Fantasy Football Week 5 Rankings: Michael Crabtree and 3 Sleeper Flex Plays

Deciding on a player to fill the flex spot might be the toughest decision a fantasy owner has to make each week. Do you go with the guaranteed carries of a running back or the upside of a wide receiver? Sometimes you are better off flipping a coin. That said, here are three sleeper flex plays for Week 5.

LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, New York Jets

Rex Ryan has said the Jets will return to a ground-and-pound mentality after an unsuccessful conversion to a more pass-oriented attack. That bodes well for Tomlinson because it's clear the team isn't completely sold on Shonn Greene.

While Greene remains the starter, he's on a short leash, and Tomlinson will get more than his fair share of carries against a struggling New England Patriots defense. He's alternated good weeks with bad weeks and following that pattern, he's due for an up week.

Look for LT to find the end zone at least once Sunday afternoon.

Prediction: 10 fantasy points

Malcom Floyd, WR, San Diego Chargers

One of the more disappointing depth receivers of the season, Floyd was expected to have a nice season as the No. 2 wide out in a pass-happy offense. Instead, he's averaging less than four points per week and has fallen off most fantasy radars.

If he's going to break out of the slump, it's going to be against a questionable Denver Broncos secondary, which ranks 31st against opposing fantasy WRs. Hopefully he's finally able to shake his nagging groin issues and can reward fantasy owners who took a chance on him.

Floyd will catch six passes for 80 yards and, if he can find the end zone, could put your team over the top.

Prediction: 8 fantasy points

Michael Crabtree, WR, San Francisco 49ers

Crabtree is one of the few wide receivers who has been a bigger let down than Floyd. He's scored just eight points through four weeks, but might have turned the corner with a six-point performance against the Eagles last week.

With Alex Smith at the helm, the 49ers' offense is never going to be explosive. That doesn't make Crabtree useless, however. If he can build on last week's performance, there's a good chance he can be a reliable flex option until season's end.

Around 60 yards and a touchdown is a reasonable expectation of Crabtree against a shaky Buccaneers secondary. Pick him up if a fellow league member has given up of him prematurely.

Prediction: 12 fantasy points