X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Target Acquired: Surprise Target Grabbers from Week 5 and Possible Breakouts for Week 6

Another week in the books, another list of surprise breakouts. Oh, and Tom Brady is back, if you haven't heard yet, or in case you missed him obliterate the Cleveland Browns. Pretty much anyone on the offensive side of the ball in New England is an option moving forward.

Here is a look at the surprise target grabbers from Week 5, and a look at possible breakout options for Week 6 based on the usage they are seeing in the passing game. You can ask me more waiver wire and game day questions on Twitter @DemetriRafto.

Editor's Note: Be sure to check out FantasyAces DFS contests. New users that sign up on Fantasy Aces and make a $20 deposit will receive RotoBaller's full season NFL Premium Pass for free (including Premium DFS), normally a $59.99 value. Expert DFS research, sample lineups, matchup ratings and lots more!

 

Surprise Week 5 Target Grabbers

Jeremy Kerley - (WR, SF)

Jeremy Kerley was the Niners' leading receiver for the second straight week against the Arizona Cardinals. A guy used predominately in the slot and on punt returns in New York, Kerley has found a new home on the opposite side of the country. A week after catching 6-of-9 targets for 88 yards and a touchdown, Kerley topped that in Week 5 with eight receptions on a career-high 13 targets for 102 yards and a score. His best overall performance, yardage-wise, came when he put up 120 yards against the then divisional rival New England Patriots in 2012.

Kerley will be one of the top waiver wire adds this week as he has certainly meshed well with Blaine Gabbert, and could potentially excel even more after the recent announcement of Colin Kaepernick taking over starting duties at quarterback. Most of Kerley's production has come during garbage time, but it's all the same in fantasy. Get used to the Niners playing from behind and throwing the ball often. He's a WR3 in deeper leagues against the Buffalo Bills in Week 6.

 

Cameron Meredith - (WR, CHI) 

Yeah, this one came out of nowhere. But, considering Kevin White was recently placed on injured reserve with a spiral fracture of his fibula, someone had to emerge in Chicago's surprisingly good, eighth-ranked offensive unit. In came Cameron Meredith who surpassed his yard total from all of last season in one game versus Indianapolis in Week 5.

Meredith also nearly topped his targets and receptions totals as well while scoring the first touchdown of his young career against Andrew Luck and the Colts. Meredith finished the day with nine receptions on 12 targets for a bloated 130 yards. He'll likely come down to earth in Week 6 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but remains a red zone threat and a necessary waiver wire add. The Jaguars have allowed eight touchdowns through the air in four games played.

 

Brandon LaFell  - (WR, CIN) 

Goodbye, Tom Brady. Hello, Andy Dalton. Despite a disheartening loss to the Dallas Cowboys, LaFell and Dalton clicked for eight catches on 11 targets for 68 yards and two touchdowns. Although both scores came in the fourth quarter when the game was already out of reach due to Dallas' early offensive explosion, the fantasy points count all the same.

LaFell is hard to trust as a fantasy starter considering he failed to catch more than four passes and accumulate more than 45 yards in his previous three contests. It's also extremely hard to believe that he will outproduce and be targeted more times than A.J. Green consistently. LaFell gets a crack at his former team in Week 6, and shouldn't be started until he establishes a trustworthy flow of fantasy points.

 

Possible Week 6 Breakout Options

Kenny Britt - (WR, LA)

Kenny Britt should definitely see a rise in ownership after last week's efficient performance (mainly for PPR leagues). Britt caught five of six targets for 75 yards in a loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 5, marking his second straight week of productivity. According to Yahoo! Sports, Britt is reeling in 71.9% of his targets from Case Keenum, increasing his week-to-week floor. The accumulation of yardage is there, but Britt has yet to find the end zone this season.

With Tavon Austin failing to establish himself as a consistent threat, Keenum could continue to look Britt's way against a Detroit Lions defense that has allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to wide receivers. The Lions have also surrendered 14 touchdowns through the air, the highest total of any team in the league. Britt is a solid add, and should see plenty of opportunities against a shaky Lions defense. He's no more than a WR4, but holds solid value in deep PPR formats.

 

Sammie Coates - (WR, PIT)

It wasn't just the inability of the Jets to cover the deep ball, or any ball thrown for that matter, that led to one of his touchdowns in Week 5. Coates showed some noteworthy talent as a receiver on his 72-yard scoring bomb, blowing right past Marcus Williams down the field. He should continue to see a high target volume with Big Ben throwing him the ball. Big game aside, the dude has some pretty slippery butter fingers, transferring his status as a WR3 into more of a boom-or-bust play.

