing-down back. Mason wasn’t ranked as high as usual due to injuries on the offensive line while facing the Browns’ defensive line. Starting left guard Donovan Jackson (wrist), center Ryan Kelly (concussion), right tackle Brian O’Neill (knee) and backup center Michael Jurgens (hamstring) were all ruled out earlier in the week, while two other backup offensive linemen are on injured reserve. The Vikings faced the Browns, who had an 89.2 run-defense grade heading into the week, which was the clear best among all teams.

Mason lost a fumble on the first drive, which was his second fumble in the last two weeks. This led the Vikings to turn to Scott for nearly the entire second drive. Mason returned to play significantly on the third drive, but it still wasn’t as much as usual. Fullback C.J. Ham was activated to the 53-man roster on Saturday after spending the first four weeks of the season on injured reserve. Ham had a history of playing as the only running back on third down at times in recent seasons, and that was the case for this game. Ham was consistently on the field for third-and-medium or long plays, taking time away from both running backs.

Mason found some success in the third quarter, including a 14-yard run and a three-yard touchdown. He took a big hit late in the third quarter, which left him on the ground longer than usual. He missed the following drive, in which Scott lost a fumble. Mason ended the day averaging 4.0 yards per carry, which was noticeably better than Derrick Henry (2.1), Chase Brown (2.0), Josh Jacobs (1.9) and David Montgomery (1.3). The Vikings have a bye week next week, which will ideally give the Vikings’ offensive line some time to get healthy. Mason should be considered a buy-low option, given how well he’s played in the run game outside of the two fumbles.

Jordan Addison benched for one quarter: Addison didn’t play his first offensive snap until the second quarter.

Addison was suspended for the first three weeks of the season but played 73 of a possible 76 snaps in his Week 4 return, suggesting he would be a clear starting wide receiver for the rest of the season, similar to his role from last season. However, he didn’t play a single snap on the first two drives. Typically, when someone who typically plays 100% of his team’s offensive snaps and isn’t on the injury report doesn’t play until the second half, it’s for a disciplinary issue. Both Vikings beat writers and national reporters were unsure what the issue was while the game was happening.

Minnesota used Jalen Nailor as the No. 2 receiver and Adam Thielen as the No. 3 in the first quarter, very similar to how they used their wide receivers in the first three weeks of the season. Once Addison started playing, he was back to his usual role as the No. 2 receiver, while Nailor fell to third and Thielen fell to fourth on the depth chart. Addison didn’t see many targets until the last minute of the game, where he caught three straight passes, including the game-winning touchdown.

The most likely scenario is that this game will have no bearing on Addison’s fantasy football future. He can be in fantasy starting lineups going forward, depending on the health of the Vikings’ quarterbacks, offensive line and the opponent. There isn’t much reason to keep Nailor on fantasy rosters, and Thielen can be released from redraft leagues and even dynasty leagues. However, there is a chance that if Addison has another off-the-field problem, the Vikings could be more likely to move on from Addison or impose a more significant suspension.

Miscellaneous Notes

• Vikings starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy missed his third consecutive game due to an ankle injury.
• While Minnesota added Desmond Ridder when McCarthy was injured, he was inactive the last two weeks and was released from the team on Saturday.
• Vikings third-string tight end Ben Yurosek missed his second straight game due to a knee injury. Veteran Nick Vannett has taken over as the third tight end.
• Minnesota called up Cam Akers from the practice squad to be its third running back for a third straight game with Aaron Jones Sr. on injured reserve. His only offensive snap was a trick play where he threw a touchdown pass.

Houston Texans @ Baltimore Ravens

Coming soon!

Miami Dolphins @ Carolina Panthers

Coming soon!

Las Vegas Raiders @ Indianapolis Colts

Coming soon!

New York Giants @ New Orleans Saints

Coming soon!

Dallas Cowboys @ New York Jets

Coming soon!

Denver Broncos @ Philadelphia Eagles

Coming soon!

Tennessee Titans @ Arizona Cardinals

Coming soon!

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Seattle Seahawks

Coming soon!

Detroit Lions @ Cincinnati Bengals

Coming soon!

Washington Commanders @ Los Angeles Chargers

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New England Patriots @ Buffalo Bills

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Table Notes

• Snaps include plays called back due to penalties, including offensive holding or defensive pass interference. The other three stats have these plays removed.
• Targets may differ from official NFL sources. The most likely discrepancy would be from a clear thrown-away pass, where the NFL may give the target to the nearest receiver, while this data will not.
• Carries are only on designed plays. Quarterback scrambles won’t count for the total number of carries in the game.

This news was originally published on this post .