🖥 TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE NEW
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
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

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!

Featured Promo: New Novig users get a $25 purchase match (50% discount up to $25) on your first Novig deposit, and 3 free months of RotoBaller's "Big-4" Premium Pass (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL) which includes exclusive tools for Betting, Props, DFS and more! CLAIM IT NOW

 

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
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Kelly Oubre Jr.

Could Return to Action Wednesday
Tim Hardaway Jr.

May Remain Out Wednesday
Christian Braun

Listed as Questionable for Wednesday
Aaron Gordon

Iffy for Wednesday
Jamal Murray

Considered Questionable for Wednesday Night
Max Strus

to Miss Another Month
Vince Williams Jr.

Making Return Tuesday Against Spurs
Trae Young

Listed as Questionable for Wednesday
Ja Morant

Ruled Out on Tuesday
James Harden

in Danger of Missing Second Straight Game
Joel Embiid

Considered Questionable for Wednesday's Matchup
Gabe Vincent

Ruled Out Tuesday, Expected to Return Wednesday
New York Giants

John Harbaugh Expected to be Favorite to Become New Giants Head Coach
Herbert Jones

Returns to Action Tuesday
Dean Wade

Back in Action Versus Pacers
Jaylon Tyson

Set to Suit Up on Tuesday
Anthony Edwards

Available Versus Heat
Victor Wembanyama

Returns to Spurs Lineup With Minutes Restriction
Jarrett Allen

Active on Tuesday
Keegan Murray

Expected to Miss at Least Three Weeks
Mason Marchment

Out Tuesday
Sean Monahan

Available Tuesday
Jason Zucker

Set to Return From 11-Game Absence
Matvei Michkov

a Game-Time Call Tuesday
Tyler Herro

Active Tuesday
Matthew Schaefer

Cleared for Action Tuesday
Baltimore Ravens

John Harbaugh Won't Return as Ravens Head Coach
Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Out for Tuesday's Tilt
Adam Fox

Landing Back on Long-Term Injured Reserve
Seth Jarvis

Back for Hurricanes Tuesday
Bo Bichette

Unlikely to Return to Toronto?
Jordan Love

Ready to Start in Wild-Card Game Against Bears
CFB

Jadan Baugh Staying with Florida for Junior Season
Washington Commanders

Commanders "Mutually" Parting Ways With OC Kliff Kingsbury
CFB

Byrum Brown Officially Commits to Auburn
CFB

Austin Simmons Signing with Missouri
Jake McCabe

to Sit Out One Week
Hampus Lindholm

to Miss Time
Christian Dvorak

Flyers Sign Christian Dvorak to Five-Year Extension
Igor Shesterkin

Exits With Lower-Body Injury Monday
Joel Armia

Hurt in Monday's Win
Anze Kopitar

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Monday
Matthew Schaefer

a Game-Time Call Tuesday
Jamie Benn

to Miss at Least Two Games
Seth Jones

Out Week-to-Week
Zach Bogosian

Unavailable Monday Night
Trevor Moore

Remains Out Monday
Aliaksei Protas

a Game-Time Call Versus Ducks
Tom Wilson

Won't Play Monday
CFB

Ty Simpson Undecided on 2026 Plans
CFB

Quarterback AJ Hill Following Ryan Silverfield to Arkansas
Atlanta Falcons

Falcons Have Requested an Interview With Klint Kubiak
Deshaun Watson

Browns Expect Deshaun Watson to be on the Team Next Year
Wan'Dale Robinson

Dealing With Fractured Ribs
Cam Skattebo

Hopes to be Back by Training Camp
Cameron Ward

Won't Need Surgery on his Shoulder
Davante Adams

Rams Expect Davante Adams to Return in Wild-Card Round
Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals Fire Head Coach Jonathan Gannon
Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders Fire Head Coach Pete Carroll
Malik Nabers

Unsure if He Will Be Ready for Week 1 of 2026 Season
CFB

Trinidad Chambliss Will Return to Ole Miss If Granted Sixth Year of Eligibility
Cincinnati Bengals

Zac Taylor Will Return as Bengals Head Coach in 2026
New York Giants

Giants Expected to Show Interest in Former Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski
Daniel Jones

Colts, Daniel Jones Appear to Have "Mutual Interest" in a 2026 Reunion
John Klingberg

to Sit Out at Least Three More Games
Cleveland Browns

Browns Fire Kevin Stefanski After Another Losing Season
Zay Flowers

Goes Off for 138 Yards, Two Touchdowns in Loss
Bo Bichette

Phillies Have Interest in Bo Bichette
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Dominates in Week 18 Win
Cameron Ward

Believed to Have Grade 3 AC Joint Sprain in Right Shoulder
Colston Loveland

Leads Bears in Targets, Receptions, Receiving Yards in Week 18
Kansas City Royals

Matt Quatraro Signs Three-Year Extension With Royals
CFB

Transfer QB Billy Edwards Commits to North Carolina
CFB

Sam Leavitt Visiting Texas Tech on Saturday
CFB

DJ Lagway Expected To Visit Florida State
Kyle Tucker

Blue Jays "Remain the Favorite" to Sign Kyle Tucker
CFB

Joey Aguilar Undergoes Surgery to Remove Tumor on Friday
CFB

Texas the "Team to Beat" for Transfer Running Back Isaac Brown
CFB

Rocco Becht to Follow Matt Campbell to Penn State?
CFB

Texas Targeting Cam Coleman in Transfer Portal
CFB

Former Texas Running Back CJ Baxter Visiting Kentucky
CFB

Beau Pribula Visiting Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech
Bo Bichette

Yankees Showing Interest in Bo Bichette
Houston Astros

Astros Sign Tatsuya Imai to Three-Year Deal

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP