Week 5 opens tonight with Tampa Bay at Dallas at 8:15 p.m. ET. The BakaBois field has six matchups in each league, and the first NFL kickoff puts several fantasy starters into play before Sunday. The Week 4 editorial power poll, published October 6, is the ranking reference below; these are not new Week 5 rankings.

Four matchups to watch

Kent (No. 1, 4–0) vs. Mitchell (No. 14, 2–2), League 1. Kent enters unbeaten. Mitchell has Brock Bowers in a starting tight-end slot; ESPN's Thursday injury feed lists Bowers questionable for Sunday's Raiders game. That status deserves another check before lineups lock, not an assumed absence.

Brett (No. 4, 3–1) vs. Miguel (No. 9, 3–1), League 2. Two 3–1 teams meet. Brett has Brandon Aubrey at kicker and Chris Godwin Jr. in a flex slot for tonight, so this matchup gets an early read. ESPN's injury feed also flags Brett's starting DJ Moore as questionable for Monday; his status should be checked closer to that game.

Jim (No. 5, 2–2) vs. Ian (No. 16, 2–2), League 2. Ian starts Bucky Irving tonight and Jeremiyah Love later in the week. ESPN lists Love questionable for Sunday's Cardinals game as of this cutoff. Jim's Week 4 surge put him fifth in Tuesday's poll, but this is still an unplayed Week 5 matchup.

Ben (No. 2, 3–1) vs. Darnell (No. 23, 1–3), League 1. Ben starts Javonte Williams and has Bucky Irving in a flex spot for Dallas–Tampa Bay. The two Thursday slots could set an early pace, but no fantasy result is final before the games.

Tonight's lineup window

The NFL schedule lists Buccaneers at Cowboys, 8:15 p.m. ET, with the game still pregame at our 12:33 p.m. ET source cutoff. The official Week 5 NFL injury report lists Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield out with a thumb injury and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. out with a rib injury. Dallas receiver CeeDee Lamb is listed as a full practice participant. Check final active lists before kickoff; an injury listing is not a fantasy-point projection.

The current BakaBois starters make the game especially relevant to Dannie vs. Rice Cracker: Dannie has Dak Prescott and Javonte Williams; Rice Cracker has George Pickens. In League 1, Josh starts Pickens and the Cowboys D/ST against Alex, Lil C starts Lamb against Payden, Ryan starts Jake Ferguson against Cesar, and Austin starts Aubrey against Will. In League 2, Kyle starts Lamb against Savage, Ian starts Irving against Jim, and Brett starts Aubrey and Godwin against Miguel. These are roster snapshots, so confirm any lineup changes near lock.

Complete League 1 slate

  • Cesar vs. Ryan — Ryan's Jake Ferguson starts tonight; Cesar entered the Tuesday poll at No. 6.
  • Ben vs. Darnell — Ben's two Thursday starters lead the early watch.
  • Mitchell vs. Kent — No. 14 meets unbeaten No. 1; recheck Mitchell's Brock Bowers status.
  • Payden vs. Lil C — Lil C's CeeDee Lamb is in tonight's starting lineup.
  • Josh vs. Alex — Josh starts George Pickens and Dallas D/ST tonight.
  • Austin vs. Will — Austin's Brandon Aubrey is due tonight; Will's starting Jeremiyah Love is listed questionable for Sunday in ESPN's injury feed.

Complete League 2 slate

  • Kenneth vs. Banz — Kenneth seeks his first win after a 0–4 start; his starting Jordan Addison is listed questionable in ESPN's injury feed.
  • Jim vs. Ian — Ian has Bucky Irving tonight; Love's Sunday status needs a recheck.
  • Rice Cracker vs. Dannie — Pickens faces Dannie's Prescott and Williams in tonight's game.
  • Jason vs. Wes — Jason's starting Brock Bowers is listed questionable for Sunday.
  • Brett vs. Miguel — Two 3–1 teams; Brett has Aubrey and Godwin tonight.
  • Kyle vs. Savage — Kyle starts Lamb tonight; the pair entered the Tuesday poll at Nos. 11 and 20.

Lineups, projections and injury designations can change. This preview uses the scoped league snapshots and dated NFL schedule collected Thursday at 12:33 p.m. ET; no Week 5 fantasy scores or outcomes are claimed. The rankings refer to the verified October 6 Week 4 editorial poll, and Sunday/Monday statuses should be checked again before each game.