Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups, Best Fantasy Sleepers to Target After Box Score Review

Week 5 got off to an unexpected start on Thursday, as the previously winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers earned a 24-16 victory over the Cowboys in Dallas.

While The Week 5 opener may have taken many fans by surprise, no one was shocked to see the Dallas defense struggle, even against undrafted rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels. The Cowboys have been a favorable matchup for opposing offenses, and represent exactly the sort of matchup fantasy managers should be targeting for the rest of Week 5.

Daniels, by the way, threw for 189 yards and a touchdown while adding 23 yards on the ground.

Here, we'll examine some Week 5 sleepers who may still be available on the waiver wire and who are worth considering based on recent production and projected matchups.

All picks and analysis are based on point-per-reception (PPR) scoring.

The Arizona Cardinals are sitting at 1-3, but they have a strong offensive cast, headlined by Trey McBride, Michael Wilson, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Jeremiyah Love. This has helped make Jacoby Brissett a viable streamer in fantasy.

Brissett has thrown multiple touchdowns in each of his last two games, and he has a tremendous matchup against the Detroit Lions this week.

The Lions' defense has been arguably the worst in the league this season and has surrendered more fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks than any other squad. Last Sunday night, Detroit allowed Bryce Young to go off for 329 yards and two touchdowns.

Brissett has legitimate top-10 scoring potential this week. He's still only rostered in 33 percent of fantasy leagues.

To be clear, the Jacksonville Jaguars aren't a friendly matchup for opposing running backs. The Jags' defense has surrendered the sixth-fewest fantasy points to the position, and it could be aided by location in Week 5.

Jacksonville will host the Philadelphia Eagles at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and London Games are often lacking in offense.

However, Will Shipley could be worth a flex start based on workload alone. Saquon Barkley is considered week-to-week with a hamstring injury and is unlikely to play this week, according to Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer.

With Tank Bigsby now on injured reserve, Will Shipley should see opportunities early and often. He was a popular add off of waivers this week but is still only rostered in 44 percent of fantasy leagues.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson is a late-week must-add in most scoring formats. The third-year pass-catcher has become one of Aaron Rodgers' preferred targets, and he's on a significantly upward trajectory.

Wilson has seen six targets in every game this season, and in each of his last two, he has produced at least three catches, 60 yards, and one touchdown.

This week, Wilson could see an even bigger role as Michael Pittman Jr. is expected to miss multiple weeks with a foot injury. He'll have a reasonable matchup against an Indianapolis Colts defense that has surrendered the 13th-most fantasy points to opposing receivers this season.

There's a very good chance that Wilson is available, too, as he is rostered in just one percent of fantasy leagues.

Cincinnati Bengals tight end is another virtual must-add, and he has an even more enticing matchup than Wilson does. The Miami Dolphins have surrendered the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends.

Gesicki really operates as more of a big slot receiver in Cincinnati's offense, and he could see extra targets this week because of injuries. Ja'Marr Chase has returned to practice but suffered a concussion last week. Tee Higgins is dealing with an adductor injury and has been out of practice this week.

At times, Gesicki has shown that he can be a focal point of the offense. He had five grabs for 78 yards and a touchdown in Week 1, and he had three catches for 40 yards and a score last week. If the Bengals are thin at receiver in Miami, Joe Burrow will likely turn to Gesicki frequently.

Gesicki is still only rostered in 26 percent of fantasy leagues.

*Fantasy scoring information from FantasyPros .