Fantasy Football Sleepers to Help You Win Week 5

QB Jaxson Dart, New York Giants at New Orleans Saints: A month into the season, New Orleans has given up nine passing scores and one rushing touchdown to quarterbacks. The position has 221 aerial yards, on average, and this is the sixth-best matchup overall and No. 4 on the week once bye teams are excluded. Dart was solid in his Week 4 starting debut, but losing standout receiver Malik Nabers caps his upside. The rookie finished QB13 last week with just 111 passing yards and a TD to go along with 10-54-1 line on the ground. Four fewer QBs this week makes something in that middling realm easily playable.

QB Jake Browning, Cincinnati Bengals vs. Detroit Lions: This one is a massive risk. Browning has been awful in his two starts since replacing Joe Burrow, which is somewhat surprising given he played rather well in 2023's limited run. The idea here is two-fold: Detroit has some injuries of note in the secondary, and Browning could be forced to heave it 45-plus times to hang with Jared Goff. Consider a performance between Jordan Love's 17.8 points and Caleb Williams' 21.1 against the Lions as a win. Volume-based success could come with multiple turnovers, but who cares if his ceiling nets something around 300-3-2?!?

Week 5 Fantasy RB Sleepers

Ollie Gordon II, Miami Dolphins at Carolina Panthers : Gordon followed up his Week 3 line of 9-38-1 against Buffalo with a six-carry, 10-yard effort vs. the New York Jets. Carolina presents a much easier matchup to exploit, and Miami may have to rely more on both Gordon and RB De'Von Achane with the loss of Tyreek Hill kneecapping the overall offensive profile. The rookie profiles as a ground-based back with a reasonable shot at a rushing TD against a unit that has allowed one at the 10th-highest rate in relation to attempts faced.

Week 5 Fantasy WR Sleepers

Jalen Tolbert, Dallas Cowboys at New York Jets: Sauce Gardner should cover George Pickens most of the game, leaving Tolbert to face Brandon Stephens more often than not. New York has done a fine job of limiting catches in 2025, though the position has racked up the 10th-most yards on the 12th-fewest receptions. One in 14 found the end zone, too. Tolbert should see a little extra action if KaVontae Turpin (foot) cannot play, and it's safe to assume Dak Prescott will have ample time to throw when facing the league's third-weakest pressure rate.

Travis Hunter, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Kansas City Chiefs: In Week 4, Hunter saw a small uptick in offensive snap share from the prior game, and there's reason to believe that will expand against the Chiefs. KC's receiving corps is far from scary, and Jags CB Jarrian Jones has more than enough speed to contend with Xavier Worthy. Unless he struggles, Hunter should see more reps offensively. WRs have fared so-so against the Chiefs in 2025. Four receivers made it into double figures in PPR scoring, and another wideout was one catch or seven yards shy. The matchups have favored KC to an extent, and Baltimore losing Lamar Jackson last week skewed the numbers a little. At any rate, Hunter could be force-fed passes to help make up for the flop that has been Brian Thomas Jr. and get the offense going.

Week 5 Fantasy TE Sleepers

Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Seattle Seahawks : Otton was included here last week and flat-out stunk, but he at least tied a season high in targets (4) and receptions (3), so we were on the right track on some sense. The matchup was admittedly poor, and it was a noted hunch. This week, however, the Bucs face the worst defense of his position. No team has surrendered more catches or fantasy points per touch, and it's a top-10 opponent for yards allowed. One TD every 10.3 catches by TE ranks 11th. Those are numbers worth pursuing should you be in a pinch at the position.

AJ Barner, Seattle Seahawks vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers : We're really scratching the bottom of the barrel at TE this week, but they're sleepers for a reason, after all. The Seahawks directed three passes his way in Week 4, which tied a season high, and all three were secured for 32 yards with a TD. Barner has scored twice in his last three appearances Tampa has allowed TEs to cross the stripe at the 10th-highest frequency, which is what you're targeting here.

Week 5 Fantasy Defense Sleepers

Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens : Presuming Lamar Jackson (hamstring) indeed doesn't play, Houston's job becomes that much easier against Cooper Rush. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley left last week, and his status will be known Friday afternoon. Houston has come close to breaking through with 11 sacks on just a 19.3% pressure rate, but only three takeaways and no scores have held back this group in fantasy. With four of the top 20 fantasy defenses on bye, Houston makes for a quality replacement play.

Miami Dolphins at Carolina Panthers : This one is slightly riskier given Miami's similar statistical profile to Houston, recording only a trio of takeaways but tallying three fewer sacks on a 15% higher blitz rate and point lower pressure figure . The Panthers have allowed just six QB takedowns but a matching number of turnovers. Bryce Young remains inconsistent, at best, and the backfield figures to be without RB Chuba Hubbard (calf). Miami is a low-floor, high-ceiling gamble if you're missing one of the bye teams.