Biggest Sleepers at Every Position for Week 5 Fantasy Football 2026

This is the first week of team byes, so fantasy managers will need to pick up temporary replacements for Patrick Mahomes, Kenneth Walker III, Bryce Young, Chuba Hubbard, and Tetairoa McMillan. 

With those fantasy stars on your bench, consider a handful of notable veterans who are slightly past their prime but have favorable or potentially high-scoring matchups. They can bail you out of a bye-week void.

Two journeyman quarterbacks headline this week's sleepers list, and a couple of tight ends over 30 are primed to be prominent targets in their teams' offenses.

Managers in point-per-reception leagues should keep tabs on a couple of running backs who may see several targets in the short passing game. Lastly, two wide receivers could take on expanded roles because of key injuries.

Here are the biggest sleepers at every position. They're all available in more than 50 percent of leagues, according to FantasyPros' consensus roster percentages.

QB Jacoby Brissett vs. Detroit Lions (22 Percent Rostered)

AP Photo/Seth Wenig

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett

Brissett has made the sleeper list in consecutive weeks, and this week's home matchup against Detroit is more favorable than last week's road meeting with the Giants.

In Week 4, the journeyman quarterback threw for just 166 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions, including a pick-six.

On Sunday, Brissett will be in the comfortable confines of State Farm Stadium going against a defense that has given up the most passing yards and recorded just two interceptions this season. By the way, the Detroit Lions are allowing the most fantasy points to quarterbacks.

Lions safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph aren't ready to return from injury, so cash in on fantasy points against this defensive unit in the meantime. Brissett is primed for a top-10 finish with All-Pro tight end Trey McBride and emerging lead wideout Michael Wilson as his top targets.

QB Jameis Winston at Washington Commanders (5 Percent Rostered)

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston (19)

Are you ready for the Jameis Winston experience? If your league doesn't heavily penalize interceptions or pick-sixes, he is a solid replacement for Bryce Young and Patrick Mahomes, who are on bye weeks. 

On short notice, Winston filled in for Jaxson Dart, who suffered a season-ending knee injury on the first drive of the New York Giants' Week 2 matchup. He played in rainy weather the following week.

In those two outings, Winston threw one interception without a touchdown pass, but last week, he provided the full fantasy experience that comes with starting him, throwing for 250 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. 

As a backup, Winston's Week 4 numbers are a typical stat line for him. Expect some big plays but bake in a couple of turnovers. He'll face the Washington Commanders, who allow the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks and have given up 11 passing touchdowns in four games. 

All aboard the Winston roller coaster.

RB Keaton Mitchell vs. Denver Broncos (32 Percent Rostered)

AP Photo/William Liang

Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell

Despite the Los Angeles Chargers' offensive struggles, Keaton Mitchell has seen a steady increase in touches: four, six, 11 and 15. Now handling double-digit touches and seeing a handful of targets, he's a decent flex option or a low-end RB2 for managers who need running backs.

Last week, Mitchell logged 10 carries for 39 yards, and starting running back Omarion Hampton finished with nine rush attempts for 45 yards and a touchdown. The former saw six targets, while the latter saw only two.

Quietly, the Chargers' backfield has transitioned to a near-even timeshare, though Mitchell is the more explosive tailback because of his speed. This season, he's averaging 4.6 yards per carry while Hampton is averaging four yards per carry. 

The Denver Broncos allow the seventh-most fantasy points to running backs, giving up 116-plus rushing yards in three of four games. With Mitchell's expanding role, he should be on far more rosters and could be more appealing than Hampton in PPR leagues.

RB Will Shipley vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (14 Percent Rostered)

AP Photo/Chris Szagola

Philadelphia Eagles running back Will Shipley

The Philadelphia Eagles may be down to their third-string running back. 

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, Saquon Barkley is week-to-week with a hamstring injury, and Tank Bigsby will undergo core muscle surgery. 

Will Shipley is the No. 3 running back on the depth chart, and the Eagles elevated Dameon Pierce from the practice squad. Pierce is more of a pure ball-carrier, though Shipley may see more snaps as a receiver on third down.

