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Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups

These guys are generally available in at least 70% of Sleeper leagues and ranked in order of priority, by position.

Your bid should vary by format and situation. Need help at RB? Prioritize that position. All set there? Then, you probably don’t need to chase the top guys.

Quarterbacks

Justin Fields, Pittsburgh Steelers 

Blind-bid recommendation: 5-8%

Through four games, Fields sits seventh in QB fantasy points.

He ranks sixth in completion rate; fourth in completion rate over expected.

Now 3-1, it looks like the Steelers will continue rolling out Fields for the foreseeable future.

Here’s ESPN’s Adam Schefter on HC Mike Tomlin: “He’s going to have Russell Wilson as an option at some point in time. But I think it will be a surprise if Justin Fields isn’t starting Sunday night.”

Pittsburgh draws an inconsistent Cowboys defense in that one. Fields could also prove useful for a Week 6 matchup in Vegas.

Running Backs

Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs

Blind-bid recommendation: 10-25%

After RB Carson Steele lost a fumble on Kansas City’s first possession this week, Hunt took over and led the Chiefs with 14 carries and 69 rushing yards. He also caught two of three targets for 16 yards. 

Steele got just one touch the rest of the game and appears to have tumbled to at least third on the depth chart. RB Samaje Perine scored the game-winning two-yard TD in the fourth quarter but totaled just 14 yards on five carries. 

This backfield remains up in the air – especially with RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire potentially back for Week 5 – but Hunt looks like the best bet to remain the leader.

If you are hurting at RB, spending big for Hunt could pay off. There's clearly upside to leading the Kansas City backfield.

If you're just looking to stash, though, don't overspend with your bid. Like we said, this remains an uncertain situation.

Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars 

Blind-bid recommendation: 15-18%

Bigsby ripped off a couple of chunk plays against Houston – most notably a 58-yarder.

He has simply looked better than Travis Etienne this season. The Jags have taken notice, feeding the second-year back games of 12 and 7 carries.

Bigsby should be rostered in nearly all leagues of 12+ teams as we wait to see how this backfield develops.

Trey Sermon, Indianapolis Colts

Blind-bid recommendation: 8-10%

Sermon is the favorite to lead the Colts in carries if Jonathan Taylor’s ankle injury costs him time. High ankle sprains, even mild ones, can be tricky. 

He mustered just 8 yards on five carries vs. the Steelers today but averaged 4.6 yards per carry on 35 attempts last year. 

Sermon certainly is not Jonathon Taylor and won’t match his production. But Sermon could be a fill-in RB3 or flex play as we get into the bye weeks.

Antonio Gibson, New England Patriots 

Blind-bid recommendation: 5-10%

Rhamondre Stevenson fumbling in every game this season could soon catch up with him, especially with Gibson’s effectiveness as a pass catcher.

Gibson caught three passes on four targets for 67 yards this week. Two weeks ago, he also ran 11 times for 96 yards with an explosive 45-yard run.

Keep in mind, though, that Gibson's primarily just a handcuff still. New England just gave Stevenson a $9 million-per-year extension this offseason and isn't likely to cast him totally aside.

Jaleel McLaughlin, Denver Broncos

Blind-bid recommendation: 3-5%

McLaughlin should see a boost in touches following Tyler Badie’s back injury.

We don’t yet know how much time Badie will miss, but a stint on IR is a real possibility.

Given the strong start from Denver’s defense – and a struggling Bo Nix – the ground game figures to remain central for HC Sean Payton.

That’ll give McLaughlin a chance to hit double-digit touches for upcoming games against the Raiders and Chargers.

Wide Receivers

Dontayvion Wicks, Green Bay Packers

Blind-bid recommendation: 20-25%

Christian Watson is expected to miss multiple games with a high ankle sprain.

Dating back to last season, his absence removes 5.5 targets per game.

Wicks already led the Packers with 13 targets in the loss to Minnesota, catching five of them for 78 yards and two TDs. Now, Wicks projects as a full-time player in a passing game that’s back to life with QB Jordan Love. 

That gives him a shot at WR3-level value for upcoming matchups vs. the Rams and Cardinals.

Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants

Blind-bid recommendation: 15-18%

Daniel Jones locked into Robinson on Thursday night with 14 targets coming his way for 11 catches for 71 yards. That follows up a seven catch, 61 yard performance the week before.

