Fantasy Football 2014: Five Week 5 Sleepers to Start in a Pinch

It’s Friday morning, and you just realized Joique Bell, DeAngelo Williams and Vernon Davis are listed on the injury report. Winning and losing in fantasy football often comes down to following injuries closely and inserting a solid Plan B when necessary. If you have a "Q"—or worse—next to one of your starters, it would be wise to scoop up sleepers like Brian Quick, Justin Forsett or Eli Manning.

It’s possible you also just realized the Miami Dolphins and Oakland Raiders are on bye this week. But if you’re counting on players contributing from these bottom-feeding offenses, chances are you’re already looking ahead to 2015.

A sleeper in this context is any player available in approximately 50 percent or more of ESPN fantasy leagues with a favorable matchup.

Team Defense/Special Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers at Jacksonville Jaguars

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Pittsburgh’s D/ST managed only three turnovers and one touchdown against three of the weakest offenses in the league: Cleveland, Carolina and Tampa Bay. It’s no secret this is no longer a great defense.

Jacksonville is the only reason Pittsburgh is worth a start this week. In fact, fantasy defenses are scoring 14.8 points per game against the nonexistent Jaguars offense. Washington (18 points), Indianapolis (17) and San Diego (10) celebrated their best performances of the season against Jacksonville.

Owners are privy to this trend, making the Steelers the hottest D/ST pickup of the week in 24.6 percent of ESPN fantasy leagues. But Pittsburgh is still out there in 58.3 percent of leagues.

Pick them up and reap an almost guaranteed double-digit return on investment.

Honorable mention: Philadelphia Eagles vs. St. Louis Rams; Cleveland Browns at Tennessee Titans.

Week 4 results: Detroit Lions, finished 10th with seven points. Not bad considering Arizona, Cincinnati, Denver and Seattle were on bye.

Tight End: Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers at Jacksonville Jaguars

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Ben Roethlisberger looked to Miller often throughout their careers, and 2014 is no different, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Roethlisberger targeted Miller on 19 percent of his 141 pass attempts, second behind Antonio Brown with 27 percent.

Jacksonville is as bad on pass defense as it is on offense, ranking 30th in tight end points allowed.

Miller is owned in merely 21.5 percent of leagues despite his 12th-ranked 5.5 points per game. Disappointed Vernon Davis, Jason Witten and Kyle Rudolph owners could do much worse this weekend.

Honorable mention: Owen Daniels, Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts; Garrett Graham, Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys.

Week 4 results: Travis Kelce, second with 15. You can’t ask for much more from a guy who was available in 75 percent of leagues.

Wide Receiver: Brian Quick, St. Louis Rams at Philadelphia Eagles

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Quick is leading Rams receivers in fantasy production so quietly that even Ourlads doesn’t realize he’s the No. 1 WR on St. Louis’ depth chart.  

He adjusted slowly to the NFL’s speed coming out of a simplified offense at Appalachian State. He told ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner, "That was the biggest adjustment was coming in and learning the playbook. It kept me from playing fast, but now that I really feel that I’m dialed in, and I can move fast and know the plays. That’s what I’m feeling."

The matchup at Philadelphia is enticing for two reasons. First, the Eagles can score, meaning opposing offenses have to pass to keep up, and second, they are fourth-worst in wide receiver points allowed.

Quick ranks 33rd on Fantasy Pros’ expert consensus rankings for Week 5 and is available in 70.1 percent of ESPN leagues. Nervous Eric Decker, Cecil Shorts and Mike Evans owners can rest easy plugging Quick into their lineups.

Honorable mention: Rueben Randle, New York Giants vs. Atlanta Falcons; Eddie Royal, San Diego Chargers vs. New York Jets.

Week 4 results: Markus Wheaton, 48th with five points. Meh.

Running Back: Justin Forsett, Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts

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It’s hard to feel confident recommending a member of a running back committee, but RB1s remain the scarcest commodity in fantasy football.

Forsett tops the depth chart, according to the Ravens website. He’s also the most versatile of Baltimore’s trio, leading Bernard Pierce (1) and Lorenzo Taliaferro (0) in receptions with 16.

Pierce is slated to return this week after missing two games with a thigh injury. His return diminishes Taliaferro’s role for now, since the 6’0”, 230-pound Pierce and the 6’ 0”, 226-pound Taliaferro are essentially the same player.

Forsett is the safest bet for the most playing time against a Colts defense ranked 20th in running back points allowed. He’s available in 81 percent of ESPN leagues.

It’s not the greatest matchup this week, but Fantasy Pros did rank him 22nd among RBs in its Week 5 Expert Consensus Ranking. But it could save Lamar Miller and DeAngelo Williams owners who are in desperate need of a roster body.

Honorable mention: Isaiah Crowell, Cleveland Browns at Tennessee Titans; Lorenzo Taliaferro, Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts.

Week 4 results: Matt Asiata, second with 27. There’s a one-week drafter out there who owes me a cut of their millions if they applied this advice to their value picks.

Quarterback: Eli Manning, New York Giants vs. Atlanta Falcons

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Manning is the top free-agent quarterback add this week (plus-13.3). He’s actually owned in 55.4 percent of ESPN leagues as of this posting, but that’s close enough to 50 percent in my book.

The difference between “good Eli” this year—tied for sixth with Matthew Stafford at 17.5 points per game—and “bad Eli” last year—tied for 21st with the injured Aaron Rodgers at 10.1 points per game—is at offensive line and coordinator.

The 2013 Giants offensive line graded second-to-last in the league (minus-72), according to PFF. The 2014 Giants O-line ranks fourth-best (plus-8.4).

Speaking of Rodgers, Tom Coughlin brought in his QB coach—Ben McAdoo—to revamp the offensive scheme and revitalize Manning’s crushed confidence. McAdoo told Newsday’s Tom Rock the biggest problem facing New York’s offense wasn’t grasping the new playbook but “handling success” once they did.

Pick up Manning and find out if you can handle success, especially if you’re a disgruntled Tom Brady or Robert Griffin III owner.

Honorable mention: Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts; Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs at San Francisco 49ers.

Week 4 results: Jake Locker, dead last because he did not play. I think the slide foretold of this outcome, and I should be exonerated.

Take a flier on one of these sleepers if you desperately need to fill a roster spot, and your gloomy fantasy weekend might start clearing up too.