We’re rolling into October! You know what that means: the seasons are changing, everything has pumpkin spice in it, the “bye week blues” are here and it’s “spooky season!” Well, regarding “spooky season”, it seems fantasy football has received the memo, because goodness gracious. I don’t think anyone is having any luck avoiding this injury bug, whether it’s short-term or season-ending, because it’s really bad this week.
Before we get into the sleepers, let’s recap the previous week! While none of the running backs or wide receivers scored over projection, it turned out to be a good week. First, we watched the rollercoaster of a game from Carson Wentz in Dublin, who scored 6.8 points over projection. Then, it got even better thanks to Dallas Goedert and his two touchdowns, scoring 11.2 points over projection! The final result turned out to be three points over projection, so it was a positive week and I’ll always take a positive week.
Let’s get into some healthy Week 5 “Shore Thing Sleepers,” because I think we’re all going to need it!
Fantasy Football Start/Sit Consideration: Week 5 Sleepers (2025)
Quarterback
Bo Nix (Denver Broncos)
It’s Week 5 and do you know who is QB5 in fantasy football since Week 2? You know it, it’s Bo Nix! He’s totaled an average of 20.4 fantasy points per game in his last three weeks, putting up averages of 248.3 scrimmage yards (228.3 passing and 20 rushing), two passing touchdowns, 0.3 rushing touchdowns and 0.6 interceptions in that span. Now, you’re probably asking yourself, “Why is a top-five quarterback over the past three weeks featured in an article on sleepers?”
Well, he is being slept on in general, and he’s been ranked particularly low due to the matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, which made him fit the quota (alongside being healthy). Whenever the defending Super Bowl Champions get involved, the first reaction is to be scared. But instead of being scared, look closer at the matchups and you’ll see almost similar stat lines allowed to their opponents. In the last three weeks, quarterbacks are averaging 250.3 scrimmage yards (224 passing and 26.3 rushing), two total touchdowns and an interception for 19.2 fantasy points against the Philadelphia defense. That’s as close as you’re going to get to what Nix has been putting up lately.
If the stat lines stay similar and Bo Nix stays crushing it as he has of late, then I see no reason why he can’t do it again in your starting lineups.
Running Back
Isiah Pacheco (Kansas City Chiefs)
This one is going to be a little interesting. I love the Chiefs RB duo this week, but it’s not the duo you’re thinking of, as it’s the duo of Isiah Pacheco and the rookie Brashard Smith. I assume the starting running back for the Chiefs will still be Pacheco and that’s why he is the header and in big letters. Even though he’s been disappointing this season, I don’t see him losing his job just yet. But for those that need a running back out there in the waiver wire, look for Smith, as he had 36 scrimmage yards last week, and his 27 receiving yards were the most among Chiefs running backs.
Now, for the matchup? Well, there’s a reason I’m not focused on the rushing potential here. See, the Jaguars have not allowed a running back to have more than 57 rushing yards or score a rushing touchdown in any game this season. But if you look at the receiving aspect of it, that’s where the matchup gets juicy for the Chiefs. The Jaguars have allowed the sixth-most receiving yards to the running back position with 189 and are tied for third in receiving touchdowns with two. In three of the four games this season, a running back has gotten 18+ receiving yards and has scored at least 8.5 fantasy points. Just look at last week, when the Jaguars allowed a running back and a fullback to have 32+ receiving yards and score 6.2+ fantasy points through the air.
This seems perfect for Isiah Pacheco, who has not rushed for over 45 yards in any game this season, but he has been getting either the same amount or more receptions and targets than fellow back Kareem Hunt. Then, insert Brashard Smith, who had the most targets out of the backfield last week with four, converting it into three receptions and 27 yards. The matchup against the Jaguars should provide some good fantasy value for the Chiefs’ receiving backs.
Sean Tucker (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
There are no better stans than the Sean Tucker stans. For those that missed the news, Bucky Irving is “day-to-day”, but was spotted in a boot and on crutches, which seems unlikely that he will play on Sunday. Now, I don’t think Tucker will be the RB1 compared to Rachaad White; when Irving was last limited in a game, White saw a majority of the snaps. But Tucker’s going to get the chance to prove it once again and it may just end up being a big game like Week 6 of last year, where he finished with 192 scrimmage yards and two total touchdowns for 34.2 fantasy points. I do think Tucker gives you a safe floor, though, because White is going to have to come off the field at some point.
