Without many obvious answers on the Week 5 waiver wire, the best tactic might be to sit back and let the drama unfold before making your move.
No matter your fantasy football strategy, this might be a tough week for teams to navigate. With top performers such as Cam Newton, Adrian Peterson, Brandon Marshall and others on bye, competitors are left scrambling for anyone who can help their team win.
The good news is there are still plenty of sleepers to target regardless of what type of league you are in. Here is a look at some top remaining free agents available in a majority of ESPN and Yahoo leagues.
Josh McCown, QB, Cleveland Browns
In real life and in fantasy football, you probably aren’t too excited if Josh McCown is your quarterback. However, he often does the job with efficiency.
Since returning from injury, the veteran quarterback has had back-to-back huge weeks for the Browns. In two games he has 697 passing yards, four touchdowns and only one interception. ESPN’s Adam Caplan had high praise for the quarterback in Week 4 even in a loss:
With new, reliable options in running back Duke Johnson and tight end Gary Barnidge, McCown can spread the ball around to his targets and put up decent numbers on a regular basis.
Against a Baltimore Ravens pass defense that was torched for more than 300 yards and three touchdowns by both Andy Dalton and Derek Carr this season, McCown has the ability to continue his recent hot streak. If you are desperate for answers at quarterback, there are certainly worse options on the list.
Charles Sims, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Doug Martin was the star in the rushing game for the Buccaneers in Week 4 with 106 yards on the ground with 20 carries. He clearly isn’t going away anytime soon. However, this might not be the best strategy to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars, who lead the NFL with just 3.1 yards allowed per rush.
Instead, Tampa Bay could turn to Charles Sims, who has been impressive in the passing game this season. He has a receiving touchdown in each of the last two games while looking good with the ball in his hands.
Knowing what the Buccaneers are at this point, you can be certain they will shift to a passing attack early in an attempt to keep up with the opposition. This will keep Sims on the field often despite his standing on the depth chart behind Martin.
Whether you are in a points-per-reception or standard league, Sims could be helpful for this week and beyond.
Willie Snead, WR, New Orleans Saints
Brandin Cooks was supposed to be the star coming into the season, while Brandon Coleman was the hyped sleeper pick. However, Willie Snead has been the young receiver turning heads so far for New Orleans.
Snead went undrafted and was no lock to make the team, despite praise from the coaching staff throughout the preseason.
“He’s a smart player, so he can play multiple positions. And we’ve been impressed,” head coach Sean Payton said in early September, via Mike Triplett of ESPN.com.
The versatility paid off in his making the team, and now he continues to get more playing time, per Evan Silva of Rotoworld:
After Snead hauled in six catches for 89 yards in Week 4, fantasy owners should be ready to trust him to continue making big plays for the foreseeable future.
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