Here we are in Week 5. So far it has only been injuries that have forced our hand when setting our lineups, but now as bye-weeks begin some of us may be finding it difficult to field an entire starting lineup. That makes knowing different options at every position who may be able to surprise very important. Perhaps some of these players are already on your bench. Maybe they’re still on the waiver wire just waiting to be picked up. Either way, below are six names who I think could over-perform and reward their managers with surprising performances in Week 5. Here are my sleepers for Week 5.
WEEK 5 FANTASY SLEEPERS
Start Stat %, Via Sleeper
GENO SMITH (QB)
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS VS. NYG (37% START)
Geno Smith has had a quietly good fantasy season up through four weeks. He is currently the QB9 and is coming off a career-high 395 yards, one touchdown, and one interception performance against the Detroit Lions. I expect him to keep things rolling in Week 5 against the New York Giants. Smith, who leads the league in completions (115) and passing yards (1,182), should be able to expose a Giants defense that allowed Dak Prescott to throw for 221 passing yards and two touchdowns last week. Smith has been a top eight (or better) in three of four weeks. There’s no reason he can’t finish at least that well against New York who are ranked 14th in pass defense. If you’re dealing with bye-week or injury woes at the QB positions, Smith is a great fill-in, and depending on who your regular starter is, you might find yourself opting for Smith more often than not.
ALEXANDER MATTISON (RB)
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS @ DEN (21% START)
Alexander Mattison has been considered a sleeper in the past, but after hearing Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce say that Mattison has earned more work, he’s back on the list. Plus, teammate Zamir White has missed practice the last two days after suffering a groin injury in Wednesday’s practice. Even if White can go I expect this to be close to a 50/50 split. Mattison has looked like the better running back this season and could eventually take over the backfield if he keeps outperforming White. Last week, Mattison had five rush attempts for 60 yards. White had 17 attempts for 50. Mattison’s efficiency is what has made Pierce take notice, and if that efficiency continues, it’s only a matter of time until managers are dropping White to pick up Mattison if they haven’t already. The matchup against the Broncos isn’t ideal, but I don’t expect a blowout on either side, so Mattison could produce on volume alone in a close game. Mattison is a good flex option with RB2 upside this week.
JAVONTE WILLIAMS (RB)
DENVER BRONCOS VS. LV (34% START)
I’m staying in that same game for my next running back sleeper. I know Javonte Williams has been underwhelming up to this point, but as the clear leader in the Broncos’ backfield, going up against one of the worst run defenses in the league, I’m willing to give him one more chance. Williams is still getting the majority of the carries for the Broncos and is heavily involved in the passing game, with 49 percent route participation and a 20 percent target rate. Admittedly, most of Williams’s issues are not his fault. He is running behind an offensive line that ranks as one of the worst in the league. He is also seeing a lot of stacked boxes because Bo Nix and the passing game have failed to get much of anything going. But if there ever was a get-right game, it’s this one. Las Vegas is allowing more than five yards per carry to running backs. Even though it has not been electric, the run game is still the best part of the Denver offense, so expect them to lean on it. Williams could be in line for his best performance of the season.
DONTAYVION WICKS (WR)
GREEN BAY PACKERS @ LAR (42% START)
As good as Malik Willis was in Jordan Love’s absence, it sure is nice to have the fifth-year signal-caller back. Head coach Matt LaFleur was brilliant in how he drew up a scheme to fit Willis’s strengths, but with Willis running the show, LaFleur chose to emphasize the run game, so it was hard to trust any pass catchers in Green Bay. Now that Love is back, several skill players could help your team win in Week 5, including second-year wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks. Love’s returning instantly brought a passing game that had been dormant the two previous weeks to life. Jayden Reed was the star, but Wicks was also heavily involved. Of course, this was largely due to an injury to Christian Watson. But Watson is expected to miss their Week 5 matchup against the Rams, so Wicks, who is coming off a five reception (on 13 targets), 78-yards, two-touchdown showing, could once again produce for his managers. It would be nice to see him be more efficient with his targets, but as long as he’s this involved, he will be a nice flex-play with WR2 upside.
JUJU SMITH-SCHUSTER (WR)
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS VS. NO (2% START)
The hits just keep on coming for the Kansas City Chiefs. With injuries to key starters like Isiah Pacheco and now star wide receiver Rashee Rice, someone is going to have to step up (other than Travis Kelce) and it’s likely to be someone who hasn’t even been on the fantasy radar this season. I know that the expectation for many is that rookie Xavier Worthy will absorb a lot of Rice’s work, but I’m not so sure. I think Worthy could be a trap as a boom/bust flex. There have been reports that instead, it may be veteran Juju Smith-Schuster who will take on the Rashee Rice role. Smith-Schuster is nowhere near the talent of Rice. But if he is used in a similar role then he will see several targets in the short-to-intermediate passing game, and that could be valuable, especially in PPR formats. He will also be facing a Saints pass defense that is ranked 25th in the league, so if there was any time when Smith-Schuster could break out for a vintage performance, it’s this week.
JUWAN JOHNSON (TE)
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS @ KC (2% START)
You might notice that I expect a lot of passing and scoring in this game. While the New Orleans Saints have yet to feature their tight ends consistently, that could change in Week 5. The Kansas City Chiefs allow the most fantasy points to tight ends this season. It’s not always easy to know if that’s by design or because they have a weakness in that part of their defense, but it is something to consider. This would seem to put either Juwan Johnson or Foster Moreau in a good spot to produce. While Derek Carr does have a history with Moreau, I lean toward the more talented pass-catching threat of the two in Johnson. Johnson has not done much for fantasy managers this season, but his snap share has increased every week, culminating in playing 68% of the snaps this past week against the Falcons. The one wild card in this is Taysom Hill who is dealing with a rib injury. If he misses the game or is limited in any way, the Saints should turn to Johnson in a more traditional tight end role. In a high-scoring, plus matchup I like his chances.
