Redskins rookie receiver Jamison Crowder has played a bigger role in the offense lately. (Getty)
Every week during the NFL fantasy football season, there are sleepers and busts. That’s a given.
What’s not so clear is figuring who these players will be. But if you take some time to brush up on players and upcoming matchups, you’ll be able to identify the guys who are primed for big games and others who are destined for duds.
And if you don’t have that time to study players and matchups, that’s OK. I do. So just keep on reading and you’ll see who I feel who has sleeper and bust potential for Week 5 of the NFL season.
And don’t forget to bookmark our fantasy football rankings 2015 page to keep up-to-date on the latest projections and rankings so you know you who to start and who to sit each week. All of my rankings for Week 5 are posted.
Here are the top sleepers and busts for Week 5:
Week 5 Sleepers
Josh McCown, QB, Browns, at Ravens
Johnny Football who? It’s all about Joshy Football, who has thrown for 697 yards and 4 touchdowns over the past 2 games. And considering the Browns are likely run for about 12 yards vs. the Ravens stout front 7 Sunday, expect the Browns to become Air McCown once again. In the past 3, the Ravens have been torched by Derek Carr, Andy Dalton and just let Mike Vick complete 19 of 26 passes.
Charles Sims, RB, Buccaneers, vs. Jaguars
Sims played 39 snaps in Week 4 and caught a TD for the second-straight game. Starter Doug Martin had his best game of the year also, but Sims is beginning to see more touches. The Jaguars have been shutting down the run, which might mean less carries for Martin and more targets for Sims, who has the fourth-most on the team.
Jamison Crowder, WR, Redskins, at Falcons
Over the past 2 weeks, Crowder has 13 receptions and is coming off a 12-target game in Week 4. He has take-it-to-the-house ability, though he has yet to show it. Crowder might get an opportunity or 4 vs. the Falcons, who have allowed the third-most passing yards in the league. With TE Jordan Reed likely out again, targets are up for grabs for the Washington receiving corps.
Josh Hill, TE, Saints, at Eagles
Hill was on everybody’s sleeper list coming into the season, but is currently averaging 1 reception and 5.75 yards over 4 games. Awesome. Silver lining, though: he caught his first TD of the season in Week 4. Last season Hill snagged 5 TDs on just 20 targets, so QB Drew Brees seems to trust the 6-foot-5, 250-pounder. And let’s face it, without Jimmy Graham, the Saints don’t have a single end zone scoring threat. Has the time come for Hill to begin living up to his preseason hype?
Week 5 Busts
Andy Dalton, QB, Bengals, vs. Seahawks
I’m not taking anything away from Dalton’s awesome early season, but he has taken advantage of some of the worst pass defenses in the NFL (Raiders, Chiefs and Ravens). And while Dalton does have his full arsenal of receivers back (AJ Green, Marvin Jones, Tyler Eifert and Gio Bernard out of the backfield), he has Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor and a surging Seattle defense coming to town. I’d temper my expectations a tad.
Carlos Hyde, RB, 49ers, at Giants
Hyde hasn’t done much since that monstrous Week 1 game vs. the Vikings. And his immediate future might not be so bright, either. Somehow, the Giants have the best rush defense in the league (but they are last in pass D). They haven’t faced any Tony Dorsetts or Walter Paytons, but opposing RBs are running for just a paltry 3.1 yards per carry. With the Giants so vulnerable vs. the pass, 3rd down back Reggie Bush might cut into Hyde’s playing time.
Amari Cooper, WR, Raiders, vs. Broncos
Amari Cooper meet Aqib Talib and the Broncos defense, who allow a league-low 185 passing yards per game. I must say, Cooper has exceeded the lofty expectations placed on him in the preseason, but don’t get overly excited about this matchup. Expect something more like WR3 or FLEX production.
Heath Miller, TE, Steelers, vs. Chargers
We’ll call this the Mike Vick Effect. Miller, a usual fave of injured starter Ben Roethlisberger, was targeted just twice in Vick’s first start. The chemistry just isn’t there. There are about 13 other tight ends I’d rather use this weekend. See, look here.
