We have now made it a quarter of the way through the football season. Once again, we saw several injuries this week, with Austin Ekeler and Nick Chubb being some of the big fantasy names to get hurt. COVID also made its first big appearance as the Titans and Steelers game was rescheduled to a later week and the Patriots and Chiefs got pushed to Monday night.
Week 5 also brings our first set of bye weeks. We won’t see the Packers or the Lions playing this week, which may leave you looking to the waivers for some options.
One thing I also wanted to bring up is to pay attention to who the other teams in your league have been dropping. With the COVID outbreak in Tennessee and chaos that unfolded that resulted in postponed/canceled games teams may have resorted to rash decisions.
As always, though, I am here to try to identify some of the more popular waiver wire adds, some deeper league options, and some to keep an eye on up until your waivers run. Now every league may be a little different, but I will be looking at players who are on 50% or less of teams across Yahoo and ESPN platforms. I will also include some players who might be above 50%, but are worth the look to see if they’re available in your league.
Week 5 Waiver Wire: Possibly taken, but worth a look
Joshua Kelley (RB, LAR)
Kelley didn’t have a strong outing in Week 4, but Ekeler had to be carted off the field due to an injury. It looks as if Ekeler will miss multiple weeks, which puts Kelley in the mix for the starting role. We will likely see Justin Jackson get some work, but Kelley has already been usable in fantasy. If he’s available I would look to grab him.
Justin Jefferson (WR, MIN)
Jefferson caught 4 of 5 targets for 103 yards this week, making it two weeks in a row he’s topped the 100-yard mark. He still is available in about 25% of ESPN leagues so he’s worth a look as he seems to be getting more involved in the game plan.
Myles Gaskin (RB, MIA)
Still sitting around 75% owned on yahoo and ESPN, Gaskin is still not an attractive pickup. He continues to see the work for the Dolphins though. He presents a decent floor option as a flex due to volume alone, but not much in terms of a ceiling.
Week 5 Waiver Wire: On less than 50% of teams
Justin Herbert (QB, LAR)
Herbert has looked good in his last three starts and threw for 290 yards and 3 touchdowns this last Sunday. He also added 14 yards rushing on 5 attempts. He also gets the Saints, Jets, Dolphins, and Jacksonville which have been susceptible to the pass. One thing that is concerning is Anthony Lynn appears to continually give Herbert a hard time, but Herbert looks like a decent multi-week streamer.
Teddy Bridgewater (QB, CAR)
Carolina has won two straight games and Bridgewater just threw for 276 yards and 2 touchdowns while also rushing 6 times for 32 yards and a touchdown. He will face off against Atlanta in week 5, which has produced many positive fantasy days for quarterbacks and receivers. If you’re in need of a streamer, Bridgewater has a good matchup and also presents a safe floor.
Tee Higgins (WR, CIN)
Higgins was involved in the passing game once again as he saw 7 targets, which he turned into 4 receptions for 77 yards. He was also given a rushing attempt. Through two weeks he has 16 targets and saw the most snaps at the WR position in Week 5. Burrow continues to look good and the Bengals will need to throw the ball quite a bit this year. He’s worth a pickup.
Cole Beasley (WR, BUF)
Beasley now has three weeks with at least 10 PPR points and caught 3 receptions for 32 yards and a touchdown on Sunday. Similar to past seasons, Beasley offers a safe floor but not much of a ceiling. If you’re struggling and in need of a safe flex play, Beasley can most likely be expected to provide 10-15 PPR points.
Scotty Miller (WR, TB)
Miller was highlighted in this article in Week 1, but then put up only 3 PPR points in Week 2. Since then he has been more productive catching 8 of 12 targets for 166 yards and a touchdown. With Godwin out and Evans banged up at times, Miller should stay involved in the offense.
Damien Harris (RB, NE)
With Sony Michel to IR, Harris made the best of his opportunities. He rushed 17 times for 100 yards. New England still is a fantasy danger zone when it comes to running back as we are just a week removed from Rex Burkhead’s 3 touchdown day.
Chase Edmonds (RB, ARI)
Edmonds rushed just 4 times for 16 yards but caught 5 receptions for 24 yards and a touchdown. Kenyan Drake has not looked to be the same back who flashed last year, which leaves it open for the possibility that Edmonds gets more playing time. Edmonds may be a good stash to see what develops in Arizona.
Justin Jackson (RB, LAC)
With Ekeler expected to miss some time due to injury, Jackson may fall into the rotation for the Chargers. He saw 6 rushing attempts and 2 receptions last week. If you don’t need to start him he can be one to wait and see how the backfield shakes out in Week 5.
D’Ernest Johnson (RB, CLE)
After Chubb left the game with an injury Johnson saw 13 carries for 95 yards and looked good while doing it. Chubb looks to be heading to IR but sounds like he will be back at some point. The Browns want to run the ball which makes Johnson a popular waiver wire add to fill in behind Hunt for several weeks.
Mo Alie-Cox (TE, IND)
Cox caught 1 reception for 13 yards on Sunday, but his lone reception went for a touchdown. If you’re streaming, Cox is a decent option as he will continue to be a red-zone threat due to how massive of a person he is.
Dalton Schultz (TE, DAL)
Schultz is just over 50% owned in Yahoo, but more widely available in ESPN. He has received at least 6 targets in the last three weeks and has a 17-208-2 stat line. Dallas will play the Giants in Week 5 so we may not see the Dallas offense pass as much as they have needed to, but Shultz looks to be involved in the offense. Dallas will be involved in more shootouts moving forward.
Robert Tonyan (TE, GB)
Hopefully, you picked Tonyan up last week, because his price just jumped. Tonyan caught 6 receptions for 98 yards and three touchdowns. He’s had at least 5 targets in the last two games and has scored in the last three games. The Packers are on a bye in Week 5 so that might help with his cost.