Robinson is clearly behind Malik Nabers in the pecking order, but he has become a reliable hands catcher on third downs who gets open off the snap.

With the Giants unlikely to be favored in many games going forward, more passing is likely, which should allow Robinson to put up WR3 type numbers.

Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers

Blind-bid recommendation: 10-15%

Legette caught six passes for 66 yards and his first TD in Sunday's loss to the Bengals. 

His 10 targets ranked second on the team and were 25% of QB Andy Dalton’s total, signaling his role in the offense is increasing. 

With WR Adam Thielen out at least three more games with his hamstring injury, Legette should continue to play a sizeable role in Carolina’s passing game. 

Week 5 brings a tough Bears defense. But Atlanta and Washington follow that, so he is worth stashing.

Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts

Blind-bid recommendation: 10-12%

Downs caught eight balls for 82 yards and a score in Sunday’s win over the Steelers. His nine targets tied for the team lead. 

This result wasn’t likely to happen had QB Anthony Richardson stayed healthy. He left in the first quarter abdominal/oblique injuries. 

If QB Joe Flacco stays under center, it’d mean more passing and higher efficiency. We’re considering Richardson truly questionable for now, making Downs a worthwhile add in PPR formats. 

Recall that as a rookie, Downs tallied 68-771-2 as a short-range target.

Tight Ends

Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers

Blind-bid recommendation: 15-18%

Kraft posted a 6-53-1 line in Sunday’s loss to the Vikings. He benefitted from QB Jordan Love chucking it 54 times, but Kraft’s nine targets were a solid 17% share. 

He also dominated Luke Musgrave in usage, finishing with more snaps (65 to 25), routes (48 to 17) and targets (7 to 3).

Christian Watson will miss time with an ankle injury, so this passing game will become more condensed. 

As a bonus: the next two weeks turn up excellent scoring matchups vs. the Rams and Cardinals.

Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Blind-bid recommendation: 5-8%

Otton followed his 7-47-0 Week 3 line with six catches for 52 yards in a win over the Eagles. 

The Buccaneers are hurting with WRs Jalen McMillan and Trey Palmer likely to miss this week. 

Otton has totaled 17 targets over those two games and can be a streamable TE for this week and potentially beyond with bye weeks starting.

Deep-League Waiver Wire Pickups

Joe Flacco, Indianapolis Colts 

Blind-bid recommendation: 3-5%

In just a little more than three-quarters of action, Flacco threw for 168 yards and two TDs against a tough Steelers defense.

Flacco came through for fantasy managers last season with the Browns and could blow up again with games against the Jaguars and Titans for the next two weeks.

He’ll be in the QB2 mix if QB Anthony Richardson’s hip injury costs him time.

Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens

Blind-bid recommendation: 10-15%

Hill brings handcuff value behind Derrick Henry.

But he's looked great this year, busting off 5.4 yards per carry and 10.1 yards per catch on 16 receptions. He posted a career-high with 78 yards on Sunday night. He's now tallied two games this season with six catches.

Baltimore figures to be leading in most of their games going forward. Again, though, if Henry misses time, you'll have a lead back on one of the league's top rushing offenses.

Note: Keaton Mitchell (ACL) could return over the next few weeks. Still, he’s no lock to regain the No. 2 role.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs

Blind-bid recommendation: 3-5%

Carson Steele fumbled on the Chiefs opening possession this past week and was benched for Kareem Hunt, putting the Chiefs RB situation up in the air. 

CEH isn't guaranteed a role upon returning, but he's a no-risk stash as this backfield sorts out.

Ja’Lynn Polk, New England Patriots

Blind-bid recommendation: 5-10%

Polk set season highs in snaps, routes, catches and yards against the 49ers.

He’ll likely need the Pats to start QB Drake Maye to carry a decent fantasy ceiling. But given the play of New England’s current passing game, the switch could come at any time.

Among 28 qualifiers, Jacoby Brissett ranks 26th in completion rate and 26th in yards per attempt. He's tied for the third-highest turnover-worthy play rate, per PFF.

Jordan Whittington, Los Angeles Rams

Blind-bid recommendation: 5-8%

Whittington surprisingly led the Rams in snaps (59), routes (31) and targets (8) against Chicago. The result: 6 grabs for 62 yards.

