Fantasy Football Flex Flyers: Antonio Gibson, Josh Downs and More to Consider in Week 5

Each week, I help you patch the lineup holes that still exist after you've already discounted your fantasy football league earlier in the week. Most of the players featured here are still available in many leagues and can now be added and popped into lineups. To reflect the exact percentage of players listed in competitive leagues, I use CBSSports.com as a reference platform.

With four teams out and injuries creating so much fantasy turmoil, it seems the free agency browsing and obsessing won't stop until Sunday at 1 pm ET. This is your guide to finding out who can still be picked and activated, with the analysis leaning towards the PPR format.

Josh Downs, WR, IND (50%): In his second game of the season last week, Downs caught eight passes on nine targets for 82 yards and a TD. Downs had the third-best WR/CB grade of any WR in Pro Football Focus for Week 5 in his matchup against the Jacksonville corner. His grade of 90.7 qualifies as “excellent”.

Wan'Dale Robinson, WR, NYG (53%): What else would it take to move him away from more than half the league in free agency? Well, maybe crack the 75-yard mark, which Robinson has yet to do this season. Still, he's caught 18 passes on 22 targets over the past two games. Robinson gets a tough draw against the Seattle secondary this week, but with Malik Nabers (concussion) out, should at least achieve respectable PPR totals.

Antonio Gibson, RB, NE (60%): He may be available in some leagues that are less than ultra-competitive. We've heard Patriots head coach Jerrod Mayo express his concerns about Ramondre Stevenson's issues, perhaps because of Gibson's side, and Miami ranks 29th in fantasy points per game (FPPG) allowed to RBs.

Tank Bigsby, RB, JAX (41%): Bigsby and Travis Etienne Jr. are both dealing with shoulder injuries. Bigsby was limited in practice, so keep an eye on his situation leading up to kickoff. He's already logged two games of 70-plus rushing yards and, if he goes, he's looking at another upside opportunity against the Colts, the lowest-ranked rushing defense in the AFC.

Xavier Leggett, WR, CAR (49%): The rookie jumped up on the fantasy radar with six receptions on 10 targets for 66 yards and a TD in Week 4. Andy Dalton sparks the Carolina offense and Ledgett is a quality streaming option. Chicago ranks sixth among WRs in FPPG, but Dalton should still be able to move the ball effectively enough to position Ledgett for lineup consideration.

Jalen Tolbert, WR, DAL (8%): With Brandin Cooks out, Tolbert is poised for a bigger role in the Dallas passing game. Pittsburgh's defense is obviously a concern, yet you can't always sideline a player due to an injury or matchup when searching for a bye week replacement. Tolbert already has a nine-target game this season, and as a high priority WR for Dak Prescott this week, he should get the start.

Keon Coleman, WR, BUF (62%): Coleman may be on some league's free agency list because he seems to have carved out a niche mostly as a contested-catch target downfield. Buffalo's 2024 second-round pick has yet to top 55 receiving yards in a game and has registered just one TD catch (Week 3). In a potentially high-scoring game against Houston, a spot the Bills look to bounce back from, Josh Allen could help accelerate his first-year WR progress. And with Buffalo's leading receiver Khalil Shaqis out with an ankle injury, Allen looked more like Coleman than he had the previous four games.

Tutu Atwell, WR, LAR (43%): Older fantasy managers will remember comedian Rodney Dangerfield, and younger ones should check him out on YouTube. Atwell is the Dangerfield of fantasy WRs. He gets “no respect” despite 93- and 82-yard outings the past two weeks, respectively. Atwell is a reliable playmaker for Matthew Stafford when other Rams WRs are missing in action. He has the sixth-best WR/CB matchup grade at PFF this week (86.5 — excellent).

Jeremy McNichols, RB, WAS (49%): Brian Robinson Jr. missed the first two practices of the week. If he's out or limited, McNichols could serve as a fantasy lineup plugger. If Robinson can't play, he can fill in for Austin Eckeler. Last week, McNichols averaged 8.5 yards per carry and rushed for two TDs.

Allen Lazard, WR, NYJ (57%): Minnesota has the lowest-ranked pass defense in the NFL after four weeks. The Jets want to put a bad home loss behind them and make a statement against the undefeated Vikings. Lazard is clearly a favorite TD target for Aaron Rodgers.

Tyler Conklin, TE, NYJ (43%): He faced his former team in Week 5, and the Vikings ranked 28th in FFPG allowed to TEs. Many of us struggle to find decent production at TE, so take a shot at Conklin this week.

Jordan Whittington, WR, LAR (17%): I like Atwell among the Rams WRs. The rookie, however, caught six passes on eight targets for 62 yards last week, and Stafford could opt to go to him more often this week.

Roschon Johnson, RB, CHI (52%): His reign as the potential new lead RB for the Bears was short-lived, as De'Andre Swift decided not to let that role slip away. Johnson did rush for a TD last week, though, and Carolina's rush defense ranks 29th in the NFL. If you're digging deep for an option in RB, consider the second-year guy.

Perrin, RB, KC in Society (28%): Kareem Hunt appears to be the main man in Kansas City's backfield for now. Perine should still have a role as a receiving RB and may get the occasional goal-line opportunity.

Eric All Jr., TE, CIN (8%): Those scrambling for a desperation TE option may want to add it all up and start over. He's caught four passes in each of the past three weeks and allowed the second-most FFPG to Baltimore TEs. Hey, starting all should be better than getting zero, and the promising rookie could potentially boost his production with a TD catch, which is always possible for a TE near the goal line.

Tyler Goodson, RB IND (1%): Trey Sermon is the expected starter for the Colts this week along with Jonathan Taylor. Goodson can serve as a change of pace and handle passing downs. He might be the type of RB you add to avoid zero in hopes of a surprise outing.

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nirvana Juju Smith-Schuster (WR, KC, 6%) isn't easy for me to have on any fantasy roster, but he still has to be monitored with Rashi Rice out. His Week 5 PFF WR/CB matchup grade is 15.7 against the New Orleans corner at PFF, which rates as “Poor.” He should obviously not initiate, but should still be monitored Justin Watson (4%).

Also keep a fantasy eye on the Jets WR Mike Williams (29%), who could soon emerge as an even bigger contributor for New York if it doesn't complete a deal for Davante Adams.

Injury Options: Devin Singletary's groin injury puts his availability in question for Week 5. If he can't play, the Giants' rookie RB Tyrone Tracy Jr (21%) is the projected starting replacement. Seattle's defense returns some injured players but is more vulnerable to the run.

Add, but do not initialize: Trey Tucker (WR, LV, 42%) isn't a recommended option against the Denver secondary, but his value and production will increase if and when Davante Adams is traded.

(Top photo by Antonio Gibson: Cooper Neal/Getty Images)