As the fantasy football season presses on, it becomes more difficult to field an optimal lineup. Knowing which under-the-radar players to start can be the difference between winning and losing a matchup.
Here are some sleepers to consider starting in Week 5 lineups.
Target These Fantasy Football Sleepers for Week 5
Deshaun Watson, QB, Cleveland Browns (at WAS)
Not that you need a reminder, but this is a sleepers column. These are meant to be deep dives. Please do not misinterpret this as a recommendation to start Deshaun Watson over any clear QB1s.
With that said, if you really can’t find a quarterback this week, if there ever were a time to consider Watson, it’s in Week 5.
Kyler Murray’s disastrous outing notwithstanding, the Commanders are still a defense to attack when streaming quarterbacks. They’re allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to the position.
As poorly as Watson has performed this season, he’s posted games of 15.4 and 16.4 fantasy points. With how low quarterback scoring has been, those are borderline QB1 numbers.
Fantasy managers in difficult spots with injuries and byes can consider Watson against the Commanders this week.
Trey Sermon, RB, Indianapolis Colts (at JAX)
We do not yet know how serious Jonathan Taylor’s ankle injury is, but we’re being told it’s a very mild high ankle sprain.
#Colts star RB Jonathan Taylor was diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain, sources say, thought it’s believed to be a pretty mild version. Indy will get a full report tomorrow, but in the words of one source, “He’s ok.”
Taylor gained 108 yards from scrimmage and a TD today. pic.twitter.com/k55kk2hqYq
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 30, 2024
It’s still very early in the week, but my inclination is Taylor is going to miss at least one game, which puts Trey Sermon in line to start.
Now, Sermon is not going to be a feature back in the way Taylor is. Tyler Goodson will rotate in and likely handle passing-down work. However, we do have a limited sample size of the Colts without Taylor (and without Zack Moss). It came in Week 15 of last season, when Sermon played 44% of the snaps and carried the ball 17 times for 88 yards.
The lack of passing-game work will cap Sermon’s upside, but we’re talking about desperation options here. At the very least, the Colts get a Jaguars defense allowing the sixth-most fantasy points per game to running backs. With multiple clear starters on bye this week, and many others injured, Sermon is a viable RB3 if Taylor can’t go.
Roschon Johnson, RB, Chicago Bears (vs. CAR)
Apparently, all it took for D’Andre Swift to post elite RB1 numbers was for the Bears to suggest they were going to give Roschon Johnson an extended look. Any hope of Johnson taking over this backfield remains on the back burner, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t still have some value.
Even with Swift dominating touches, Johnson played 36% of the snaps and handled seven carries. That’s not a ton of work, but if he can see 8-10 opportunities, that might be enough this week.
The Panthers have really struggled defending the run, with both Zack Moss and Chase Brown posting RB1 numbers in Week 4. Carolina is allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to running backs, making Johnson worth a look in deeper leagues.
Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Green Bay Packers (at LAR)
Is this cheating? It feels like cheating.
Dontayvion Wicks qualifies as a sleeper because he is rostered in so few leagues (14% on Yahoo), but the cat is most certainly out of the bag now.
After Christian Watson suffered a high ankle sprain early in the Packers’ loss to the Vikings, Green Bay’s four-man WR rotation was suddenly consolidated. Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, and Wicks were all staples in three-receiver sets. With Wicks consistently on the field, he did what he does: earn targets (13 of them, to be exact).
Love to Wicks again! #MINvsGB pic.twitter.com/NOYEmbUCOO
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) September 29, 2024
Wicks caught five passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns. His reward is going to be a starting spot in 11 personnel against a Rams defense allowing the sixth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers. Wicks isn’t just a sleeper, he’s a must-start in Week 5.
Allen Lazard, WR, New York Jets (at MIN)
Brian Flores has quietly put together a really good defense for the Vikings. But they do have a clear identity.
This is your classic pass-funnel defense. Minnesota is allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs but the third-most to wide receivers. We saw them unable to defend both Reed and Wicks last week.
The Jets obviously looked awful offensively against the Broncos. But this is the NFL. Things change drastically from week-to-week, and I expect the Jets to bounce back with a strong showing in Week 6.
Garrett Wilson continues to struggle, likely due in large part to drawing the opponent’s top cornerback. Thus, Aaron Rodgers has shown an affinity for his longtime friend and teammate, Allen Lazard.
The former Packer has quietly been startable in three of his four games this season. Last week, Lazard earned eight targets for the second time this year, catching five for 58 yards. In a favorable matchup against the Vikings, Lazard has some deep-league streamer appeal in Week 5.
Noah Gray, TE, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. NO)
The Chiefs are in a very difficult situation offensively. Patrick Mahomes is not lighting up the stat sheet like he’s done in previous years, and they’re now down their top two wide receivers and their lead running back.
This could lead to Andy Reid getting creative with the players they do have.
Rashee Rice went down very early in last week’s contest. It may not be much, but Noah Gray wound up second on the team in targets behind Travis Kelce.
Gray played just over 50% of the offensive snaps, and with a full week to plan, we could the Chiefs utilize him even more. They likely trust him more than the likes of Skyy Moore, Mecole Hardman, or JuJu Smith-Schuster. It may not be much, but even something like three catches for 40 yards is good enough at tight end this season.