This Rams passing game figures to remain fluid, and we'll eventually get the return of Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp. In the short-term, though, Whittington could be a source of value – especially as bye weeks pile up.

Tutu Atwell, Los Angeles Rams

Blind-bid recommendation: 5-8%

Over the past three games, Atwell averaged five targets per game with a 20+ yard catch in each one.

His speed and explosiveness make him a downfield threat that the Rams have utilized with Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp out for the foreseeable future.

Atwell profiles more as a rental right now, but if bye weeks are hitting hard, his big play ability has flex appeal to hope for a long TD. 

Josh Palmer, Los Angeles Chargers

Blind-bid recommendation: 3-5%

Palmer came back for the Chargers and immediately was thrust back into a starting role. Ladd McConkey led the team with 25 routes (86.2%), but Palmer tied Quentin Johnston just behind him, with 24 routes (82.8%).

The Chargers will remain a run-first team with a limited receiving ceiling. But Palmer could be a solid flex fill-in option for bye weeks.

JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kansas City Chiefs

Blind-bid recommendation: 4-10%

The timeline for Rashee Rice’s injury is still up in the air, but Smith-Schuster looks like the top add among the Chiefs’ remaining WRs, Xavier Worthy aside.

Smith-Schuster is the best approximation for Rice’s role as a primarily short-range target. And, while his 2023 in New England was ugly, JuJu caught 78 balls for Kansas City in 2022.

In a deep league, Juju has flex potential if he takes a good chunk of Rice’s target share.

Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders

Blind-bid recommendation: 2-5%

Tucker caught five of six targets for 41 yards and tacked on a three-yard rushing score in the Week 4 win over the Browns. His speed and versatility were on display adding a unique factor to the offense. 

That followed a 7-96-1 line on nine targets in Week 3. 

Tucker will be in play as a deep-league spot starter for as long as WR Davante Adams is out with his hamstring injury, and it appears he will miss more time being week-to-week.

Erick All, Cincinnati Bengals

Blind-bid recommendation: 3-5%

All makes for an interesting stash, particularly in TE-premium formats like the FFPC.

Attached to an improving Joe Burrow, All led Cincy TEs in snaps (40) and targets (4). His 10 routes run will need to come up for him to creep into startable range. But if he continues to thrive in limited chances, we could see the rookie’s role expand.

Top Streaming Defense for Week 5

Denver Broncos vs. Las Vegas Raiders

The Broncos offense turns in abysmal performances again and again, but their defense is one of the best in the NFL.

They gave up only 29 points in the past three games combined (9.66 points per game). This Broncos defense has shut out potential, especially in a match-up against the Raiders.

The Raiders are averaging 3.6 yards per rush, the fourth worst in the NFL. They also are giving up three sacks and over one turnover per game.

If you want to learn more about this match-up and other defenses to stream this week, check out our Defense/Special Teams Streaming Guide for Week 4.

Grab This Guy

Kendre Miller, RB, Saints

Blind-bid recommendation: 2-5%

As of Tuesday morning, Miller remains on IR with a hamstring injury.

However, he’s eligible to return this week vs. Kansas City. If so, it sounds like he might soon reclaim his RB2 role.

Miller’s durability has proven troublesome going back to college. And if you followed Saints training camp at all, you know how often he drew the ire of HC Dennis Allen.

The case for Miller is simple: He’s a talented young back on an offense that’s shown high-end potential. If Alvin Kamara misses time, Miller could be a plug-in RB2.

Drop Candidates

Tyler Johnson, Los Angeles Rams

Johnson’s usage stunk against Chicago. He slotted a clear fourth among Rams WRs in routes run (4) and played only 10 snaps.

Gabe Davis, Jacksonville Jaguars

Davis is OK to hold in deep leagues. But he doesn’t look healthy (Jacksonville listed him as questionable with a shoulder entering Week 4) and hasn’t produced as a Jag. Through four games, he has managed only 121 yards and 0 TDs.

Luke Musgrave, Packers

Maybe Musgrave sees a bit more work with Christian Watson out. Through the first month, though, the second-year TE owns only 7 targets and has been out-played by Tucker Kraft.

Shane Hallam, Writer

Shane has over 20 years of experience creating content and playing every fantasy football format including redraft, dynasty, devy, IDP, and more. He is a multi-year winner of $500 dynasty leagues on the FFPC and utilizes deep film and scheme study to enhance his fantasy performance.