Fantasy Football: Top 5 TE Sleepers for Emergency starts in week 5

Another week of Gronk drama and four tight end’s on a bye this week has left many fantasy owners scrambling to get quality starters in their always-vital position of tight end. If you’re searching for an answer to fill a lineup hole, here are my top options for this week who probably aren’t weekly starters in your league, but are in a position to succeed today.

Here are the top 5 sleeper options at tight endin the order I would start them for week 5:

1. Charles Clay-Miami Dolphins

Clay and the Dolphins will look to erase their Monday Night embarressment in New Orleans as they come home on a short week and face the Ravens who lost last week in Buffalo. The one receiving TD on Miami last week was Clay’s which gave him two on the year after rushing one in during week 2. He’s been the eighth best TE this season, so if you need a sleeper option, he’s a name to comsider. Baltimore allows the 12th-most points to opposing TE, so Clay should have solid numbers again today

2. Brent Celek-Philadelphia Eagles

Celek led the Eagles in receiving yards last week with 57 while catching three passes which also were good enough to lead an anemic Eagles attack against the Broncos. It was his best game of the year although he didn’t find the endzone like he did in week 1 against Washington. He’ll face another NFC East opponent this week as the Eagles visit the Big Apple to take on the Giants. New York has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing TE, so he could be in for another solid week if Michael Vick and the Eagles up-tempo attack can get things going.

3. Sean McGrath-Kansas City Chiefs

McGrath  and the Chiefs take on the Titans who have allowed over 100 yards and a touchdown to opposing tight ends in each of their last two games. They’ve allowed the fourth-most points to tight ends and so are a very favorable matchup for McGrath who is starting to grow into a bigger part of the KC offensive attack. The Chiefs TE has hauled in every target his way the last two weeks including a season-high 64 yards and a touchdown last week. He’s a high-risk option especially with Anthony Fasano possibly coming back, but could pay off in a good matchup as one of Alex Smith’s favorite new targets.

4. Brandon Pettigrew-Detroit Lions

The Lions offense has a wide variety of weapons, and Pettigrew had been a non-factor for the most part until last week. With Nate Burleson sidelined due to a broken arm, Pettigrew had a nice game catching all seven passes thrown and finishing with 54 yards. He’s a long-shot since he started the year so quietly, but against the Packers the Lions will need to score plenty of points. Matthew Stafford will throw the ball a lot and should utilize the big tight end in the Red Zone at some point this season. He could have another big game

5. Kellen Winslow-New York Jets

The Jets receiving corps has been decimated by injuries. Stephen Hill and Santonio Holmes have been ruled out for Monday Night’s game against Atlanta meaning that more passes are probably going to be headed his way. Last week, Winslow hauled in six of his nine targets for 73 yards. He’s been targeted at least six games in every game he’s played in, although he did miss week 3’s tilt with Buffalo and is questionable for this week. He’s high-risk, but is a decent play if your desperate and the top three options on this list are off the board in your league.

If you have any questions of who I’d start/sit on your roster for week 5, you can find me on twitter @ZT_Sports or drop the question in the comments at the bottom of the page. For information on other positions, starter rankings, and plenty of fantasy football goodness, check out our Fansided fantasy football page where there’s a treasure trove of information that can help you get the win this weekend.