Coates dropped four passes against the Jets, three of which, yes three, would have gone for a score. Coates still managed to find the end zone twice, reeling in six passes on a team-tying 11 targets (Antonio Brown, Le'Veon Bell, big surprise) for a team-leading 139 yards. The Steelers will likely work with Coates on his inexcusable drops heading into one of the most favorable matchups any team has this week. Pittsburgh visits Miami for a showdown against a Dolphins team that has given up the fifth-most points to wideouts.

 

Jesse James - (TE, PIT) 

James is the second Pittsburgh Steeler to make the cut. Rightfully so, when you have Ben Roethlisberger throwing you the football. James is coming off his best performance of the aging season against the New York Jets (seems like a familiar trend for opposing teams facing Gang Green) and like Coates, should see a similar amount of targets versus the Miami Dolphins. James caught six passes on eight targets against New York, reeling in his third touchdown in four contests. James is a touchdown-dependent option considering he's only tallied 18 receptions in five showings. He's a TE2 facing a Dolphins team that loves gifting fantasy points to opposing players.

Other Options: Quincy Enunwa (WR, NYJ) @ARI, Will Fuller (WR, HOU) vs IND, Charles Clay (TE, BUF) vs SF

 


Check out RotoBaller's famous fantasy football draft sleepers and waiver wire pickups list, updated regularly!




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Roman Dolidze13 mins ago

Set For A Rematch
Max Scherzer14 mins ago

Throws Successful Session On Friday
Marvin Vettori22 mins ago

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Cooper Kupp33 mins ago

Cowboys Not Considered Favorites For Cooper Kupp
Chidi Njokuani36 mins ago

Looks For His Third Win In A Row
Laviska Shenault Jr.41 mins ago

Signing With Bills
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos51 mins ago

Looks For His 12th UFC Win
NFL52 mins ago

Jonah Jackson Signs Extension With Bears
Riley Greene58 mins ago

Expected To See Time In Center Field
Aaron Rodgers1 hour ago

Vikings Seriously Considering Adding Aaron Rodgers
Kurt Holobaugh1 hour ago

An Underdog At UFC Vegas 104
Noah Murdock1 hour ago

Could Make Opening Day Roster
Cooper Kupp1 hour ago

Cowboys Making Push For Cooper Kupp
Luke Raley1 hour ago

Could See Time Against Left-Handed Pitching
Alexander Hernandez1 hour ago

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Donovan Solano1 hour ago

Could See Time As Designated Hitter
George Kirby2 hours ago

Receives Injection
Yordan Alvarez2 hours ago

To See Most Time As Designated Hitter
Cody Gibson2 hours ago

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Da'Mon Blackshear2 hours ago

A Favorite At UFC Vegas 104
Quinton Byfield2 hours ago

Scores In Fifth-Straight Game
Jesper Bratt2 hours ago

Posts Second-Straight Three-Point Performance
Brendson Ribeiro2 hours ago

Searching For Second UFC Win On Saturday
Tristan Jarry2 hours ago

Picks Up Third-Straight Victory
Diyar Nurgozhay2 hours ago

Set To Make His UFC Debut
Adin Hill2 hours ago

Shuts The Door On Thursday
MMA3 hours ago

Seung Woo Choi In Dire Need Of Victory
Sam Bennett3 hours ago

Strikes Twice In Victory
Brady Tkachuk3 hours ago

Suffers Minor Injury On Thursday
Kevin Vallejos3 hours ago

Makes Debut At UFC Vegas 104
Jack Kochanowicz9 hours ago

Making Case For Fifth Rotation Spot
Miles Sanders9 hours ago

Returning To NFC East With Cowboys
Carson Williams9 hours ago

Chandler Simpson, Carson Williams Shine In Spring Breakout Win
Boston Red Sox10 hours ago

Boston's Top Three Prospects Homer In First Spring Breakout Game
Brice Matthews10 hours ago

Among Three Astros Prospects Reassigned On Thursday
Colorado Rockies10 hours ago

Charlie Condon Believed To Have Suffered Significant Wrist Injury
Jayson Tatum11 hours ago

In Danger Of Missing Friday's Game
Jaylen Brown11 hours ago

Questionable For Friday Night
Garrett Wilson11 hours ago

Will Be Unquestioned WR1 In 2025
Cooper Kupp12 hours ago

Jaguars Not Interested In Cooper Kupp, Whose Price Is "Insane"
Spencer Shrader12 hours ago

