This is Fantasy Sleepers Week 5!
This is a tough week to find impactful sleepers, but the show must go on. The injuries are mounting up, and the bye weeks are here.
However, we need to leave the excuses for your league mates. This is PlayerProfiler. Therefore, we are going to uncover the edges you need to win.
Quarterbacks
Baker Mayfield | Tampa Bay (19%)
Mayfield is on a bye, but he needs to be mentioned. He is QB13 overall through four games played and is coming off his best performance of the season with three TD passes. The Buccaneers also utilize him as a runner. Mayfield has rushed 23 times in four games. Tampa is 3-1, and Mayfield is here to stay. He is a must-start in Superflex leagues and can be streamed in single QB leagues.
Joshua Dobbs | Arizona (18%)
Much like Mayfield, Dobbs has been a positive surprise for fantasy managers this season. Dobbs is the QB16 on the year. He has at least 40 rushing yards in three straight games, elevating his weekly floor.
Arizona has a solid trio of pass catchers in Marquise Brown, Zach Ertz, and rookie Michael Wilson to accompany RB James Conner out of the backfield. Arizona is only 1-3, but they have been way more competitive than anyone predicted in the preseason. The Bengals head into Arizona as favorites but conceded 27 points to Tennessee. Dobbs makes for an interesting streaming option this week.
Zach Wilson | New York Jets (8%)
Yes, that Zach Wilson. Denver has been getting shredded by opposing QBs. Las week, Justin Fields passed for four TDs and 300+ yards. Wilson is coming off his best pro game and looked poised and aggressive against Kansas City. If you are stuck at QB, or in a Superflex league, use Wilson this week.
Running Backs
Chuba Hubbard | Carolina (28%)
Hubbard out-snapped and out-gained Miles Sanders in Carolina’s Week 4 loss to Minnesota. Sanders is dealing with pec and groin injuries, and Hubbard looks more explosive. Hubbard had 16 touches. While the production was not there, the volume was. The 0-4 Panthers head into a difficult matchup at Detroit this week. Hubbard will have a chance to put up RB2 numbers.
Tyjae Spears | Tennessee (24%)
I can’t stop and won’t stop writing about Tyjae Spears. He had his best game of the season with 58 combined yards against the Bengals as Tennessee cruised to a big win. Tennessee now heads into Indianapolis for a huge AFC South matchup. The Colts conceded 184 combined yards to Kyren Williams and Ronnie Rivers. The Titans will unleash King Henry but will also mix in a good amount of Spears. Even if you are not desperate enough to flex Spears, he is a must-stash handcuff to Henry.
Keaton Mitchell | Baltimore (21%)
Mitchell may not suit up this weekend, but the speedy Rookie returned to practice on Wednesday after leaving the IR. He was impressive in the preseason, with six yards per carry. Mitchell is the most explosive back in Baltimore and the most promising receiver out of the backfield.
He ran a 4.37 40 at the NFL Combine. Gus Edwards, Justice Hill and Melvin Gordon are his competition for touches. Stash Mitchell wherever you can.
Ronnie Rivers | LA Rams (4%)
Kyren Williams missed Wednesday’s practice. The Rams stressed this was precautionary, but there is a good chance that Williams is starting to feel the effects of his high volume start to the season. Rivers had a career-high 47 rushing yards and caught two passes in Week 4’s win over Indianapolis. If Williams were to miss time, Rivers would be the next man in.
Wide Receivers
Rashee Rice | Kansas City (33%)
Rice is over our usual threshold, but it is important to list him on here. This feels like the breakout game Rice managers have been waiting for. Minnesota has been the most generous defense in the league against opposing wideouts. Rice nearly had a big game against Chicago in Week 3 with a TD overturned. In Week 4, Rice quietly was No. 2 in targets among all Chiefs, but the day’s storyline was Travis Kelce (of course) and a big performance from Isiah Pacheco. Rice pushing past 15 PPR points this week should surprise no one. He is a great stash and makes for a strong matchup-based start.
Zay Jones | Jacksonville (30%)
Jones returns from an injury that has kept him out the past two weeks. Jones was heavily utilized in Week 1 with seven targets, five catches, 55 yards, and a TD. This was Jacksonville’s best offensive output to date. In Week 2, he again saw end-zone targets. Big Play Zay will always be a thing despite the presence of Calvin Ridley, Evan Engram, and Christian Kirk. Buffalo is a difficult matchup for Jacksonville, and Trevor Lawrence targeting Jones on a few big plays could be what the Jaguars need to pull off the upset. Treat Jones as a swing for the fence’s upside play.
Michael Gallup | Dallas (21%)
Gallup has had two solid performances in a row. Over the last two games, Gallup has 13 targets, 11 catches, and 152 receiving yards.
San Francisco just gave up two TD grabs to Michael Wilson, and despite the quality of their defense, they can be beaten over the top and on the outside. Look for the 49ers to key in on CeeDee Lamb. Gallup could be the biggest beneficiary.
Wan’Dale Robinson | New York Giants (15%)
Despite New York’s struggles, Robinson has shown some promise over his last two games. Robinson was targeted five times against San Francisco and drew six targets and a rushing attempt against Seattle. Miami will pressure Daniel Jones and the Giants offense to keep up, and Robinson could be in for double-digit touches.
Pop Douglas and Tyquan Thornton | New England Patriots (0% and 1%)
Douglas, a rookie, and Thornton, a second-year player, are sneaky bets to see more action this week against New Orleans. Each player brings speed and explosiveness that is lacking with the Patriots other skill-position players. If you have room on your roster for a lottery ticket, consider rostering one of them. Thornton is coming off of IR and had a few big fantasy performances last season.
Tight Ends
Jonnu Smith | Atlanta (12%)
Head coach Arthur Smith’s reunion with Jonnu Smith has been way more fantasy-friendly than anyone could have imagined. Smith- the player, not the coach- led Atlanta with 95 receiving yards. He has now had six or more targets in three straight games. Arthur Smith alluded that Kyle Pitts is still getting healthy, and Jonnu Smith has been the primary beneficiary.
Tyler Conklin | New York Jets (4%)
Conklin now has 17 targets over his last three games played. He has gone over 50 receiving yards twice. Conklin has not scored a TD but is a low-end TE2 floor play. The matchup against Denver is good. If you are desperate, consider attacking it here.
