Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups: Best Fantasy Sleepers to Target on Yahoo
Your weekly trip to the waiver wire might feature a longer shopping list than normal.
Real-life NFL injuries to players like Javonte Williams (torn ACL and MCL) and Cordarrelle Patterson (knee surgery) are wreaking havoc on the fantasy football world. It also didn't help that Thursday night's clash between the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos was a statistical stinker for everyone but the kickers and defenses.
If you're looking for a roster lift, you've come to the right place. Here, we'll spotlight our favorite Week 5 deep sleeper—available in 50-plus percent of Yahoo leagues, per FantasyPros—at the three marquee positions.
Quarterback: Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks (30 Percent Rostered)
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It isn't super easy to view Smith as fantasy-relevant for the first time as a 31-year-old who competed in camp with Drew Lock, yet here we are.
The numbers say Smith is not only a viable streaming option at quarterback, he could actually handle the starting gig in the right situation.
He ranks 10th on the season among quarterbacks, per FantasyPros, and that number is trending up as Seattle leans heavier on the passing game. In each of his last two outings, he has thrown for at least 320 yards and two touchdowns while competing better than 70 percent of his attempts. On Sunday, he even handled seven rushes for 49 yards and another score.
You can't ignore stats like those. Not even with a stingy New Orleans Saints defense on the docket. Smith is in such a groove right now that he just might conquer even the most difficult matchups.
Running Back: Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs (33 Percent Rostered)
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Kansas City's running back group is still too crowded to get a great read on its hierarchy, but clearly the club wants to get Pacheco more involved.
The rookie rusher adds a different dimension of explosiveness. He is speedy and shifty enough to handle return duties, after all.
The Chiefs have upped his offensive opportunities twice this season, and both times he has impressed. First, he rushed 12 times for 62 yards and a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1. Then, he handled 11 carries against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—one of the best run defenses around—and turned them into 63 yards.
In Week 5, the Chiefs running backs get a more favorable draw in the Las Vegas Raiders, who have allowed the 12th-most fantasy points to the position, per Yahoo. If Pacheco gets an extended opportunity, he could go off.
Wide Receiver: Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys (50 Percent Rostered)
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Gallup had his season debut delayed while recovering from last season's ACL tear, but he wasted no time making his presence felt upon his return.
He caught two of his three targets for 24 yards and a touchdown against Washington in Week 4. More importantly, he helped the Cowboys stretch the field as a vertical threat and drew a few pass-interference penalties in the process.
No, those penalties don't directly yield any fantasy points, but they could lead to future production. If good things happen when Dallas goes deep to Gallup, it won't take those calls out of the playbook.
His involvement should only increase going forward, and if things trend up quickly this weekend, he could have a field day against a Los Angeles Rams defense allowing the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers.
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