Washington Commanders vs. Los Angeles Chargers: Week 5 fantasy start/sit

The Washington Commanders are on the road this week when they travel to Inglewood, California, to face the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.

The Chargers are coming off their first loss of the season at the hands of the New York Giants, and the Commanders will not be outdone by their division rival. The Chargers are dealing with a slew of injuries on both sides of the ball, but most of those have no bearing on the fantasy value of other players.

The Commanders get Jayden Daniels back this week, which does impact the fantasy value of other players. Both teams have players to choose from, so let's take a look at fantasy players to start and sit from this Week 5 matchup.

Start: QB Justin Herbert, Chargers

The Commanders allow 8.1 yards per attempt and rank 27th in the league against the pass. If Herbert's line can protect him, he can exploit this weakness in a bad way. He could even post top-10 quarterback numbers. He spreads the ball around, so choosing one of his receivers for fantasy is risky, but Herbert threw for 203 yards and a touchdown against the Giants last week. Yes, he threw two interceptions and was sacked twice as well, but the Commanders' defense likely won't get that lucky this week.

Sit: RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Commanders

The Commanders have adopted a running-by-committee approach while ramping up Croskey-Merritt's touches. He is the running back they want on the field, and his responsibility will increase as the season wears on. But the Chargers allow just nine fantasy points from running backs in 2025, and Croskey-Merritt isn't a viable option this week.

Start: QB Jayden Daniels, Commanders

The Commanders were 1-1 while Daniels was out, and he wants nothing more than to prove that this team can win with him under center. The defense had no answers for the Atlanta Falcons last week, which means that Daniels will take this team on his back and force a win. Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown may be out this week, but Deebo Samuel is available, John Bates is back, and other players will step up on offense this week. Daniels will get his points through passing and rushing; he's worth a start.

Sit: WR Ladd McConkey, Chargers

McConkey's season has started incredibly slowly. Last season, he flashed signs of greatness, but he is currently the third target for Herbert behind Quentin Johnson and Keenan Allen. McConkey may have value in deeper leagues, but in leagues with standard rosters, he simply doesn't produce enough to start this week. Even with the Commanders' secondary issues, Johnson and Allen will be the main benefactors.

Sleeper: Washington DST

The Commanders' defense has been on the hot seat since losing to the Falcons. Some fans are calling for Joe Whitt's head (although it's a bit early for those suggestions), while others preach patience. They're a little banged up, but they are top 10 in pressure rate (42.6%) and have allowed zero points off turnovers all season. Last week against the Giants, the Chargers' pocket fell apart. If the Commanders can make that happen again, this defense could feast.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders vs. Chargers: Week 5 fantasy start/sit