Week 5 Waiver Targets
I'll be using Yahoo's "percentage rostered" data. Players are listed in order of priority, by position. Only players who are available in at least 75% percent of leagues are considered.
Mike Boone
- Available in 99% of leagues
RB Javonte Williams suffered a major knee injury and will miss the rest of the season. RB Mike Boone, who saw his first rushing attempts of the season in Week 4, is in line for added opportunities. RB Melvin Gordon should assume the lead role, but he did cough up a costly fumble while Boone totaled seven opportunities.
FAAB: 25%
Tyler Allgeier
- Available in 84% of leagues
Rookie RB Tyler Allgeier continued to build on his success by topping 100 scrimmage yards on a day where the Falcons went with a three-man committee. Allgeier (10 carries) split the work almost evenly with starter Cordarrelle Patterson (9) and Caleb Huntley (10).
Patterson was placed on IR on Monday, which means he’ll miss at least four games. Allgeier has a chance to take over this backfield, but it remains to be seen how he’ll split work with Huntley.
FAAB: 20%
Noah Brown
- Available in 80% of leagues
Fantasy managers still haven’t caught on to WR Noah Brown and his cheap, consistent fantasy production. He’s been targeted at least five times in each game and has either 50 receiving yards or a TD in each game this season. QB Dak Prescott is nearing his return, and WR Michael Gallup made his debut in Week 4, so Brown could slide back down the pecking order. Still, he’s scored at least 10 fantasy points each week and remains involved in this offense.
FAAB: 10%
Rachaad White
- Available in 73% of leagues
Rookie RB Rachaad White posted his best performance in Week 4. The Buccaneers trailed the Chiefs throughout the game, which allowed White to tally five receptions on as many targets. His three carries matched that of RB Leonard Fournette, but it was White who scored on the ground. The negative game script forced QB Tom Brady to attempt 52 passes, and both RBs crested the 50-yard receiving mark.
White, a Round 3 pick, racked up 43 receptions last season at Arizona State and could work his way into a more prominent role.
FAAB: 10%
Additional Waiver Targets
Khalil Shakir
- Available in 100% of leagues
WR Jamison Crowder suffered a broken ankle and will miss the rest of this season. The WR2 role for the Bills is more competitive than most thought heading into this year. WR Gabriel Davis had the hype-induced offseason, but it’s been WR Isaiah McKenzie (who is dealing with a concussion) that has scored three times in four games.
McKenzie should be rostered, but if he’s unavailable, fifth-round rookie WR Khalil Shakir is worth a look. Shakir sports 4.43 speed and posted at least a 35% dominator rating or better in his last two seasons at Boise State. This offense is too high-powered to ignore stashing a prospect like Shakir.
FAAB: 7%
Sep 19, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Rondale Moore (4) runs for a touchdown after making a catch against the Minnesota Vikings during the first half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Rondale Moore
- Available in 81% of leagues
Sophomore WR Rondale Moore made his debut after missing the first three games with a hamstring injury. His usage was similar to that of his rookie campaign. Last season, 58% of Moore’s targets came behind the line of scrimmage. (PFF)
The Cardinals are close to getting WR DeAndre Hopkins back from suspension, and WR Marquise Brown remains the de facto WR1. This could relegate Moore to the No. 3 option. Still, his athleticism and this offense under QB Kyler Murray make him an intriguing stash.
FAAB: 5%
Josh Reynolds
- Available in 80% of leagues
A complimentary WR on a healthy roster, WR Josh Reynolds has stepped up when the Lions needed him in recent weeks.
The Lions have a Week 6 bye, so they may choose to sit WRs Amon-Ra St. Brown and/or DJ Chark (both missed Week 4) for another game, knowing that added rest is on the horizon.
Reynolds, who played with QB Jared Goff on the Rams, has either 90 receiving yards or a TD in each of his last three games. He’s also averaging 56 snaps/game. (PFF)
FAAB: 5%
Rex Burkhead
- Available in 78% of leagues
RB Rex Burkhead is having himself a decent season. He has three games with at least four receptions which gives him some semblance of a floor in PPR formats. The Texans aren’t punishing opponents with positive game scripts, which affords Burkhead some added intrigue as a pass-catching specialist if you are desperate.
FAAB: 3%
Latavius Murray
- Available in 99% of leagues
RB Latavius Murray had an efficient Week 4 (11 / 57 /1) for the Saints but was picked up by the Broncos on Monday night. Denver is looking to shore up its backfield after losing RB Javonte Williams for the season. RBs Melvin Gordon and Mike Boone will have the first crack at the lead role but Murray has proven effective as a change of pace option. His value remains the same.*
Hayden Hurst
- Available in 79% of leagues
When looking for a TE to stream, you want a reasonable path to TDs since overall volume isn’t likely to be consistent. That’s exactly what Hayden Hurst offers.
He’ll never be among the top options for QB Joe Burrow, but his athleticism and yards-after-catch ability make him the perfect streaming option. He’s also averaging over 52 snaps/game, so he’s seeing the field plenty. (PFF)
FAAB: 3%
Olamide Zaccheaus
- Available in 100% of leagues
Deep league waivers are usually pretty bare, but WR Olamide Zaccheaus of the Falcons offers something surprisingly useful.
In each of his four games, he’s either scored a TD or topped two receptions and 49 receiving yards. It doesn’t sound like much (because it’s not), but in a deep league with PPR scoring, that production has value.
FAAB: 2%
Jaylen Warren
- Available in 90% of leagues
For the second consecutive week, RB Jaylen Warren topped six yards/carry. The efficiency, on an albeit small sample size, is encouraging, especially when he passes the eye test.
He’s a pure handcuff to RB Najee Harris right now but holds intrigue if you have the bench space and/or roster Harris.
FAAB: 2%
Caleb Huntley
- Available in 100% of leagues
Undrafted second-year RB Caleb Huntley was promoted from the Falcons practice squad on Saturday and carried the ball 10 times for 56 yards and a score on Sunday. He operated in a three-man committee with Patterson & Allgeier, but it was encouraging to see him be efficient with his touches and find the endzone.
With the news that Patterson will miss at least four games, Huntley becomes a much more viable play.
FAAB: 5%
QB Streamers for Week 5
Teddy Bridgewater
- Available in 98% of leagues
QB Tua Tagovailoa will not be available in Week 5, which means QB Teddy Bridgewater will get the start against the Jets. Bridgewater is a competent signal caller, has stellar offensive weapons, and the Jets are yielding 25 points/week to opponents.
FAAB: 5%
Geno Smith
- Available in 88% of leagues
After a rough two weeks to start the season, QB Geno Smith has topped 320 passing yards and scored two passing TDs in each of the last two weeks. The matchup gets a bit tougher against the Saints in Week 5, but with two excellent WRs in DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, Smith is a worthy streaming option.
FAAB: 5%
A Defense to Stream
Miami Dolphins
- Available in 78% of leagues
The Dolphins' defense has a prime matchup on the horizon with the Jets. QB Zach Wilson was back under center in Week 4 and tossed a pair of INTs. The Jets are also averaging less than 20 points per game. For their part, the Dolphins are averaging just one turnover per game but have played some excellent opponents.
FAAB: 1%
Players to Stash
Christian Watson
- Available in 92% of leagues
We saw what is possible with WR Christian Watson on the first play from scrimmage in Week 1. He had a wide-open TD pass from QB Aaron Rodgers that he simply dropped. He has the size (6’5”) and speed (4.36 40-yard dash) to be a viable threat down the field. Once that trust with Rodgers is there, Watson will have value for your fantasy teams.
FAAB: 1%
