Fantasy football rankings Week 5: Sleepers, projections, starts, Josh Downs, Xavier Worthy and more

As we enter Week 5 of the fantasy football season, byes are here, injuries are frustrating, and managers are stressed. No one wants to be out of it come Week 6, so let’s make sure you have all the breakdowns, starts, sleepers and more of what you need to get a win.

Reminder! I always have some fun ranks! This can be anything from cartoons to players from the 80s to things not to do when you’re over 30 — feel free to suggest yours. And, I try to answer as many comments as humanly possible… however… if it’s a simple WDIS within a position or “Who should I trade for?” type question, those are 99% covered with the ranks and link to the trade charts. Let’s duckin’ go!

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Week 5 Waiver Wire
Week 5 SOS Ranks
Fantasy 101 (weather, start/sit, trading, more)
🎙️All in Fantasy Podcast🎙️

WEEK 5 FANTASY FOOTBALL PREVIEWS

BYES: DET, LAC, PHI, TEN

Buccaneers at Falcons, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET

SLEEPERS: Cade Otton, TE, TB — With Trey Palmer hurt in addition to Jalen McMillan already out, the Buccaneers signed Sterling Shepard to the active roster, but Otton has seen more work the past two games with those injuries.
NOTES: Week 4 was the first game Rachaad White had over 2.8 YPC (4.9), but it was the second-straight game where he had under 50% of the RB touches and nearly the same number as Bucky Irving… Kyle Pitts averages 2.02 YPRR when lined up as in-line tight end versus 1.35 YPRR when lined up in the slot and 1.15 out wide… Granted, both top wideouts were sidelined, but Dallas Goedert was in-line 44.4% of the time in Week 4 — you know, for some desperate Pitts hope.

Jets at Vikings, LONDON, Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET

SLEEPERS: Mike Williams, WR, NYJ — Performs better against zone while Allen Lazard sees a boost against man, and Vikings are the zone-heaviest team (83.1%).
NOTES: Breece Hall’s Utilization Score (FantasyLife) has dropped each week — 9.6, 9.3, 8.9, and 6.1 in Week 4… Aaron Rodgers hasn’t thrown a touchdown while under pressure, he’s 17th in EPA under pressure, and the Vikings get pressure 43.6% of the time with only four rushers (third-highest).

Panthers at Bears, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

Ravens at Bengals, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

SLEEPERS: Justice Hill, RB, BAL — The Bengals defense isn’t stopping anything right now.
NOTES: Ja’Marr Chase and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are the only two wideouts without a single — not ONE — off target pass coming their way (min 20 targets)… Derrick Henry is seeing his highest yards before contact (YBC) with the Ravens (2.66, fourth overall this year) with a previous high of 1.82 in his rookie season… Chase Brown has 6.9% explosive runs to Zack Moss’ 4.2%.

Dolphins at Patriots, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

SLEEPERS: Antonio Gibson, RB, NE — Deep option, but rumors Gibson could get more with Rhamondre Stevenson’s fumbles, and the Dolphins are tied for the second-highest missed tackles forced per attempt (0.19), behind only the Giants.
NOTES: Dolphins offense with Tua Tagovailoa during the Tyreek Hill era: 0.15 EPA/Dropback, 6.5 YD/Play, 8.8 YD/TGT and 5.5 TD/ATT% compared to -0.21, 4.8, 6.7 and 2.3%… Ja’Lynn Polk led the Patriots in routes, though Kendrick Bourne can return to practice this week.

Browns at Commanders, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

SLEEPERS: Jerome Ford, RB, CLE — D’Onta Foreman gets some opportunities when leading, but it hasn’t been often, the Commanders continue to be efficient on offense, and they also struggle to stop elusive running backs.
NOTES: Terry McLaurin leads the NFL in TmAirYD% at 56.9% with second and third being George Pickens (53.5%) and Malik Nabers (51.5%)… He’s also set up for another good week with 2.22 YPRR against man coverage (1.38 versus zone), and the Browns are the third-heaviest man coverage team (40.6%)… Additionally, the Browns have teams target their first read 78.5% (highest), Jayden Daniels throws to his first read 71.7% (seventh) and McLaurin is his first read 31.6% (18th)… Deshaun Watson hasn’t been that good even when not under pressure with just 3.1 TD/ATT% with no pressure, ranking 25th.

Colts at Jaguars, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

SLEEPERS: Josh Downs, WR, IND — Per waivers, I like him with Anthony Richardson or Joe Flacco
NOTES: Back to Downs, he had a TmTGT% of 25.0 with Richardson, and in his action, Flacco looked his way 33.3%, but small game sample. And, Richardson averaged 11.0 YD/TGT while Flacco was 8.9 when looking to Downs, so again, this is all why I like him either way… The Jaguars are third-worst in defensive EPA against QBs and WRs, plus fourth-worst against slot receivers. Giddy up Michael Pittman Jr. as well as Downs if Flacco starts.

Bills at Texans, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

SLEEPERS: Khalil Shakir, WR, BUF — If someone finds success against the Texans pass defense (fourth-lowest Catch% allowed), it will be Shakir getting open easier. More below…
NOTES: Shakir leads the Bills in First Read% at 21.1 (Dalton Kincaid second at 19.3%), and given the Texans’ solid pass defense, the first read is often the target with the fourth-highest First Read% allowed at 73.5… Get ready for Nico Collins to continue his claim on the No. 1 WR spot, as he dominates zone coverage with 3.19 YPRR against it (seventh-highest, min. 5 targets), and the Bills run zone 77.0% (ninth-highest)

Raiders at Broncos, Sunday, 4 p.m. ET

SLEEPERS: Broncos DST? — This game is gross looking
NOTES: Courtland Sutton is the only player with 100% of his team’s end zone targets (Nico Collins is second at 78%)… Raiders run game gets stuffed more than any team (51.9%, with Chargers second at 51.4%), and the Broncos defense has the sixth-highest Stuff% (48.6).

