Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings: Guide for Top Players and Sleepers

Much like their NFL counterparts, fantasy football managers must adapt on the fly to the ever-growing injury report.

While NFL teams can dig through their depth charts to find replacements, fantasy managers find their alternatives on the waiver wire.

Luckily, there are some attractive options to be found. After laying out our early Week 5 top 10 rankings at the three marquee positions, we'll spotlight two sleepers rostered in fewer than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues, per FantasyPros.

Quarterback

1. Lamar Jackson, BAL (at CIN)

2. Josh Allen, BUF (at HOU)

3. Jayden Daniels, WAS (vs. CLE)

4. Kyler Murray, ARI (at SF)

5. Brock Purdy, SF (vs. ARI)

6. Jordan Love, GB (at LAR)

7. C.J. Stroud, HOU (vs. BUF)

8. Baker Mayfield, TB (at ATL)

9. Patrick Mahomes, KC (vs. NO)

10. Joe Burrow, CIN (vs. BAL)

Running Back

1. Jordan Mason, SF (vs. ARI)

2. Derrick Henry, BAL (at CIN)

3. Jonathan Taylor, IND (at JAX)

4. Kyren Williams, LAR (vs. GB)

5. Bijan Robinson, ATL (vs. TB)

6. Alvin Kamara, NO (at KC)

7. Breece Hall, NYJ (at MIN)

8. James Cook, BUF (at HOU)

9. Josh Jacobs, GB (at LAR)

10. Kenneth Walker III, SEA (vs. NYG)

Wide Receiver

1. CeeDee Lamb, DAL (at PIT)

2. Justin Jefferson, MIN (at NYJ)

3. Ja'Marr Chase, CIN (vs. BAL)

4. Nico Collins, HOU (vs. BUF)

5. Marvin Harrison Jr., ARI (at SF)

6. DK Metcalf, SEA (vs. NYG)

7. Mike Evans, TB (at ATL)

8. Malik Nabers, NYG (at SEA)

9. Deebo Samuel Sr., SF (vs. ARI)

10. Jayden Reed, GB (at LAR)

Few teams are more in need of an offensive spark than the Jaguars, who have averaged a paltry 15 points over their first four outings. Perhaps that opens the door for Tank Bigsby, their 2023 third-round pick, to make a big impact on this attack.

His workload has, admittedly, left plenty to be desired so far. After seeing 12 carries in the season-opener, he's handled just nine in the three contests combined since.

Still, he's been so dynamic with his touches that Jacksonville can't possibly ignore him much longer. His 21 carries have yielded 172 yards and three runs of 20-plus yards. For comparison, starting running back Travis Etienne Jr. has 214 yards and two 20-plus yard bursts on 47 carries.

Should the Jaguars rethink their running back rotation—Etienne's 12 touches in Week 4 were his fewest of the season—Bigsby has a chance to make real noise.

After losing starting running back Isiah Pacheco to a broken fibula, the Chiefs turned to a familiar face and brought back Kareem Hunt. They effectively handed him control of their running game on Sunday.

Undrafted rookie Carson Steele technically started, but after losing a fumble for the second time in three games, he saw just one more carry. Hunt, meanwhile, handled 14 of the team's 26 rushing attempts while also getting three of the six targets that Patrick Mahomes sent to running backs.

Hunt didn't have an enormous fantasy day—14 carries for 69 yards, two receptions for 16 yards, zero touchdowns—but he potentially laid the foundation for some monster performances going forward. He just might be the featured back in an offense that could grow more run-heavy following Rashee Rice's potentially significant knee injury Sunday.

For at least as long as Pacheco is out of action, Hunt belongs on a fantasy roster and probably in a fantasy starting lineup.