Fantasy Football Week 5: Derek Carr, Chris Thompson highlight sleepers to target

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It's always a good way to start the week when a sleeper you trust — or in my case, recommend to use — comes through. That happened with two Colts in Thursday night's game at the Patriots.

Nyheim Hines and Chester Rogers were great for owners in PPR leagues despite Indianapolis falling to New England 38-24. And if you read Start 'Em and Sit 'Em prior to setting your lineup, you know these were two players I liked going into the game.

Here's what I said about Hines, who finished with 15 carries for 45 yards and seven catches for 45 yards on nine targets.

"The Colts aren't expected to have T.Y. Hilton (hamstring), can't run the ball and will likely be chasing points. That should lead to Andrew Luck throwing the ball with lots of dump-off passes, and Hines has three games this season with at least five catches. He's clearly a better option in PPR, and he's averaging 13.5 PPR points for the season. He's a flex option in Week 5 given the circumstances in this matchup."

And here's what I said about Rogers, who had eight catches for 66 yards on 11 targets.

"It's a guessing game of who will be the No. 1 Colts receiver this week with Hilton out, with Rogers, Ryan Grant and Zach Pascal all vying for targets. I like Rogers the best since he's coming off a strong game in Week 4 against Houston with eight catches for 85 yards on 11 targets. Luck will be throwing a lot in this matchup, and I expect Rogers to see a high volume of targets again Thursday night."

Now, let's hope the rest of my sleeper suggestions deliver Sunday and Monday. And hopefully these players help your Fantasy rosters for Week 5.

Quarterbacks

15.6 projected points	Joe Flacco Baltimore Ravens QB
Flacco has scored at least 21 Fantasy points in three of four games, and the Browns have allowed at least 243 passing yards and two touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks in two of their past three outings. In his past five games against Cleveland, Flacco is averaging 263 passing yards with 12 total touchdowns and five interceptions.
17.2 projected points	Derek Carr Oakland Raiders QB
Carr had his breakout game against Cleveland in Week 4 with 39 Fantasy points, and hopefully he stays hot this week. The Chargers have allowed at least 20 Fantasy points to three of four opposing quarterbacks this season, including C.J. Beathard in Week 4. Carr doesn't have a great track record against the Chargers, but this defense has struggled in the passing game. Look for Carr to lean on Jared Cook, Amari Cooper and Jordy Nelson for a quality outing this week.
21.6 projected points	Alex Smith Washington Redskins QB
The Saints come into this game allowing the third-most Fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, and Smith should be chasing the scoreboard on the road. Smith has scored at least 20 Fantasy points in two of three games this year, and he should add to that total coming off a bye. He also could be asked to do plenty of heavy lifting if Adrian Peterson (ankle) is unable to play.

Running backs

12.5 projected points	Chris Thompson Washington Redskins RB
We'll see if Adrian Peterson (ankle) is fine this week against the Saints, and you should start him as a No. 2 running back if he's healthy. But Thompson also has plenty of appeal in a game where Washington is likely chasing points. New Orleans has allowed 14 receptions to running backs in the past two weeks against Atlanta and the Giants, and Thompson has 20 catches through three games. He scored at least 22 PPR points in his first two outings and has the chance for another standout performance this week.
11.5 projected points	Austin Ekeler Los Angeles Chargers RB
Ekeler hasn't had more than 14 touches in any game this season, but he's scored at least 12 PPR points in three of four outings. At some point, his minimal workload may catch up to him, but you should still feel comfortable using him in this matchup with the Raiders. Five running backs have either scored a touchdown or had at least 100 rushing yards against Oakland, and this should be a good game for Ekeler and Melvin Gordon.
6.7 projected points	Derrick Henry Tennessee Titans RB
In full disclosure, I wish I had the guts to rank Henry higher because this feels like a breakout game for him. The Bills offense should struggle to move the ball this week, and the Titans should dominate time of possession. And while the Bills haven't given up a lot of rushing yards, they have allowed touchdowns, with seven scores allowed to the position. Henry has yet to find the end zone this year, but I'm expecting a touchdown from him in Week 5. He's worth using as a flex in all leagues.
8.9 projected points	Javorius Allen Baltimore Ravens RB
Could this be the week the Ravens give Allen a full workload over Alex Collins? Coach John Harbaugh called out Collins for his fumble woes, and that could lead to more work for Allen. He failed to score in Week 4 for the first time this season, but he has at least 13 PPR points in three of four games. Allen is worth using as a flex option, with his value higher in PPR. And the Browns have allowed four running backs to catch at least three passes this season.
9.4 projected points	Bilal Powell New York Jets RB
The Broncos have allowed a running back to score in each of their past three games against Oakland, Baltimore and Kansas City, with five total touchdowns allowed over that span. That works well for Powell and Isaiah Crowell. Now, Powell is still looking for his first rushing touchdown on the season — he has one receiving, while Crowell has four rushing scores — but he's the better running back in this tandem, especially in the passing game. If you need a flex this week, don't shy away from Powell. And even Crowell can be useful if he finds the end zone.

