Week 5 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Deep Sleepers Who Could Emerge

We've reached that point in the NFL season, fantasy fans. Bye weeks are officially here, which means that managers who haven't already had their depth tested soon will.

This week, the Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans are off. This means early season standouts like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, J.K. Dobbins and Saquon Barkley will be unavailable.

With injuries also impacting teams around the league, managers may find themselves scrambling just to field functional rosters in Week 5. Fortunately, some potential sleepers have favorable matchups this week and may even be available on the waiver wire.

Here, you'll find a look at some deep sleepers to consider in Week 5, along with updated flex rankings. All rankings and analysis are based on point-per-reception (PPR) scoring.

1. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys

2. Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens

3. Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans

4. Jordan Mason, RB, San Francisco 49ers

5. Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints

6. Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams

7. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

8. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

9. Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons

10. Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants

11. Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seattle Seahawks

12. James Cook, RB, Buffalo Bills

13. Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets

14. Aaron Jones, RB, Minnesota Vikings

15. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals

16. DK Metcalf, WR, Seattle Seahawks

1.7. Jayden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers

18. Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

19. Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints

20. Josh Jacobs, RB, Green Bay Packers

21. Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers

22. James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals

23. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

24. Diontae Johnson, WR, Carolina Panthers

25. Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Washington Commanders

26. Stefon Diggs, WR, Houston Texans

27. Amari Cooper, WR, Cleveland Browns

28. Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets

29. Travis Etienne Jr., RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

30. De'Von Achane, RB, Miami Dolphins

31. Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers

32. Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots

33. D.J. Moore, WR, Chicago Bears

34. Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

35. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs

36. Jerome Ford, RB, Cleveland Browns

37. Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington Commanders

38. D'Andre Swift, RB, Chicago Bears

39. Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens

40. George Pickens, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Kansas City Chiefs signed free agent Kareem Hunt after starting running back Isiah Pacheco suffered a fractured fibula. Hunt made his 2024 debut in Week 4 and was immediately handed a fairly heavy workload.

Hunt carried 16 times for 69 yards and caught two passes for another 16 yards. He could see an even bigger workload this week.

The Chiefs won't have Pacheco or top receiver Rashee Rice (knee) in Week 5. With Rice out, Kansas City will likely lean on its defense and its running game against the New Orleans Saints on Monday night.

While the Saints have a solid defense, they don't represent a daunting matchup for Hunt. New Orleans has allowed the 12th-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs, which is, essentially, middle-of-the-pack.

Hunt is still available in more than 50 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson suffered an ankle injury in Week 4 and isn't expected to face the Los Angeles Rams this week.

"I would assume he'd probably be out most likely at least a week or so," head coach Matt LaFleur said, per ESPN's Rob Demovsky.

Watson's injury, though, will open up opportunities for fellow receiver Dontayvion Wicks, who caught five passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns in Week 4. That performance doesn't appear to be a fluke.

Wicks played 70 percent or more of the offensive snaps twice last season. He had six catches for 97 yards in the first game and six catches for 61 yards and two touchdowns in the second.

This week, Wicks will face a Rams defense that has surrendered the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing receivers. He's still only rostered in 17 percent of Yahoo leagues and 22 percent of ESPN leagues.

Packers tight end Tucker Kraft should also be a serviceable play in Week 5. That's due, in part, to Watson's injury. It's also due to the fact that Kraft has seemingly supplanted Luke Musgrave as Green Bay's top receiving tight end.

Kraft finished Week 4 with six catches for 53 yards and a touchdown. He has caught at least two passes in every game this season, though he's only topped 30 receiving yards twice.

While Kraft cannot be considered a high-floor play, he's been steady enough to at least provide points at the TE position—something managers haven't always gotten from, say, Mark Andrews.

Kraft should also be a decent bye-week replacement for players like Sam LaPorta and Dallas Goedert. The Rams have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season. Kraft is rostered in only six percent of Yahoo leagues and 25 percent of ESPN leagues.

*Fantasy scoring and roster information via FantasyPros.