3 Fantasy Football Sleepers for NFL Week 5

NFL Sleepers for This Week in Summary

• Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Cardinals
• Jahan Dotson, WR, Falcons
• Malik Willis, QB, Dolphins

Every fantasy football week presents new opportunities to uncover value, and some of the best options aren't always the biggest names. Whether it's a favorable matchup, an expanded role, an injury creating opportunity or a player showing signs of a breakout, the fantasy landscape can change quickly from one week to the next.

With that in mind, here are some fantasy football sleepers to consider for this week. These players may not be automatic starts in every league, but each has a combination of opportunity and upside that makes them worth a closer look for the week ahead.

We'll reference our NFL projections. All NFL odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook and may change after this article is published.

Week 5 Fantasy Football Sleepers

Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Cardinals

On one hand, Marvin Harrison Jr. is a household name and probably doesn’t fit into the sleeper bucket. On the other hand, he’s a receiver who has 85 yards through four games, so his production says he’s a sleeper.

Harrison has a chance to bust out this week thanks to a matchup with the Detroit Lions. The Lions are getting shredded through four weeks, especially through the air, as they’ve allowed the most catches to WRs as well as the third-most receiving yards per game to the position.

While MHJ is running as a clear third option behind Trey McBride and Michael Wilson, the matchup is excellent for him, and this game’s 54.5-point over/under points to a shootout. That gives Harrison a chance to have his first big game of 2026.

Jahan Dotson, WR, Falcons

Michael Penix Jr. has provided a big lift to the Atlanta Falcons‘ offense, and they have a sneaky-good matchup this week, which puts Jahan Dotson on the sleeper radar.

Atlanta hosts the Baltimore Ravens on SNF, and Baltimore’s secondary is having a tough go of it through four weeks, permitting the sixth-most receiving yards and third-most catches to WRs.

Dotson has quietly played the second-most snaps among Atlanta’s receivers, getting on the field for at least 63% of the snaps in all four of Atlanta’s games.

He scored his first TD of the season a week ago, and his role and friendly matchup give him a chance to strike for another quality game in Week 5.

Malik Willis, QB, Dolphins

Coming into the year, I liked Malik Willis as a late-round QB target. It hasn’t panned out so far, and the loss of De'Von Achane has left the Miami Dolphins in desperate need of playmakers.

With that said, I’m into Willis this week for his home matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Cincy has allowed the seventh-most passing yards per game as well as the 12th-most yards per play overall, so they’re a fairly nice matchup.

A big part of Willis’ fantasy appeal is his running ability. He’s been all over the place with that through four games, posting rushing totals of 39, 6, 56 and 11.

The 56- and 39-yard outings show Willis clearly still has top-notch rushing upside if you catch him on the right day, and I’m willing to roll the dice on him this week.

Fantasy Football Sleepers FAQ

What is a fantasy football sleeper for this week?

A fantasy football sleeper for this week is a player who isn't widely viewed as a must-start but has a favorable combination of matchup, opportunity and recent production that could lead to a strong fantasy performance.

How do you identify fantasy football sleepers each week?

We look at factors such as recent usage, snap counts, targets, touches, red-zone opportunities, injuries and the player's individual matchup. Changes in a player's role can also create new sleeper opportunities from week to week.

Should I start a fantasy football sleeper this week?

That depends on your league, your roster and the player's situation. A sleeper can be a strong option when you're dealing with an injury, a bye week or a difficult matchup for one of your usual starters, but it's important to consider each player's floor as well as their upside.

Do fantasy football sleepers change every week?

Yes. Sleeper candidates can change significantly as the season progresses because of injuries, emerging players, coaching decisions, matchups and changing workloads. That's why it's useful to reevaluate potential sleepers each week.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.