Wide receivers

5.8 projected points	Taywan Taylor Tennessee Titans WR
In Tennessee's first game without Rishard Matthews in Week 4 against Philadelphia, Taylor was featured in the offense with seven catches for 77 yards on nine targets. He now heads to Buffalo where secondary receivers have done well because Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White typically makes things difficult on the No. 1 guy, which could be challenging for Corey Davis. Taylor could score at least 12 PPR points for the third time in the past four games.
9.3 projected points	Marquez Valdes-Scantling Green Bay Packers WR
Randall Cobb (hamstring) and Geronimo Allison (concussion) are expected to be out this week, and Davante Adams (calf) is banged up too, which should give Valdes-Scantling a bigger role after he played 54 plays in Week 4 against Buffalo with Cobb out. He only had one catch for 38 yards on three targets, but those numbers will rise due to the injuries. Valdes-Scantling is worth using as a No. 3 receiver in deeper leagues
10.8 projected points	Jamison Crowder Washington Redskins WR
Crowder had his best game of the season in Week 3 against Green Bay with four catches for 39 yards and a touchdown on four targets, and hopefully he can build off that performance following Washington's bye week. The Saints have struggled with slot receivers this season, and Crowder could be needed if Washington is chasing points on the road. He's worth using as a No. 3 Fantasy option this week.
9.7 projected points	Keke Coutee Houston Texans WR
You can expect Coutee to see plenty of targets lining up in the slot this week, and he's worth using in deeper leagues, even with Will Fuller (hamstring) expected to play. Coutee might not replicate his Week 4 numbers at Indianapolis when he had 11 catches for 109 yards on 15 targets, but Dallas has struggled with slot receivers this season, including Tyler Lockett and Tate the past two weeks. Coutee has plenty of appeal as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in Week 5.
9.7 projected points	Mohamed Sanu Atlanta Falcons WR
Sanu has quietly played well in each of the past two games against New Orleans and Cincinnati with at least 15 PPR points in each outing. He has 10 catches for 147 yards and a touchdown on 16 targets over that span, and he has a favorable matchup against the Steelers this week. While Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley have overshadowed Sanu — and are must-start options in all leagues — he can be considered a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in PPR this week.
12.3 projected points	Dede Westbrook Jacksonville Jaguars WR
All of the Jaguars receivers are in play this week given their matchup at Kansas City, so consider Westbrook, Keelan Cole and Donte Moncrief as potential starting options in three-receiver leagues. Westbrook is coming off a strong game in Week 4 against the Jets with nine catches for 130 yards on 13 targets, and he now has two games in his past three outings with at least 18 PPR points. Cole has cooled off since scoring 24 PPR points in Week 2 against New England, but he's still Jacksonville's best big-play threat. And Moncrief has at least 13 PPR points in two of his past three games, and he also just had his best performance of the season in Week 5 against the Jets with five catches for 109 yards and a touchdown on five targets. The Chiefs have allowed five receivers to score at least 12 PPR points this season.

Tight ends

5.7 projected points	Geoff Swaim Dallas Cowboys TE
Swaim has established himself as the No. 1 tight end for the Cowboys with his production over the past two games. He has eight catches for 86 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets over that span against Seattle and Detroit, and he has a favorable matchup this week against the Texans. Houston has allowed a tight end to score in three of four games this year, and Swaim will hopefully add to that total this week.
7.0 projected points	Ricky Seals-Jones Arizona Cardinals TE
The 49ers have allowed a tight end to score in every game this season, and hopefully Seals-Jones keeps that streak alive in Week 5. He scored in Week 3 against Chicago and has 17 PPR points in his past two games against the Bears and Seahawks.
5.9 projected points	Jeff Heuerman Denver Broncos TE
In the first game without Jake Butt (ACL), the Broncos leaned on Heuerman in Week 4 against the Chiefs with four catches for 57 yards on seven targets. He could have a similar stat line this week. The Jets haven't really been tested by any tight ends this season since David Njoku was their toughest competition in Week 3. We'll see if Heuerman can crack this defense, but he's worth using as a streaming option.