Reunites With Colts
Kyle Allen12 hours ago

Lions Add Kyle Allen For QB Depth
Alexander Mattison12 hours ago

Heads To South Beach
Taylor Heinicke12 hours ago

Chargers Bring Back Taylor Heinicke On One-Year Extension
Scottie Barnes12 hours ago

Could Miss Another Game
Lance Lynn12 hours ago

Cubs Discussing Contract With Lance Lynn
P.J. Washington12 hours ago

Listed As Questionable For Friday
De'Andre Hunter12 hours ago

Tagged As Probable For Friday
Jack Leiter12 hours ago

Kumar Rocker Competing For Final Rotation Spot
Tyler Mahle12 hours ago

Pitches In Minor-League Game
Donovan Mitchell12 hours ago

Ruled Out For Friday
Aaron Gordon13 hours ago

Uncertain For Friday
Trey Lyles13 hours ago

Available To Play On Thursday
Jamal Murray13 hours ago

Expected To Play Friday
Nikola Jokić13 hours ago

Nikola Jokic Tagged As Probable For Friday
Jonathan Kuminga13 hours ago

Upgraded To Available On Thursday
Bailey Horn14 hours ago

Traded To Detroit
Ryan Loutos14 hours ago

Optioned To Triple-A
Sam Darnold14 hours ago

Mike Macdonald, Seahawks Excited About Sam Darnold
Matt Strahm14 hours ago

Will Be Evaluated Again On Saturday
Charlie Lindgren14 hours ago

Gets The Nod Against Kings Thursday
Domantas Sabonis14 hours ago

Out Again On Thursday
Nick Castellanos14 hours ago

Dealing With Illness
Filip Gustavsson14 hours ago

Starts Against Rangers Thursday
Joe Flacco14 hours ago

Visits With Giants
Jonathan Ornelas14 hours ago

To Begin Season At Triple-A
Connor Zary14 hours ago

Suspended For Two Games
Rui Hachimura14 hours ago

Listed As Day-To-Day
Gerson Garabito14 hours ago

Optioned To Triple-A
Olamide Zaccheaus15 hours ago

Inks Deal With Chicago
Dougie Hamilton15 hours ago

To Miss Rest Of Regular Season
Rasmus Ristolainen15 hours ago

Unavailable Thursday
LeBron James15 hours ago

Considered Day-To-Day After Road Trip
De'Aaron Fox15 hours ago

To Miss The Rest Of The Season
Gardner Minshew II15 hours ago

Signs With Kansas City
Nikita Kucherov15 hours ago

Out Against Flyers
Lonzo Ball15 hours ago

Sidelined Against Brooklyn
Yegor Chinakhov15 hours ago

Sits Out Thursday's Game
Josh Giddey15 hours ago

Officially Out On Thursday
Damian Lillard15 hours ago

Good To Go Versus The Lakers
Yves Missi15 hours ago

Out Thursday Against Magic
Giannis Antetokounmpo15 hours ago

Cleared To Meet The Lakers
Jaxson Hayes16 hours ago

Out Against Milwaukee
Stone Smartt17 hours ago

Jets Sign Stone Smartt To One-Year Deal
Houston Texans17 hours ago

Texans Acquire Ed Ingram From Vikings
Los Angeles Chargers18 hours ago

Chargers Adding Defensive Lineman Naquan Jones
Los Angeles Chargers18 hours ago

Chargers Signing Da'Shawn Hand To One-Year Deal
Washington Commanders19 hours ago

Sheldon Day Re-Signing With Commanders
Ivan Barbashev19 hours ago

Returning On Thursday
Igor Shesterkin19 hours ago

Starting On Thursday
Neal Pionk19 hours ago

Misses Second Straight Practice
Nikolaj Ehlers19 hours ago

Does Not Practice On Thursday
Andrei Svechnikov20 hours ago

Doubtful For Friday
Nikita Kucherov20 hours ago

A Game-Time Call On Thursday
Brandon Montour1 day ago

Scores Twice In Victory
Dylan Guenther1 day ago

Nets Game-Winner Over Anaheim
Jacob Bridgeman2 days ago

Use Caution For Jacob Bridgeman At TPC Sawgrass
Nicolai Hojgaard2 days ago

Looks To Stay Consistent Heading Into PLAYERS Championship
Karl Vilips2 days ago

Makes PLAYERS Championship Debut After First PGA Tour Win
Taylor Pendrith2 days ago

