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

Demetri Raftopoulos examines which NFL wide receivers and tight ends saw a surprisingly high number of targets in Week 5 of the fantasy football season and could become a desirable waiver target and add 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!

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

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!




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Jaylen Brown

Ruled Out Thursday Against the Wizards
Lamar Jackson

Expected to Play Against Steelers
Quentin Grimes

Is Ready to Return on Thursday
Deshaun Watson

Not Expected to Play This Year
Paul George

Will Not Play Against the Warriors
Joel Embiid

Upgraded to Questionable for Thursday
CFB

Joe Sloan Expected to be Kentucky's New Offensive Coordinator
Justin Herbert

Chargers "Really Optimistic" That Justin Herbert Will Play on Monday
Michael Porter Jr.

Will Not Play Thursday
CFB

Lane Kiffin Working to Keep Defensive Coordinator Blake Baker at LSU
Noa Essengue

Out for the Season
Mike Evans

has "Real Chance" to Return in Week 14
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Expected To Miss 2-4 Weeks
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Realistic Expectation is for Amon-Ra St. Brown to Return Next Week
Jalen Carter

Won't Play in Week 14 After Having Shoulder Surgeries
Justin Herbert

Expected to Practice Either Thursday or Friday
Mike Evans

Practicing Again Thursday
Jusuf Nurkić

Jusuf Nurkic Questionable With Rib Contusion
Marcus Smart

Sidelined Thursday Against Raptors
Los Angeles Clippers

Chris Paul Set To Part Ways With Clippers
CFB

Brian Daboll a Candidate for Penn State Head-Coaching Job?
Yves Missi

Sidelined vs. Wolves
Quentin Grimes

Uncertain To Play Against Golden State
Bilal Coulibaly

Likely Out Multiple Weeks With Oblique Strain
Karel Vejmelka

Records Impressive Shutout
JJ Peterka

Rocks Ducks With Four-Point Effort
Cole Caufield

Extends Point Streak With Power-Play Assist
Matvei Michkov

Delivers Two Assists Wednesday
Jake Oettinger

Grabs Fourth Consecutive Victory With Shutout
Ryan Leonard

Tallies Four Points in Wednesday's Win
Cam York

Exits Win Early
Jakob Poeltl

to Sit Out Thursday's Game
Alexandre Sarr

to Miss Third Straight Game Thursday
Jonathan Kuminga

Iffy for Thursday
Jimmy Butler III

Listed as Questionable for Thursday
Paul George

Questionable Thursday
Joel Embiid

Unlikely to Play Thursday
Jaylen Brown

Doubtful to Play Thursday
Kevin Huerter

Sidelined One Week
Kyren Williams

Expected to Play in Week 14
Davante Adams

Expected to Play Despite Missing Wednesday's Practice
Kyle Tucker

Visits With Blue Jays
Woody Marks

Texans Say Woody Marks Will be Fine
Rasmus Ristolainen

to Miss at Least One More Week
Drew Doughty

Logs Full Practice Wednesday
Emilio Pagán

Reds Bring Back Closer Emilio Pagan on Two-Year Deal
Jeff Skinner

Remains Sidelined Wednesday
Petr Mrazek

Out 2-3 Weeks
Tyler Seguin

Likely Done for the Season
Neal Pionk

Returns to Jets Lineup
J.J. McCarthy

Practices in Full, on Track to Return in Week 14
Cedric Mullins

Rays Agree on One-Year Deal
Mark Andrews

Agrees to Three-Year Extension With Ravens
Freddy Peralta

Brewers Considering Trading Freddy Peralta
Kyle Schwarber

Reds Serious About Adding Kyle Schwarber in Free Agency?
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Officially Questionable for Thursday Night
Omarion Hampton

"on Track and Looking Good" for Week 14
CFB

Brent Key Signing Five-Year Deal to Remain at Georgia Tech
Joey Bosa

Week-to-Week With Hamstring Injury
Bryce Young

Panthers Expected to Pick Up Bryce Young's Fifth-Year Option
Deshaun Watson

Browns Opening Practice Window for Deshaun Watson
CFB

Brian Hartline Expected to Land USF Head-Coaching Job
CFB

Collin Klein Expected to be Top Target for Kansas State if Head-Coach Job Opens
CFB

Chris Klieman Considering Stepping Down at Kansas State
Aaron Rodgers

Appears to be Healthier Heading into Week 14
Jalen McMillan

Expected to Have his 21-day Practice Window Opened
Mike Evans

' Practice Window Opened, Returning to Practice on Wednesday
Alexander Wennberg

a Game-Time Call Wednesday
Michael Callahan

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Tuesday
Michael Rasmussen

Makes Early Exit Tuesday
Scott Wedgewood

Exits Early With Back Problem
Evander Kane

Expected to Be Fine After Skate Cut
Tyler Seguin

Injured Versus Rangers
Sean Monahan

Expected to Play Thursday
Nathan Walker

Out for Eight Weeks
CFB

D.J. Durkin Staying at Auburn Under Alex Golesh
CFB

Charlie Weis Jr. Permitted to Coach Ole Miss Offense in College Football Playoff
CFB

Five-Star Quarterback Jared Curtis Flips Commitment From Georgia to Vanderbilt
CFB

Florida Hiring Brad White as Defensive Coordinator
Kyle Schwarber

Giants Have Checked in on Kyle Schwarber
Willson Contreras

Willing to Waive his Full No-Trade Clause?
Edwin Díaz

Mets Still Interested in Re-Signing Edwin Diaz
Devin Williams

Agrees to Three-Year Deal With Mets
Cole Ragans

Red Sox Targeting Cole Ragans in a Trade?
CFB

Kentucky Hires Oregon Offensive Coordinator Will Stein As Head Coach
CFB

Kalani Sitake the Top Target for Penn State Coaching Job
CFB

Josh Heupel Says He's Not a Candidate for Penn State Head Coach Job
CFB

Will Stein, Brian Hartline the Top Candidates for Kentucky Job?
CFB

Nebraska Fires Defensive Coordinator John Butler After One Season
CFB

UCLA Expected to Hire Bob Chesney as Next Head Coach
CFB

Lane Kiffin to Make $13 Million Salary, Ties Kirby Smart
CFB

Buster Faulkner, Joey Halzle Candidates for Florida Offensive Coordinator Job?
CFB

Kentucky Officially Fires Mark Stoops
CFB

Lane Kiffin to be Introduced as LSU's Next Head Coach on Monday
Zack Wheeler

Likely to Return in May
Ryan Helsley

Agrees to Two-Year Deal With Orioles

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K
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