Kirk Cousins vs Jordan Love
Who should you start in Week 5? This week's matchups and projections.
Who to start in Week 5
This week is a coin flip. The model leans Jordan Love by 0.6 projected points (17.6 vs 17.0), close enough that either call is defensible.
Jordan Love faces CHI, the 10th-friendliest matchup a QB can draw this week. Kirk Cousins faces NE, the 16th-friendliest matchup a QB can draw this week.
Season-long, the model still ranks Kirk Cousins ahead. This is a matchup call for Week 5, not a change of heart about the rest of the year.
This-week points are each player's projected per-game scoring rate adjusted for the matchup.
The season-long call
This one is a coin flip. The model leans Kirk Cousins by 1.4 points of value over replacement (1.4 vs 0.0), close enough that your roster build should break the tie.
The draft market hasn't priced this matchup yet, so treat it as a pure model call.
| Kirk CousinsLVR | Jordan LoveGNB | Edge | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 5 opponent | NE | CHI | |
| Projected Week 5 points | 17.0 | 17.6 | Love +0.6 pts |
| Matchup rank (QB vs defense, of 30) | #16 | #10 | |
| Projected 2026 points (PPR) | 286.7 | 285.2 | Cousins +1.4 pts |
| Points per game | 16.9 | 16.8 | |
| Value over replacement (VBD) | 1.4 | 0.0 | Cousins +1.4 |
| Overall rank | #68 | #71 | Cousins by 3 |
| Position rank | QB11 | QB12 | |
| Market ADP | - | 139.2 | |
| Typical round (12-team) | - | Rd 12 | |
| Bye week | 13 | 11 |
Should I start Kirk Cousins or Jordan Love in Week 5?
This week is a coin flip. The model leans Jordan Love by 0.6 projected points (17.6 vs 17.0), close enough that either call is defensible.
Should I draft Kirk Cousins or Jordan Love in 2026 fantasy football?
Kirk Cousins. He projects 286.7 fantasy points with 1.4 value over replacement, vs 285.2 points and 0.0 for Jordan Love (QB, PPR). It's close enough to let roster needs decide.