Nearly every fantasy football roster has been hit by the injury bug. Others have been plagued by underperformance or, perhaps targeted starters in last night’s Thursday Night Football disaster. Our Fantasy Football Sleepers Week 5 will help turn your lineup around.
Here are some of those unheralded players to consider starting in Week 5.
Quarterbacks
Carson Wentz (QB) Washington Commanders – Wentz currently sits as the QB9 on the season and draws a matchup with the Tennessee Titans this week. The Titans are allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season. While he may be mistake-prone and a subpar real-life quarterback, Wentz should have the volume and production this week to make him a viable option. It’s a great spot for him to get back on track.
Teddy Bridgewater (QB) Miami Dolphins – The Jets’ defense stinks. They allowed a Jacoby Brissett-run offense to drop 30 points on them. Bridgewater may not be great, but he’s a capable option. With weapons like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, he should be able to have his way with their porous defense which is allowing the 10t -most fantasy points to signal-callers.
Running Backs
Brian Robinson (RB) Washington Commanders – Robinson is expected to return from his gunshot wounds this week.. That sounds completely ridiculous after missing just four weeks. He is fully expected to take over the starting job in Washington. It is a matter of when not if. What this comes down to is, are you willing to roll the dice that it will be this week? He is a risky play with a high ceiling and low floor.
Raheem Mostert (RB) Miami Dolphins – Mostert has quietly established himself as the RB1 in Miami. He out-carried Chase Edmonds 15-5 last week and both had two receptions. Edmonds has been getting the red-zone work, but Mostert is getting the volume. He could have a big day in a game the Dolphins should be winning against the lowly Jets.
Caleb Huntley (RB) Atlanta Falcons – This is another situation similar to the Broncos’split backfield. The presumed RB1 is Tyler Allgeier with Cordarrelle Patterson landing on IR. However, both Allgeier and Huntley saw 10 carries last week. This could be a true split-back system or even a hot-hand approach. At the very least Huntley is most likely to be used in short-yardage situations.
Isiah Pacheco (RB) Kansas City Chiefs – It looks like Pacheco may be overtaking Jerick McKinnon for the RB2 role in Kansas City. This is a system that utilizes more than one back often. We saw Pacheco get 12 carries last week. Granted it was a blowout so that number will likely drop, but McKinnon saw just two carries and one reception for zero total yards. Pacheco should continue to emerge in this backfield.
Wide Receivers
Tyler Boyd (WR) Cincinnati Bengals – Boyd is currently the WR26 despite being the WR3 on his own team. This week he takes on the Ravens who are allowing the most fantasy points to wide receivers. With Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters attempting to cover Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, Boyd should be able to run free against a bunch of replacement-level corners. He should have both a high ceiling and a high floor this week.
George Pickens (WR) Pittsburgh Steelers – We’ve seen rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett get an extended run in one game this season and it was last week. In that game, Pickens became the defacto WR1 out-targeting Diontae Johnson 8-4. However, it is a small sample size which is why Pickens is only a sleeper and not a must-start. Fantasy owners may catch lightning in a bottle with the rookies Pickett and Pickens this season.
Nico Collins (WR) Houston Texans – Collins is a guy we have been watching from afar and he looks like he could finally be poised for the breakout. Over the past three weeks, he’s seen 18 targets which he’s turned into nine receptions for 181 yards. During that same span, a struggling Brandin Cooks has managed just 133
yards on 24 targets. Conversely, Collins’s ascending play could see him emerge as the WR1 in Houston.
Devin Duvernay (WR) Baltimore Ravens – Rashod Bateman is dealing with an always terrifying mid-foot injury. He is not a lock to play this week and is at high risk of being limited or leaving early. This would leave Duvernay as the top wideout in Baltimore. He has been ridiculously efficient catching 12 of 13 targets for 172 yards and three TDs this season. That said, If Duvernay gets the volume this week he could be in for a monster game.
Tight Ends
Chigoziem Okonwo (TE) Tennessee Titans – We have been waiting for a tight end to emerge in Tennessee and it’s possible one just did. We saw Okonwo catch three passes this week for 38 yards and a TD. While that doesn’t seem like a ton, consider Austin Hooper and Geoff Swaim combined for one target and of all the wide receivers and tight ends on the team, only Robert Woods had more targets than him with four.
Cade Otton (TE) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – It looks like there is a good chance Cameron Brate will not be able to play this week. That should leave all the tight-end duties to the highly touted rookie Otton. Once Brate left with a concussion on Sunday night Otton set career highs in snap share, targets, and receptions. If the opportunity presents itself, Otton could not only have a big day but establish himself as the better tight end in Tampa.
