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Biggest Sleepers at Every Position for Week 5 Fantasy Football 2025
While we all love the marquee games on an NFL slate, you can strike fantasy football gold in matchups that feature two struggling teams or a game that may have a lopsided result.
Week 5 offers hidden fantasy gems in less-anticipated matchups. Let's preview sleeper candidates, including a featured running back in London.
Three picks—including a QB/WR combination—come from a quietly intriguing matchup worth closer attention.
Lastly, a couple of tight ends in struggling offenses have plus matchups that you shouldn't ignore on Sunday.
Here are our eight sleeper options who are all available in at least 50 percent of leagues, according to FantasyPros' roster consensus percentages.
QB Jaxson Dart at New Orleans Saints (26 Percent Rostered)
1 of 8.jpg?w=684 "Chargers Giants Football")
Jaxson Dart provided a spark that helped the New York Giants win their first game of the season with 165 total yards passing and rushing combined.
Although his numbers were modest, his impact on the Giants' running game (10 carries, 54 yards, 1 TD) stood out.
Moreover, Dart scored twice in Big Blue's upset victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. Now, a starting quarterback who can run the ball in an offense that ranks ninth in rush attempts, he should be on more rosters as a potential league-winning asset.
In his second start, Dart draws a favorable matchup with the New Orleans Saints, which allow the sixth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Also note that New Orleans gave up a rushing touchdown to Josh Allen last week.
As a ball-carrier, Dart isn't comparable to Allen, but he'll have opportunities to score on the ground against the Saints' 18th-ranked run defense.
RB Kendre Miller vs. New York Giants (7 Percent Rostered)
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Last week, Kendre Miller logged double-digit carries, which may be a sign of what's to come for the New Orleans Saints' rushing offense.
Through September, Miller saw a gradual increase in his touch volume, more than doubling his Week 1 total by Week 4. He's worked his way into a complementary role alongside Alvin Kamara, who's not a workhorse ball-carrier.
The Saints are splitting red-zone touches between Kamara and Miller almost evenly, with the former logging seven touches inside the opponent's 20-yard line compared to five for the latter.
Even more encouraging for Miller's fantasy outlook, he's been more efficient than Kamara on the ground, averaging 4.4 yards per carry compared to 3.9 yards per rush attempt for his running mate.
Miller's touch volume is steadily rising. He's primed for a breakout against the Giants' 29th-ranked run defense."
Big Blue are also allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to running backs. So, both Kamara and Miller could post fantasy-rich stat lines this week.
RB Michael Carter vs. Tennessee Titans (1 Percent Rostered)
3 of 8.jpg?w=684 "Raiders Cardinals Football")
The Arizona Cardinals placed running back Trey Benson on injured reserve. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his meniscus, which may sideline him for up to six weeks.
Without James Conner, who's out for the season because of a foot injury, and Benson for an extended period, the Cardinals' third-string running back becomes a priority pickup due to the high volume of touches up for grabs.
Contrary to expectations that Emari Demercado would start, Carter told the media he's preparing to fill that role.
"It's been a lot. … You go from Pat Tillman (Scout Player of the Week) one week to starting the next," he told reporters.
The Arizona Republic's Theo Mackie spotted Carter taking the first reps during the Cardinals' running back drills.
Whether you have Demercado on your roster or not, Carter is worth the add because he could see a massive increase in workload against the Tennessee Titans' 28th-ranked run defense.
Also, Tennessee is allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to running backs.
RB Zavier Scott vs. Cleveland Browns in London (1 Percent Rostered)
4 of 8.jpg?w=684 "Vikings Rookie Camp Football")
Zavier Scott could have a strong two-week stretch overseas with back-to-back double-digit fantasy scoring outings.
In the Minnesota Vikings' previous game in Dublin, he served as the team's primary pass-catching running back, hauling in six out of eight targets for 43 yards and a touchdown.
Last week, the Vikings fell behind the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-6, which dictated a pass-heavy game flow for a late comeback. That said, Scott may see a lot of action in the short passing game as an outlet for Carson Wentz, who will be under center without starting offensive linemen Ryan Kelly, Brian O'Neill and Donovan Jackson.