A Sneaky Play At TPC Sawgrass
Sahith Theegala2 days ago

Out Of Form Ahead Of The PLAYERS Championship
Matt Fitzpatrick2 days ago

A Shaky Play Heading Into PLAYERS
Scottie Scheffler2 days ago

Eyeing Three-Peat At TPC Sawgrass
Aldrich Potgieter2 days ago

A Risky Play At TPC Sawgrass
Si Woo Kim2 days ago

Looks To Keep Building Momentum At The PLAYERS
Denny McCarthy2 days ago

Looks To Continue Solid Play At TPC Sawgrass
Collin Morikawa2 days ago

Poised For Another Strong Performance At TPC Sawgrass
Robert MacIntyre2 days ago

A Risky Play With Upside At The PLAYERS Championship
Jordan Spieth2 days ago

Looking To Change Fortunes At TPC Sawgrass
Cameron Young2 days ago

Avoid Cameron Young At The PLAYERS Championship
Michael Kim2 days ago

Continues Incredible Form Ahead Of The PLAYERS Championship
Justin Thomas2 days ago

Looking For More Magic At TPC Sawgrass
Xander Schauffele2 days ago

Continues Competitive Return At The Players Championship
Rory McIlroy2 days ago

Looks To Reverse Recent History At TPC Sawgrass
PGA2 days ago

Victor Hovland Looking To Find Form At The PLAYERS Championship
Brian Harman3 days ago

A Sleeper Pick At The PLAYERS Championship
Min Woo Lee3 days ago

A Hard Name To Trust At The Players Championship
Tyler Reddick4 days ago

Power-Steering Failure Foils Tyler Reddick's Bid For Potential Victory
William Byron4 days ago

Recovers From Being Trapped A Lap Down To Finish Sixth
Josh Berry4 days ago

Gives Wood Brothers Team Best Run Since 2021
Alex Pereira4 days ago

Drops Decision At UFC 313
Magomed Ankalaev4 days ago

Becomes The New UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion
Justin Gaethje4 days ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Rafael Fiziev4 days ago

Loses Third Fight In A Row
Ignacio Bahamondes4 days ago

Gets Submission Win At UFC 313
Christopher Bell4 days ago

Scores His Third Consecutive Victory Of The Season At Phoenix
Kyle Larson4 days ago

Strong Phoenix Performance Falls Short Of Victory
Chris Buescher4 days ago

Quietly Earns A Top-Five Finish At Phoenix
Alex Bowman4 days ago

Leaves Phoenix With His Best Finish At The Site Since 2016
Zane Smith4 days ago

Quietly Nabs His First Phoenix Top-10 Finish
Jalin Turner4 days ago

Retires After UFC 313 Loss
Iasmin Lucindo4 days ago

Gets Dominated At UFC 313
Amanda Lemos4 days ago

Dominates At UFC 313
King Green4 days ago

Gets Knocked Out At UFC 313
Chase Elliott5 days ago

Is Chase Elliott Worth Rostering At Phoenix This Week For DFS?
Joey Logano5 days ago

Will Be A Top Contender To Win At Phoenix
Denny Hamlin5 days ago

Is Difficult to Recommend As A DFS Option
Carson Hocevar5 days ago

Is Not An Ideal Driver To Add To Phoenix DFS Lineups
Brad Keselowski5 days ago

Is A Solid DFS Choice For Phoenix Lineups
Austin Cindric5 days ago

Could Be Worth Using In Phoenix Tournament Lineups
Kyle Busch5 days ago

Should Fantasy Players Roster Kyle Busch At Phoenix?
Michael McDowell5 days ago

Is Michael McDowell Worth Rostering For Phoenix DFS Lineups?
Ty Gibbs5 days ago

Is A DFS Recommendation Despite Inconsistent Track History At Phoenix
Austin Dillon5 days ago

Is Austin Dillon Worth Rostering In DFS For Phoenix This Week?
Cole Custer5 days ago

Is An Underrated DFS Value Pick For Phoenix Lineups
Tyler Reddick5 days ago

DFS Value Likely Hinges On How Much He Leads
Chase Briscoe5 days ago

Despite Strong Phoenix Record, Chase Briscoe Qualifies Inexplicably Poorly
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 
Drake Maye - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

2025 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Players To Target In Deep Leagues

