Week 5 brings the first bye weeks of the 2026 NFL season. With the Kansas City Chiefs being one of the two teams that are off, it'll be a tough blow for fantasy managers who have enjoyed the stellar production from RB Kenneth Walker III.
The Carolina Panthers are also on a bye, meaning the resurgent RB Chuba Hubbard also won’t be available.
As we work through Walker and Hubbard resting, let’s break down our NFL Week 5 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em battle at the RB position between Minnesota Vikings standout Aaron Jones Sr. and the Cleveland Browns' Quinshon Judkins.
We'll also include both players' top PrizePicks projections — keep this analysis in mind for your fantasy football decisions.
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Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em RBs, Week 5: Aaron Jones or Quinshon Judkins?
Who'd be the better pick out of this NFL Week 5 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em debate: Jones or Judkins?
Why Start Aaron Jones?
Aaron Jones PrizePicks Projections: 72.5 Rush Yards, 17.5 Rush Attempts, 18.5 Receiving Yards
- Jones helped lead the Vikings to a 15-10 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 4, rushing 20 times for 94 yards. He also posted 4 receptions for 34 yards on a season-high 8 targets.
- The veteran only received 12 rushing attempts with fellow Vikings RB Jordan Mason (thumb) healthy in Week 1. With Mason out the last three games, Jones racked up 60 carries for 257 yards.
- Per Pro Football Focus, Jones ranks 12th out of 47 RBs in explosive runs (6).
- In addition to his contributions on the ground, the former Green Bay Packer is 13th among 47 backs in targets (14) and 16th in routes run (63).
Add Aaron Jones + Vikings to win to your PrizePicks lineup now.
Why Quinshon Judkins?
Quinshon Judkins PrizePicks Projections: 58.5 Rush Yards, 16.5 Rush Attempts, 12.5 Fantasy Score
- Judkins had 96 total yards and a TD in the Browns' 27-24 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. He received 17 rushing attempts, giving him a total of 35 carries over his last two games.
- The second-year man has been more active in the passing game this year. After receiving 36 targets over 14 games during his rookie campaign, he has 16 targets entering Week 5.
- Judkins doesn’t have much competition in the backfield. He's logged 150 offensive snaps this year, with the next-closest Brown being Raheim Sanders at 80. Sanders has a total of 6 rushing attempts for 31 yards.
- Although TDs have been difficult for the former second-round pick to come by, he's received at least 2 red-zone carries in three of four games. Of his 9 red-zone totes, 3 have come from inside the 5-yard line.
Add Quinshon Judkins + Brown to cover the spread to your PrizePicks lineup now.
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Week 5 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Verdict: Start Aaron Jones
While workload isn’t a problem for Judkins, it’s his lack of efficiency that's a red flag. He only averages 3.0 yards per carry, which is down from an also disappointing 3.6 mark last year. He ranks 37th for RBs in yards after contact per attempt (2.49), too.
The New York Jets aren’t an overly difficult foe in Week 5, but they do sit 11th in rush EPA/play allowed, per RBSDM. New York has also done a good job of limiting big plays on the ground, ceding just a single run of 20+ yards.
Jones has about as good of a matchup as it gets against the Saints, who allowed 5 rushing TDs to the Falcons last week. They also gave up a combined 207 rushing yards to the Falcons’ duo of Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson Jr.
New Orleans ranks dead last in rush EPA/play allowed. Their 5.0 YPC given up is the third-highest mark in the NFL. If Jones finishes with around 20 carries like he has the last three weeks, he could produce a gaudy stat line.
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Jones has performed well with additional carries since Mason was injured. A likely hefty workload for him in Week 5 against a Saints team that struggles to stop the run makes him a superior fantasy option compared to Judkins, who has struggled with efficiency out of the gate.
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