Week 5 fantasy football studs, duds and sleepers: Miles Sanders could have a rough day

It’s Week 5 of the 2020 NFL season, and we’ve got more football ahead, starting with Thursday’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears matchup.

As always, we’re here to help with your weekly decisions with our fantasy lineup advice. Each week, we give you the studs (players with plus matchups due to the defense they’re facing or their team situation), duds (players with tougher matchups or who are in muddled roster situations at the moment) and sleepers (a player you might consider starting who could be in for a big week).

Here are the names we’ve got for Week 5.

NOTE: We’re publishing this on Wednesday morning amid reports of positive COVID-19 tests from some players around the NFL. Obviously, this could affect schedules ahead of Week 5, so adjust accordingly.

Studs

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QB Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings

This is all about game script. The Vikes’ defense will get annihilated by Russell Wilson and the Seahawks, which means Cousins will be forced to throw a lot.

RB Kenyan Drake, Arizona Cardinals

I promise, this is it for me. But THIS has to be the week where he goes off. It’s the Jets! It’s a spot where he should salt this game away on the ground all afternoon. If he doesn’t? It’s Chase Edmonds time.

WR Robby Anderson, Carolina Panthers

He’s officially the WR1 in Carolina, and this week, he gets to feast on the Falcons and their second-worst pass defense in the NFL.

TE Evan Engram, New York Giants

Again, game script. The Cowboys will go up big, Daniel Jones will once again look Engram’s way (he saw 10 targets last week) and put up some stud numbers.

Duds

(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, Miami Dolphins

The Niners’ defense will clamp down like it has all season, and maybe this is when we see Tua Tagovailoa make an appearance?

RB Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles

Who else will the Steelers focus on with Philly’s offense? Exactly. The NFL’s best run defense will keep him in check and I’m sure they’ll prevent any big plays through the air.

WR D.J. Chark, Jacksonville Jaguars

The Texans are a mess after an 0-4 start and Bill O’Brien getting fired. But their secondary has been good, so temper expectations here.

TE Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams

The volume is a concern. Not only are the Rams spreading the ball around with their running backs and receivers, but Gerald Everett is a problem for Higbee’s value. I’m keeping him on the bench for now after not going over five targets in a game this season.

Sleepers

(AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)

QB Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

I like his breakout game last week, and it’s not like the Saints are all that great against the pass. If you need a streamer this week, he’s a good candidate.

RB Antonio Gibson, Washington Football Team

The work — both on the ground and through the air — keeps increasing for the explosive rookie, and volume means you can put him in as a Flex/RB2 and not worry, even with a reported QB change.

WR Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers

Now that he’s back and healthy, a breakout is coming soon after last season’s terrific rookie season. It could happen this week against the Dolphins.

TE Mo Alie-Cox, Indianapolis Colts

I had a hard time finding a TE sleeper, and I do have concerns about his snaps going down with Jack Doyle and Trey Burton playing. But he’s caught touchdowns in two straight, so maybe his connection with Philip Rivers is solid.