Cardinals at 49ers, Sunday, 4 p.m. ET

SLEEPERS: Start the main options.
NOTES: Trey McBride and Marvin Harrison Jr. have the biggest and fifth-largest drop-off, respectively, from TGT% on 1-2 downs to third down (3D) with McBride going from 23.5% to 4.3% (-19.2) and Harrison 28.4% to 13.0% (-15.4)… Greg Dortch has 34.8 3D TGT% (eighth-highest in the league)… After giving up three double-digit scores in the first two weeks, only one wideout has topped 3.2 points against the 49ers, which was Tutu Atwell (9.3). Sure, the 49ers played the Patriots last week, but avoiding Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch — with or without Trey McBride — is smart.

Packers at Rams, Sunday, 4 p.m. ET

SLEEPERS: Tutu Atwell, WR, LAR — The Packers have been susceptible to big plays, and while that might make you think Demarcus Robinson, the Rams have been designing plays to take some big-play shots to Atwell, even in Week 4 with Jordan Whittington out there a lot.
NOTES: Jayden Reed is the only Top 10 wideout without an end zone target (Rashee Rice would have been here too if not hurt in Week 4)… Reed also leads the NFL in YPRR against zone (4.40), and the Rams have the seventh-highest zone rate… Matthew Stafford surprisingly has 11.5 YD/Comp without Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, compared to 9.9 with them.

Giants at Seahawks, Sunday, 4 p.m. ET

SLEEPERS: Whether or not Malik Nabers plays, Wan’Dale Robinson because…
NOTES: Robinson leads the league with 53.7% of his team’s third-down targets (next closest, George Pickens at 38.7%)… He also has the largest jump from TGT% on 1-2 down compared to 3D (36.8, with Calvin Ridley second at 26.6 — from 12.5% to 39.1%)… The Giants run defense allows the highest missed tackles per attempt (0.21), and Kenneth Walker is third-highest in forcing them (0.34).

Cowboys at Steelers, Sunday, 8 p.m. ET

SLEEPERS: Najee Harris, RB, PIT — Not a true sleeper, but given the workload with Jaylen Warren and Cordarrelle Patterson hurt, plus the Cowboys run defense, Harris is an RB2.
NOTES: The Steelers lead the league in Stuff% (51.1%, with the Packers second at 50.0%)… After the Browns did nothing in Week 1 against the Cowboys, teams are averaging 2.48 YPRR against them (past three weeks) with second being the Rams at 1.93.

Saints at Chiefs, Monday, 8:15 p.m.

SLEEPERS: Xavier Worthy, WR, KC — Not just because of Rashee Rice — see below
NOTES: No running back has topped 46 yards against the Chiefs and they are third-lowest in Explosive Run% allowed (1.9 — Ravens and Vikings tied at 1.3%)… The Saints defense allows the lowest TD/Drive% (9.5 with Broncos second at 10.6%) but are susceptible to chunk receptions with 9.19 AirYD/TGT (second most) and 12 receptions of 20+ yards allowed.

Some “Buy Lows” and “Sell Highs” (without context) since I had an ER visit to find out I have a hernia… duck that!

BUYS:

Anthony Richardson, QB, IND
Travis Etienne, RB, JAX
Josh Jacobs, RB, GB
DeVonta Smith, WR, PHI
Deebo Samuel, WR, SF
Brandon Aiyuk, WR, SF

SELLS:

Jayden Daniels, QB, WSH
Sam Darnold, QB, MIN
Brian Robinson Jr., RB, WSH
Zack Moss, RB, CIN
Davante Adams, WR, LV — Only if get WR1 value — no guarantee the traded to team is the Chiefs
Chris Godwin, WR, TB
Stefon Diggs, WR, HOU

FUN WITH RANKS

This came from a reader suggestion — please, keep them coming! — and I would have never thought of it, but it’s a fun one. I didn’t even expect to have 10, but it was easier than expected.

Top 10 weathers — what is it like outside? And unless noted, all of them are with low humidity!

Sunny and cloudy while around 70 degrees
Full snowing — not flurries, slushy, etc. — full, snowball quality, snow falling
No clouds, bright sun and low-60s
Thunderstorm with lightning
Breezy and in the upper-70s
Heavy @$$ snow — foot plus ready for building things
Light fog on a cool evening — not heavy enough to obscure everything
Rainbow-ish around 70 degrees post-rain
Low 80s … while at the beach
Cool down afternoon rain on an 80+ temperature day

DFL: Rainy and any sub-50 temperature or 85+ temperature with any humidity

WEEK 5 FANTASY FOOTBALL PROJECTIONS

🚨 HEADS UP 🚨 These can differ from my rankings, and MY RANKS are the order I’d start players outside of added context, such as, “Need highest upside, even if risky.” Also, based on 4-point TDs for QB, 6-point rest, and Half-PPR

Projections Download Link — SATURDAY UPDATE

WEEK 5 FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS

🚨 HEADS UP 🚨

There is no perfect widget out there, sadly, still. I know many view this on your phone, but 1) use the rankings widget on a PC/laptop/etc. if possible or 2) open in your phone’s browser, especially for Android users, to get the scrolling to work (or Android people can try a two-finger scroll).
ECR = “Expert” Consensus Ranking (which isn’t updated by everyone consistently, so take with a grain of salt).
Updated regularly, so check up to lineups locking.

(Top photo of Josh Downs: Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)