Which under-the-radar players might be able to give your fantasy team a lift in Week 5? Which chalky players might not be as safe as they seem?
Our featured analysts name some potential sleepers and underachievers for Week 5.
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Q. Which player outside of the top 100 in the FantasyPros flex rankings is a good sleeper start and why do you think he has upside this week?
Rex Burkhead (RB – HOU)
“Dameon Pierce is setting the fantasy football world on fire, averaging 6.2 yards per rushing attempt and 20 fantasy points per game over the past two weeks. However, Rex Burkhead continues to play a role for Houston, averaging four receptions per game this season, catching four or more passes in all but one contest. Furthermore, he had zero rushing attempts last week but was third on the team with five targets. Meanwhile, the Jaguars have given up the second-most receptions and receiving yards to running backs this season, making Burkhead a solid flex option this week.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
Isiah Pacheco (RB – KC)
“The Chiefs are up against their division rival Las Vegas Raiders, who are 23rd in the NFL in opponent points per game. Isiah Pacheco received 11 carries in Week 4 and averaged 5.7 yards per carry, similar to his stat line from week 1. If the carries continue to come for Pacheco, the fantasy points should also.”
– Mason Riney (IDP Army)
Devin Duvernay (WR – BAL)
“There are some appealing TEs outside the top 100 in the flex rankings, but I’ll make a pitch on behalf of Devin Duvernay. If Rashod Bateman can’t play for the Ravens or is limited because of his foot injury, Duvernay could get a few extra targets. The nice thing is that Duvernay doesn’t need that many targets to pay off. His track speed makes him a threat to go the distance any time he touches the ball. He already has three TD catches and a kick return for a touchdown this year, and he’s averaging 13.2 yards per target. Duvernay’s current TD rate and yardage per target aren’t sustainable over a full season, but if he starts getting a little more target volume, he’s going to be fantasy-viable every week.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
Kadarius Toney (WR – NYG)
“Hey, we’re talking about deep sleepers here, right? It’s impossible to fully trust Toney after he spent most of the opening month on the bench due to some combination of a hamstring injury and being locked in Brian Daboll’s doghouse. But the Giants desperately need his playmaking ability if they want to continue their winning ways, especially against a formidable opponent like Green Bay. With Sterling Shepard lost for the year, Kenny Golladay just, well, lost, and Richie James and David Sills pedestrian talents at best, Daboll may have no choice but to finally declare it ‘Toney Time.'”
– Andrew Seifter (FantasyPros)
Rachaad White (RB – TB)
“Rachaad White is a high-upside rookie who emerged as the pass-catching option Tom Brady loves to employ out of the backfield, and White should be viewed as more than just a handcuff for Leonard Fournette. Fournette has struggled this season and is being utilized at a high rate, but we are seeing White getting more snaps. He played 39% of the snaps in Week 4 and tied his season-high with eight touches, including five receptions for 50 yards and rushing for his first score. His increased usage should continue in Week 5 with a favorable matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, who are coughing up 126.3 rushing yards per game. Look for White to continue his ascension in the Bucs offense for the second-straight week, making him an RB to get in your PPR lineups.”
– Dennis Sosic (Fantasy Six Pack)
Q. Which player inside the top 40 in the FantasyPros flex rankings is likely to disappoint fantasy managers this week?
James Conner (RB – ARI)
“James Conner averaged 13.5 rushing attempts per game last season. However, he is averaging only 11.3 per game this year. More importantly, after averaging a career-low 3.7 yards per rushing attempt in 2021, the veteran running back has averaged only 3.2 yards per attempt in 2022. Meanwhile, the Eagles have shut down opposing running backs since Week 1, giving up only 3.5 yards per rushing attempt and 12 fantasy points per game. Conner is doomed to have a poor fantasy performance in Week 5.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
Joe Mixon (RB – CIN)
“Joe Mixon is averaging 2.7 yards per carry and has only rushed for over 65 yards once this season. Despite having had 92 rushing attempts, Mixon has only scored once on the ground. Baltimore is ranked in. the middle of the NFL in rushing yards allowed with just over 100 and points per game allowed with 25. ”
– Mason Riney (IDP Army)
Michael Pittman (WR – IND)
“After missing Week 3 with a quad injury, Michael Pittman came back in Week 4 and had a quiet 3-31-0 on six targets in a favorable matchup against the Titans. The Colts’ offense has been ineffective all season. Now, Indy has to face Denver on the road without star RB Jonathan Taylor. Colts QB Matt Ryan hasn’t looked good, and Pittman will be facing a Broncos defense that has allowed the fewest fantasy points to wide receivers so far. ”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
Dameon Pierce (RB – HOU)
“Last week was a promising one for Pierce’s rest-of-season value, as he handled 100 percent of the Texans’ rushing attempts and finally ran more pass routes than Rex Burkhead. But Burkhead still saw plenty of action in the hurry-up offense, which Houston could feature a lot of this week against a Jacksonville team with an underrated defense and emerging offense. The Jags are seven-point favorites in this contest, and Houston’s implied point total of 18.25 points is the fourth-lowest on the Week 5 slate. Last week was a good sign that Pierce isn’t entirely game-script dependent, but there are still enough unanswered questions to keep him outside of my top-20 RBs this week.”
– Andrew Seifter (FantasyPros)
Najee Harris (RB – PIT)
“The Pittsburgh Steelers visit Buffalo with rookie Kenny Pickett making his first career NFL start against a stellar Bills defense allowing only 234.5 yards per game. Ideally, the Steelers want to keep the ball away from the Bills’ explosive offense and control the clock with Najee Harris. Still, Harris is only producing 3.5 yards per carry this season, and the Bills’ defense is surrendering only 17.3 fantasy points per game. Harris achieved fantasy success last season by virtue of his passing game work. However, Harris got zero targets last week, and the Steelers’ offensive line issues and offensive struggles could continue in an underwhelming matchup against the Bills’ defense. Fantasy managers should limit their expectations with Harris in their Week 5 lineups.”
– Dennis Sosic (Fantasy Six Pack)
Thanks to the experts for sharing their advice! For more of their insight, be sure to follow each pundit on Twitter (click their names above) and visit their respective sites.
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If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant, which allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team and how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.
