At various points during the fantasy football season, injuries, bye weeks and breaking news can cause you to need reinforcements for your fantasy lineup. Every Friday throughout the 2026 NFL season, Matt Bowen will offer some late-week pickup options at each of the primary fantasy positions to help fill those holes, with an emphasis on deeper leagues.
Because of that, this column will focus mostly on players rostered in fewer than 50% of ESPN leagues, with occasional exceptions.
The Week 5 NFL schedule features some really tough matchups for fantasy football, starting with the quarterback position. However, I still have four options — in the QB2 range — who have some upside. There are also a handful of wide receivers below, including deeper-league fliers you can take a chance on. As always, we’ll hit on the running back and tight ends, and I have two available defenses to stream this week.
Quarterbacks
Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders (33.3% rostered; at Patriots)Cousins has scored 20 or more points in three straight games, and he has thrown two or more touchdown passes in all four games. Now, Cousins isn’t going to provide any upside as a runner. We know that. But in Klint Kubiak‘s offense, one that leans on tight end usage, Cousins can play on rhythm. And the Raiders are going to throw the ball in scoring position, as Cousins’ eight red zone touchdown passes are tied for second most in the league. He’s a superflex starter in the road matchup versus the Patriots.
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans (41.1% rostered; at Titans)
Stroud benefited from the return of wide receiver Nico Collins in Week 4, producing a season-high 23.08 points in a prime matchup versus Dallas. Collins had 118 yards receiving, plus he scored two touchdowns on end zone throws. It’s a much tougher matchup this week versus the Titans, but Stroud is scoring 17.1 PPG, and Collins is the difference-maker in the Houston route tree. Stroud has value here as a QB2 in superflex formats.
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (48.9% rostered; vs. Bears)
Love averages 16.2 fantasy PPG and has thrown two touchdown passes in all four games played. And due to a subpar rushing attack in Green Bay, Love is attempting 38.5 passes per game. Yes, the Bears defense ranks in the top 12 versus quarterbacks, but I do see positive perimeter matchups here for Packers wide receivers Christian Watson and Matthew Golden. If you need a QB2 this week, Love does have some value.
Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns (15.7% rostered; at Jets)
Watson (16.7 fantasy PPG) has scored 19 or more points in two of four games played, and he’s averaging 31.8 rushing yards per game. The Jets defense ranks in the top five versus quarterbacks, so I don’t love the matchup. However, if you need a QB2 with dual-threat upside Watson fits. We’ve seen the Browns take vertical shots in the pass game, so there is big-play potential for Watson.
Wide receivers
Malik Washington, Miami Dolphins (33.4% rostered; vs. Bengals)
I really like the tape on Washington, along with his versatility in the Miami offense. Very similar to what we see with Deebo Samuel Sr. in San Francisco. Washington has scored 11 or more points in back-to-back games, and he’s averaging seven targets per game (27% team target share). Plus, he’s had at least two carries in two straight. I’d have him in the lineup as a WR3.
Keenan Allen, Indianapolis Colts (38.5% rostered; at Steelers)
Allen (groin) missed the Week 4 win over the Commanders, but he is expected back for Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh. In Week 3, Allen scored 18.3 points versus the Texans, catching six of nine targets for 63 yards and a score. He can still uncover and work the dirty areas of the field, which is a fit for a Colts pass game lacking a vertical element with Alec Pierce (heel) on IR. You can play Allen as a WR3.
Darius Cooper (6.0% rostered) and Dontayvion Wicks, Philadelphia Eagles (47.6% rostered; at Jaguars)
It’s a tough matchup here versus the Jags defense, but with DeVonta Smith (hamstring) still out, both Cooper and Wicks are deeper-league fliers this week. Cooper saw seven targets in the Week 4 loss to the Rams, catching three passes for 33 yards and two touchdowns for 18.3 fantasy points, and Wicks has produced two games this season with 12 or more points.
Malachi Fields, New York Giants (7.3% rostered; at Commanders)
Fields is a matchup play versus a Commanders defense ranking in the bottom five versus wide receivers. Fields, who scored a season-high 13.1 points in Week 4, is averaging only 3.8 targets per game, but he did catch a touchdown pass in the win over the Cardinals on a red zone throw. Fields also has the physical tools to win one-on-ones as a boundary option. He’s a deeper-league flier.
DeMario Douglas, New England Patriots (2.2% rostered; vs. Raiders)
With Mack Hollins (calf) expected to miss Sunday’s game versus the Raiders, Douglas should see an expanded role in the Patriots’ offense. Douglas’ usage has been down this season (nine receptions on 17 targets for 82 yards), but he could be in a position to operate as the outlet out of the slot for Drake Maye on Sunday.
Running backs
Brian Robinson Jr., Atlanta Falcons (44.2% rostered; vs. Ravens)
Robinson scored a season-high 25.7 points in the Falcons’ blowout win over the Saints in Week 4, rushing for 62 yards and three touchdowns. As the No. 2 behind Bijan Robinson, Brian has seen 10 or more carries in three straight games, posting at least one rushing touchdown in two of them. Steady volume here in an offense averaging 181 rushing yards per game (second most). Brian is a deeper-league flex this week versus the Ravens.
Keaton Mitchell, Los Angeles Chargers (23.5% rostered; vs. Broncos)
The winless Chargers moved to a three-man backfield committee in the Week 4 loss to the Seahawks, and it was Mitchell who paced the position with 15 touches, compared to Omarion Hampton‘s 11 and Kimani Vidal‘s seven. Mitchell rushed for only 39 yards on 10 carries, but he did catch five passes for 24 yards. Mitchell has scored 11 or more points in two straight, and he brings more receiving upside to the lineup.
Will Shipley, Eagles (37.8% rostered; at Jaguars)
With both Saquon Barkley (hamstring) and Tank Bigsby (IR) down this week, Shipley is in line to see a bump in volume. However, the Eagles’ No. 3 running back hasn’t had more than nine touches in a game this season, and Philly is also going through major transitions on the offensive line. Plus, Dameon Pierce could also factor into the run game. Shipley should be viewed as a deeper-league option only in this matchup with Jacksonville.
MarShawn Lloyd, RB, Packers (46.9% rostered; vs. Bears)
Lloyd should split touches with Kaleb Johnson this week, as Chris Brooks is dealing with an ankle injury. Lloyd’s lack of rushing efficiency (2.7 YPC) remains an issue, but he does provide some value as a pass catcher. He caught five balls for 36 yards in the Week 4 win over Tampa Bay, and he has at least two receptions in three straight games, adding a touchdown grab back in Week 2.
Tight end
Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars (24.8% rostered; vs. Eagles)
Strange scored a season-high 16.5 points in the Week 4 win over the Bengals, catching seven of eight targets for 95 yards. Strange now has 10 or more points in two of four games played, with 13 total targets over his last two. Even with a tougher matchup versus the Eagles, Strange will see opportunities on middle-of-the-field throws from Trevor Lawrence.
D/ST
Cleveland Browns (40.1% rostered; at Jets)
The Browns have forced at least one interception — and produced three or more sacks — in each of their last three games. I’ll take the matchup versus a Jets offense ranking 24th in both scoring and total yards.
Cincinnati Bengals (45.3% rostered; at Dolphins)
The Bengals have taken the ball away just once in their last three games, but they are getting to the quarterback, recording four sacks in three games. Plus, this is more about the matchup versus Miami on Sunday. The Dolphins are scoring a league-worst 11.5 PPG and they rank in the bottom five in yards per game.