If you need some fantasy football points, look no further than the team playing the Seahawks, who have allowed a running back duo to have at least 5.6 fantasy points in three straight weeks, with two of those three games seeing 6.6+ fantasy points. And as we’ve also seen twice this season, there were games in which both Bucky Irving and Rachaad White were able to salvage solid fantasy days and score 8.6+ fantasy points. Duos can do it against the Seahawks, and the Buccaneers duo can do it, even if it happens to be the next man up. Sean Tucker will be the RB2, but he has shown what he can do before!
Wide Receiver
Khalil Shakir (Buffalo Bills)
I know Shakira prefers whenever, wherever, but Khalil Shakir prefers it at home, lately. What do I mean by that? Well, Shakir’s stats don’t lie! In his last five home games (including last year’s playoffs), he has been averaging 5.4 receptions for 61.2 yards, 0.4 touchdowns and 13.9 fantasy points. He is also currently on a two-game streak of scoring a touchdown at home. That puts Shakir as WR16 in Points Per Reception (PPR) scoring in the last two weeks, and they’ve both been home games.
Now, onto the matchup. The Patriots were finally able to get Christian Gonzalez back and when that happened, it stopped a three-game skid of allowing a WR duo to score 12.2+ fantasy points against them. But, they still have allowed a wide receiver to score double-digit fantasy points in every game this season, with or without a touchdown. But it doesn’t stop there. Shakir is averaging six targets at home this season, and when the Patriots have faced a wide receiver with six-plus targets, that player has been averaging 5.7 receptions for 84 yards, 0.2 touchdowns and 15.6 fantasy points.
I know featuring a Bills wide receiver hasn’t worked out for me the last two times I’ve done it, but you know what they always say, third time’s the charm! So, if “everybody eats,” I’ll eat some Lucky Charms that way Khalil Shakir can eat and provide us with some valuable fantasy points!
Malik Washington (Miami Dolphins)
After Tyreek Hill suffered that scary dislocated knee injury on Monday, the Dolphins are now forced to find a replacement for him, currently and in the foreseeable future. Insert 2024 sixth-rounder from Virginia, Malik Washington. He fits in as a solid replacement for Hill, as the Dolphins like to use Washington’s speed, shown by the fact that he’s had a rushing attempt in every game this season. Now, all we have to do is hope he scores a season-high this week, as his best is 6.2 fantasy points.
While the Panthers have been tough against the wide receivers this season, allowing the second-fewest fantasy points, I do think there is potential for a breakout from Malik Washington here. There have been cracks forming, as the Panthers have now gone back-to-back games allowing a 55+ yard wide receiver to score double-digit fantasy points. Now, those were the WR1s, but then I looked at the two wide receivers who have gotten a carry and a reception in the same game against the Panthers, similar to Washington. As it turns out, they average 8.9 fantasy points, and they’ve allowed a touchdown from a WR rush attempt, which has only happened to five teams this season.
I will hope for some more fantasy points, but beggars can’t be choosers and hopefully the speed factor will become the factor in scoring more points!
Tight End
Noah Fant (Cincinnati Bengals)
Do you like flashbacks? Sorry, I didn’t mean flashbacks to when Joe Burrow was starting. I want to flashback to Week 3, where Mark Andrews was in a slump coming into the game against the Lions. I labeled him as a sleeper in the article and boom! He scored over projection. Well, I’m going to try to do the same thing for Noah Fant, who *checks notes* has 12 receptions for 80 yards this season, coming back from a concussion and is facing the Lions this week.
It’s not all stats around here; I firmly believe that a quarterback’s best friend or security blanket is his tight end. And boy, oh boy, is Jake Browning struggling this season, so give it to Fant! Stat-wise, I still have plenty to base it on. In the two road games this year for the Lions, they’ve allowed a tight end to score a touchdown and 9.9+ fantasy points. Conveniently, Fantand the Bengals are at home. Not to mention, the Lions have allowed an AFC tight end to have 7.8+ fantasy points in four of their last five occurrences.
Jake Browning is struggling to give the ball to all the weapons he has. Keep it simple and maybe target the security blanket Noah Fant a little bit more and it’ll work out a little better.
Thanks for reading this week’s “Shore Thing Sleepers.” If you’re looking for more fantasy content like this or need help with the last-minute fantasy football start/sit decisions for your roster, you can find me on Facebook at “Fantasy Sports Start or Sit’Em Questions,” Twitter/X @FSSOSEQ or on BlueSky!
*Photo Credit: Ron Chenoy – USA TODAY Sports*