The Eagles selected Shipley in the fourth round of the 2024 draft. Though he's been inefficient on the ground, averaging 3.1 yards per rush attempt in 35 contests, quarterback Jalen Hurts may frequently target him in the short passing game.

Perennial All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson retired. Philadelphia traded two-time Pro Bowl center Cam Jurgens to the Baltimore Ravens. Wideout DeVonta Smith could miss consecutive games with a hamstring injury. 

Hurts may be under duress with limited options in the passing game, which would allow Shipley to take on a sizeable receiving role, and he can handle the workload.

In four collegiate years at Clemson, Shipley caught 85 passes for 602 yards and two touchdowns. He has four catches for 24 yards so far this season and should see plenty more volume against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.

WR Keon Coleman at Los Angeles Rams (18 Percent Rostered)

AP Photo/Maria Lysaker

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman (0)

Last week, wide receiver DJ Moore aggravated a shoulder injury that has forced him to leave two games early this season. In those two games, Keon Coleman delivered his most productive performances of the season while taking on an expanded role.

After Moore went down in Week 2, Coleman hauled in six passes for 63 yards. In Week 4, he caught six of seven targets for 116 yards and a touchdown.

The Buffalo Bills may sit Moore to let him recover. Even if he suits up, the 29-year-old could be on a restricted snap count.

Khalil Shakir is rostered in about 57 percent of leagues. If he's not available, pick up Coleman. Both could be solid WR2s as Josh Allen's primary targets in a potential high-scoring matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. FanDuel has set the over-under total at 54.5 for that game.

WR Dohnte Meyers at Miami Dolphins (5 Percent Rostered)

AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Dohnte Meyers

Both Ja'Marr Chase (concussion protocol) and Tee Higgins (abductor) suffered injuries last week and are questionable to play Sunday. Both missed practice on Wednesday.

The Cincinnati Bengals have a Week 6 bye, so don't be surprised if the team sits its lead receivers against the winless Miami Dolphins to keep them both healthy for a midseason run.

Even if one of the two starting receivers sits out, Dohnte Meyers could take on a featured role. Last week, he hauled in seven of nine targets for 82 yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Dolphins are giving up the third-most yards per pass attempt, and the Bengals are fifth in pass attempts. Given Cincinnati's question marks at wide receiver, Meyers is worth consideration.

TE Mike Gesicki at Miami Dolphins (15 Percent Rostered)

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki (88)

Piggybacking off the reasons to pick up Dohnte Meyers, Mike Gesicki is also a viable target if wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and/or Tee Higgins sit out on Sunday.

Even with Chase and Higgins healthy, Gesicki has been a strong contributor to the passing game. He's caught at least three passes and scored a touchdown in three out of four contests this season.

Known for his reliable hands, Gesicki has the skill set of a big-bodied receiver. He's a 6'6", 245-pound mismatch downfield and started to show that early in his career with the Miami Dolphins between 2018 and 2022.

Gesicki is far removed from the revenge narrative in a matchup against one of his former teams, but he should be in lineups this week. The Dolphins allow the fifth-most fantasy points to tight ends and just let T.J. Hockenson rack up 13 catches for 119 yards last week.

TE Tyler Higbee vs. Buffalo Bills (3 Percent Rostered)

AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh, File

Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee (89)

At 33, Tyler Higbee is back on the sleeper list because of the injuries within the Los Angeles Rams' tight end group.

After Week 3, the Rams placed second-year pro Terrance Ferguson (ankle) on injured reserve. Last week, Colby Parkinson didn't practice because of knee and shoulder injuries.

Over the last two weeks, Higbee has seen a whopping 17 targets, hauling in 13 for 129 yards and a touchdown. He knows the ins and outs of head coach Sean McVay's offense and should maintain a solid pass-catching role while Ferguson and Parkinson are on the sideline.

If Parkinson practices this week and is a full-go for Monday night, you can also consider him a sleeper option. Coming off a season in which he caught 43 passes for 408 yards and eight touchdowns, all career highs, he's rostered in just four percent of leagues.

Fantasy points scored against statistics are provided by FantasyPros. 

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.