Week 5 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Deep Sleepers Who Could Emerge
We've reached that point in the NFL season, fantasy fans. Bye weeks are officially here, which means that managers who haven't already had their depth tested soon will.
This week, the Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans are off. This means early season standouts like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, J.K. Dobbins and Saquon Barkley will be unavailable.
With injuries also impacting teams around the league, managers may find themselves scrambling just to field functional rosters in Week 5. Fortunately, some potential sleepers have favorable matchups this week and may even be available on the waiver wire.
Here, you'll find a look at some deep sleepers to consider in Week 5, along with updated flex rankings. All rankings and analysis are based on point-per-reception (PPR) scoring.
Week 5 Flex Top 40 Rankings
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1. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys
2. Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens
3. Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans
4. Jordan Mason, RB, San Francisco 49ers
5. Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints
6. Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams
7. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings
8. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
9. Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
10. Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants
11. Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seattle Seahawks
12. James Cook, RB, Buffalo Bills
13. Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets
14. Aaron Jones, RB, Minnesota Vikings
15. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals
16. DK Metcalf, WR, Seattle Seahawks
1.7. Jayden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers
18. Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
19. Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints
20. Josh Jacobs, RB, Green Bay Packers
21. Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers
22. James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals
23. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
24. Diontae Johnson, WR, Carolina Panthers
25. Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Washington Commanders
26. Stefon Diggs, WR, Houston Texans
27. Amari Cooper, WR, Cleveland Browns
28. Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets
29. Travis Etienne Jr., RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
30. De'Von Achane, RB, Miami Dolphins
31. Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers
32. Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots
33. D.J. Moore, WR, Chicago Bears
34. Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
35. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs
36. Jerome Ford, RB, Cleveland Browns
37. Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington Commanders
38. D'Andre Swift, RB, Chicago Bears
39. Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens
40. George Pickens, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Sleeper: RB Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs
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The Kansas City Chiefs signed free agent Kareem Hunt after starting running back Isiah Pacheco suffered a fractured fibula. Hunt made his 2024 debut in Week 4 and was immediately handed a fairly heavy workload.
Hunt carried 16 times for 69 yards and caught two passes for another 16 yards. He could see an even bigger workload this week.
The Chiefs won't have Pacheco or top receiver Rashee Rice (knee) in Week 5. With Rice out, Kansas City will likely lean on its defense and its running game against the New Orleans Saints on Monday night.
While the Saints have a solid defense, they don't represent a daunting matchup for Hunt. New Orleans has allowed the 12th-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs, which is, essentially, middle-of-the-pack.
Hunt is still available in more than 50 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.
Sleeper: WR Dontayvion Wicks, Green Bay Packers
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Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson suffered an ankle injury in Week 4 and isn't expected to face the Los Angeles Rams this week.
"I would assume he'd probably be out most likely at least a week or so," head coach Matt LaFleur said, per ESPN's Rob Demovsky.
Watson's injury, though, will open up opportunities for fellow receiver Dontayvion Wicks, who caught five passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns in Week 4. That performance doesn't appear to be a fluke.
Wicks played 70 percent or more of the offensive snaps twice last season. He had six catches for 97 yards in the first game and six catches for 61 yards and two touchdowns in the second.
This week, Wicks will face a Rams defense that has surrendered the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing receivers. He's still only rostered in 17 percent of Yahoo leagues and 22 percent of ESPN leagues.
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Sleeper: TE Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers
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Packers tight end Tucker Kraft should also be a serviceable play in Week 5. That's due, in part, to Watson's injury. It's also due to the fact that Kraft has seemingly supplanted Luke Musgrave as Green Bay's top receiving tight end.
Kraft finished Week 4 with six catches for 53 yards and a touchdown. He has caught at least two passes in every game this season, though he's only topped 30 receiving yards twice.
While Kraft cannot be considered a high-floor play, he's been steady enough to at least provide points at the TE position—something managers haven't always gotten from, say, Mark Andrews.
Kraft should also be a decent bye-week replacement for players like Sam LaPorta and Dallas Goedert. The Rams have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season. Kraft is rostered in only six percent of Yahoo leagues and 25 percent of ESPN leagues.
*Fantasy scoring and roster information via FantasyPros.
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