Fantasy football sleepers are what make the game fun. There is nothing like landing an absolute stud in the double-digit rounds of your fantasy draft. The more teams in your league, the more important sleepers become. As the player pool shrinks, it is an absolute must to hit on at least one or two sleepers. […]


DK Metcalf - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Fantasy Football Avoids, Busts: 2025 NFL Free Agent Signings

The 2025 NFL free-agency period is well underway, and many wide receivers, tight ends, quarterbacks, and running backs have already found their new homes. While some of them are in better landing spots, or at least should continue having solid production relative to their ADP (anticipated draft position) in fantasy football, some of them should […]


Jaydon Blue - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Picks, NFL Draft

2025 Fantasy Football Rookie Sleepers: Late-Round Prospects With Immediate Upside

Players who are thought of as less likely to succeed in the NFL are typically selected later in drafts. When a player falls through the rounds, it's generally because teams have doubts about their ability to produce. It takes a specific family of skill sets to succeed in the big leagues. But sometimes, players fall […]


Cole Kmet - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL injury News

2025 Fantasy Football Tight End Sleepers For Best Ball Drafts

Tight end is one of the most important positions in fantasy football, and heading into 2025, the position seems even deeper than it has been in past seasons. Sure, there’s the new cream rising to the top with Brock Bowers and Trey McBride, but a lot of veterans are seen much lower in best ball […]


Tyreek Hill - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Picks

Fantasy Football Bust Candidates: Second Round Avoids For 2025 Drafts

It's a little bit easier to identify potential busts in the second round of fantasy football drafts than in the first round. Of course, the further the drafts wear on, the fewer highly-talented players everyone knows are available. In the second round, there are usually more players with question marks than there are in the […]


Davante Adams - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Free Agency Fantasy Football Analysis: Risers On New Teams (2025)

Sometimes the grass really is greener on the other side, and sometimes NFL players are able to go to said other side where said grass is greener and sign with a team that puts them in a better situation for fantasy football success. Such is the case for several players this season. Sometimes wide receivers […]


Dallas Goedert - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Dallas Goedert Top Landing Spots: 2025 NFL Trade Outlook

The Philadelphia Eagles are apparently attempting to trade their top tight end, Dallas Goedert, for at least a fourth-round pick in compensation. Whether or not they get their wish remains to be seen, but Goedert was still a reasonably productive TE in his final year with the Eagles with injuries aside. Part of the reason […]


Davante Adams - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

NFL Free Agency Tracker - Updates On Every Free Agent Signing (2025)

The NFL offseason is starting to heat up, and the league's legal tampering period is set to begin on March 10 at noon Eastern. Free agents cannot officially sign until the new league year begins on March 12 at 4 p.m. Eastern, but deals will be agreed to, and news will be coming in quickly […]


Kareem Hunt - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Kareem Hunt Top Landing Spots: 2025 NFL Free Agency Outlook

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt had a decent season filling in for the injured Isiah Pacheco and later serving in a committee with him when he returned from his broken fibula. He was technically signed "off the street" as he wasn't even in the NFL when the Chiefs reached out to him for […]


Joe Flacco - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Joe Flacco Top Landing Spots: 2025 NFL Free Agency Outlook

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco has hit the open market, and the Colts have decided to go in another direction for their backup QB job. They signed former New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daniel Jones to back up Anthony Richardson, though many are rightfully convinced that Jones will end up as the starter, […]


Brandin Cooks - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Brandin Cooks Top Landing Spots: 2025 NFL Free Agency Outlook

Wide receiver Brandin Cooks is a free agent for the first time in his career after his contract with the Dallas Cowboys expired this offseason. He is now free to sign with any team he chooses. Cooks did not have his best season in 2024. He only posted a 26-259-3 line in 10 games and […]


Gus Edwards - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL DFS Picks

Gus Edwards Top Landing Spots: 2025 NFL Free Agency Outlook

The Los Angeles Chargers recently cut Gus Edwards after one season with the team. He had just signed a two-year deal with Los Angeles last offseason, but apparently, the team wanted to go in a different direction. It’s understandable as Edwards averaged a career-worst 3.6 yards per carry in 2024. His advanced metrics weren’t great […]


Ja'Marr Chase - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS and Betting Picks

Ranking Each NFL Team's Group of Pass-Catchers (WR/TE)

The NFL has become a passing league. It's been like that for a while now; it's no mystery. Wide receivers and tight ends are some of the most popular players in the league. For fantasy football, we have continued to emphasize receivers more than running backs. NFL general managers are doing the same. For goodness […]