Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups: Who to Add, Drop, and Keep on Your Radar
- Faraz Siddiqi
- Oct 2, 2023
- 3 min read
As the NFL season enters its fifth week, fantasy football rosters are in need of some updates. Whether you're dealing with injuries, underperformances, or bye weeks, we have you covered. Here's our comprehensive list of waiver wire pickups for Week 5, complete with FAAB bid suggestions.
My Top Waiver Wire Targets:
1. Quentin Johnston - WR (Bid: 25%)
Quentin Johnston is inching closer to fantasy relevance with a 71% route participation and 13% target share. Keep him on your radar for a bench stash, especially if you've got a QB like Justin Herbert who could elevate his game.
2. Jameson Williams - WR (Bid: 25%)
Jameson Williams is back from his suspension and although he's been eased into the lineup, his explosive playmaking can't be ignored. Look for him to potentially make an impact as the season progresses.
3. CJ Stroud - QB (Bid: 10%)
CJ Stroud has had three straight games with 2 TD passes. As a consistent and ascending player, he's a good QB to target. His weapons and on-field performance make him worth a stash, if not a start.
4. Jaleel McLaughlin - RB (Bid: 3-5%)
Given Javonte Williams' injury, Jaleel McLaughlin could offer some short-term value. His skill set might lean more toward dynamic plays as opposed to goal-line work, which may go to Samaje Perine.
5. Zach Ertz - TE (Bid: 10%)
Zach Ertz remains a top TE option after bouncing back in route participation and target share. He is your priority add if you're weak at the TE position.
6. Marvin Mims - WR (Bid: 10%)
Marvin Mims has been highly efficient but needs more playing time to become a fantasy staple. He's worth a long-term stash if you can afford the bench space.
7. Luke Musgrave - TE (Bid: 5-8%)
Luke Musgrave is worth a look if you need a TE. He's on an upward trend in terms of route participation and target share, making him a good prospective add.
8. Michael Wilson - WR (Bid: 3-5%)
Michael Wilson is worth stashing, especially after a two-TD performance last week. However, keep your expectations tempered as he is still developing his role in the offense.
9. Justice Hill - RB (Bid: 3-5%)
Justice Hill may still be a couple of weeks away from being fantasy-relevant, but he’s someone to keep an eye on as the season progresses.
10. Jayden Reed - WR (Bid: 2-3%)
Jayden Reed offers some potential value, especially in deeper leagues. He's produced pretty decently so far and could continue to earn targets.
11. Tyjae Spears - RB (Bid: 10%)
Spears has a 50% snap rate and high target rate per route run. He might offer some flex value in deeper leagues and serves as a high-upside handcuff for Derrick Henry owners.
12. Josh Dobbs - QB (Bid: 7-8%)
Josh Dobbs offers some running upside, making him an intriguing QB streamer. His increasing design rushing attempts also give him a potentially higher fantasy floor.
13. Tyler Boyd - WR (Bid: 2-3%)
Tyler Boyd could see a bump in targets with Tee Higgins injured. Though he's part of a struggling offense, Boyd offers a decent floor in PPR formats.
14. Matthew Stafford - QB (Bid: 7%)
Stafford is dealing with a hip contusion but has a favorable matchup against Philly. His returning weapons make him a low-end QB1 or high-end QB2.
15. Zay Jones - WR (Bid: 1%)
Zay Jones adds a bit of a ceiling play to your flex position but is still an uncertain option due to injury concerns.
16. Keaton Mitchell - RB (Bid: 0%)
Keaton Mitchell is a pure speculative add as his role in the Ravens' backfield is still ambiguous.
17. Ronnie Rivers - RB (Bid: 0%)
If you own Kyren Williams, Ronnie Rivers is a good speculative add just in case Williams can’t go.
Navigating the waiver wire is essential for fantasy success. Prioritize these players according to your roster needs and FAAB budget. Best of luck in Week 5!
