Following an exciting Week 4, it’s time to improve our rosters for Week 5 by using the waiver wire. Let’s take a look at the top waiver wire pickups to target for your fantasy football team.
Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups and Targets
Which players can help your roster in advance of Week 5? Please note that all roster percentages are from FleaFlicker.
Quarterbacks
Here are the quarterbacks to target on the Week 5 fantasy football waiver wire.
Sam Darnold, Carolina Panthers (56% rostered)
I blasted Sam Darnold as not being good enough to start in the NFL. I scoffed at the notion that his poor performance was due to Adam Gase’s ineptitude and the Jets’ lack of weapons. Darnold has proven me wrong.
Prior to Sunday Night Football, Darnold sat as the overall QB1 for Week 4. He’s just 37% rostered in Yahoo leagues. He’s worth anywhere from 3-10% of your free agent budget (FAB), depending on need. Darnold has transcended streamer status and become an every-week starting option.
Taylor Heinicke, Washington Football Team (34% rostered)
Here are Taylor Heinicke’s point totals over the past 3 weeks: 21, 23, 27. He’s thrown multiple touchdown passes in three straight games. His next two games are at home against the Saints and Chiefs. The Saints couldn’t stop Daniel Jones this week, and the Chiefs can’t stop anyone. Heinicke is just 10% rostered in Yahoo leagues and is worth a 3-5% FAB bid.
Running Backs
Week 5 is going to be another expensive week on the waiver wire at running back.
Damien Williams, Chicago Bears (31% rostered)
David Montgomery left Chicago’s game in the second half with a knee injury. After Montgomery departed, it was all Damien Williams with a sprinkle of Khalil Herbert. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported that Montgomery hyperextended his knee and is believed to have avoided major injury. However, Williams is an every-week RB2 as long as Montgomery is sidelined.
Be sure to check back on Tuesday before locking in your waiver claims for an update on Montgomery, as his status directly impacts the amount you should bid on Williams (7% rostered in Yahoo leagues). If Montgomery is expected to miss only a few weeks, Williams is worth a 15-25% FAB bid. If Montgomery is out for an extended period of time, Williams is worth all of it.
Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles (50% rostered)
Miles Sanders is still the clear lead back, but the Eagles used Kenneth Gainwell in the hurry-up. The rookie RB played about 40% of the snaps and saw 8 targets. With bye weeks coming up, Gainwell could have fill-in RB3 value. He’s just 29% rostered in Yahoo leagues and is worth a 3-10% FAB bid.
Alex Collins, Seattle Seahawks (8% rostered)
I’m not quite sure what’s going on with Chris Carson, but Alex Collins looked like the superior back on Sunday — and the Seahawks knew it. Collins touched the ball 12 times, totaled 78 yards, and scored. He’s just 1% rostered in Yahoo leagues. He’s worth a 5-15% FAB bid.
Jeremy McNichols, Tennessee Titans (13% rostered)
Jeremy McNichols was targeted 12 times as the Titans were forced to throw against the winless Jets. It’s probably an aberration, but McNichols is clearly Tennessee’s guy when they’re in negative game script. He’s just 1% rostered in Yahoo leagues and is worth a couple of FAB bucks.
Week 5 Waiver Wire Targets | Wide Receivers
Here are the wide receivers to target on the Week 4 fantasy football waiver wire.
Van Jefferson, Los Angeles Rams (31% rostered)
Let’s just call it as we see it. The Rams’ WR2 is Van Jefferson, not Robert Woods. Jefferson caught all 6 of his targets for 90 yards and a touchdown on Sunday. He’s just 5% rostered in Yahoo leagues and is worth a 3-7% FAB bid.
Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears (62% rostered)
Darnell Mooney doesn’t quite meet our typical 60% roster threshold, but he’s only rostered in 38% of Yahoo leagues. Mooney caught 5-of-7 targets for 125 yards on Sunday. He was a popular preseason breakout candidate, so maybe it’s finally happening. He’s worth a 3-7% FAB bid.
A.J. Green, Arizona Cardinals (45% rostered)
As someone who declared A.J. Green dust, it pains me to include him here — but I must do my duty. Green has exactly 6 targets in every game this season, and he’s doing enough to warrant weekly WR4 status. He’s rostered in just 24% of Yahoo leagues. You can throw 3-7% of your FAB on him.
Kadarius Toney, New York Giants (28% rostered)
We don’t know for sure how long Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton will be out, but Kadarius Toney was targeted 8 times in their absence. That’s enough to be worth a speculative add. He’s rostered in 3% of Yahoo leagues and is worth a 3-5% FAB bid.
Josh Reynolds, Tennessee Titans (13% rostered)
This one comes with a caveat that Josh Reynolds is only worth a pickup if Julio Jones and A.J. Brown remain out. Reynolds didn’t have a single target on the season prior to Week 4, but he saw 9 in Tennessee’s loss to the Jets. He’s their WR1 with the top two guys out. Reynolds is worth a 1-3% FAB bid if you need a spot starter in Week 5.
Tight Ends
Which tight ends should you target on the waiver wire in Week 4?
Maxx Williams, Arizona Cardinals (15% rostered)
I don’t fully believe in Maxx Williams, but he’s posted TE1 numbers in two of the past three weeks. That’s at least enough to warrant a speculative add for a player in Arizona’s explosive offense. He’s 1% rostered in Yahoo leagues. You can throw a couple of bucks of FAB on him.
Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys (58% rostered)
After four weeks, we can safely declare Dalton Schultz the Cowboys’ primary tight end. He played 80% of the snaps while Blake Jarwin played about half. Schultz has 15 total targets in his past two games. Rostered in just 33% of Yahoo leagues, he’s as good of a back-end TE1 as anyone and is worth a 3-5% FAB bid.
