10 Fantasy Football Sleepers for Week 5

Ronnie Hillman, RB, Denver Broncos

Another year, another Broncos running back to key in on in fantasy football. This isn't just a reaction to Ronnie Hillman's performance in Week 4 (11 carries, 103 yards, and 1 touchdown) but rather a culmination of various factors.

C.J. Anderson hasn't been performing like he did last year when he was a top-six back in the league in terms of Rushing NEP, and Hillman is the next man in line. Head coach Gary Kubiak said that Anderson is still the starter but that Hillman has earned more carries.

Denver is a 4.5-point road favorite against the Raiders this week, a team that ranks a respectable 14th in our per-play rushing metrics. The key stat -- if we read it this way -- is that Oakland ranks 30th in Adjusted Defensive Passing NEP per play. The Broncos shouldn't have an issue getting a lead with their stifling defense (they're tops in the NFL per our metrics). Hillman could see extra volume for that reason as well.