In a matchup against the Cleveland Browns, who rank eighth in pressure rate (22.7 percent) and are tied for seventh in sacks, Wentz may dump off several passes to Scott, who showed reliable hands last week.
The Browns field the No. 1 run defense in total yards. Minnesota may have to supplement the ground game with quick passes to get its running backs involved in the offense. Jordan Mason only has 20 receptions in 49 contests.
Scott's pass-catching role makes him a viable fantasy option in PPR leagues.
WR Darius Slayton at New Orleans Saints (6 Percent Rostered)
5 of 8.jpg?w=684 "Giants Football")
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL, which opens up plenty of target opportunities for Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton.
Nabers currently leads the team with 35 targets. Assuming Robinson remains the primary slot receiver, Slayton could take on a more prominent role in the Giants' aerial attack.
Last week, Slayton hauled in three of four targets for 44 yards. Though his target share remained relatively low with rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart throwing 20 passes, he's a big-play receiver who doesn't need a ton of receptions to rack up fantasy points.
In five out of seven seasons with the Giants, Slayton has averaged at least 15 yards per catch. He could produce some chunk plays against the New Orleans Saints, who rank 24th in net yards allowed per pass attempt and allow the 12th-most fantasy points to wide receivers.
Dart may throw a couple of touchdown passes, too. New Orleans has allowed the second-most scores through the air, giving up about two per game.
Don't be surprised if Slayton makes it to the end zone.
WR Jalen Tolbert at New York Jets (3 Percent Rostered)
6 of 8.jpg?w=684 "Giants Cowboys Football")
In the Dallas Cowboys' first game without star wideout CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens had one of his best games as a pro, though Jalen Tolbert made solid contributions with four catches for 61 yards.
Remember, Tolbert logged career highs in multiple receiving categories last season, hauling in 49 passes for 610 yards and a team-leading seven touchdowns as the No. 2 wideout behind Lamb.
Back in the secondary receiver spot, Tolbert could be a reliable weekly contributor in the Dallas Cowboys' aggressive aerial attack that leads the league in passing attempts.
Tolbert has a decent matchup against the New York Jets, who are in the middle of the pack in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers (16th) and passing yards allowed (14th).
The Cowboys' high-volume passing attack should be able to put a ton of pressure on Gang Green's secondary, which will create opportunities for Tolbert to finish with 60-plus receiving yards and a possible score.
TE Dalton Schultz at Baltimore Ravens (15 Percent Rostered)
7 of 8.jpg?w=684 "Titans Texans Football")
In the Houston Texans' most productive offensive outing this season, Dalton Schultz tied wideout Nico Collins for a team-leading six targets and led the club with five receptions.
Entering Week 5, Schultz is second on the team in targets with 21, but he's only averaging 7.9 yards per catch in a chain-mover role. Still, he has a favorable matchup that could allow him to see a high volume of targets that will amount to a solid outing in yardage and looks in the red zone.
The Texans will face the injury-riddled Baltimore Ravens, who won't have All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring) or All-Pro cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf).
Even with those key defenders healthy, the Ravens gave up the second-most passing yards and tied for the second-most passing touchdowns allowed. They also rank 11th in fantasy points allowed to tight ends.
Schultz isn't an exciting sleeper option, but he could produce TE1 numbers in a matchup against a porous, ailing defense.
TE Tommy Tremble vs. Miami Dolphins (1 Percent Rostered)
8 of 8.jpg?w=684 "Panthers Jaguars Football")
In Week 4, Tommy Tremble made an immediate impact as a fill-in starter for Ja'Tavion Sanders, who's out with a high ankle sprain. Along with rookie first-round wideout Tetairoa McMillan, he saw a team-leading eight targets and translated those looks into five receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown.
As Sanders deals with an injury that will likely sideline him for another outing, managers should plug Tremble into their lineups while he has one of the best matchups for a player at his position.
The Miami Dolphins allow the second-most fantasy points to tight ends. In their previous outing, they gave up five receptions for 65 yards to rookie second-round tight end Mason Taylor.
In Sanders' absence, Tremble may continue to see a high volume of targets, which makes him an intriguing sleeper against the Dolphins' 20th-ranked pass defense.
Fantasy points scored against statistics are provided by FantasyPros.
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
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