Week 5 fantasy football studs, duds and sleepers

Week 5 of the NFL and fantasy football season is here and as always, we have this week’s studs, duds and sleepers.

Make sure to use USA TODAY Sports’ rankings to help as well, and good luck!

Studs

QB Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars

A great streaming option – if the defense can’t contain Patrick Mahomes, then it’ll be on Bortles to throw the Jags’ way back against a Swiss-cheese defense. With Leonard Fournette out, he and T.J. Yeldon will have to carry the offense.

RBs Sony Michel, James White, New England Patriots

The breakout has come for Michel, and now he gets to run against a mediocre rushing defense in Indianapolis on a Thursday night. And if Andrew Luck has the kind of game he had on Sunday, White will be called upon to have a high-volume role with Tom Brady. Start these two with lots of confidence.

WR Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers

He hasn’t put up his usual huge numbers as a WR1, but I’m confident he will against Oakland. I just don’t trust the Raiders’ defense at all, especially after last week’s shootout with the Browns.

TE Austin Hooper, Atlanta Falcons

The Steelers give up the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends, per ESPN. Given how shallow the tight end position is this year, you might as well give Hooper a chance.

Duds

QB Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams

This is one of those lowered expectations game – Seattle boasts the fifth-best pass defense, and although the Rams’ offense is a well-oiled machine, this might be huge Todd Gurley game given how bad the Hawks are against the run.

RB Carlos Hyde, Cleveland Browns

He’s developed as the bellcow in the Browns’ backfield, but the Ravens might have the best defense in the NFL.

WR Devin Funchess, Carolina Panthers

The Giants have problems, but they have the seventh-best pass defense in the league.

TE Eric Ebron, Indianapolis Colts

The Patriots boast the best defense against tight ends. Again, you’re probably not benching him because good TEs are hard to find, but if he puts up terrible numbers, you know why.

Sleepers

QB Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles

The Vikings are now a bottom-10 team against the pass after that incredible Jared Goff Thursday game, something that seemed unthinkable before the season. Plus, Alshon Jeffery is back, which will help. Wentz isn’t quite back to his QB1 status, but he could have that kind of day on the road.

RB Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers

He’s clearly the best running back in Green Bay and the Detroit has the worst run defense in the league. Starting him at your Flex spot may pay off with serious dividends.

WR Keke Coutee, Houston Texans

We’ll see what happens with Will Fuller’s injury, but if the speedy wideout is out with a hamstring injury, you might plug in the rookie who received 15 (!) targets for 11 catches and 109 yards last week.

TE Geoff Swaim, Dallas Cowboys

I’m going really deep for this one. He’s had 12 targets in his last two games and score against the Lions last Sunday. Could he be the Jason Witten replacement the Cowboys need?

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